| Number of tests | Once in a year |
| Fellowship/ Assistantship | Subject to fulfilling the admission criteria of the admitting institutes. |
| Administering institutes | IISc Bangalore and 7 IITs |
| Organizing Institute of Exam | One of the administering institutes |
| Medium of examination | English |
| Mode of examination | Computer based test (CBT) |
| Subject papers allowed | Maximum TWO Paper combinations |
| Combination of TWO Papers Allowed | BM (Biomedical Engineering), BT (Biotechnology), CY (Chemistry), EY (Ecology and Evolution): Allowed as the Second Paper, if primary paper is Life Sciences |
| Time duration | 3 hours |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Paper Sections | General Aptitude (GA) + Chemistry (Compulsory)Any TWO optional Sections: Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology |
| Type of questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Number of questions | 10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions |
| Pattern of questions | GA : 5 x 1 + 5 x 2 =15 : 5 questions carrying 1-mark each and 5 questions carrying 2-marks each.Subject: Chemistry (Compulsory): 9 x 1 + 8 x 2 =25 marks : 9 questions carrying 1-mark each and 8 questions carrying 2-marks each. Only TWO optional sections can be answered at a time.Each of the optional sections of the XL paper (Biochemistry, Botany, Microbiology, Zoology, Food Technology) contains 19 questions carrying a total of 30 marks: 8 questions carrying 1-mark each (sub-total 8 marks) and 11 questions carrying 2-marks each (sub-total 22 marks). |
| Distribution of Marks | General Aptitude: 15 Marks + Chemistry: 25 Marks + Optional TWO Subjects: 60 Marks , Total: 100 Marks |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | For a wrong answer chosen in a MCQ, there will be negative marking. For 1-mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. Likewise, for 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer. |
| Eligibility | 3rd Year or higher years of any undergraduate degree program OR Currently in the first year or higher or already completed Master’s degree in any relevant science subject |
| Age limit | NO age limit |
| Syllabus | Click here |
| Validity of Score Card | Three years |
| Relevant website | https://gate2024.iisc.ac.in/ |
Chemistry (Compulsory for all XL candidates)
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Section 1 – Atomic Structure and Periodicity | – Planck’s quantum theory – Wave-particle duality – Uncertainty principle – Comparison between Bohr’s model and quantum mechanical model of hydrogen atom – Electronic configuration of atoms and ions – Hund’s rule – Pauli’s exclusion principle – Periodic table and periodic properties: ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, and atomic size |
| Section 2 – Structure and Bonding | – Ionic and covalent bonding – MO and VB approaches for diatomic molecules – VSEPR theory and shape of molecules – Hybridization – Resonance – Dipole moment – Structure parameters: bond length, bond angle, and bond energy – Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions – Ionic solids, ionic radii, and lattice energy (Born‐Haber cycle) – HSAB principle |
| Section 3 – s, p, and d Block Elements | – Oxides, halides, and hydrides of alkali, alkaline earth metals, B, Al, Si, N, P, and S – General characteristics of 3d elements – Coordination complexes: valence bond and crystal field theory, color, geometry, magnetic properties, and isomerism |
| Section 4 – Chemical Equilibria | – Osmotic pressure – Elevation of boiling point and depression of freezing point – Ionic equilibria in solution – Solubility product – Common ion effect – Hydrolysis of salts – pH, buffer, and their applications – Equilibrium constants (Kc, Kp, Kx) for homogeneous reactions |
| Section 5 – Electrochemistry | – Conductance – Kohlrausch law – Cell potentials – EMF – Nernst equation – Thermodynamic aspects and their applications |
| Section 6 – Reaction Kinetics | – Rate constant – Order of reaction – Molecularity – Activation energy – Zero, first, and second-order kinetics – Catalysis – Elementary enzyme reactions – Reversible and irreversible inhibition of enzymes |
| Section 7 – Thermodynamics | – Qualitative treatment of state and path functions – First law: reversible and irreversible processes – Internal energy and enthalpy – Kirchoff equation – Heat of reaction, Hess’s law, and heat of formation – Second law: entropy and free energy – Gibbs‐Helmholtz equation – Free energy change and spontaneity – Free energy changes from equilibrium constant |
| Section 8 – Structure-Reactivity Correlations and Organic Reaction Mechanisms | – Acids and bases – Electronic and steric effects – Stereochemistry: optical and geometrical isomerism – Tautomerism and conformers – Concept of aromaticity – Elementary treatment of SN1, SN2, E1, E2, and radical reactions – Hoffmann/Saytzeff rules – Addition reactions: Markownikoff rule and Kharasch effect – Elementary hydroboration reactions – Grignard’s reagents and their uses – Aromatic electrophilic substitutions: orientation effect as exemplified by various functional groups – Identification of common functional groups by chemical tests |
| Section 9 – Chemistry of Biomolecules | – Amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, and nucleotides – Peptide sequencing by chemical and enzymatic proteolytic methods – DNA sequencing by chemical and enzymatic methods – Carbohydrates (up to hexoses only) – Lipids (triglycerides only) – Principles of biomolecule purification: ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography – Identification of these biomolecules – Beer-Lambert’s law |
Biochemistry
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Section 1 – Organization of Life and Biomolecules | – Organization of life – Importance of water – Structure and function of biomolecules: Amino acids, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic acids – Protein structure, folding/misfolding, and function – Myoglobin, Hemoglobin, Lysozyme, Ribonuclease A, Carboxypeptidase, and Chymotrypsin |
| Section 2 – Enzyme Kinetics and Metabolism | – Enzyme kinetics, regulation, and inhibition – Vitamins and Coenzymes – Bioenergetics and metabolism – Generation and utilization of ATP – Metabolic pathways and their regulation: Glycolysis, TCA cycle, Pentose phosphate pathway, Oxidative phosphorylation, Gluconeogenesis, Glycogen and fatty acid metabolism – Metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds: Nitrogen fixation, Amino acids, and Nucleotides – Photosynthesis and Calvin cycle |
| Section 3 – Biochemical Techniques | – Biochemical separation techniques: Ion exchange, Size exclusion, and Affinity chromatography – Centrifugation – Characterization of biomolecules by electrophoresis – DNA-protein and Protein-protein interactions – UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy – Mass spectrometry |
| Section 4 – Cell Structure and Membranes | – Cell structure and organelles – Biological membranes – Action potential – Transport across membranes – Membrane assembly and protein targeting – Signal transduction – Receptor-ligand interaction – Hormones and neurotransmitters |
| Section 5 – DNA and Gene Expression | – DNA replication, transcription, and translation – DNA damage and repair – Biochemical regulation of gene expression – Recombinant DNA technology and applications: PCR, Site-directed mutagenesis, DNA microarray – Next-generation sequencing – Gene silencing and editing |
| Section 6 – Immune System | – Immune system: Innate and adaptive – Cells of the immune system – Active and passive immunity – Complement system – Antibody structure, function, and diversity – B cell and T cell receptors – B cell and T cell activation – Major histocompatibility complex – Immunological techniques: Immunodiffusion, Immune-electrophoresis, RIA, ELISA, Flow cytometry – Monoclonal antibodies and their applications |
Botany
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Section 1 – Plant Systematics | – Botanical nomenclature – History of plant taxonomy – Diversity and classification of plants – APG system of plant classification – Phylogenetics and cladistics – Molecular taxonomy and DNA barcoding – Centers for plant taxonomy and herbaria in India |
| Section 2 – Plant Anatomy | – Anatomy of root, stem, and leaves – Floral organs, embryo, and young seedlings – Primary and secondary meristems – Stellar organization – Vascular system and their ontogeny – Xylem and phloem structure – Secondary growth in plants and wood anatomy – Plant cell structure and differences from animal cells |
| Section 3 – Plant Development; Cell and Tissue Morphogenesis | – Life cycle of an angiosperm – Development of male and female gametophyte – Cell fate determination and tissue patterning – Spacing mechanisms in trichomes and stomata – Embryogenesis – Organization and function of shoot and root apical meristems – Transition to flowering: photoperiodism and vernalization – ABC model of floral organ patterning – Pollen germination and double fertilization – Seed development – Xylem and phloem cell differentiation – Photomorphogenesis: phytochrome, cryptochrome, phototropin – Role of auxin, cytokinin, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids on plant development |
| Section 4 – Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | – Plant water relations – Mechanisms of uptake and transport of water, ions, and solutes – Apoplastic and symplastic transport mechanisms – Mechanism of stomatal movements – Nitrogen metabolism – Photosynthesis: C3, C4, and CAM cycles – Photorespiration – Respiration: Glycolysis, TCA cycle, and electron transport chain – Plant responses to abiotic stresses: drought, salinity, freezing, heat stress, metal toxicity – Role of abscisic acid in abiotic stresses – Structure and function of biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acid) – Enzyme kinetics – Structure and biosynthesis of major plant secondary metabolites (alkaloids, terpenes, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids) – Biosynthesis, mechanism of action, and physiological effects of auxin, cytokinin, gibberellic acids, brassinosteroid, ethylene, strigolactone, abscisic acid, salicylic and jasmonic acid – Senescence and programmed cell death |
| Section 5 – Genetics and Genomics | – Cell cycle and cell division – Principles of Mendelian inheritance – Linkage, recombination, and genetic mapping – Extrachromosomal inheritance – Introduction to epigenetics – Gene silencing: transgene silencing, post-transcriptional gene silencing, miRNA, and siRNA – Evolution and organization of eukaryotic genome structure – Gene expression – Gene mutation and repair – Chromosomal aberrations (numerical: euploidy and aneuploidy; structural: deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation) – Transposons – Model organisms for functional genetics and genomics – Introduction to transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics |
| Section 6 – Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification, Genome Editing | – Principles and methods: selection, hybridization, heterosis – Male sterility – Genetic maps and molecular markers – Embryo rescue, haploid and doubled haploids – Plant tissue culture: micropropagation, embryo culture, in vitro regeneration – Somatic embryogenesis – Artificial seed – Cryopreservation – Somaclonal variation – Somatic cell hybridization – Marker-assisted selection – Gene transfer methods: direct and vector-mediated – Generation of transgenic plants – Introduction to genome editing: CRISPR/Cas9, Cre-Lox system for chimera generation – Plastid transformation – Chemical mutagenesis |
| Section 7 – Economic and Applied Botany | – Economically and medicinally important plants: cereals, pulses, plants yielding fibers, timber, sugar, beverages, oils, rubber, pigments, dyes, gums, drugs, and narcotics – Economic importance of algae, fungi, lichen, and bacteria – Major Indian cash crops – Effect of industrialization on agricultural botany (e.g., plastic on fiber economy) – Genetically modified crops and regulation (e.g., Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, golden rice) |
| Section 8 – Plant Pathology | – Nature and classification of plant diseases – Diseases of important crops caused by fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses – Control measures: chemical and biological – Mechanisms of pathogenesis – Resistance: basal, systemic, induced systemic resistance – Gene-for-gene concept – Molecular detection of pathogens – Plant-microbe interactions: symbionts, mycorrhiza, pathogens, and pests – Signaling pathways in plant defense response – Role of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) in plant-pathogen and plant-herbivore interactions – Necrosis – Host-parasitic plant interaction (e.g., Cuscuta) |
| Section 9 – Ecology and Environment | – Ecosystems: types, dynamics, degradation – Biogeochemical cycles – Ecological succession – Food webs and energy flow through ecosystems – Vegetation types: global and Indian – Biogeographical zones – Climate and flora endemism – Pollution and global climate change – Speciation and extinction – Biodiversity and conservation strategies – Ecological hotspots – Afforestation and habitat restoration – Plant interactions with other organisms: epiphytes, parasites, and endophytes |
Microbiology
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Section 1 – Historical Perspective | – Discovery of microbial world – Landmark discoveries in microbiology – Controversy over spontaneous generation – Role of microorganisms in organic matter transformation and disease causation |
| Section 2 – Methods in Microbiology | – Pure culture techniques – Principles of microbial nutrition – Enrichment culture techniques – Antigen and antibody detection for microbial diagnosis – Microscopy: Light, phase contrast, fluorescence, electron – PCR and real-time PCR for quantifying microbes – Next generation sequencing in microbiology |
| Section 3 – Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity | – Broad classification of Bacteria and Archea – Eukaryotic microbes: Yeasts, molds, protozoa – Virus classification – Molecular approaches to microbial taxonomy and phylogeny |
| Section 4 – Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function | – Prokaryotic cell walls and membranes – Biosynthesis and solute transport across membranes – Flagella, pili, and capsules – Cell inclusions: endospores, gas vesicles – Bacterial locomotion: positive and negative chemotaxis |
| Section 5 – Microbial Growth | – Definition of growth – Growth curve and mathematical expression of exponential phase – Growth measurement and yields – Synchronous and continuous culture – Environmental effects on growth – Bacterial biofilms and biofouling |
| Section 6 – Control of Micro-organisms | – Disinfection and sterilization principles – Methods and efficacy assessment |
| Section 7 – Microbial Metabolism | – Energetics: redox reactions, electron carriers – Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation – Overview of metabolism – Glycolysis, Pentose-phosphate, Entner-Doudoroff, Glyoxalate pathway – Citric acid cycle – Fermentation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration – Chemolithotrophy, photosynthesis, Calvin cycle – Fatty acid biosynthesis – Regulatory mechanisms in amino acid synthesis – Regulation of major metabolic pathways |
| Section 8 – Microbial Diseases and Host Pathogen Interaction | – Normal microbiota – Infectious disease classification – Reservoirs of infection – Nosocomial and opportunistic infections – Emerging infectious diseases – Microbial pathogenicity mechanisms – Host nonspecific defenses – Antigens, antibodies, humoral and cell-mediated immunity – Vaccines, passive immunization, immune deficiencies – Human diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi |
| Section 9 – Chemotherapy/Antibiotics | – Characteristics of antimicrobial drugs – Antibiotic classification, molecular mechanisms, action and resistance – Antifungal and antiviral drugs |
| Section 10 – Microbial Genetics | – Types of mutations, UV and chemical mutagens – Mutant selection – Ames test for mutagenesis – Bacterial genetic systems: transformation, conjugation, transduction, recombination – Plasmids, transposons – DNA repair – Gene expression regulation: repression, induction, Operon model – Bacterial genome (E. coli focus) – Phage λ life cycle – RNA, virus genome mutations, recombination, reassortment – Basic concept of microbial genomics |
| Section 11 – Microbial Ecology | – Microbial interactions – Carbon, sulfur, nitrogen cycles – Soil microorganisms and vascular plants – Bioremediation – Uncultivable microorganisms – Basic concepts of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics |
Zoology
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Section 1 – Animal Diversity | – Distribution, systematics, and classification of animals – Phylogenetic relationships (classical and molecular tools) |
| Section 2 – Evolution | – Origin and history of life on Earth – Theories of evolution – Natural selection – Adaptation and speciation |
| Section 3 – Genetics | – Basic principles of inheritance – Molecular basis of heredity – Sex determination and sex-linked traits – Cytoplasmic inheritance – Linkage, recombination, and gene mapping in eukaryotes – Population genetics – Genetic disorders – Roles of model organisms in genetics research |
| Section 4 – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | – Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates – Replication, transcription, and translation – Krebs cycle, glycolysis – Enzyme catalysis – Hormones and their actions – Roles of vitamins and minerals |
| Section 5 – Cell Biology | – Principles of cellular microscopy – Cell structure and cytoskeletal organization – Cellular organelles: structure and function – Cell cycle and cell division – Chromosomes and chromatin structure |
| Section 6 – Gene Expression in Eukaryotes | – Eukaryotic genome organization – Regulation of gene expression – Transposable elements |
| Section 7 – Animal Anatomy and Physiology | – Comparative physiology – Respiratory, muscular, circulatory, digestive, nervous, excretory, endocrine, reproductive, and skeletal systems |
| Section 8 – Parasitology and Immunology | – Nature of parasites – Host-parasite relations – Protozoan and helminthic parasites – The immune response: cellular and humoral |
| Section 9 – Development Biology | – Gametogenesis and embryonic development – Cellular differentiation and organogenesis – Metamorphosis – Model organisms in developmental biology – Genetic and molecular basis of development – Stem cells |
| Section 10 – Ecology | – Ecosystem and animal distribution – Ecological niche and diversity – Food chains – Population dynamics and species diversity – Zoogeography and biogeochemical cycles – Conservation biology and ecotoxicology |
| Section 11 – Animal Behaviour | – Types of behavior – Courtship, mating, and territoriality – Instinct, learning, and memory – Social behavior across taxa – Communication and pheromones – Evolution of behavior in animals |
Food Technology
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Section 1 – Food Chemistry and Nutrition | – Carbohydrates: structure and properties of mono-, oligo-, & polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, pectic substances, dietary fibre) – Gelatinization and retrogradation of starch – Proteins: classification, structure, post mortem changes, muscle tenderization – Lipids: classification, structure, rancidity, polymerization, polymorphism – Pigments: carotenoids, chlorophylls, anthocyanins, tannins, myoglobin – Food flavours: terpenes, esters, aldehydes, ketones, quinines – Enzymes: specificity, kinetics, coenzymes, enzymatic/non-enzymatic browning – Nutrition: balanced diet, essential amino acids/fatty acids, protein efficiency ratio, vitamins, minerals, co-factors, anti-nutrients, nutraceuticals – Chemical and biochemical changes during food processing |
| Section 2 – Food Microbiology | – Characteristics of microorganisms: morphology (bacteria, yeast, mold, actinomycetes), spores, vegetative cells, gram-staining – Microbial growth and death kinetics, serial dilution technique – Food spoilage in different products: milk, fish, meat, egg, cereals – Toxins from microbes: pathogens and non-pathogens (Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Escherichia, Bacillus, Clostridium, Aspergillus) – Fermented foods and beverages: curd, yoghurt, cheese, pickles, soya-sauce, sauerkraut, idli, dosa, vinegar, alcoholic beverages, sausage |
| Section 3 – Food Products Technology | – Processing principles: thermal, chilling, freezing, dehydration, preservatives, additives, irradiation, fermentation, hurdle technology, intermediate moisture foods – Food packaging and storage: packaging materials, aseptic packaging, controlled/modified atmosphere storage – Cereal processing: rice, wheat, maize milling, parboiling, bread, biscuits, extruded products, ready-to-eat cereals – Oil processing: expelling, solvent extraction, refining, hydrogenation – Fruits and vegetables: juice extraction, clarification, concentration, packaging, jam, jelly, marmalade, squash, candies, tomato products, potato chips, pickles – Plantation crops: tea, coffee, cocoa, spice processing, extraction of essential oils/oleoresins – Milk products: pasteurization, sterilization, cream, butter, ghee, ice-cream, cheese, milk powder – Animal products: drying, canning, freezing of fish, meat, egg powder – Waste utilization: pectin from fruit wastes, rice milling by-products – Food standards and quality: FPO, PFA, A-Mark, ISI, HACCP, food plant sanitation, CIP |
| Section 4 – Food Engineering | – Mass and energy balance – Momentum transfer: flow rate, pressure drop for Newtonian fluids, Reynolds number – Heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation, heat exchangers – Mass transfer: molecular diffusion, Fick’s law, conduction/convective mass transfer, permeability through films – Mechanical operations: size reduction, high pressure homogenization, filtration, centrifugation, settling, sieving, mixing & agitation of liquids – Thermal operations: sterilization, evaporation, drying (hot air, spray, freeze), freezing, crystallization – Mass transfer operations: psychometrics, humidification, dehumidification |
General Aptitude
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal Aptitude | – Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, other parts of speech – Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, phrases in context – Reading comprehension – Narrative sequencing |
| Quantitative Aptitude | – Data interpretation: bar graphs, pie charts, other data graphs, 2D and 3D plots, maps, tables – Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents, logarithms, permutations, combinations, series – Mensuration and geometry – Elementary statistics and probability |
| Analytical Aptitude | – Logic: deduction and induction – Analogy – Numerical relations and reasoning |
| Spatial Aptitude | – Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, grouping – Paper folding and cutting – Patterns in 2D and 3D dimensions |