GPAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Check Age Limit, Marks Required, No of Attempts, Important Factor

Updated By Ritoprasad Kundu on 14 Aug, 2025 11:56

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GPAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

GPAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 will be released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences along with the official brochure. According to the GPAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, an applicant must be a citizen of India to apply for the GPAT Exam. There is no upper age limit that is set by the exam conducting authority. According to the Eligibility for GPAT, students of B.Tech (Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Technology) are not eligible to sit for the GPAT Exam. The GPAT eligibility criteria suggest that candidates need to pass B Pharm with at least 50% marks in aggregate. Candidates in the final year of their B Pharm degree are also eligible to apply for the GPAT Exam 2026. GPAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria provides insight into the requirements to appear for the GPAT 2026 Exam. Refer to this page below to learn more about the GPAT Exam Eligibility Criteria, important highlights, and latest updates.

GPAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Highlights

GPAT Eligibility Criteria provides an overview of the basic requirements that need to be fulfilled by candidates. Mentioned below is an overview of the eligibility criteria for GPAT:

Particulars

Details

Nationality Requirement

Must be an Indian Citizen 

GPAT Exam Age Limit 

No Age Limit

Exam Mode

Computer Based

Educational Qualifications 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or Equivalent from a recognized university 
  • Final year Students of B. Pharmacy  

Appearing Candidates (Restrictions)

  • Candidates who are in the middle of 1st to 3rd year in B.Pharma are not eligible to appear in the entrance examination
  • B.Tech (Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Technology) candidates or its equivalent are not eligible to appear in the entrance examination 

GPAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Detailed Requirements

The GPAT Exam Eligibility cover several minimum requirements. Here is the detailed section-wise breakdown of GPAT Eligibility Criteria as per the concerned authority:

Nationality

To apply for the GPAT Exam, candidates must be citizens of India

GPAT Exam Age Limit

There is no set upper age limit for appearing in the GPAT examination as per the conducting authority. The minimum age that is required for appearing in the GPAT Exam is 17 years as of the 31st December of the applying year.

Educational Qualifications 

The minimum educational qualification to appear for the GPAT Exam is to pass a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or other relevant subject with at least 50% marks in aggregate.

Disability Criteria

As per the GPAT Eligibility Criteria for PwD candidates, candidates will be listed as physically handicapped in case of

  • Low vision or blindness
  • Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disability, and Mental Illness
  • Locomotive Disability like Cerebral Palsy, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims and Leprosy Cured.

Duration of graduation course

All candidates must have completed 4 years of graduation after 10+2. Lateral entry candidates must also complete 4 years of graduation after 10+2

For Scribe/Reader

The candidate should be 19 years of age as of January 2026. nineteen Years of age as of 27th of January 2026. The scribe should not have any relation or involvement in teaching, tutoring, or any type of test preparation. Additionally, he/she must not be any family member or friend of the candidate

GPAT Eligibility Criteria for Visually Challenged Candidates

Visually challenged candidates who opt for a reader have to fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

  • The reader’s academic qualifications should be lower than that of the candidate.

  • He/she cannot be a family member of the candidate.

  • The reader must not be involved in the academic preparation for GPAT

  • The reader’s age must be less than 19 as of January 17, 2026

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GPAT Eligibility Criteria for PwD Candidates

The PwD categories for GPAT as defined by National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences are given below:

  • Visually impaired

  • Physically handicapped

  • Hearing-impaired

  • Dumb

PwD candidates are given testing assistance and it depends on what the candidate has specified in the application form.

The visually impaired will be offered screen/font enlargement. They are also offered an abacus (without the calculator). Screen magnification will be done by the test centre whereas the abacus will have to be arranged by the candidate.

Visually impaired as well as candidates who have cerebral palsy will be allowed to have a reader. This has to be arranged by the candidate.

Hearing-impaired candidates will be allowed to have hearing aids, which must be arranged by the candidate.

GPAT Reservation Policy

Candidates can take a look at the table given below to check the category-wise GPAT reservation criteria which is followed by all the public/government institutions of the country.

Category of Candidate

Reservation Percentage

PwD

5%

Scheduled Caste (SC)

15%

Scheduled Tribe (ST)

7.5%

Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL)

27%

GEN-EWS

10%

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FAQs about GPAT Eligibility

Can students from other fields like B.Sc or M.Sc apply for GPAT?

No. GPAT is exclusively for B.Pharm degree holders; candidates from other fields are not eligible.

Can candidates from any age group apply for GPAT?

Yes. GPAT has no upper age limit for applicants.

Are diploma holders in Pharmacy eligible for GPAT?

No. Candidates with only a Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) are not eligible for GPAT.

Can final-year B.Pharm students apply for GPAT?

Yes. Final-year B.Pharm students are eligible, but they must produce proof of passing the qualifying exam at the time of admission.

Who is eligible to apply for GPAT?

Any candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm) or equivalent from a recognized university in India can apply.

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