Acronym | GPAT |
---|---|
Type | Computer-based test (CBT) |
Administrator | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on behalf of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) |
Skills tested | Pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacognosy, pharmacology |
Purpose | Admission to M. Pharm |
Year started | 2010 |
Duration | 180 minutes |
Score range | 0 to 500 |
Score validity | Three years |
Offered | Once a year |
Regions | India |
Languages | English |
Prerequisites | B. Pharm (or equivalent) |
Fee | ₹3500 (General/OBC/EWS) ₹2500 (SC/ST/PwD) |
Used by | Indian universities and colleges |
Website | natboard |
The Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) is a computer-based standardised test in India conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on behalf of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), to determine the eligibility of candidates for admission to the Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) programme in Indian government and private universities, colleges, and institutes.
The first GPAT examination was held in 2010. Until 2018, it was conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). [1] From 2019 to 2023, the exam was conducted by the National Testing Agency. Since 2024, it is conducted by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) through National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).
The first GPAT examination was held in 2010, conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Until 2018, AICTE conducted the exam. From 2019 to 2023, the exam was conducted by the National Testing Agency as per the direction of the Ministry of Education. In March 2020, the Supreme Court of India held that the AICTE Act should not be applied to pharmacy, for which the Pharmacy Act of 1948 will be applicable, making the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) the sole authority over matters related to pharmacy. [2] [3] Since 2024, the examination is conducted by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) through the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). [2]
The exam is held only in English. Candidate must be an Indian citizen. There is no age restriction. Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) or its equivalent degree holders are eligible to apply, however, B. Tech in Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Technology or its equivalent degree holders are not eligible to apply. As per the official syllabus, the subjects are listed as: pharmaceutical chemistry and allied subjects, pharmaceutics and allied subjects, pharmacognosy and allied subjects, pharmacology and allied subjects, and other subjects. There are 125 questions, with a maximum of 500 marks. Each correct answer carries four marks and one mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. [4]
A pharmacist, also known as a chemist in Commonwealth English, is a healthcare professional who specializes in the preparation, dispensing, and management of medications. A pharmacist provides pharmaceutical advice and guidance, often serving as a primary care provider in the community, and offering other services, such as health screenings and immunizations.
A Bachelor of Technology is an undergraduate academic degree in the field of engineering and technology conferred after the completion of a four-to-five-year program of studies at an accredited university or accredited higher education institution, such as a college or university in India and other countries. In India, this is a four-year undergraduate degree awarded by few universities and colleges which is equivalent to four-year Bachelor of Engineering with Honours.
A Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional doctorate in pharmacy. In some countries, it is a proficient graduate degree to practice the profession of pharmacy or to become a clinical pharmacist. In many countries, people with their Doctor of Pharmacy are allowed to practice independently and can prescribe drugs directly to patients. A PharmD program has significant experiential and/or clinical education components in introductory and advanced levels for the safe and effective use of drugs. Experiential education prepares graduates to be practice-ready, as they already have spent a significant amount of time training in areas of direct patient care and research.
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an entrance examination conducted in India that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of undergraduate subjects in engineering and sciences for admission into postgraduate programs. GATE is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technologies at Roorkee, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Chennai (Madras) and Mumbai (Bombay) on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India.
A Bachelor of Pharmacy is a graduate academic degree in the field of pharmacy. In many countries, this degree is a prerequisite for registration to practice as a pharmacist. Since both PharmB and PharmD are prerequisites to license in most Western countries they are considered equivalent. In many Western countries, foreign graduates with BPharm, PharmB, or BS Pharm practice similarly as PharmD graduates. It is analogous to an MBBS vs. an MD, where MBBS is the foreign equivalent of MD. The degree provides training to understand the properties and impacts of medicines and develop the skills required to counsel patients about their use.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar, also known as NIPER Mohali, is the Topmost Pharmaceutical research institute in India & the main campus of the group of seven NIPER institutes, under India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The institute offers Masters and Doctoral degrees in pharmaceutical sciences. As an Institute of National Importance it plays an important role in the Human Resource Development for the ever-growing Indian Pharmaceutical industry, which has been in the forefront of India's science based industries with wide-ranging capabilities in this important field of drug manufacture. The institute offers a 2-year PG degree & 4-5 year PhD Courses in 13 disciplines;
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Shadan College of Pharmacy an Indian school offering courses in pharmaceutical education situated in Peerancheru, Hyderabad. Started in 1994 by the Shadan Educational Society formed by Dr. Vizarath Rasool Khan, it offers undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The college is located in a 5-acre (20,000 m2) campus; it has well equipped laboratories, class rooms and other facilities as per the norms and standards of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). It is affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. The College started M.Pharmacy (Pharmacology) Programme in the year 2005–06.
National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and established in 1975 at New Delhi as a Society under Delhi Society registration act, to standardizing postgraduate medical education and examination in India.
Kanak Manjari Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, also known as KMIPS, is a well-known pharmaceutical sciences institute in the Indian State of Odisha. It was established in 1982 in Chhend Colony, Rourkela to teach Pharmaceutical Sciences and to award diplomas as well as undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to students around the state.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur is a public pharmaceutical education and research university located in Hajipur, Bihar, India. Established in 2007, it is one of the seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) under India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The institute offers Post Graduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Like all other NIPERs, it has the Institute of National Importance status.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati (NIPER-Guwahati) established 2008, is an Indian public Pharmacy research university, and a part of the seven schools, under India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It is located at Sila Katamur, Changsari in Kamrup district of Assam. The institute offers Masters and Doctoral degrees in pharmaceutical sciences. As an Institute of National Importance it plays an important role in the Human Resource Development for the ever-growing Indian Pharmaceutical industry, which has been in the forefront of India’s science-based industries with wide-ranging capabilities in this important field of drug manufacture.
Oriental College of Pharmacy(OCP) is located in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai founded by the Oriental Education Society.
L.J. Institute of Pharmacy, commonly referred as LJIP, is a private management institute located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The institute is approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and is the part of L.J. Group of Institutes managed by Lok Jagruti Kendra (LJK) Trust. The institute is affiliated to Gujarat Technological University (GTU). The institute is approved by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India as Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO).
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