For the first time, in the year 2010, Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) would be conducted by M S University of Baroda under the guidance of All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi. This has been necessitated after Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE) expressed its inability to include pharmacy graduates in GATE with effect from the year 2010, owing to operational problems due to many candidates taking GATE examination.

In order to help Pharmacy graduates take admission into M.Pharma and award fellowships/scholarships to Pharmacy graduates, AICTE decided to conduct GPAT with effect from academic year 2010-11. A National Monitoring Committee (NMC), constituted by AICTE, was established for monitoring issues related to GPAT.  It recommended M S University of Baroda, Vadodara, to conduct the examination on May 2, 2010 across the country. The GPAT would be conducted along with JAM-2010 examination.

Eligibility Conditions

Persons holding Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (4 years after 10+2) or appearing in the final year examination of B. Pharmacy (4 years after 10+2) in the year 2010 only are eligible for appearing for GPAT-2010 examination.

Candidates wishing to take GPAT-2010 may obtain application form along with information brochure from either the office of coordinator GPAT-2010, the M S University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002 or from the designated branches of Bank of Baroda in the state: 

* Guntur - Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Ph: 0863-2220244
* Hyderabad - RBVR Reddy Hostel C, Hanuman Tekadi, Abids, Ph: 24757422
   Khammam - Gandhi Chowk, Ph: 08742-224969 08742-225710
* Tirupati -15-3-481/B, Mosque Road, Ph: 2222242
* Vijaywada 27-33-1, Gr.Fl, Kamraj Centre, Gudavalli Vari Street, Governorpet, Ph: 0866-2574295/296
* Vishakhapatnam Main Road, Dabagardens, Ph: 0891-2569757
* Warangal Seetha Rana Complex 1st Floor, A Block, Station Road, Ph: 0870-2443611

Important Dates

Last date for receipt of completed OMR Application Form along with Pay-in slip at GPAT Office, The M S University of Baroda, Vadodara (up to 5 pm) March 12, 2010.      The candidates can obtain the Application Form and Information Brochure by post or personally from GPAT office counter by a demand draft in favour of GPAT for Rs 1000/- (Rs. 500/- for SC/ST/PD) payable at Vadodara. The SC/ST/PD applicants must attach the latest authorised photocopy of the relevant certificate.

Date of Examination: May 2, 2010 from 2pm – 5pm

Announcement of the result: May 24, 2010 at 5pm

GPAT Exam Structure

The GPAT-2010 examination would consist of a single paper of three hours duration containing 100 questions carrying a maximum of 100 marks. The question paper would consist of only multiple choice objective-type questions. Each question would have four choices for the answer. The candidates would have to mark the correct choice on an Optical Response Sheet (ORS) by darkening the appropriate bubble against each question. There would be negative marking for each wrong answer that is 1/3 (one-third) mark would be deducted.

The score of GPAT 2010 would be valid for a year from the date of announcement of the result. The machine-gradable Optical Response Sheets (ORS) are graded and scrutinised very carefully. There is no provision for re-grading or re-totalling and no photocopies of ORS would be handed out. Any correspondence in this matter would not be entertained.

Examination Syllabus:

The syllabus for GPAT Exams for entry into M Pharma in Colleges and Universities is as following:

Natural Products:
Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry – Chemistry, tests, isolation, characterisation and estimation of phytopharmaceuticals belonging to the group of Alkaloids, Glycosides, Terpenoids, Steroids, Bioflavanoids, Purines, Guggul lipids. Pharmacognosy of crude drugs that contain the above constituents. Standardisation of raw materials and herbal products. WHO guidelines. Quantitative microscopy including modern techniques used for evaluation. Biotechnological principles and techniques for plant development, Tissue culture.

 Pharmacology:

General pharmacological principles including Toxicology. Drug interaction. Pharmacology of drugs acting on Central nervous system, Cardiovascular system, Autonomic nervous system, Gastro-intestinal system and Respiratory system. Pharmacology of Autocoids, Hormones, Hormone antagonists, chemotherapeutic agents including anticancer drugs. Bioassays, Immuno Pharmacology. Drugs acting on the blood & blood forming organs. Drugs acting on the renal system.

Medicinal Chemistry:

Structure, nomenclature, classification, synthesis, SAR and metabolism of the following category of drugs, which are official in Indian Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia. Introduction to drug design. Stereochemistry of drug molecules. Hypnotics and Sedatives, Analgesics, NSAIDS, Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Anxiolytics, Anticonvulsants, Antihistaminics, Local Anaesthetics, Cardio Vascular drugs – Antianginal agents Vasodilators, Adrenergic & Cholinergic drugs, Cardiotonic agents, Diuretics, Anti-hypertensive drugs, Hypoglycemic agents, Antilipedmic agents, Coagulants, Anticoagulants, Antiplatelet agents. Chemotherapeutic agents – Antibiotics, Antibacterials, Sulphadrugs. Antiprotozoal drugs, Antiviral, Antitubercular, Antimalarial, Anticancer, Antiamoebic drugs. Diagnostic agents. Preparation and storage and uses of official Radiopharmaceuticals, Vitamins and Hormones. Eicosanoids and their application.

Pharmaceutics:

Development, manufacturing standards Q.C. limits, labeling, as per the pharmacopoeial requirements. Storage of different dosage forms and new drug delivery systems. Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics and their importance in formulation. Formulation and preparation of cosmetics – lipstick, shampoo, creams, nail preparations and dentifrices. Pharmaceutical calculations.

Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence:

Drugs and cosmetics Act and rules with respect to manufacture, sales and storage. Pharmacy Act. Pharmaceutical ethics.

Pharmaceutical Analysis:

Principles, instrumentation and applications of the following: Absorption spectroscopy (UV, visible & IR). Fluorimetry, Flame photometry, Potentiometry. Conductometry and Polarography. Pharmacopoeial assays. Principles of NMR, ESR, Mass spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis and different chromatographic methods.

Biochemistry:

Biochemical role of hormones, Vitamins, Enzymes, Nucleic acids, Bioenergetics. General principles of immunology. Immunological. Metabolism of carbohydrate, lipids, proteins. Methods to determine, kidney & liver function. Lipid profiles.

Microbiology:

Principles and methods of microbiological assays of the Pharmacopoeia. Methods of preparation of official sera and vaccines. Serological and diagnostics tests. Applications of microorganisms in Bio Conversions and in Pharmaceutical industry.

Clinical Pharmacy:

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Dosage regimen in Pregnancy and Lactation, Pediatrics and Geriatrics. Renal and hepatic impairment. Drug – Drug interactions and Drug – food interactions, Adverse Drug reactions. Medication History, interview and Patient counselling.