GATE Application Date:28 Aug' 25 - 28 Sep' 25
GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026- IIT Guwahati has published the GATE 2026 syllabus for Zoology on the official website gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The detailed GATE 2026 syllabus for zoology can also be found on this page. The Zoology syllabus for the GATE 2026 exam is divided into 11 major sections, namely, Animal Diversity, Evolution, Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, etc. Students who are applying for the GATE exam can download the free syllabus PDF on the official website. The GATE 2026 exam will be conducted on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026.
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The GATE 2026 zoology exam code is XL-T. Candidates attempting the zoology paper must also be aware of the GATE 2026 exam pattern. The GATE Zoology syllabus is designed to assess the comprehensive understanding of students in the field of zoological sciences. Students planning to apply for the GATE 2026 exam can read the complete article carefully to get a vivid idea about the exam pattern, GATE syllabus Zoology pdf download, and more.
Sections | Study Areas |
---|---|
Animal Diversity | Distribution, systematics and classification of animals, phylogenetic relationships |
Origin and history of life on earth, theories of evolution, natural selection, adaptation, speciation | |
Basic Principles of inheritance, the molecular basis of heredity, sex determination, and sex-linked characteristics, cytoplasmic inheritance, linkage, recombination, and mapping of genes in eukaryotes, population genetics, genetic disorders, roles of model organisms in understanding genetic principles | |
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates; replication, transcription & translation, Krebs cycle, glycolysis, enzyme catalysis, hormones and their actions, roles of vitamins and minerals |
Cell Biology | Basic principles of cellular microscopy, structure of cell, cytoskeletal organization, cellular organelles and their structure and function, cell cycle, cell division, chromosomes, and chromatin structure |
Gene expression in Eukaryotes | Eukaryotic genome organization and regulation of gene expression, transposable elements |
Animal Anatomy and Physiology | Comparative physiology, the respiratory system, Muscular system, circulatory system, digestive system, the nervous system, the excretory system, the endocrine system, the reproductive system, |
Parasitology and Immunology | Nature of parasite, host-parasite relation, protozoan and helminthic parasites, the immune response, cellular and humoral immune response |
Development Biology | Gametogenesis, Embryonic development, cellular differentiation, organogenesis, metamorphosis, Model organisms used in developmental biology, genetic and molecular basis of development, stem cells |
Ecology | The ecosystem, Animal distribution, ecological niche and its contribution to ecological diversity, the food chain, population dynamics, species diversity, zoogeography, biogeochemical cycles, conservation biology, ecotoxicology |
Animal Behaviour | Type of behaviours, courtship, mating and territoriality, instinct, learning and memory, social behaviour across the animal taxa, communication, pheromones, evolution of behaviour in animals |
The exam pattern for GATE 2026 consists of the total number of questions and marks per question in the exam. It also includes the marks for correct and incorrect responses. The GATE exam will be conducted in 30 major Papers. The overall GATE test duration is 3 hours. GATE is a Computer Test conducted online in two sections: General Aptitude (GA) and Candidate-selected Subject. The total score for the test is 100 marks and all of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks.
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (Online) |
Duration | 3 Hours |
Type of Questions |
|
Design of Questions | The questions are designed to test the listed abilities
|
Number of Questions | 65 Questions (including 10 questions from General Aptitude) |
Distribution of Questions in Zoology |
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Total Marks | 100 Marks |
Marking Scheme | All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks |
GATE Negative Marking | Two types of MCQs:
|
Also Read: GATE Question Paper
Here’s a list of some popular preparation books for GATE 2026. Students can easily purchase these materials on online platforms.
Book Name | Publication |
---|---|
GKP GATE 2025 : Life Science - Zoology - Guide(Includes Solved papers of 2016-2024) | GK Publications |
GATE 2024: Life Science - Zoology - Guide by Dr. Prabhanshu Kumar Er. Preeti Tripathi | GK Publications |
Gate Life Science Zoology [XL-T] Question Answer Book 4000+ MCQ As Per Updated | Diwakar Education Hub |
Gkp Gate 2025: Life Science - Zoology - Guide includes Solved Papers Of 2016-2024 | GK Publications |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 syllabus on August 8, 2025.
The zoology paper is a part of the GATE Life Sciences 2026 paper. IIT Guwahati is yet to release the GATE 2026 Exam dates on the official website.
You can start your GATE 2026 preparation immediately to get a good GATE score. However, students are recommended to dedicate at least 500 hours to practice, revision, and test series to increase their expected scores.
The syllabus of GATE Life Sciences comprises various topics such as XL - U Food Technology, XL - P Chemistry, XL - Q Biochemistry, XL - R Botany, XL - S Microbiology, and XL - T Zoology.
Yes, a zoology student can do a GATE exam. However, the candidate must complete their 3rd year of a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or a related field to fulfill the academic requirement of the test.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Yes, you can change your category from General to OBC during the GATE 2026 correction window.
GATE always allows candidates to correct details like category. You will need to pay a small correction fee for this change. Make sure you upload a valid OBC certificate as per the format and date mentioned by GATE.
So, wait for the correction window, log in to your application, and update your category to OBC.
Hope it helps !
Hello! If you are preparing for GATE, there are plenty of free resources available online that can boost your preparation. You can easily access e-books, handwritten notes, subject wise PYQs, and test series shared by toppers on different platforms. Along with that, free PDFs and study material are available through various websites and Telegram channels. To make it easier, I will be attaching the link where you can find preparation tips, a study timetable, free study materials, and previous year question papers all in one place.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-timetable
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-gate
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-preparation-material
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-mock-test
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/gate-question-papers
Hello, with an AIR of 25070 and a score of 499 in NEET PG 2025 under the General category, getting a government seat in West Bengal for highly demanded branches like General Surgery or Orthopedics may be difficult, as these usually close at much higher ranks. However, you still stand a chance for other clinical or para-clinical branches through the state quota counselling. I suggest using the NEET PG college predictor link I’m sharing here, which will give you a clearer idea of the colleges and branches you may get based on your rank and category.
NEET PG College Predictor-
https://medicine.careers360.com/neet-pg-college-predictor
Hello,
You can download GATE Previous Year Question Papers either from the official website of GATE 2026, or from Careers360. Here are the links for both :
Official Website : Download GATE Previous Papers (https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in/download.html)
Careers360 : GATE Question Papers with Solutions
Hope it helps !
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.
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