GAT B Exam 2026: Registration, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Latest Updates

Updated By Himani Daryani on 28 Aug, 2025 15:01

GAT B Exam 2026 is a national-level entrance test for admission to postgraduate Biotechnology and allied life science programs in participating universities and institutions. Conducted by NTA, it evaluates analytical skills and subject understanding for MSc and MTech courses. Keep reading for the latest updates!

Your Ultimate Exam Preparation Guide Awaits!

GAT B Exam 2026

GAT B Exam 2026 registration is expected to begin in the first week of February 2026. The official authorities will release a detailed notification likely around the same time, outlining all important information regarding the exam. To register, you need to visit GAT B official website, fill in your personal details, upload a scanned photograph, signature, and any applicable certificates, and pay the application fee. The direct link for GAT B Form 2026 will be activated below!

Direct Link: GAT B Registration 2026 (to be activated)

You must meet the minimum eligibility set by the participating colleges. GAT B eligibility criteria 2026 include having a relevant bachelor’s degree, such as BTech, BSc in Biology or allied areas, or BVSc & AH for MVSc, and achieving a minimum aggregate of 55-60%. GAT B 2026 exam is expected to take place in April 2026, with results likely to be announced in June 2026. Around 1331 seats will be filled across 79 institutes in India through this exam.

Graduate Aptitude Test Biotechnology is a national exam conducted by NTA for admission into DBT supported postgraduate programs in biotechnology and related fields. It provides opportunities to pursue courses such as MSc Biotechnology, MTech Biotechnology, MSc Agricultural Biotechnology, and MVSc Animal Biotechnology in several participating universities across India. Many top universities including JNU, BHU, and Amity University Haryana accept GAT B scores for admission to their postgraduate programs.

Keep browsing this page to gain detailed insight into the registration dates, application process, GAT B 2026 eligibility criteria, exam patterns, and syllabus.

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GAT B 2026 Important Dates

GAT B 2026 exam dates and other crucial upcoming events will soon be released by NTA. GAT-B 2026 important dates can be checked in the table below:

Event

Date

GAT B Registration 2026 Start Date

February 2026

GAT B Registration 2026 Last Date

March 2026

GAT-B 2026 Application Correction

March 2026 

GAT-B 2026 Advance City Intimation    

April 2026

Release of GAT-B 2026 Admit Card

April 2026

GAT B 2026 Exam Date

April 2026 

Display of GAT B 2026 Provisional Question Paper & Answer Key
April 2026

Last Date to Challenge the Answer Key & Fee

April 2026

GAT B 2026 Results

June 2026

GAT B 2026 Exam Highlights

Some of the major GAT-B 2026 highlights can be checked in the table below –

Name of the Exam

Graduate Aptitude Test in Biotechnology

Exam Date

April 2026

Duration180 minutes (3 hours)
Timings (tentative)10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Purpose of Exam

Conducted for Admission in DBT-supported PG programmes

Stipend for M.Sc in Biotechnology & Allied Areas

Rs. 5,000 Per Month

Stipend for M.Sc in Agricultural Biotechnology

Rs. 7,500 Per Month

Stipend for M.Tech & M.V.Sc

Rs. 12,000 Per Month

Total No. of Participating Institutes

79

Total No. of Seats

1,331 (approximately)

Exam Mode

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Medium of Question PaperEnglish

Admission Process

Based on the merit list released by the exam authority

List of DBT-Supported Courses for Admission through GAT B 2026

Here is the complete list of DBT-supported courses for which GAT-B is applicable for admission –

Master of Veterinary ScienceM.Tech Computational Biology
M.Tech Pharmaceutical BiologyM.Tech Food Biotechnology
M.Tech BiotechnologyM.Tech Bioprocess Technology
M.Tech Biotechnology & Biochemical EngineeringM.Tech Marine Biotechnology
M.Sc Molecular & Human GeneticsM.Sc Bio-informatics
M.Sc Bio-resources BiotechnologyM.Sc Marine Biotechnology
M.Sc Medical BiotechnologyM.Sc Biotechnology
M.Sc Agricultural Biotechnology-

GAT B Eligibility 2026

GAT B Eligibility 2026 is very important and you should confirm your eligibility with each participating college or university before submitting an application. You should keep in mind that if you are in the final year of your qualifying degree, then also you are eligible to fill out GAT-B 2026 application form. Following are some of the common GAT B 2026 eligibility criteria that are required by all participating institutions.

Nationality: Only bonafide Indian nationals are allowed to appear in GAT B exam 2026.

Educational Qualification: Applicants having a valid Bachelors (BE/ BTech/MBBS) and Masters (MSc/ MTech/ MVSc/MPharm/Integrated MSc/ MTech) in any discipline of Biotechnology, Life Sciences such as Biomedical, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Botany, Computational Biology, Microbiology, Zoology, Chemistry, Genetics,  or any other allied fields of Biology/Life-Sciences are eligible for taking admission through GAT-B & BET 2026 exam. For taking admission through GAT-B in different postgraduate courses in the participating universities, candidates must have completed their Bachelors in the relevant stream from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks for SC/ ST/ Differently Abled and 60% for General, EWS, and OBC Category.

Those who have taken or will take their qualifying degree's final examination are eligible to apply for GAT-B 2026 exam in the result awaited (RA) category. Such a candidate must submit an Undertaking/Attestation Form certified/stamped by the Head of the Institute (with address and name) where they are pursuing their qualifying degree. Failure to follow this instruction will result in the rejection of GAT-B 2026 applications.

Minimum Marks: Applicants representing General, EWS & OBC category must score at least 60% marks or its equivalent grade and 55% marks are required by those representing SC/ ST/ Differently Abled candidates in aggregate. 

Age Criteria: There is no age restriction for GAT B 2026 exam.

GAT B Application Form 2026

GAT B registration 2026 will tentatively start in February 2026 and will remain open until March 2026. You must submit only one application form. Before filling out GAT B form, you must have all of the necessary documents ready. The list of important items for filling out GAT B 2026 application form is provided below:

  • A computer with an internet connection
  • A valid government ID proof
  • Email ID and Mobile number
  • Specific Government ID details like Aadhar Card Number (last 4 digits)/ Passport number/ PAN Number/ Election Card/ Ration Card Number/  Bank Account details
  • Scanned copy of a certificate for candidates appearing/awaiting results.
  • Category Certificate
  • Details of Educational qualification 
  • Scanned copy of the photograph
  • Scanned copy of the signature
  • Scanned copy of class X or equivalent Certificate as proof of Date of Birth.
  • Scanned copy of Certificate for Appearing/Result Awaiting Candidates.
  • Four choices of exam centres
  • Bank account details for making payment of fee

How to Fill GAT B Application Form 2026?

To fill out GAT B 2026 application form correctly, you should ensure they have all the necessary documents. Follow the steps below.

Step-1: First of all, you are required to register for NTA GAT B 2026 using your mobile number and email ID. You must note down your system-generated application number after registration.

Step-2: You must fill the application form and enter your personal details as required in the GAT-B 2026 application form.

Step-3: You must upload a scanned copy of the following documents as per the required specifications:

  • Recent passport size photograph in jpg/jpeg 10KB-200KB either in black & white or colour

  • Your signature 4kb – 30kb

  • PwD certificate 50 kb-300 kb

  • Category certificate 50 kb-300 kb

  • Proof of Date of Birth 50 kb-300 kb

  • Certificate for Appearing/Result Awaiting Candidates 50 kb-300 kb

Step-4: After filling out the GAT B application form 2026 successfully, you must make payment of the application fee using Net Banking / Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI, etc to complete the application process.

Step-5: You must download the confirmation page and take a printout of the same.

GAT B 2026 Application Fee

The application fee for GAT B 2026 examination for different categories is highlighted in the table below:

ExamGeneral/OBC/EWSSC/ST/PwD
GAT-B

1300

650

GAT B Exam Pattern 2026

If you are preparing to sit for GAT 2026 exam, you must be familiar with the basic details of GAT B 2026 exam pattern in order to perform well and pass the exam. You should also be aware of the negative markings associated with the examination. GAT B 2026 exam will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, with English as the language of examination.

GAT B Exam Pattern 2026

Check the table below to know GAT-B 2026 exam pattern:

Sections of the GAT B 2026 Exam Question Paper

Number of questions

No. of Questions to be Attempted

Marks

Section A (Multiple choice questions of the level of 10+2 in the subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Biology)

60

60

60

Section B (Multiple choice questions of

Graduate / Bachelor’s level in the subjects:

Basic Biology, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, and allied areas as per syllabus given)

100

60

180

GAT B Exam 2026 Marking Scheme

You must take care of the marking scheme for GAT B 2026 exam if you want to perform well and qualify the entrance examination. 

Graduate Aptitude Test-Biotechnology (GAT-B) 2026

  • Section A: Each correct answer is of One (1) mark. There will be negative marking and for each wrong answer, half (1/2 or 0.5) mark will be deducted.  
  • Section B: Each correct answer is of Three (3) marks. There will be negative marking and for each wrong answer, One (1) mark will be deducted.

GAT B Exam 2026 Admit Card

The National Testing Agency is expected to issue GAT-B 2026 Admit Card in April 2026 to students who have completed the application process successfully. GAT B 2026 admit card contains all of the important information, such as the candidate's name, roll number, examination centre, and exam time. You must bring their admit card to GAT B 2026 exam or you will be unable to participate. If you're unable to download GAT B admit card 2026, you can contact the NTA helpline or email dbt@nta.ac.in.

GAT B Syllabus 2026

GAT B Syllabus 2026 will soon be released by NTA. It will help in preparing for the exam and scoring good marks to clear the exam. GAT B 2026 syllabus is divided into two parts Part A and Part B. You can check the predicted GAT B syllabus 2026 below, taken from last year exam:

Part A

  • Basic syllabus of 10+2 that includes Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.

Part B

  • Biomolecules-structure and functions,
  • Viruses- structure and classification,
  • Cell cycle and cell growth control,
  • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure
  • Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes,
  • Principles of microscopy-light,
  • History of Immunology,
  • Major bioinformatics resources and search tools
  • Restriction and modification enzymes,
  • Totipotency
  • Production of metabolites by plant suspension cultures
  • Animal cell culture,
  • Engineering principle of bioprocessing,
  • Tissue culture and its application

GAT B 2026 Exam Centers and Cities

When filling out GAT B 2026 online application, you must select four cities. When allocating a Centre of Examination, your preferred city will be considered. In any case, due to logistical and administrative considerations, you may be assigned an exam centre in another city or nearby area. GAT B 2026 Exam Center cannot be changed once selected and assigned (after the correction window has closed). Requests in this regard will be ignored.

The list of states and cities for expected GAT B 2026 exam centres is tabulated below: 

State

City

Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT) 

Port Blair

Andhra Pradesh 

Guntur 

Andhra Pradesh 

Nellore

Andhra Pradesh 

Visakhapatnam

Assam 

Guwahati 

Assam 

Jorhat 

Assam 

Tezpur 

Bihar 

Aurangabad 

Bihar

Bhagalpur 

Bihar 

Patna 

Chandigarh (UT) 

Chandigarh/Mohali/Panchkula 

Chhattisgarh 

Raipur

Delhi 

Delhi/new delhi 

Goa 

Panaji/Madgaon/Margao 

Gujarat 

Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar 

Gujarat 

Rajkot 

Gujarat 

Vadodara 

Haryana 

Gurugram 

Haryana 

Hissar

Himachal Pradesh 

Shimla 

Jammu & Kashmir 

Jammu

Jammu & Kashmir 

Srinagar 

Jharkhand 

Ranchi

Karnataka 

Ballari

Karnataka 

Bengaluru 

Karnataka

Dharwad

Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala 

Thrissur

Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal 

Madhya Pradesh

Gwalior

Maharashtra

Mumbai/Navi Mumbai

Maharashtra

Nagpur

Maharashtra 

Pune

Meghalaya

Shillong

Odisha 

Bhubaneswar

Punjab 

Amritsar 

Punjab 

Ludhiana

Punjab 

Patiala/Fatehgarh Sahib

Rajasthan 

Jaipur

Rajasthan Udaipur 

Udaipur 

Tamil Nadu Chennai 

Chennai 

Tamil Nadu Coimbatore 

Coimbatore 

Tamil Nadu Madurai

Madurai 

Tamil Nadu

Tiruchirappalli 

Telangana 

Hyderabad/Secunderabad 

Uttar Pradesh 

Agra 

Uttar Pradesh 

Aligarh 

Uttar Pradesh 

Allahabad/Prayagraj UP03

Uttar Pradesh 

Bareilly 

Uttar Pradesh 

Ghaziabad

Uttar Pradesh 

Kanpur 

Uttar Pradesh 

Lucknow 

Uttar Pradesh 

Meerut

Uttar Pradesh 

Noida/Greater Noida 

Uttar Pradesh 

Varanasi 

Uttarakhand

Dehradun

Uttarakhand

Roorkee

West Bengal 

Kolkata

West Bengal

Kalyani (Nadia)

How to Check GAT B 2026 Exam City?

The exam city/centre details of GAT B 2026 exam will be mentioned on the admit cards. Make sure to check all details on your GAT B 2026 admit card once it is released, as it will contain specific information about the exam date, time, and center

  • Go to the National Testing Agency's official site at exams.nta.ac.in/DBT/. This is where the admit cards will be made available.
  • Use your Application Number and Password/Date of Birth to log in.
  • Download your admit card & exam city details will be displayed on your screen.
  • You are responsible for your own travel costs and accommodations. NTA will provide no travel allowance, daily allowance, or accommodation facilities for appearing in GAT B 2026 exam.

Keep an eye on official notifications from NTA regarding the exact date of release for the city intimation slip, as well as other important dates related to the GAT-B exam process, which includes application forms and admit card issuance.

GAT B Exam Preparation Tips 2026

You must check GAT B 2026 preparation strategy tips so that you can score good marks in the exam:

  • You must go through the GAT B 2026 syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly.
  • You should make a note of all the important topics that can come in the exam.
  • Important topics must be given a higher priority and you should read them thoroughly.
  • Read newspapers daily in order to stay updated with the latest news.
  • Frame a timetable, adhere to it, and try to cover each topic every day while studying at least 3-4 hours daily.
  • Solve GAT B Previous Year Question Papers as it helps you analyze the kind of questions that can come in the exam.
  • Revising is a must. Revise each and every topic on a daily basis.
  • Appear for GAT B Mock Test 2026 to enhance your performance and also to know your time management skills.

GAT B Exam 2026 Answer Key

GAT B 2026 answer key will be released a few days after the exam. With the answer key, you can tally your answers and estimate your score. You can download GAT B 2026 answer key from the official website. You also have the option to raise a challenge against GAT B 2026 answer key. To participate in the challenge, you must pay a fee of Rs. 200 per question. This fee is a non-refundable processing charge that you are required to pay. On the other hand, GAT B Official Answer Key refers to the exam’s official answers. This is useful for determining your actual marks for GAT B 2026 results.

GAT B Exam 2026 Results

GAT B 2026 result will be displayed on the official website tentatively by June 2026. The authority will not send scorecards to applicants separately. If you are declared qualified based on GAT B results 2026, you will be contacted for admission and counselling later. The result for GAT B 2026 will include your personal information, qualifying status, marks obtained, overall rank, and other details. You are advised to keep your result scorecard safe until the admission process is completed. You must download your scorecard from the official website of GAT-B 2026 exams.nta.ac.in/DBT/.

GAT B 2026 Exam Conducting Body

GAT B 2026 exam is Graduate Aptitude Test – Biotechnology (GAT-B) 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible to conduct the GAT-B 2026 entrance exam.

Contact
Address - NSIC-MDBP Building, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi-110020

Email - dbt@nta.ac.in

Phone - 01169227700, 011-40759000


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FAQs about GAT-B

Is GAT B conducted twice a year?

No, GAT B exam is conducted only once a year. Students who wish to appear for it must apply within the official registration dates announced for that particular year.

What is the last date to apply for GAT B 2026?

The exact last date to apply for GAT B 2026 has not been announced yet. Usually, the application window is open from February to March every year. Students should keep checking the official website of GAT B for the updated schedule. It will also be updated here.

Are GAT B and DBT the same?

No, GAT B and DBT are not the same. DBT is the Department of Biotechnology, the organizing body, while GAT B (Graduate Aptitude Test - Biotechnology) is the entrance exam conducted under DBT for admission to postgraduate biotechnology and related programs.

Is IIT JAM and GAT B syllabus the same?

No, the IIT JAM and GAT B syllabi are not the same. While both exams are for postgraduate science courses, IIT JAM covers a wider range of subjects in science, whereas GAT B is more focused on biotechnology and related fields.

Who will conduct GAT B 2026 exam?

GAT-B 2026 will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This exam is held annually on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology.

What is the time of GAT B exam 2026?

GAT B 2026 exam is scheduled to take place in April 2026 (tentative). The total duration will be of 3 hours, likely from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Is the GAT B exam tough?

GAT-B exam has varying levels of difficulty based on the year and specific sections of the test. 

  • Section A: Generally considered easy to moderate. For example, in the 2022 exam, it was rated as easy to moderate, while in 2025, it was noted to be moderate overall.
  • Section B: This section tends to be more challenging. In 2025, it was described as easy to moderate, but harder compared to previous exams.

Where can I find my GAT-B exam center 2026?

Students can find their exam centres of the GAT-B exam in the admit card of the GAT-B exam 2026. 

What will be the duration of the GAT-B 2026 exam?

The exam duration of the GAT-B 2026 exam will be three hours.

Is there negative marking in the GAT-B 2026 exam?

Yes, there are negative markings in the test paper. 

What is the medium used for the GAT-B 2026 exam?

The GAT-B 2026 will be conducted in English language only.

What is the mode of GAT-B 2026 application fee payment?

Students can pay the application fee for the GAT-B 2026 in an online mode by using their debit or credit card/Net banking/UPI.

Who is eligible for the GAT B 2026 exam?

Candidates must be a citizen of India. There are no age restrictions to apply for GAT-B. It is suggested that the candidates must check the minimum eligibility criteria for the college they are applying for.

When will the application process of GAT-B 2026 commence?

The application process of GAT-B 2026 is expected to start in Feb 2026. The last date to submit the online application will be in March 2026.

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Related Questions

my sister has 57 marks in GAT - B and we are planning to take admission in any college in Ahmedabad , she is SC and except GAT - B score she has good academic score, what colleges should we apply to for MSc biotech and how to apply

-sushiUpdated on June 23, 2025 11:55 AM
  • 1 Answer
Apoorva Bali, Content Team

Your sister, with 57 marks in GAT-B, SC category, and strong academics, has many good options for MSc Biotechnology in Ahmedabad.

  • Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU), Ahmedabad
  • Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
  • Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University (SSIU), Ahmedabad
  • Institute of Advanced Research (IAR), Ahmedabad

She can either:

  • Apply online/offline.
  • Shortlisting is based on graduation marks; SC candidates may be exempt from interview.
  • Final selection is based on graduation marks and performance in a personal interview (if applicable)

The application process is different at all universities. It's best to check individual websites for the most accurate information. 

READ MORE...

What is the Career Scope after qualifying GAT-B 2025?

-ADITYA GALANDEUpdated on June 02, 2025 11:50 AM
  • 1 Answer
Himani Daryani, Content Team

Passing GAT B 2025 exam can open many opportunties for you:

  • You can use your GAT-B score to get admission into M.Sc. or M.Tech courses in top biotechnology institutes supported by DBT. This is a great way to build your knowledge and skills.
  • You may be eligible for fellowships or scholarships that give you financial support while you study or do research. This can help you focus on your career without worrying about money.
  • If you want to go deeper into research, you can take admission into Ph.D. programs in fields like molecular biology, bioinformatics, or agricultural biotechnology.
  • Many …

READ MORE...

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