GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Download PDF

GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Download PDF

Ongoing Event

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

Gandubilli UnnatiUpdated on 20 Aug 2025, 05:33 PM IST

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.

This Story also Contains

  1. GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026
  2. GATE Zoology 2026 Exam Pattern
  3. Best Books for GATE Zoology Preparation
GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Download PDF
GATE Zoology Syllabus

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.

GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026

Sections

Study Areas

Animal Diversity

Distribution, systematics and classification of animals, phylogenetic relationships

Evolution

Origin and history of life on earth, theories of evolution, natural selection, adaptation, speciation

Genetics

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,

skeletal 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

GATE Zoology 2026 Exam Pattern

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.

GATE Exam Format 2026 Highlights

ParticularsDetails

Examination Mode

Computer Based Test (Online)

Duration

3 Hours

Type of Questions

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

  • Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

  • Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

Design of Questions

The questions are designed to test the listed abilities

  • Application

  • Analysis

  • Comprehension

  • Recall

  • Synthesis

Number of Questions

65 Questions (including 10 questions from General Aptitude)

Distribution of Questions in Zoology

  • Questions from Subject Concerned - 85 Marks

  • General Aptitude - 15 Marks

Total Marks

100 Marks

Marking Scheme

All of the questions will be worth 1 or 2 marks

GATE Negative Marking

Two types of MCQs:

  • 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. There are no negative marks for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

  • NO negative marking for MSQ & NAT.

Also Read: GATE Question Paper

Best Books for GATE Zoology Preparation

Here’s a list of some popular preparation books for GATE 2026. Students can easily purchase these materials on online platforms.

GATE Zoology Preparation Books 2026

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)

Q: Is the GATE 20265 syllabus released?
A:

Yes, IIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 syllabus on August 8, 2025.

Q: What is the GATE Zoology exam date?
A:

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.

Q: When should I start preparing for GATE 2026?
A:

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.

Q: What is the syllabus of GATE Life Sciences 2026?
A:

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.

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

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.

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Questions related to GATE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to GATE ?

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

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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.