HOW TO CRACK GAT-B,
Pattern | Eligibility | Syllabus for GAT-B

GAT-B (Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology)

The GAT-B is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
It is held annually for admission into DBT-supported postgraduate programmes in Biotechnology and allied fields offered by participating institutions across India.

Key Highlights

  • Conducting Body: Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), under DBT, Government of India
  • Purpose: Admission to DBT-supported Postgraduate (M.Sc./M.Tech.) programs in Biotechnology
  • Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
  • Medium of Exam: English only
  • Exam Duration: 3 Hours
  • Total Participating Institutions: 53 (subject to annual updates)
  • Courses Offered: M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. Molecular Biology, M.Sc. Genetics, M.Sc. Life Sciences, etc.

Major Renowned Participating Institutions & Courses Offered

Institution Name State Programs Offered
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Uttar Pradesh M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. Molecular & Human Genetics
Regional centre for biotechnology (RCB), faridabad Haryana M.Sc.–Ph.D. (Integrated)
Central University of Rajasthan Rajasthan M.Sc. Biotechnology
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore Madhya Pradesh M.Sc. Biotechnology
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. Computational and Integrative Sciences
Savitribai Phule Pune University Maharashtra M.Sc. Biotechnology
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda Gujarat M.Sc. Biotechnology
University of Hyderabad Telangana M.Sc. Biotechnology
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) Punjab M.Sc. Medical Biotechnology
Osmania University Telangana M.Sc. Molecular & Human Genetics
National Institute of Technology (NIT), Durgapur West Bengal M.Sc. Life Sciences (Microbial/Plant/Animal Biotechnology)
Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi M.Sc. Biotechnology

Note: The exact list of participating institutions and available programs is subject to change annually. Candidates are advised to check the official notification for the latest updates.

Exam Pattern

Sections & Question Distribution

Section Subject Area No. of Questions Attempt Required Marks/Question Negative Marking
Section A General Science (Class 12 level) – Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology 60 All compulsory +1 -0.5
Section B Graduate-level topics in Biotechnology & Allied Subjects 100 Attempt any 60 +3 -1

Eligibility

  • Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc./B.Tech. or equivalent) in Biotechnology or related fields.
  • Minimum Marks: Usually 60% (General/EWS/OBC) and 55% (SC/ST/PwD); check specific institutions for variation.

Benefits of Qualifying GAT-B

  • Admission to prestigious institutes with DBT fellowship (₹5,000–₹12,000/month for M.Sc. or M.Tech. depending on the program)
  • Entry into cutting-edge biotechnology programs with strong research and career prospects.

Useful Tips

  • Practice MCQs for both basic sciences and biotechnology.
  • Revise 12th-grade NCERTs for Section A.
  • Refer to standard UG-level textbooks (e.g., for Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology) for Section B.
  • Solve previous year papers and attempt mock tests regularly.
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