

DHR BRET Syllabus 2025 is an important resource for students who want to become Junior Research Fellows in Biomedical and Health Sciences. The Department of Health Research conducts the Biomedical Research Eligibility Test to select candidates for this fellowship program.
Getting a good score in this national-level exam can help you pursue a Ph.D. degree at top institutions like UGC-recognized universities or ICMR institutes.
DHR-BRET is an examination for non-medical students who want to do research in fields related to health. The official notification for the DHR BRET Recruitment 2025 contains all the crucial dates and rules. Candidates who qualify get financial support through the fellowship.
| DHR BRET Syllabus 2025 Overview | |
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Full Name | DHR-ICMR Biomedical Research Eligibility Test |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency/ AIIMS / PGIMER Varies by year, check latest official notice |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Total Duration | 2 Hours (120 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 150 Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total Marks | 150 Marks |
| Language of Paper | English only |
| Fellowship Seats | Around 250 -The exact number depends on fund availability and DHR rules |
DHR BRET Syllabus 2025 is detailed and covers topics at the postgraduate (M.Sc./M.Tech) level. Here is a breakdown of what each of the three sections covers:
This part of the syllabus tests your general scientific knowledge and thinking ability. It is designed to see how well you understand science in daily life.
General Science: Scientific phenomena seen in everyday life.
General Knowledge: Basic knowledge in science subjects.
Quantitative Reasoning: Numerical analysis, graphical interpretation.
Analytical Ability: Problem-solving and reasoning skills.
Research Methodology: Includes basic statistics and measurement concepts.
Section B checks your understanding of the basic concepts that are common to all Life Science fields.
Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life: Structure and function of DNA, RNA, cell parts, cell growth, reproduction, and how cells communicate with each other.
Physiological Processes: Basic understanding of body systems and their functions.
Genetics and Evolution: How traits are passed on, genetic disorders, and the origin and development of life.
Techniques: Principles of common tools used in biology and research (like spectroscopy or PCR).
Biosafety and Bioethics: Rules and good practices in research laboratories.
You must choose and attempt questions from only one subject area in this section. These questions are more applied and analytical, meaning they require deeper knowledge of your specialization.
The common subjects generally available include:
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Genetics
Biotechnology
Zoology
Botany
Biophysics
Bioinformatics
Environmental Sciences
Public Health
Nutrition
Pharmacology
Social and Behavioural Sciences
Understanding the structure of the paper is the first step in your preparation. The DHR BRET Exam Pattern is divided into three parts. All sections are compulsory, and the exam is conducted in a single session.
|
DHR BRET Exam Pattern |
||||
|
Section |
Focus Area |
Questions |
Marks |
Status |
|
A |
Aptitude (General Science, Reasoning, Statistics) |
50 |
50 |
Compulsory |
|
B |
Cross-Disciplinary (Fundamental Life Science Concepts) |
50 |
50 |
Compulsory |
|
C |
Subject-Specific (Applied/Analytical knowledge in your chosen field) |
50 |
50 |
Compulsory (You choose one subject from the list) |
|
Total |
150 |
150 |
||
The DHR BRET Marking Scheme follows a penalty system for incorrect answers.
Correct Answer: You get +1 Mark.
Incorrect Answer: You lose 0.25 Marks (This is the negative marking).
Unattempted Question: No marks are added or deducted.
The detailed and official DHR BRET Syllabus 2025 PDF has been released with the Information Bulletin for the exam. Students can follow these simple steps to download the syllabus document:
Visit the official website of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Look for the link or tab named Information Bulletin or Prospectus for the DHR-BRET or DHR-ICMR JRF 2025.
The complete syllabus is usually provided in an Annexure or Appendix section within this main document.
Download the Information Bulletin to get the DHR BRET Syllabus PDF, which is the final official guide for your preparation.