GATE BT 2026 — Solved Paper

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Topics covered

Where the 100 tagged marks come from

1. Engineering Mathematics — 11 questions, 17 marksClick a topic segment above for its breakdown

▸1. Engineering Mathematics11 questions · 17 marks

▸1.1 Linear Algebra4 questions · 7 marks

1.1.1 — Matrices and determinants1× · 2m
1.1.2 — Systems of linear equations2× · 4m
1.1.3 — Eigenvalues and eigenvectors1× · 1m

▸1.2 Calculus2 questions · 2 marks

1.2.1 — Multivariable calculus: limits, continuity, and differentiability2× · 2m
1.2.2 — Partial derivatives, maxima and minima—
1.2.3 — Sequences and series—
1.2.4 — Test for convergence—
1.2.5 — Multivariable calculus: gradient, divergence, and curl (applications in fluid mechanics, transport processes)—

▸1.3 Differential Equations3 questions · 5 marks

1.3.1 — Linear and nonlinear first-order ODEs2× · 4m
1.3.2 — Higher-order ODEs with constant coefficients1× · 1m
1.3.3 — Cauchy's and Euler's equations—
1.3.4 — Laplace transforms—

▸1.4 Probability and Statistics1 question · 1 mark

1.4.1 — Mean, median, mode, and standard deviation1× · 1m
1.4.2 — Random variables—
1.4.3 — Poisson, normal, and binomial distributions—
1.4.4 — Correlation and regression analysis—
1.4.5 — Bayesian statistics—

▸1.5 Numerical Methods1 question · 2 marks

1.5.1 — Solution of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations—
1.5.2 — Integration by trapezoidal and Simpson's rule1× · 2m
1.5.3 — Single-step methods for differential equations—

▸2. General Biology13 questions · 16 marks

▸2.1 Biochemistry8 questions · 10 marks

2.1.1 — Biomolecules — structure and function2× · 3m
2.1.2 — Biological membranes — structure, membrane channels and pumps, molecular motors, action potential, transport processes—
2.1.3 — Basic concepts and regulation of metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids1× · 1m
2.1.4 — Metabolism: detailed pathways — glycolysis, citric acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation—
2.1.5 — Photosynthesis, respiration, and electron transport chain3× · 3m
2.1.6 — Enzymes — classification, catalytic and regulatory strategies—
2.1.7 — Enzyme kinetics — Michaelis-Menten equation2× · 3m
2.1.8 — Enzyme inhibition — competitive, non-competitive, and uncompetitive—

▸2.2 Microbiology3 questions · 3 marks

2.2.1 — History of microbiology—
2.2.2 — Bacterial classification and diversity—
2.2.3 — Bacterial cell wall composition; Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; Archaea—
2.2.4 — Methods in microbiology1× · 1m
2.2.5 — Microbial growth and nutrition—
2.2.6 — Operons — Lac, Trp, and Ara operon; nitrogen fixation1× · 1m
2.2.7 — Microbial diseases and host-pathogen interactions—
2.2.8 — Antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance1× · 1m
2.2.9 — Two-component system (TCS), bacterial communication—
2.2.10 — Viruses — structure and classification—

▸2.3 Immunology2 questions · 3 marks

2.3.1 — Primary and secondary lymphoid organs—
2.3.2 — Innate immunity and inflammation—
2.3.3 — Cytokines and chemokines—
2.3.4 — Complement system—
2.3.5 — Effector responses — cellular and humoral immunity—
2.3.6 — Molecular basis of antibody diversity and function1× · 2m
2.3.7 — Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies1× · 1m
2.3.8 — T-cell and B-cell development—
2.3.9 — Memory responses—
2.3.10 — Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)—
2.3.11 — Antigen processing and presentation—
2.3.12 — Regulation of immune responses—
2.3.13 — Immune tolerance—
2.3.14 — Hypersensitivity—
2.3.15 — Autoimmunity and immunodeficiency—
2.3.16 — Graft vs. host disease—
2.3.17 — Immunization and vaccines—

▸3. Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology7 questions · 12 marks

▸3.1 Genetics and Evolutionary Biology3 questions · 6 marks

3.1.1 — Mendelian inheritance1× · 2m
3.1.2 — Gene interaction—
3.1.3 — Complementation—
3.1.4 — Linkage, recombination, and chromosome mapping—
3.1.5 — Extra-chromosomal inheritance—
3.1.6 — Microbial genetics — transformation, transduction, and conjugation—
3.1.7 — Bacterial gene mapping—
3.1.8 — Horizontal gene transfer and transposable elements—
3.1.9 — Chromosomal variation—
3.1.10 — Sex determination—
3.1.11 — Genetic disorders1× · 2m
3.1.12 — Population genetics—
3.1.13 — Epigenetics1× · 2m
3.1.14 — Selection and inheritance—
3.1.15 — Adaptive and neutral evolution—
3.1.16 — Genetic drift—
3.1.17 — Species and speciation—

▸3.2 Cell Biology1 question · 1 mark

3.2.1 — Eukaryotic cell structure—
3.2.2 — Cell cycle and cell growth control—
3.2.3 — Cell-cell communication—
3.2.4 — Cell signalling and signal transduction—
3.2.5 — Non-cell-autonomous cell signalling—
3.2.6 — Post-translational modifications—
3.2.7 — Protein trafficking—
3.2.8 — Cell death and autophagy—
3.2.9 — Extracellular matrix1× · 1m

▸3.3 Molecular Biology3 questions · 5 marks

3.3.1 — Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes—
3.3.2 — Mutations and mutagenesis1× · 2m
3.3.3 — Regulation of gene expression—
3.3.4 — Nucleic acid: replication, transcription, splicing, translation, and their regulatory mechanisms2× · 3m
3.3.5 — Non-coding and micro RNA—
3.3.6 — RNA interference—
3.3.7 — DNA damage and repair—

▸4. Fundamentals of Biological Engineering19 questions · 34 marks

▸4.1 Bioreaction Engineering14 questions · 26 marks

4.1.1 — Rate law, zero- and first-order kinetics1× · 2m
4.1.2 — Michaelis-Menten kinetics for enzyme reactions1× · 1m
4.1.3 — Inhibition kinetics — competitive, non-competitive, and uncompetitive—
4.1.4 — Ideal reactors — batch, mixed flow, and plug flow1× · 2m
4.1.5 — Enzyme immobilization and diffusion effects — Thiele modulus, effectiveness factor, Damköhler number1× · 2m
4.1.6 — Kinetics of cell growth, substrate utilization, and product formation4× · 8m
4.1.7 — Structured and unstructured models—
4.1.8 — Batch, fed-batch, and continuous processes—
4.1.9 — Microbial and enzyme reactors2× · 4m
4.1.10 — Optimization and scale-up: design and operation of microbial and enzyme reactors3× · 6m
4.1.11 — Case studies: microbial reactors in large-scale production (antibiotics, biofuels)1× · 1m

▸4.2 Upstream and Downstream Processing5 questions · 8 marks

4.2.1 — Media formulation and optimization1× · 2m
4.2.2 — Sterilization of air and media1× · 2m
4.2.3 — Filtration — membrane filtration, ultrafiltration—
4.2.4 — Centrifugation — high-speed and ultra—
4.2.5 — Cell disruption—
4.2.6 — Principles of chromatography — ion exchange, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction, affinity, GC, HPLC, FPLC1× · 1m
4.2.7 — Extraction, adsorption, and drying—
4.2.8 — Measurement devices; valves—
4.2.9 — First-order and second-order systems1× · 2m
4.2.10 — Feedback and feedforward control—
4.2.11 — Types of controllers — proportional, derivative, and integral1× · 1m
4.2.12 — Tuning of controllers—

▸5. Plant, Animal and Microbial Biotechnology1 question · 2 marks

▸5.1 Plantsnot asked yet

5.1.1 — Totipotency—
5.1.2 — Cell fate transition; direct and indirect organogenesis; regeneration of plants—
5.1.3 — Plant growth regulators and elicitors—
5.1.4 — Tissue culture and cell suspension culture systems — methodology, kinetics of growth, nutrient optimization—
5.1.5 — Production of secondary metabolites—
5.1.6 — Hairy root culture—
5.1.7 — Plant products of industrial importance—
5.1.8 — Artificial seeds—
5.1.9 — Somaclonal variation—
5.1.10 — Protoplast and protoplast fusion — somatic hybrid and cybrid—
5.1.11 — Transgenic plants — direct and indirect gene transfer techniques—
5.1.12 — Selection markers and reporter genes—
5.1.13 — Plastid transformation—

▸5.2 Animals1 question · 2 marks

5.2.1 — Culture media composition and growth conditions—
5.2.2 — Animal cell and tissue preservation—
5.2.3 — Anchorage- and non-anchorage-dependent cell culture—
5.2.4 — Kinetics of cell growth1× · 2m
5.2.5 — Micro- and macro-carrier culture—
5.2.6 — Hybridoma technology—
5.2.7 — Stem cell technology—
5.2.8 — Animal cloning—
5.2.9 — Transgenic animals—
5.2.10 — Knock-out and knock-in animals—

▸5.3 Microbesnot asked yet

5.3.1 — Production of biomass and primary/secondary metabolites — biofuels, bioplastics, industrial enzymes, antibiotics—
5.3.2 — Large-scale production and purification of recombinant proteins and metabolites—
5.3.3 — Clinical, food, and industrial microbiology—
5.3.4 — Screening strategies for new products—

▸6. Recombinant DNA Technology and Other Tools in Biotechnology4 questions · 4 marks

▸6.1 Recombinant DNA Technologynot asked yet

6.1.1 — Restriction and modification enzymes—
6.1.2 — Vectors — plasmids, bacteriophage and other viral vectors, cosmids, Ti plasmid, bacterial and yeast artificial chromosomes—
6.1.3 — Expression vectors—
6.1.4 — cDNA and genomic DNA libraries—
6.1.5 — Gene isolation and cloning; strategies for production of recombinant proteins—
6.1.6 — Transposons and gene targeting—
6.1.7 — Recombination-based gene cloning—

▸6.2 Molecular Tools1 question · 1 mark

6.2.1 — Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)—
6.2.2 — DNA/RNA labelling; Sanger and next-generation sequencing—
6.2.3 — Southern and northern blotting—
6.2.4 — In-situ hybridization—
6.2.5 — DNA fingerprinting, RAPD, RFLP—
6.2.6 — Site-directed mutagenesis—
6.2.7 — CRISPR-Cas1× · 1m
6.2.8 — Biosensing and biosensors—
6.2.9 — DNA-protein and protein-protein interaction tools—
6.2.10 — Genomics and proteomics-based approaches—

▸6.3 Analytical Tools2 questions · 2 marks

6.3.1 — Principles of microscopy — light, electron, fluorescence, confocal—
6.3.2 — Principles of spectroscopy — UV, visible, fluorescence, CD, IR, FT-IR, MS, NMR—
6.3.3 — Electrophoresis—
6.3.4 — Micro-arrays—
6.3.5 — Enzymatic assays1× · 1m
6.3.6 — Immunoassays — ELISA, RIA, immunohistochemistry—
6.3.7 — Immunoblotting—
6.3.8 — Flow cytometry1× · 1m
6.3.9 — Whole genome and ChIP sequencing—

▸6.4 Computational Tools1 question · 1 mark

6.4.1 — Bioinformatics resources and search tools1× · 1m
6.4.2 — Sequence and structure databases—
6.4.3 — Sequence analysis — file formats, scoring matrices, alignment, phylogeny—
6.4.4 — Genomics, proteomics, metabolomics—
6.4.5 — Gene prediction—
6.4.6 — Functional annotation—
6.4.7 — Secondary structure and 3D structure prediction—
6.4.8 — Knowledge discovery in biochemical databases—
6.4.9 — Metagenomics—
6.4.10 — Metabolic engineering and systems biology—

Outside the syllabus tree

general aptitude10 questions · 15 marks

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65 questions· 100 marks tagged so far