GATE Microbiology Syllabus 2026 - Download Topics Wise Syllabus PDF

GATE Microbiology Syllabus 2026 - Download Topics Wise Syllabus PDF

Ongoing Event

GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 09 Aug 2025, 04:03 PM IST

GATE 2026 Microbiology Syllabus (XL-S): IIT Guwahati has published the GATE Microbiology syllabus 2026 (XL-S) on the official website. Candidates can check the IIT GATE 2026 Syllabus for Microbiology on this page. The syllabus will highlight important topics for exam preparation. Aspirants must follow the GATE 2026 exam pattern along with the syllabus to effectively develop their preparation strategy. The authority will conduct the GATE entrance exam in online mode. The GATE 2026 exam will cover 30 different papers. The GATE 2026 syllabus Microbiology syllabus PDF download direct link will be provided here. The GATE 2026 exam is scheduled for February 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2026.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE Microbiology Syllabus 2026 (XL-S)
  2. GATE Microbiology Exam Pattern 2026
  3. GATE Preparation Tips 2026
GATE Microbiology Syllabus 2026 - Download Topics Wise Syllabus PDF
GATE 2026 Microbiology Syllabus

GATE Microbiology Syllabus 2026 (XL-S)

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati will release the GATE 2026 Microbiology syllabus (XL-S) on the official website. The GATE Microbiology syllabus 2026 covers topics such as Historical Perspective, Methods in Microbiology, Microbial Growth, Control of Micro-organisms, Chemotherapy/Antibiotics and more. The detailed syllabus for GATE Microbiology is provided below.

GATE Syllabus for Microbiology 2026

Syllabus

Topics

GATE Microbiology Syllabus for Historical Perspective


  • Discovery of microbial world

  • Landmark discoveries relevant to the field of microbiology

  • Controversy over spontaneous generation

  • Role of microorganisms in the transformation of organic matter and the causation of diseases.


GATE Microbiology syllabus for Methods in Microbiology


  • Pure culture technique

  • Principles of microbial nutrition

  • Enrichment culture techniques for isolation of microorganisms

  • Antigen and antibody detection methods for microbial diagnosis

  • Light-, phase contrast-, fluorescence- and electron-microscopy

  • PCR, real-time PCR for quantitation of microbes

  • Next generation sequencing technologies in microbiology


GATE Microbiology Syllabus 2026 for Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity

  • Bacteria

  • Archea and their broad classification

  • Eukaryotic microbes: Yeasts, molds and protozoa

  • Viruses and their classification

  • Molecular approaches to microbial taxonomy and phylogeny

GATE Microbiology Syllabus for Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function

  • Cell walls, cell membranes and their biosynthesis

  • Mechanisms of solute transport across membranes

  • Flagella and Pili

  • Capsules

  • Cell inclusions like endospores and gas vesicles

  • Bacterial locomotion

  • Including positive and negative chemotaxis


GATE Microbiology Syllabus Microbial Growth

  • Definition of growth

  • Growth curve

  • Mathematical expression of the exponential growth phase

  • Measurement of growth and growth yields

  • Synchronous growth

  • Continuous culture

  • Effect of environmental factors on growth

  • Bacterial biofilm and biofouling


GATE Microbiology syllabus for Control of Micro-organisms


Disinfection and Sterilization: Principles, methods and assessment of efficacy.

GATE Microbiology syllabus for Microbial Metabolism

  • Energetics: redox reactions and electron carriers

  • Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation

  • An overview of metabolism

  • Glycolysis

  • Pentose-phosphate pathway

  • EntnerDoudoroff pathway

  • Glyoxalate pathway

  • The citric acid cycle

  • Fermentation

  • Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

  • Chemolithotrophy

  • Photosynthesis

  • Calvin cycle

  • Biosynthetic pathway for fatty acids synthesis

  • Common regulatory mechanisms in synthesis of amino acids

  • Regulation of major metabolic pathways


GATE Microbiology syllabus for Microbial Diseases and Host Pathogen Interaction

  • Normal microbiota

  • Classification of infectious diseases

  • Reservoirs of infection

  • Nosocomial infection

  • Opportunistic infections

  • Emerging infectious diseases

  • Mechanism of microbial pathogenicity

  • Nonspecific defense of host

  • Antigens and antibodies

  • Humoral and cell-mediated immunity

  • Vaccines

  • Passive immunization

  • Immune deficiency

  • Human diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and pathogenic fungi

GATE Microbiology syllabus for Chemotherapy/Antibiotics

  • Normal microbiota

  • Classification of infectious diseases

  • Reservoirs of infection

  • Nosocomial infection

  • Opportunistic infections

  • Emerging infectious diseases

  • Mechanism of microbial pathogenicity

  • Nonspecific defense of host

  • Antigens and antibodies

  • Humoral and cell-mediated immunity

  • Vaccines

  • Passive immunization

  • Immune deficiency

  • Human diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and pathogenic fungi


GATE Microbiology syllabus for Microbial Genetics

  • Types of mutation

  • UV and chemical mutagens

  • Selection of mutants

  • Ames test for mutagenesis

  • Bacterial genetic system: transformation, conjugation, transduction, recombination, plasmids, transposons

  • DNA repair

  • Regulation of gene expression: repression and induction; Operon model; Bacterial genome with special reference to E.coli; Phage λ and its life cycle; RNA;

  • Mutation in virus genomes, virus recombination and reassortment; Basic concept of microbial genomic

GATE Microbiology syllabus for Microbial Ecology

  • Microbial interactions

  • Carbon, sulphur and nitrogen cycles

  • Soil microorganisms associated with vascular plants

  • Bioremediation

  • Uncultivable microorganisms

  • Basic concept of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics

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GATE Microbiology Exam Pattern 2026

The authority has released the GATE 2026 exam pattern for Microbiology on the official website. Candidates must familiarize themselves with the GATE Microbiology syllabus and exam pattern. It will include details such as the marking scheme, types of questions, exam duration, mark distribution, and more.

GATE 2026 Microbiology Exam Pattern

Particulars

Pattern

Mode of exam

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Test Duration

3 hours

Sections

General Aptitude (GA), Candidates Selected Subjects, Compulsory Subject

Types of questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

Numerical Answer Type (NAT)

Distribution of Marks

General Aptitude - 15 marks

Compulsory Section - 25 marks

Subject marks - 60 marks

Total Marks

100 marks

Marking Scheme

Questions carry 1 marks or 2 marks

Negative Marking

  • For a 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

  • For a 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

Related links:

GATE Previous Year Question Paper's
Download GATE previous year question papers to understand exam pattern and difficulty level. Practice with these papers to boost your preparation and improve your score.
Check Now

GATE Preparation Tips 2026

Candidates can follow the following preparation tips for planning the preparation for the GATE Microbiology syllabus.

  • Get familiar with the GATE Microbiology syllabus and paper pattern

  • Create a proper study timetable distributing equal time for all topics.

  • Gather resources such as study materials, previous question papers, and books

  • Make handy notes for formulas

  • Regular revision is important

  • Attempt the GATE mock test

  • Solve previous year question paper

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is the GATE 2026 syllabus released?
A:

No, the GATE syllabus 2026 has released on the official website.

Q: How can I check GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026?
A:

Candidates can check the GATE 2026 Life Science Syllabus on the official website.

Q: Can a zoology student give a GATE exam?
A:

Yes, Candidates can apply for the GATE Zoology exam on the official website.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

To take GATE mock tests, first choose a reliable source like GATE official portal, NPTEL, Made Easy, or ACE Engineering. Sign up or register online to access the full-length tests. Simulate the actual 3-hour exam with proper timing and no distractions. Attempt complete tests to practice time management and exam strategy. After each test, analyze your performance to identify weak areas and revise. Regularly taking 1–2 mocks per week helps improve speed, accuracy, and confidence.



For GATE Life Sciences question banks, you can go for GATE past year's papers to understand the exam style, and you can buy online test series from a coaching site for lots of new practice questions.

you can get question book one from publishers like IFAS or GKP. Also use free online resources like NPTEL and EasyBiologyClass for extra practice and study materials. Good luck!

Here are GATE exam aptitude topics from high to low weightage:

1. English Comprehension & Vocabulary

2.Numerical Ability and Arithmetic

3.Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability

4.Data Interpretation

5.Geometry & Mensuration basic

6.Algebra basic

7.Probability and Statistics

8.General Knowledge and Miscellaneous Verbal like  odd one out, analogy, word usage.


If you are needed to prepare for gate exam from ece batch there 65 questions in exam pattern total marks is 100 here 15% is aptitude general questions then 15% mathematics engineering questions , 70% core subjects you need to concentrate on more core related subject like controls system , signals and system , digital circut these topics covers most of the basics but you need to prepare more topics in core subjects and create a structure plan for yourself dialy attend mock test with time duration these steps will help to prepare very easily.