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Q. Is the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 lengthy?
Ans. The GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 covers all the core subjects and knowledge that aspirants have studied in their four-year graduation period. It is usually considered extensive.
Q. Are there any optional papers in the GATE Life Science exam?
Ans. Yes, aspirants can choose any two subjects from the Life Science Segments from Q-U in their GATE 2026 examination.
Q. Who will release the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026?
Ans. IIT Guwahati is the concerned authority for releasing the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026.
Q. What are the main topics in the GATE Life Science Syllabus for Food Technology?
Ans. Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Food Microbiology, Food Product Technology, and Food Engineering are some of the topics covered in the Food Technology section of GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026, Subject-Wise Topics
Discover the detailed GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 in this article to boost your preparation. Download the GATE Life Science Syllabus PDF to know the key focus areas.
Krati Saraswat15 Apr, 2025
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GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati is the conducting authority for GATE 2026 examination. Those who are going to appear for GATE 2026 for Life Science paper must begin their preparation journey by understanding the complete syllabus well.
The GATE Syllabus for Life Science includes General Aptitude (GA) and Chemistry (XL-P) as mandatory sections, while Biochemistry (XL-Q), Botany (XL-R), Microbiology (XL-S), Zoology (XL-T) and Food Technology (XL-U) are optional sections. Candidates can boost their preparation by analyzing the comprehensive syllabus provided in this article.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 Overview
The entire GATE Life Science syllabus 2026 is divided into three sections: General Aptitude, Chemistry (XL-P), and Life Science subjects. However, General Aptitude and Chemistry sections are mandatory, while others are optional subjects which can be chosen by applicants as per their preference. From these, aspirants will have the choice to select any two:
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 Overview
Particular
Detail
Mandatory Sections
General Aptitude (GA)
Chemistry (XL-P)
Optional Life Science Segments
Biochemistry (XL-Q)
Botany (XL-R)
Microbiology (XL-S)
Zoology (XL-T)
Food Technology (XL-U)
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for General Aptitude
The GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for General Aptitude is going to be common for all the sections. Moreover, around 10 questions worth 1 mark (5 questions) and 2 marks (5 questions) may arise in the GATE 2026 exam.
Aspirants should be prepared to answer questions based on the following topics:
Verbal Ability: The rules of grammar in English, Completion of sentences, Analogies in words, Word groups, Critical Reasoning, and Verbal deduction, including instructions
Numerical Ability: Topics in this section primarily include Numerical Computation, Numerical Reasoning, Numerical Estimation, and Data Interpretation.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Chemistry (XL-P)
The Chemistry (XL-P) section of the GATE Life Syllabus 2026 is mandatory for aspirants from the relevant stream; therefore, it is essential to study it thoroughly. Find the important topics in Chemistry listed below.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Chemistry (XL-P)
Let’s discuss the optional segments of the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 in-depth, along with important topics.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Biochemistry (XL-Q)
The GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Biochemistry (XL-Q) focuses on topics like the structure and function of biomolecules, cell structure, and organelles, among others, as given below. The syllabus provides a comprehensive outline of the topics that aspirants should be familiar with in order to perform well in the GATE 2026 exam.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Biochemistry (XL-Q)
Organization of life: Importance of water
Structure and function of biomolecules: Amino acids, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and nucleic acids
Protein structure, folding, and function: Myoglobin, Hemoglobin, Lysozyme, Ribonuclease A, Carboxypeptidase, and chymotrypsin
Enzyme kinetics, including regulation and inhibition, vitamins, and coenzymes
Metabolism and bioenergetics: ATP generation and utilization, Glycolysis, TCA cycle, Pentose phosphate pathway, Oxidative phosphorylation, Gluconeogenesis, Glycogen and fatty acid metabolism, Nitrogen metabolism
Photosynthesis: Calvin cycle
Biochemical separation techniques: Ion exchange chromatography, Size exclusion chromatography, Affinity chromatography, Electrophoresis, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, Mass spectrometry
Cell structure and organelles: Biological membranes, Action potential, Membrane transport, Protein targeting, Signal transduction
DNA replication, transcription, and translation; Biochemical regulation of gene expression
Recombinant DNA technology and applications: PCR, Site-directed mutagenesis, DNA microarray, Next-generation sequencing, Gene silencing, and editing
Immune system: Innate and adaptive immunity, Immune cells, Antibody structure, function, and diversity, B cell and T cell receptors, B cell and T cell activation, Major histocompatibility complex (MHC), Immunological techniques, Monoclonal antibodies and their applications
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Botany (XL-R)
Another optional segment of the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 is Botany (XL-R), which sheds light on topics like Plan bleeding, Genetic Modification, economics, and applied botany, among others. To read more about the important topics included in the Botany section of the GATE XL syllabus, refer to the table below.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Botany (XL-R)
Topics
Subtopics
Plant Systematics
Botanical nomenclature, Plant classification, Molecular taxonomy, and Herbaria
Ecosystems, Biogeochemical cycles, Succession, Food webs, Vegetation types, and Climate
Pollution, Biodiversity, Conservation, and Plant interactions with other organisms
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Microbiology (XL-S)
The Microbiology (XL-S) section of the GATE 2026 Life Science Syllabus includes topics like Control of Microorganisms, Microbial Metabolism, Microbial Diseases, Host-Pathogen Interaction, and so on. Check out the list of essential topics picked from the Microbiology (XL-S) syllabus.
Microbiology (XL-S) GATE 2026 Life Science Syllabus
Topics
Subtopics
Historical Perspective
Discovery of microbial world, Landmark discoveries in microbiology, Controversy over spontaneous generation, Role of microorganisms in organic matter transformation and disease causation
Methods in Microbiology
Pure culture techniques, Microbial nutrition principles, Enrichment culture techniques, Antigen and antibody detection methods, Microscopy techniques, PCR and real-time PCR, and Next-generation sequencing technologies
Microbial Taxonomy and Diversity
Bacteria and Archaea classification, Eukaryotic microbes: Yeasts, molds, and protozoa, Virus classification, Molecular approaches to microbial taxonomy and phylogeny
Prokaryotic Cells: Structure and Function
Cell walls and membranes, Solute transport mechanisms, Flagella and Pili, Capsules, Cell inclusions like endospores and gas vesicles, Bacterial locomotion, and chemotaxis
Microbial Growth
Definition of growth, Growth curve, Measurement of growth, Synchronous growth, Continuous culture, Environmental factors affecting growth, Bacterial biofilm and biofouling
Control of Microorganisms
Disinfection and sterilization principles, Methods, and assessment of efficacy
Microbial Metabolism
Energetics, Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, Overview of metabolism, Glycolysis, Pentose-phosphate pathway, Entner-Doudoroff pathway, Glyoxylate pathway, Citric acid cycle, Fermentation, Respiration, Chemolithotrophy, Photosynthesis, Biosynthetic pathways, and Regulatory mechanisms
Microbial Diseases and Host-Pathogen Interaction
Microbiota, Classification of infectious diseases, Reservoirs of infection, Nosocomial infections, Opportunistic infections, Emerging infectious diseases, Pathogenicity mechanisms, Host defense mechanisms, Antigens and antibodies, Immune responses, Vaccines, Human diseases caused by microorganisms
Chemotherapy/Antibiotics
Antimicrobial drug characteristics, Antibiotics classification, Mechanisms of action and resistance, Antifungal and antiviral drugs
Microbial Genetics
Types of mutation, Mutagens, Selection of mutants, Bacterial genetic systems, DNA repair, Gene expression regulation, Operon model, Bacterial genome, Phage λ life cycle, RNA, Virus genomes, Microbial genomics concepts
Microbial Ecology
Microbial interactions, Carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycles, Soil microorganisms, Bioremediation, Uncultivable microorganisms, Metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Zoology (XL-T)
Important topics like animal diversity, evolution, and genetics, in addition to the following topics, are included in the Zoology section of the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026.
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Zoology (XL-T)
Topics
Subtopics
Animal Diversity
Distribution, systematics, and classification of animals; Phylogenetic relationships using classical and molecular phylogenetic tools
Evolution
Origin and history of life on earth, theories of evolution, natural selection, adaptation, and speciation
Genetics
Molecular basis of heredity, Basic Principles of inheritance, sex determination and sex-linked characteristics, cytoplasmic inheritance, linkage, genetic disorders, recombination, and mapping of genes in eukaryotes, population genetics, and roles of model organisms in understanding genetic principles
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates; roles of vitamins and minerals; replication, transcription, and translation; Krebs cycle; glycolysis; enzyme catalysis; hormones and their actions
Cell Biology
Basic principles of cellular microscopy: structure of cells, chromosomes, cytoskeletal organization, cellular organelles and their structure and function, cell cycle, cell division, and chromatin structure
Gene expression in Eukaryotes
Transposable elements, Eukaryotic genome organization and regulation of gene expression
Animal Anatomy and Physiology
Comparative physiology: the respiratory system, the muscular system, the circulatory system, the digestive system, the nervous system, the excretory system, the endocrine system, and the skeletal system
Parasitology and Immunology
The nature of parasites, host-parasite relations, protozoan and helminthic parasites, the immune response, and the cellular and humoral immune response
Development Biology
Gametogenesis, organogenesis, Embryonic development, cellular differentiation, Model organisms used in developmental biology, metamorphosis, the genetic and molecular basis of development, and stem cells
Ecology
Food chain, population dynamics, species diversity, zoogeography, biogeochemical cycles, conservation biology, and ecotoxicology
Animal Behaviour
Animal behavior types, courtship, mating, and territoriality, instinct, learning, and memory, social behavior among animal species, communication, pheromones, and animal behavior evolution
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Food Technology (XL-U)
The GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Food Technology (XL-U) is the fourth and last optional segment of Life Science. This is considered to be one of the highest-scoring sections, and it includes topics like:
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 for Food Technology (XL-U)
Topics
Sub-topics
Food Chemistry and Nutrition
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Pigments, Food flavors, Enzymes, Nutrition and Chemical and biochemical changes
Food Microbiology
Characteristics of Microorganisms, Microbial Growth, Food Spoilage, Toxins from Microbes, and Fermented Foods and Beverages
Food Products Technology
Processing Principles, Food Packaging and Storage, Cereal Processing and Products, Oil Processing, Fruits and Vegetables Processing, Plantation Crops Processing and Products, Milk and Milk Products Processing, Processing of Animal Products, Waste Utilization, Food Standards, and Quality Maintenance
Food Engineering
Mass and energy balance, Momentum transfer, Heat transfer, Mass transfer, Mechanical operations, Thermal operations, and Mass transfer operations
GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 PDF
Downloading the GATE Life Science Syllabus 2026 PDF is essential for aspirants, as it provides a comprehensive outline of the topics to be covered in the GATE 2026 exam. Having access to the syllabus enables aspirants to plan their study effectively and ensure they focus on the relevant subjects for exam preparation.
While the GATE Life Science syllabus 2026 sheds light on important topics, understanding the GATE Life Science exam pattern is equally essential for aspirants since it provides insights into the structure, marking scheme, and question types, allowing them to effectively plan their preparation and improve their marks.
Moreover, the GATE Life Science exam pattern helps aspirants get familiar with the format of the exam, allocate time wisely, and strategize their approach to different question types.
GATE Life Science Exam Pattern 2026
Section
Total Number of Questions
Total Marks
1 Mark
2 Marks
Total
General Aptitude
5
5
10
15
Chemistry (XL-P)
5
10
15
25
Life Science Section (Any two from Q-U)
10
10
20
40
30
60
10
10
20
30
Total
30
70
65
100
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