GATE Zoology Syllabus 2026 (Out) - Download PDF

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, the 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

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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.

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