GPAT 2026: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will open the GPAT final edit window on February 17, 2026. Candidates will be able to rectify the incorrect photos, signature and thumb impression till February 19, 2026. Earlier, the GPAT form correction window was available from Februay 6 to 9 at natboard.edu.in. The initial application correction facility was made available from January 16 to 19, 2026. The GPAT application form 2026 was available from December 23, 2025, to January 12, 2026.
Table of Contents
ToggleThe GPAT exam will be held on March 7, 2026. After the conclusion of the exam, the authorities will release GPAT results on April 7, 2026. Along with the declaration of the results, authorities also release the GPAT cutoff marks for all the categories. The qualified students will be eligible for admission to the Master of Pharmacy courses. The validity of the GPAT score is for three years. Read in detail to know more about the GPAT 2026 exam, important dates, application form, admit card, exam pattern, exam analysis, results, and much more.
Below are the quick highlights of the GPAT entrance exam:
Particulars Details | |
|---|---|
Name of the examination | Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) |
Competent Authority | National Board Of Examinations In Medical Sciences |
Level of the examination | Postgraduate |
Frequency of the examination | Annual |
Courses offered | MPharma and equivalent courses |
Mode of the examination | Computer-based |
Total Number of Registrations | 50,000 approx. |
Official Website | natboard.edu.in |
Contact Details | 011-69227700, 011-40759000 |
The GPAT Exam Notification was released on 22 December 2025, and the exam will be held on 7 March 2026.
| Date(s) | Event |
|---|---|
| 23 December 2025 (05:00 PM onwards) | Start of online application submission |
| 12 January 2026 (till 11:55 PM) | Last date for online application submission |
| 16–19 January 2026 | Edit window for payment-successful applications (except name, nationality, email, mobile number & test city) |
| 06–09 February 2026 | Pre-final image correction window (photo, signature, thumb impression) |
| 17–19 February 2026 | Final image correction window (no further chance) |
| 24 February 2026 | Test city intimation |
| 02 March 2026 | Admit card release |
| 07 March 2026 | Examination date |
| By 07 April 2026 | Result declaration |
Have a look at the process to fill the GPAT 2026 application form below-
The NBEMS sets the GPAT 2026 eligibility criteria which determines the ability and basic acumen of the candidate to appear for the exam. Applicants can check the criteria below-
Students who want to appear in exam must know about GPAT exam pattern from table given below. The exam is conducted in CBT mode. While the language of the question paper is English.
The below table brings an overview of the GPAT pattern.
Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
Examination mode | Online |
Duration of the examination | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
Type of Questions | Objective types |
Total number of Questions | 125 |
Total marks | 500 |
Marks for correct answer | +4 |
Marks for incorrect answer | -1 |
Negative marking | Yes |
The GPAT Registration process will be conducted online by NBEMS.
To register for GPAT, Candidates should submit the required registration fees, the fees should be paid online:
Every year, thousands of pharmacy graduates take the GPAT Exam to get admission in M.Pharm Programs and AICTE Scholarships.
| Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared Candidates | Attendance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47,142 | 47,142 | 100% |
| 2024 | 40,548 | 39,341 | 97.00% |
| 2023 | 68,439 | 62,275 | 91.00% |
The GPAT Syllabus is based on the core subjects of the B.Pharm format given by the PCI. Including the Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, and allied subjects.
Candidates should have a proper understanding that every section is important, as Pharmaceutics and Chemistry together account for over 60% of the exam weightage.
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Physical Pharmacy | States of matter, colligative properties, solutions, surfactants, micelles, rheology |
| Dispensing & Community Pharmacy | Prescription handling, dosage forms, and drug interactions |
| Pharmaceutical Engineering | Unit operations, drying, filtration, size reduction, mixing, crystallisation |
| Microbiology & Biotechnology | Sterilisation, microbial assays, fermentation, recombinant DNA |
| Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics | ADME processes, bioavailability, bioequivalence |
| Industrial Pharmacy | Preformulation, formulation, tablet, capsule, parenteral, quality control |
| Novel Drug Delivery Systems | Nanotechnology, controlled release, targeted delivery |
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | Organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry principles |
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | Acid-base titrations, UV, IR, NMR, Mass spectrometry |
| Medicinal Chemistry | SAR, drug design, antihypertensives, antibiotics, anticancer agents |
| Biochemistry | Enzymes, metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids |
| Heterocyclic Chemistry | Structures, properties, and drug relevance of heterocycles |
| Natural Products Chemistry | Alkaloids, steroids, vitamins, peptides |
| Quality Assurance | GLP, GMP, ICH guidelines, stability studies |
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| General Pharmacology | Mechanism of action, dose-response, receptor theory |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Cholinergic & adrenergic drugs |
| CNS Pharmacology | Sedatives, antiepileptics, antidepressants, antipsychotics |
| CVS Pharmacology | Antihypertensives, antianginal, antiarrhythmics |
| Endocrine Pharmacology | Insulin, thyroid drugs, corticosteroids, sex hormones |
| Chemotherapy | Antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anticancer drugs |
| Toxicology | Principles, antidotes, and heavy metal toxicity |
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Basics of Pharmacognosy | Classification, evaluation, and adulteration of crude drugs |
| Plant Chemistry | Carbohydrates, lipids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins |
| Crude Drugs | Cinchona, Digitalis, Rauwolfia, Opium, Clove, Cinnamon |
| Analytical Techniques | Morphological, microscopic, and chemical evaluation |
| Herbal Technology | Standardisation, extraction methods, phytoconstituents |
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence | D&C Act, Pharmacy Act, Drugs & Cosmetics Rules |
| Clinical Pharmacy | Pharmacovigilance, drug interactions, ADR monitoring |
| Biostatistics & Research Methodology | Statistical tests, study design, and hypothesis testing |
| Regulatory Affairs | Intellectual property rights, patents, and clinical trial regulations |
| Biotechnology & Immunology | Hybridoma technology, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies |
The GPAT results will be released by 7 April 2026 on NBEMS as the scorecard and final merit list.
| Stage | Details | Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Result Declaration | By 7 April 2026 | It will be released online on the NBEMS official website along with the scorecard. |
| Scorecard Details | Marks obtained, All India Rank, Percentile, Qualifying Status | It is used to get admission and AICTE Fellowships (₹12,400/month). |
| Merit List | Category-wise merit is prepared based on scores | Top ranks secure admission in NIPERs & central universities |
| Counselling Conducted By | Participating institutes/universities (not centralised) | Each college has its own counselling portal |
| Process | → Registration → Document Verification → Choice Filling → Seat Allotment→ Reporting | Candidates must track institute-wise notifications |
| Seats Offered | Around 24,000 M.Pharm seats in AICTE-approved colleges | High demand in NIPERs, Jamia Hamdard, Panjab University |
Ques. How to score 300 in GPAT?
Ans. To score 300+ in GPAT, candidates should follow a proper strategy, as it means securing 60% of the total 500 marks.
Candidates should give priority to high-weightage subjects, practice MCQs, and attempt mock tests regularly.
| Strategy Area | Key Approach | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Focus on Core Subjects | Prioritise Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology (40–44% weightage) | Can increase by around 200 marks |
| Selective Study | Cover high-yield chapters in Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy | Adds around 80–100 marks |
| Mock Tests & PYQs | Solve at least 20+ full-length mocks & past 10 years papers | Improves accuracy by 15 to 20% |
| Revision | Last 30 days: Revise formulas, SAR (Structure-Activity Relationship), drug classifications | Avoids last-minute confusion |
| Time Management | Target 100+ attempts with 80% accuracy | Ensures ~320 marks potential |
Ques. How many hours to study for GPAT?
Ans. The Study time required by candidates should depend on their preparation level. Majorly, candidates should give 4-6 months with 4-6 hours daily for beginners, whereas revision is required for 2-3 hours daily.
| Preparation Stage | Recommended Hours/Day | Duration | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 5–6 hours | 6 months | Cover full B. Pharm syllabus, NCERT basics |
| Intermediate | 4–5 hours | 4–5 months | Focus on core subjects + MCQs |
| Repeater (Revision) | 2–3 hours | 2–3 months | PYQs, Mock tests, Weak areas |
| Last Month’s Strategy | 6–8 hours | 1 month | Intensive revision, timed mocks |
Ques. What is a good rank in GPAT?
Ans. With a good GPAT Rank, candidates can get admission in top M.Pharm colleges and NIPERs. Generally, a rank below 5,000 is required by the top institutes.
GPAT Rank vs Admission Chances:
| GPAT Rank (Approx.) | Admission Chance | Likely Institutes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 500 | Excellent | Top NIPERs, Jamia Hamdard, BITS Pilani |
| 501 – 2,000 | Very Good | Central Universities, State Universities |
| 2,001 – 5,000 | Good | Good Govt. & Private Colleges |
| 5,001 – 10,000 | Moderate | Private colleges with GPAT seats |
| 10,000+ | Low | Limited options; the reserved category may help |
Ques. How to calculate GPAT rank?
Ans. A GPAT Rank will be calculated based on normalised marks and the number of candidates appearing. The Percentile marks are used for assigning the rank to different categories.
GPAT Rank Calculation:
Ques. Can I give a NIPER without a GPAT?
Ans. No, most of the NIPER Programs require, GPAT Qualification. Only candidates who have cleared GPAT or NIPER JEE are eligible to get admission.