The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) officially began the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) 2025 registration process from April 1. This extremely competitive national-level entry exam is an entrance test through which students obtain admission to postgraduate pharmacy courses (M Pharm) in institutions and universities nationwide. GPAT is accepted in almost 800 institutions, and close to 70,000 students appear every year for this test.

Eligible candidates who wish to appear for the exam can apply online until April 21, 2025. The exam will be conducted on May 25, and the results will be announced by June 25. If candidates want to make any corrections to their application forms, a correction window will be available from April 25 to April 28. The admit cards will be released on May 21, giving candidates ample time to prepare for the exam.

In order to apply for GPAT 2025, one has to log in to the official website of NBEMS, which is natboard.edu.in. They should go to the GPAT 2025 registration link and provide the necessary personal and academic information. Once the necessary information is entered, they have to upload necessary documents, pay the application fee according to their category, and submit the form. Downloading the payment receipt for future use is recommended.

The fee structure for application is divided according to the social and economic background of the candidate. General category candidates, as well as candidates who fall under Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), will have to pay a registration fee of ₹3,500. Candidates from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories need to pay ₹2,500.

Applicants should meet certain requirements to apply for GPAT 2025. They should hold Indian nationality and a bachelor of pharmacy (B Pharma) degree or an equivalent degree from any recognized university. Moreover, the students who have completed their third year of their B Pharma programme or are awaiting their final exams results are eligible to apply too. But candidates with a B Tech in pharmaceutical and fine chemical technology or any other degree that is not pharmacy-related are not qualified to sit for the examination.

GPAT 2025 will be held as a computer-based test (CBT) in a single sitting. The test will be of three hours duration, in which candidates have to attempt a total of 125 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The test is aimed at evaluating a candidate’s knowledge in different pharmacy-related topics, such as pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and other relevant topics.

The total marks for the exam will be 500, with each correct answer earning four marks. However, there is a negative marking system, where one mark will be deducted for every incorrect response. Given this marking scheme, candidates must strategize their approach to maximize their scores while minimizing negative marking.

As GPAT is among the most important entry exams for pharmacy candidates in India, aspirants must prepare intensely with good study materials, question papers of the past few years, and practice tests. Since the exam is extremely competitive, a carefully chalked-out study plan and firm understanding of core concepts are imperative to excel.

As the application process for registration has opened, prospective students should apply as soon as possible to prevent technical issues at the last moment. Interested candidates must visit the official website of NBEMS at regular intervals for updates and announcements concerning GPAT 2025. The test will decide the admission to some of the nation’s best pharmacy colleges and therefore is an important milestone for students looking to have a career in the pharmaceutical sector.