The Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Admission Test for Master's (IIT JAM) is a national-level entrance examination conducted annually by one of the IITs on behalf of the organising body, for admission to postgraduate programs such as M.Sc., Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., M.Sc.-Ph.D. Dual Degree, and other Master's level courses in science disciplines at IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, IIST, IIPE, and several other institutes. Organised by IIT Bombay for 2026, IIT JAM assesses candidates' subject-specific knowledge in seven subjects: Biotechnology, Chemistry, Economics, Geology, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, and Physics. With around 1 lakh applicants competing for over 3,000 seats annually, IIT JAM serves as a gateway to premier research-oriented programs, emphasising analytical and conceptual understanding. Unlike general PG entrances, IIT JAM focuses exclusively on science streams, replacing individual institute exams for centralised admissions.
IIT JAM 2026 Highlights
IIT JAM 2026 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test mode, with subject-specific papers testing core domain knowledge.
Particular
Details
Exam Name
Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Admission Test for Masters (IIT JAM)
Conducting Body
IIT Bombay (Organising IIT)
Exam Level
National Level
Exam Frequency
Once a year
Mode of Exam
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Total Seats (Approx.)
3,000+ across M.Sc./Integrated Ph.D. programs
Duration
3 hours
Total Questions
60 MCQs + MSQs + NATs
Total Marks
100
Marking Scheme
+1 or +2 for correct (Section A), 0 for unattempted; –1/3 or –2/3 for incorrect in MCQs (Section A); no negative in Sections B & C
Language
English only
Official Website
jam2026.iitb.ac.in
IIT JAM 2026 Important Dates
The official notification for IIT JAM 2026 will be released in July 2025. Registration is ongoing with an extended deadline.
Candidates must fulfill the minimum educational requirements set by IITs and participating institutes. Individual institutes may have additional criteria.
Nationality: Indian citizens and foreign nationals are eligible.
Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree (B.Sc./B.S./B.Tech./B.E.) in relevant discipline from a recognized university.
Minimum Marks: General/OBC-NCL/EWS: 55% aggregate or CGPA 5.5/10; SC/ST/PwD: 50% aggregate or CGPA 5.0/10.
Appearing Candidates: Final-year students are eligible, provided they complete the degree with required marks by the admission deadline.
Age Limit: No upper age limit.
Attempts: No restriction on number of attempts.
IIT JAM 2026 Application Form: Step-by-Step Guide
The entire registration process is online only through the JOAPS portal.
Use only the virtual calculator provided on screen
IIT JAM 2026 Result & Score Card
The result is declared on March, 2027. All India Rank (AIR) list is prepared subject-wise.
Scorecard shows raw marks, AIR, and qualifying status
Valid only for the 2026–27 academic session
Download from the JOAPS portal using login credentials
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, significantly. IIT JAM is conceptually deeper, includes NAT and MSQ questions, and cutoffs reach 65–70 marks out of 100 for top IITs. CUET PG Science is purely MCQ-based with moderate difficulty and cutoffs around 200–250 out of 300.
No. IIT JAM is the only entrance exam for regular M.Sc. and Integrated Ph.D. programmes at all IITs and IISc Bangalore. GATE is accepted only for certain M.Tech (Biotechnology) programmes.
IIT JAM is far superior. Top IITs like Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Madras, and IISc Bangalore are accessible only through JAM. CUET PG provides access to central universities such as DU, JNU, and BHU but not IITs or IISc.
For General category candidates, AIR under 100–150 is safe for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, while Biotechnology, Economics, and Geology usually require AIR under 200–300. Marks needed are typically 62–70+ out of 100.
Yes. Candidates can appear for a maximum of two test papers (for example, Physics + Mathematics or Chemistry + Geology) by paying an additional application fee.
Negative marking applies only to Section A (MCQs): –1/3 for 1-mark questions and –2/3 for 2-mark questions. There is no negative marking in Section B (MSQ) or Section C (NAT).
IIT Bombay is considered the best, followed by IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Kharagpur. Bombay and Delhi offer the strongest research exposure and placements.
Yes. Final-year students are eligible, provided they submit their final marksheet or provisional certificate before the admission deadline, usually around September.
JAM-qualified M.Sc. students receive a stipend of ₹12,400 per month plus HRA under the Ministry of Education fellowship for the full two-year duration.
Yes. IISc Bangalore accepts IIT JAM scores for all its M.Sc. programmes in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, and Integrated Ph.D. courses.
Physics and Chemistry have the toughest competition, with 30,000–40,000 applicants each year and only about 250–300 seats across IITs.
Coaching is not compulsory but is highly recommended for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics due to the exam’s conceptual depth. Self-study works well for students with a strong undergraduate foundation.
Approximately 3,000+ seats are available across IITs, IISc, NITs, IIEST, and other CFTIs. IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Madras, and Kharagpur offer the highest number of seats.
Yes. Many IITs offer Joint M.Sc.–Ph.D. or Dual Degree programmes. After completing the M.Sc. phase, students can continue for Ph.D. with an enhanced fellowship.
No. There is no service bond or compulsory obligation. Graduates are free to join industry, pursue Ph.D., or take up any career option.
IIT JAM is better for pure M.Sc. Biotechnology programmes offered at IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur. GATE (XL) is required for M.Tech Biotechnology admissions.
IIT JAM score is valid for one academic year only. JAM 2026 score will be valid for admission to the 2026–28 batch.
Physical calculators are not allowed. A virtual scientific calculator is provided on-screen for Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Newer IITs such as Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Bhilai, Dharwad, and Jammu, along with NITs, generally have higher closing ranks ranging from 500 to 1,500.
No. Once submitted, the choice of test paper cannot be changed. Only limited corrections like photo or category details are allowed during the correction window.
Yes. Economics was introduced as a JAM paper in 2022 and is accepted by IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Kharagpur for M.Sc. Economics programmes.
Around 15,000–18,000 candidates qualify IIT JAM each year by scoring above the cutoff. Approximately 3,000–4,000 candidates secure seats in IITs and IISc.
Recommended books include H.C. Verma, Resnick–Halliday, I.E. Irodov (for problems), Griffiths (Electrodynamics and Quantum Mechanics), along with previous 20 years’ IIT JAM question papers.
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