Bioinformatics National Certification Examination (BINC)

BINC, instituted by DBT in 2005, is a certification programme for graduate and post-graduate students for recognizing their exceptional bioinformatics knowledge and skills and to improve their employment opportunities. There is a growing need for trained manpower in the area of Bioinformatics. Various universities and institutions, both government and private, impart Bioinformatics education in India. This certification would facilitate industries and potential employers in recruitment of Bioinformatics professionals having exceptionally good bioinformatics skills. Candidates in the final year or having Bachelor's/Master's degree in Life-, Physical-, Chemical-, Mathematical- Sciences, Agriculture, Veterinary, Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering and Technology etc. are eligible. The certification is given to the candidates after three tier selection process. This includes a preliminary objective paper, upon clearing which candidates can appear in the subjective second paper and finally a computer based practical exam to test practical knowledge in Bioinformatics including programming related to bioinformatics. The successful candidates are also eligible for availing Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for pursuing Ph.D. in Bioinformatics at recognized Indian universities/institutes. The fellowship provided is at par with NET, GATE, BET national Exams. BINC qualified candidates are called DBT certified Bioinformaticians while the individuals availing the fellowships are designated DBT-BINC-JRF. Cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- each is awarded to the top 10 BINC qualifiers.