GATE Botany Syllabus 2026 PDF Free Download

GATE Botany Syllabus 2026 PDF Free Download

Edited By Samridhi Mishra | Updated on Apr 11, 2025 11:36 AM IST | #GATE

GATE Botany Syllabus 2026 - IIT Guwahati will release the GATE 2026 Botany syllabus on the official website. Candidates can check the detailed GATE syllabus for botany on this page. The syllabus is a list of topics that must be prepared for the exam. GATE exam aspirants appearing for the Botany test must check the syllabus thoroughly to prepare and score well. The Botany syllabus for GATE 2026 includes topics across nine units, including Plant Systematic, Plant Anatomy, Plant Development; Cell and Tissue Morphogenesis, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Genetics and Genomics, Ecology and Environment, etc. With the help of the GATE syllabus, candidates can plan their preparation effectively. The GATE 2026 exam will be held in February in online mode.
Direct link to download the previous year's GATE Botany syllabus PDF

GATE Botany Syllabus 2026 PDF Free Download
GATE Botany Syllabus 2026 PDF Free Download

Along with the syllabus, candidates must check the GATE exam pattern 2026. The authority will prepare the GATE question paper as per the GATE Botany syllabus 2026. Candidates can check the detailed GATE Botany syllabus pdf from this page.

GATE Botany Syllabus 2026

IIT Guwahati will publish the GATE botany syllabus 2026 pdf download on the official website. There are 9 chapters in the GATE Botany syllabus. Candidates can check the detailed topic-wise GATE Botany syllabus from the table below.

GATE Botany Syllabus Chapter Wise

Chapters

Topics

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.

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.

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, double fertilization, seed development; Xylem and phloem cell differentiation, photomorphogenesis; phytochrome, cryptochrome, phototropin. Role of auxin, cytokinin, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids on plant development.

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

Plant water relations, mechanisms of uptake and transport of water, ions, solutes from soil to plants, 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 and mechanisms of abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, freezing and 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.

Genetics and Genomics

Cell cycle, cell division, Principles of Mendelian inheritance, linkage, recombination, genetic mapping; extra chromosomal 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 and structural: deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation), transposons. Model organisms for functional genetics and genomics; Introduction to transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics.

Plant Breeding, Genetic Modification, Genome Editing

Principles, methods – selection, hybridization, heterosis; male sterility, genetic maps and molecular markers, embryo rescue, haploid and doubled haploids, plant tissue culture: micropropagation, embryo culture and in vitro regeneration, somatic embryogenesis, artificial seed, cryopreservation, somaclonal variation, somatic cell hybridization, marker-assisted selection, gene transfer methods viz. direct and vector-mediated, generation of transgenic plants; Introduction to genome editing: CRISPR/Cas9, Cre-Lox system to generate chimeras; plastid transformation; chemical mutagenesis.

Economic and Applied Botany

A general account of 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 such as plastic on fiber economy. Genetically modified crops and its regulation, e.g. Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, golden rice etc.

Plant Pathology

Nature and classification of plant diseases, diseases of important crops caused by fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses, and their control measures (chemical and biological) mechanism(s) of pathogenesis, resistance: basal, systemic, induced systemic resistance, gene for gene concept. Molecular detection of pathogens; plant-microbe interactions: symbionts and mycorrhiza, pathogens and pests. Signaling pathways in plant defence response; salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) in plant-pathogen and plant-herbivore interaction, necrosis; host-parasitic plant interaction (such as Cuscuta).

Ecology and Environment

Ecosystems – types, dynamics, degradation, biogeochemical cycles, ecological succession; food webs and energy flow through ecosystem; vegetation types of the world, Indian vegetation types and biogeographical zones, climate and flora endemism; pollution and global climate change, speciation and extinction, biodiversity and conservation strategies, ecological hotspots, afforestation, habitat restoration; plant interactions with other organisms; epiphytes, parasites and endophytes.

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GATE 2026 Botany Exam Pattern

Candidates appearing for the GATE Botany paper must check the exam pattern to familiarise themselves with the question paper format. The authority will soon release the GATE 2026 Botany exam pattern on the official website.

GATE Botany Exam Pattern

Particulars

Details

Examination Mode

Computer Based Test (Online)

Duration

3 Hours

Section

  • General Aptitude (GA)

  • Chemistry (XL-P)

  • Botany (XL-R)

  • Additional section opted for by the student

Type of Questions

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

  • Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

  • Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

Total Marks

100 Marks

Marking Scheme

All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks

GATE Negative Marking

  • MCQs - 1 mark for each correct answer; 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.

  • MCQs - 2 marks for each correct answer; 2/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response.

  • No negative marking for MSQ & NAT.

  • No partial marking for MSQ type questions.

Related links:

GATE Preparation Tips 2026

Candidates preparing for the upcoming GATE 2026 exam can check the GATE preparation tips. The preparation tips will help candidates prepare for the exam strategically.

  • Understand the GATE 2026 exam pattern and syllabus before starting the preparation.

  • Create a study pattern and follow it rigorously.

  • Know the high-weightage topics of the GATE 2026 syllabus and pay special attention to them.

  • Pick the correct reference materials.

  • Know your strengths and work on weaker areas.

  • Attempt mock tests to know the paper pattern.

  • Practice as many GATE 2026 sample papers to better preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the GATE 2026 Botany syllabus released?

No. IIT Guwahati will release the GATE Botany syllabus 2026. 

2. When should I start preparing for GATE 2026?

Looking at the vastness of the GATE syllabus 2026, candidates must begin their GATE preparation as soon as possible.

3. What is the syllabus of botany for GATE?

The GATE Botany syllabus comprises 9 chapters including Plant systematics, Plant Anatomy, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Genetics and Genomics, Ecology and Environment and more.

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Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) Baroda offers 18 seats for the M.E. in Structural Engineering. The exact number of seats filled via GATE admissions can vary yearly. For accurate data, contact the university or check their official website.

  • Since you've been allocated to your first-choice program and completed the fee payment, admission is confirmed .

  • No need to appear for further exams if the admission is already finalized.

  • Double-check official BITS communication or contact the admissions office for any additional requirements.

For more Accurate Info, You can Contact them Directly.

  1. Visit gate.iitk.ac.in (https://gate.iitk.ac.in/) .

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Students with a 3-year B.Sc. degree can apply for the GATE exam. However, the eligibility for admission through GATE scores depends on the program and institution. B.Sc. graduates can apply for Master's programs like M.Tech at institutions such as IITs, IISc, and some NITs, but most IITs require a B.Tech for direct M.Tech admissions. IISc offers Integrated Ph.D. programs, and some NITs may accept B.Sc. graduates for specific programs. Ensure you check the specific eligibility criteria for each institute and program.



Hello,

Yes, as per the latest GATE eligibility criteria , students who have completed a 3-year BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree can now apply for the GATE exam. But admission options through GATE score for such students are limited.

  • IITs: Generally do not allow admission to MTech, but some may offer MSc-PhD or research programmes.

  • IISc: Allows BSc students for Integrated PhD in science subjects.

  • NITs/IIITs: Mostly need BE/BTech, so limited chances for BSc students.

  • Best options: Integrated PhD, MS by Research, or research roles.

Hope it helps !

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