The Graduate Aptitude Test- Biotechnology (GAT-B)/ Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) is a National Level Entrance Examination for admission to Department of Biotechnology supported Post Graduate Program in Biotechnology and allied areas in participating Institutions (GAT-B) and for award of DBT – Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF) for pursuing research in frontier areas of Biotechnology (BET).

Graduate Aptitude Test-Biotechnology (GAT-B) 2023 is a national entrance examination to test the eligibility of bonafide Indian nationals for admissions to DBT supported Post Graduate (DBT PG) Programs in Biotechnologyand allied sciences at participating institutions and universities. DBT supported Post Graduate Programs include M.Sc. Biotechnology and allied sciences, M.Tech. Biotechnology and allied sciences, M.Sc. Agricultural Biotechnology and M.V.Sc. Animal Biotechnology.

GAT- B 2023 Exam Detail

The examination will be conducted in a single shift for a duration of 180 minutes.

The Examinations will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.

The medium of Question Papers for both the examinations shall be English only.

The question paper will have two parts:

Part - A: Part A will have 60 compulsory multiple choice questions of the level of 10+2 in thesubjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

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.

Part - B: Part B will have multiple choice questions of bachelor’s level requiring thinking andanalysis. There will be questions from basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology and allied areas as per syllabus attached.

There will be 100 questions out of which the candidates will have toattempt 60 questions. Each correct answer will have a weightage of 3 marks.

There will be negativemarking and for each wrong answer one mark will be deducted. 

Un-answered/un-attempted question will be given Zero (0) mark. 

GAT-B 2023 Pattern of Question Papers

Section A

• Multiple choice questions of the level of 10+2 in the subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology
• Number of questions: 60
• Number of Questions to be attempted: 60
• Marks: 60 

Section B 

• Multiple choice questions of Graduate / Bachelor’s level in the subjects: Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology and allied sciences
• Number of questions: 100
• Number of Questions to be attempted: 60
• Marks: 180 

Total No of questions: 160

Number of Questions to be attempted: 120

Marks: 240

Studentship Support

All students admitted under the DBT-supported programs of any participating institution will be paid the stipend as under:

a) M.Sc. in Biotechnology & Allied Areas - Rs. 5,000/- per month

b) M.Sc. in Agricultural Biotechnology - Rs. 7,500/- per month

c) M.Tech./M.V.Sc. programs - Rs. 12,000/- per month 

The continuation of stipend for the second year of the program is subject to satisfactoryprogress of the student, to be certified by the participating institutions.

Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2023

Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) is the national qualifying examination for award of Doctoral Research Fellowships under the DBT-Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF) Program. BET is an All-India computer-based examination which is held once every year. These fellowships are tenable at any recognized university/ institution in India where the selected fellow registers for Ph.D. program.

Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2023 Pattern of Question Papers

Section A

• General Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, General Aptitude, Analytical, Quantitative Ability and General Biotechnology
• No. of Questions: 50
• No. of Questions to be Attempted: 50
• Marks: 150

Section B

• Specific areas of Biotechnology as per syllabus given
• No. of Questions: 150
• No. of Questions to be Attempted: 50
• Marks: 150

Total No of questions: 200

No. of Questions to be Attempted: 100

Marks: 300

Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2023 

Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) is the national qualifying examination for award of Doctoral Research Fellowships under the DBT-Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF) Program. BET is an All-India computer-based examination which is held once every year. These fellowships are tenable at any recognized university/institution in India where the selected fellow registers for Ph.D. program.

Based on the performance in Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2022, two categories of merit list shall be prepared (Category-I and Category-II). Government of India norms for reservation will be followed for shortlisting of candidates. Candidates shortlisted under Category-I shall be eligible to avail fellowship at any recognized university/institution across India, where the candidate registers for Ph.D. Program. Candidates shortlisted under Category-II will be eligible to be appointed in any DBT sponsored project with fellowship equivalent to NET/GATE qualification as per current DST guidelines and/or enroll in PhD program, subject to selection through institutional selection process. Selection in Category-II shall not entitle candidate for any fellowship from DBT-JRF program.

The Question Paper for BET 2022 Entrance Examination will have two parts:

Section-A will have 50 compulsory multiple choice questions in the subjects: General Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, General Aptitude, Analytical, Quantitative Ability and General Biotechnology and each question carries 03 (Three) marks. There will be negative marking and for each incorrect response, 01 (one) mark will be deducted from the total marks. Un-answered/un-attempted will be given Zero (0) marks.  

Section-B will have 150 multiple choice questions of specific areas of Biotechnology and the candidate has to attempt 50 questions and each question carries 03 (Three) marks. There will be negative marking and for each incorrect response, 01 (one) mark will be deducted from the total marks.

Brief Advisory regarding COVID-19 Pandemic: 

Candidates are advised to carry only the following with them into the Examination venue:

a) Admit Card along with Self Declaration (Undertaking) downloaded from the NTA Website (a clear printout on A4 size paper) duly filled in.

b) A simple transparent Ball Point Pen.

c) Additional photograph, to be pasted on Attendance Sheet

d) Personal hand sanitizer (50 ml).

e) Personal transparent water bottle.

f) ID Proof

g) Sugar tablets/fruits (like banana/apple/orange) in case the candidate is diabetic.

DBT Supported PG Programs in Biotechnology and Participating Institutions with seats

M.V.Sc. Animal Biotechnology

1. College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Assam

 Seats: 10

M.Tech. Biotechnology

1. Pondicherry University (M.Tech. Compuational Biology)

Seats: 30 

2. Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra (M. Tech Pharmaceutical Biotechnology)

Seats: 10

3. Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra (M. Tech Food Biotechnology )

Seats: 10

4. K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu (M.Tech. Biotechnology)

Seats: 10

5. Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (M.Tech. Biotechnology)

Seats: 10

6. Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra ( M.Tech. Bioprocess Technology )

Seats: 30

7. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal (M.Tech. Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering)

Seats: 30

8.  Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (M.Tech. Computational Biology)

Seats: 20

9. Indraprastha Institute of Information technology, Delhi (M.Tech. Computational Biology)

Seats: 15

10. Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala  (M.Tech. Marine Biotechnology)

Seats: 20

11. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal (M.TEch. Biotechnology)

Seats: 30

12. Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai,   amil Nadu (M.Tech. Biotechnology with specialization in Industrial Biotechnology)

Seats: 10

M.Sc. Allied Area

1. Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana  (M.Sc. Molecular and Human Genetics )

Seats: 10

2. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra  (M.Sc. Bioinformatics)

 Seats: 30

3. Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri, J&K (M.Sc. Bioresources Biotechnology)

 Seats: 20

4. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (M.Sc. Molecular and Human Genetics)

Seats: 30

5. Goa University, Goa (M.Sc. Marine Biotechnology)

Seats: 30

6. Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil (M.Sc. Medical Biotechnology)

Seats: 10

7. Nitte Deemed to be  University, Mangalore,  Karnataka  (M.Sc. Marine Biotechnology)

Seats: 10

M.Sc. Agriculture Biotechnology

1. Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Seats: 30

2. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat,  Assam

Seats: 30

3. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka

Seats: 08

4. University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore, Karnataka

Seats: 13

5. G.B. Pant University of  Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand

Seats: 15

6. Vasantro Naik Maratwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra

Seats: 30

7. Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala

Seats: 15

8. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Seats: 30

M.Sc. Biotechnology

1. Pondicherry University, Puducherry

Seats: 30

2. University of Hyderabad, Telangana

Seats: 30

3. University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka

Seats: 15

4. School of Biotechnology Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Seats: 30

5. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 

Seats: 10

6. Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan

Seats: 10

7. Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai

Seats: 30

8.Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar

Seats: 30

9. Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana

Seats: 10

10. Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida

Seats: 10

11. Utkal University, Bhubaneswar

Seats: 25

12. Banasthali Vidyapith, Vanasthali, Rajasthan

Seats: 30

13. Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya,  Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Seats: 10

14. Khallikote University, Berhampur

Seats: 10

15. Central University of Jammu, Jammu 

Seats: 10

16. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Seats: 30

17. National College, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

Seats: 10

18. Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla

Seats: 30

19. The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara

Seats: 30

20. Institute of Advanced Research (IAR), Gandhinagar

Seats: 10

21. University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K

Seats: 20

22. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,  Ludhiana

Seats: 10

23. Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune

seats: 30

24. Visva-Bharati University, Shanti Niketan

seats: 20

25. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer

seats: 10

26. Tezpur University,  Sonitpur

Seats: 30

27. University of Jammu, Jammu

seats: 30

28. Rama Devi Women's  University, Bhubaneswar

Seats: 10

29. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu

Seats: 10

30. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Seats 30

31. GIET University, Gunupur, Odisha

Seats: 10

32. Alagappa University, Karaikudi

Seats: 10

33. North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong

Seats: 30

34. Rajiv Gandhi Centre  for Biotechnology, Trivandrum

Seats: 45

Candidates are advised to carry only the following with them into the Examination venue:

a) Admit Card along with Self Declaration (Undertaking) downloaded from the NTA Website (a clear printout on A4 size paper) duly filled in.

b) A simple transparent Ball Point Pen.

c) Additional photograph, to be pasted on Attendance Sheet

d) Personal hand sanitizer (50 ml).

e) Personal transparent water bottle.

f) ID Proof

g) Sugar tablets/fruits (like banana/apple/orange) in case the candidate is diabetic.

Test Practice Centres (TPCs)

 As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, NTA has set up, established andcreated a network of Test Practice Centres for candidates, especially in remote and ruralareas to enable them to practice and be comfortable in taking a Computer Based Test (CBT). 

Timings of Examinations  the examinations will be conducted in a single shift for a duration of 180 minutes / 3 hours. 

GAT-B 2023

Duration of Examination: 180minutes

Date of examination: 23 April 2023

Timming of Examination: 09:00 AM  to 12:00 PM 

BET 2023

Duration of Examination: 180minutes

Date of examination: 23 April 2023

Timming of Examination: 03:00 PM  to 06:00 PM

GAT-B 2023

MVSc Animal Biotechnology: Candidate should hold BVSc. & AH. or equivalent Degree from a recognized university securing a minimum 60% in the traditional system.

In case of SC/ ST candidates, the corresponding minimum requirements will 50%.

M.Sc. in Biotechnology: Candidate should hold a Bachelor’s Degree under regular pattern of education in Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering/Technology, 4-years B.Sc. (Physician Assistant Course);

Or

Medicine (MBBS)

Or

BDS with at least 55% marks.

M.Sc. in Agri- Biotechnology: Candidate should hold a Bachelor’s Degree under  regular pattern of education with at least 55% marks or its equivalent grade point averagefrom any recognized university in the concerned subjects.

M.Tech. in Biotechnology: Candidate should hold a Bachelor's Degree with minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA (under grading system) from any recognized university.

Age Limit: Upto 28 years of age as on the last date of application for General & EWS category.

Age relaxation of up to 5 years (33 years) for SC/ ST/Differently Abled/ Women candidates and upto 3 years (31 years) for OBC (NonCreamy Layer) candidates.

Nationality: Candidate should be a bonafide citizen and resident of India.

Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2023

Bachelors (B.E./ B.Tech./M.B.B.S) and Masters (M.Sc./ M.Tech./ M.VSc./M. Pharm./ Integrated M.Sc./ M.Tech.) in any discipline of Biotechnology, Life Sciences such as Biomedical, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Botany, Chemistry, Computational Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Zoology or any other allied areas of Biology/Life-Sciences.

Candidates admitted in any of the M.Sc./ M.Tech./ M.VSc./ M.Sc.(Agri) programs supported under the DBT Post Graduate TeachingProgramme shall be eligible to apply. Candidates who are yet to appear inthe final semester examination or awaiting result of final semester shall alsobe eligible to apply.

Minimum 60% of marks for General, EWS & OBC category and 55% of marks for SC/ ST/ Differently Abled candidates in aggregate (orequivalent grade).

Age Limit: Upto 28 years of age as on the last date of application for General& EWS category.

Age relaxation of up to 5 years (33 years) for SC/ST/ Differently Abled/ Women candidates and upto 3 years (31 years) for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates.

Nationality: Candidate should be a bonafide citizen and resident of India.

Candidate who has either appeared or is due to appear in the final examination of their qualifying degree is eligible to apply for BET 2023,under the result awaited (RA) category.

GAT- B 2023

Syllabus for Section A is of 10+2 level in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

Syllabus for Section B is of Graduate level as given here:

Biomolecules-structure and functions; Biological membranes, structure, action potential and transport processes; Enzymes- classification, kinetics and mechanism of action; Basic concepts and designs of metabolism (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleic acids) photosynthesis, respiration and electron transport chain; Bioenergetics.

Viruses- structure and classification; Microbial classification and diversity (bacterial, algal and fungal); Methods in microbiology; Microbial growth and nutrition; Aerobic and anaerobic respiration; Nitrogen fixation; Microbial diseases and host-pathogeninteraction.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure; Cell cycle and cell growth control; Cell-Cell communication, Cell signaling and signal transduction.

Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes; Mutations and mutagenesis; Nucleic acid replication, transcription, translation and their regulatory mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; Mendelian inheritance; Gene interaction; Complementation; Linkage, genetics (plasmids, transformation, transduction, conjugation); Horizontal gene transfer and Transposable elements; RNA interference; DNA damage and repair; Chromosomal variation; Molecular basis of genetic diseases.

Principles of microscopy-light, electron, fluorescent and confocal; Centrifugation- high speed and ultra; Principles of spectroscopy-UV, visible, CD, IR, FTIR, Raman, MS, NMR; Principles of chromatography- ion exchange, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction, affinity, GC, HPLC, FPLC; Electrophoresis; MicroarrayHistory of Immunology; Innate, humoral and cell mediated immunity; Antigen; Antibody structure and function; Molecular basis of antibody diversity; Synthesis of antibody and secretion; Antigen-antibody reaction; Complement; Primary and secondary lymphoid organ; B and T cells and macrophages; Major histocompatibility complex (MHC); Antigen processing and presentation; Polyclonal and monoclonal antibody; Regulation of immune response; Immune tolerance; Hypersensitivity; Autoimmunity; Graft versus host reaction. 

Major bioinformatics resources and search tools; Sequence and structure databases; Sequence analysis (bimolecular sequence file formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment, phylogeny); Data mining and analytical tools for genomic and proteomic studies; Molecular dynamics and simulations (basic concepts including force fields, protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, protein- ligand interaction). 

Restriction and modification enzymes; Vectors; plasmid, bacteriophage and other viral vectors, cosmids, Ti plasmid, yeast artificial chromosome; mammalian and plant expression vectors; cDNA and genomic DNA library; Gene isolation, cloning and expression; Transposons and gene targeting; DNA labeling; DNA sequencing; Polymerase chain reactions; DNA fingerprinting; Southern and northern blotting; In- situ hybridization; RAPD, RFLP; Site-directed mutagenesis; Gene transfer technologies; Gene therapy.

Totipotency; Regeneration of plants; Plant growth regulators and elicitors; Tissue culture and Cell suspension culture system: methodology, kinetics of growth and, nutrient optimization; Production of secondary metabolites by plant suspension cultures; Hairy root culture; transgenic plants; Plant products of industrial importance.

Animal cell culture; media composition and growth conditions; Animal cell and tissue preservation; Anchorage and non-anchorage dependent cell culture; Kinetics of cell growth; Micro & macro-carrier culture; Hybridoma technology; Stem cell technology; Animal cloning; Transgenic animals.

Chemical engineering principles applied to biological system, Principle of reactor design, ideal and non- ideal multiphase bioreactors, mass and heat transfer; Rheology of fermentation fluids, Aeration and agitation; Media formulation and optimization; Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization and product formation; Sterilization of air and media; Batch, fed-batch and continuous processes; Various types of microbial and enzyme reactors; Instrumentation control and optimization; Unit operations in solid-liquid separation and liquid-liquid extraction; Process scale-up, economics and feasibility analysis. 

Engineering principle of bioprocessing - Upstream production and downstream; Bioprocess design and development from lab to industrial scale; Microbial, animal and plant cell culture platforms; Production of biomass and primary/secondary metabolites; Biofuels, Bioplastics, industrial enzymes, antibiotics; Large scale production and purification of recombinant proteins; Industrial application of chromatographic and membrane based bio-separation methods; Immobilization of biocatalysts (enzymes and cells) for bioconversion processes; Bioremediation-Aerobic and anaerobic processes for stabilization of solid / liquid wastes.

Tissue culture and its application, Micropropagation.

Meristem culture and production of virus-free plants. 

Anther and microspore culture. Embryo and ovary culture.

Protoplast isolation. Protoplast fusion-somatic hybrids, cybrid. Somaclones, Synthetic seeds.

In vitro germplasm conservation. Cryopreservation. Organelle DNA, Satellite-and repetitive DNAs. DNA repair. Regulation of gene expression. Recombinant DNA technology-cloning vectors, restriction enzymes, gene cloning. Methods of gene transfer in plants.

Achievements and recent developments of genetic engineering in agriculture.

Development of transgenics for biotic & abiotic stress tolerance, bioethics, terminator technology, nanotechnology, DNA fingerprinting, gene silencing.

GAT-B 2023/ BET 2023

• Rs. 1,200/- for General(UR)/ OBC NCL/ EWS
• Rs. 600/- for SC/ ST/ PWD 

 GAT-B & BET (Both) 2023:

• Rs. 2,400/- for General (UR)/ OBC NCL/ EWS
• Rs. 1,200/- for SC/ ST/ PWD

Applicable service/processing charges & GST over and above the Examination Fee, are payable by the candidate to the concerned Bank/ Payment Gateway Integrator concerned.

Download Information Bulletin and read the same carefully regarding eligibility and procedure / documentation required for filling the Online Application Form.

Follow the steps given below to Apply Online:

Step-1: Register for Online Registration using your own Email ID and Mobile No. and note down system generated Application Number.

Step-2: Complete the Online Application Form and note down the system generated Application Number.

Step-3: Upload legible scanned images of: (i) a recent photograph (in jpg/ jpeg file, size 10Kb – 200Kb) either in colour or black & white with 80% face (without mask) visible including ears against white background; (ii) candidate’s signature (file size: 4kb - 30kb); (iii) PwD Certificate (file size 50 kb-300 kb)(iv) Category Certificate (file size 50 kb-300 kb); (v) Certificate of Proof of Date of Birth(file size 50 kb-300 kb); (vi)Certificate for Appearing/Result Awaiting Candidates (file size 50 kb-300 kb). .

Step-4: Pay prescribed fee through Net Banking / Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI / Wallet and keep proof of fee paid for future reference.

All the 4 Steps can be done together or at separate timings.

After the submission of Online Application Form (i.e successful completion of Step-4), Confirmation Page of the Application Form, should be downloaded and a printout of the samemay be retained for future reference. The Confirmation Page of the online Application Form will be generated only after successful payment by the Candidate.

Admit Card for the Examinations

The Admit Card will be issued provisionally to the candidates, subject to their satisfying the eligibility conditions.

The candidate has to download the Admit Card from the NTA website and appear for the Examination at the given Centre on Date, timing and examination as indicated in their Admit Card.

No candidate will be allowed to appear at the Examination centre, on Date and timing other than that allotted to them in their Admit Card.

In case candidates are unable to download Admit Cards from the website, they may approach the Help Line between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm or write to NTA at dbt@nta.ac.in for GAT-B 2023 and BET 2023.

The result for GAT-B 2023 and BET 2023 will be processed based on Final Answer Keys.

No grievance with regard to Answer Key (s) after Declaration of Result of GAT-B 2023 and BET 2023 will be entertained.

The marks obtained by a candidate will be considered further for computation of the result of both GAT-B 2023 and BET 2023.

No Score Card will be dispatched to the candidates and the candidates are advised to download their Score Cards for GAT-B 2023 and BET 2023 from the website: dbt.nta.ac.in only.

GAT-B/ BET 2022 Dates