IIT JAM 2026 Application form 2026 will be live on the JOAPS portal from September 5, 2025. Candidates willing to take admissions to the MSc and Integrated PhD programmes need to create a registered account on the official website, jam2026.iitb.ac.in. IIT Bombay, the exam conducting body for this session, has also announced the JAM 2026 exam date. The exam will be held on February 15, 2026, in online/CBT mode for three hours and two shifts.
Before applying, candidates are advised to carefully check the JAM 2026 eligibility criteria, including educational, age, and nationality metrics, to ensure a hassle-free admission process. IIT JAM 2026 application form last date is October 12, 2026. The exam will offer admissions to courses like Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biotechnology, Economics, Geology, and Mathematical Statistics.
Interested candidates can check out this SciAstra article to get complete insight on the admission process and details like registration form, eligibility, fees, pattern, IIT JAM Syllabus 2026, result , counselling, and cut off details.
Also Read: How to Fill IIT JAM 2026 Application Form
What is IIT JAM?
Do you know what is IIT JAM exam? It is a very common question which is asked by science students who wish to pursue their master’s degree courses. IIT JAM, also known as the Joint Admission Test for Masters, is a national level entrance exam conducted by the IITs on a rotational basis.
For the academic session 2026-2027, IIT JAM will be conducted by IIT Bombay (exam conducting authority). The exam serves as the gateway for MSc, MS, and joint MSc-PhD degree courses at IITs, NITs, IISc Bangalore, and other JAM 2026 participating institutes.
Why to Give IIT JAM 2026?
Here are some of the reasons why a final year science graduate student can appear for the JAM 2026 examination:
- Quality Education: Gain access to world-class education at IITs and IISc, known for their academic excellence and research opportunities.
- Career Opportunities: Opens doors to careers in research, academia, industry, and public sector undertakings (PSUs).
- Research Opportunities: Qualify for prestigious fellowships and Ph.D. programs at top institutes.
- Interdisciplinary Programs: Offers flexibility to explore interdisciplinary fields like data science, computational biology, and more.
Also Read: IIT JAM Participating Institutes
JAM 2026 Highlights
Before applying for the IIT JAM 2026 registration form, candidates can check out the exam highlights from the below section:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Indian Institute of Technology Joint Admission Test for Masters, IIT JAM, JAM |
| Conducting Body for 2026 session | Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) |
| Exam Level | National-level Postgraduate Entrance Exam |
| Exam Frequency | Once a Year (Typically in February) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Applicants | Approximately 1–2 Lakhs |
| Courses Offered |
|
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Number of Papers & Marks | 7 Papers (Physics, Mathematics, Mathematics, Biotechnology, Geology & Mathematical Statistics)- 100 Marks Each |
| Total Questions per Paper | 60 Questions |
| Question Types & Marking Scheme | – Section A: 30 MCQs (10 questions: 1 mark each, 20 questions: 2 marks each, negative marking) – Section B: 10 MSQs (2 marks each, no negative marking) – Section C: 20 NAT questions (10 questions: 1 mark each, 10 questions: 2 marks each, no negative marking) |
| Language/Medium | English |
| Colleges Accepting Scores | IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, and Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) |
| Total Seats | Approximately 2,900 |
| Number of Exam Cities | 113 |
| Official Website | jam2026.iitb.ac.in |
IIT JAM 2026 Exam Date?
JAM 2026 exam will be held on February 15, 2026 in CBT mode for the duration of three hours in two IIT JAM shifts. Candidates can check out the important dates on IIT JAM 2026 from here:
| Event | Tentative Date |
| IIT JAM 2026 Notification Release Date | July 26, 2025 |
| JAM 2026 Application Form Start Date (JOAPS Portal) | September 5, 2025 |
| IIT JAM 2026 Application Form Last Date | October 12, 2025 |
| Last Date to Change Examination Cities, Candidate Name, Category, or Gender | November 10, 2025 |
| Availability of JAM Admit Cards (Download and Printing) | January 5, 2026 |
| Date of Examination | February 15, 2026 |
| Announcement of Results | March 20, 2026 |
IIT JAM 2026 Information Brochure PDF
IIT Bombay has released the JAM 2026 information brochure pdf on the official website i.e, jam2026.iitb.ac.in. By checking out the brochure pdf, candidates will be able to know the admissions process details, eligibility criteria, pattern, syllabus and other miscellaneous information.
Download the IIT JAM information brochure 2026 from below:
| Specifications | PDF Download |
|---|---|
| IIT JAM 2026 Information Brochure | Download Now |
Academic Programmes Offered Through IIT JAM 2026
IIT JAM exam offer admissions to many postgraduate programmes at IITs, NITs, IISc and other participating Institutes. Majorly candidates will be enrolled in the following courses:
- MSc
- MSc (Tech)
- MS (Research)
- MSc-MTech (Dual Degree)
- Joint MSc- PhD
- MSc- PhD dual degree
- Integrated PhD
What are the Subjects Offered in IIT JAM exam?
Also, interested candidates must know the subjects in which these degrees are being offered. Here are the list of courses:
- Biotechnology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Economics
- Mathematical Statistics
IIT JAM Eligibility Criteria 2026
For the test takers to have successful admissions at IITs/NITs, candidates need to meticulously go through the mentioned JAM 2026 eligibility criteria by the examination conducting body. The eligibility criteria stipulates the minimum educational, national, age limit criteria that a test taker needs to satisfy. Check out the basic overview of the IIT JAM 2026 eligibility criteria from here:
- The undergraduate programme should have been completed before the date of admission of the respective Admitting Institute.
- Proof of having passed the qualifying degree with required eligibility, as specified by the Admitting Institute, should be submitted within the timeline provided by the respective Admitting Institute.
IIT JAM 2026 Admission Process
IIT JAM 2026 admission process is quite extensive and includes many events which a candidate needs to understand carefully in order to have hassle free admission process. Candidates will be required to understand the application form, eligibility, courses offered, participating institutes, pattern, syllabus, admit card, JAM 2026 result, cut off and counselling process.
Check out these details from here:
IIT JAM 2026 Registration
IIT JAM 2026 Application form will be made live on the official website from September 5, 2026 onwards. Interested applicants will be required to create a registered account on the JOAPS portal, ie., jam2026.iitb.ac.in. This process will require the candidate’s name, e-mail id, mobile number and setting a password. Upon successful registration, candidates will be allowed to fill out the IIT JAM application form 2026 from the registered account.
What is JOAPS portal?
JOAPS provides an online interface to the candidate for interacting with the JAM 2026 administration. With this interface, candidates need to upload documents, exam city preference, educational details.
In order to successfully fill out the application form, candidate need to pay the IIT JAM registration fee 2026:
JAM 2026 Application Fee
| Category | One Test Paper (₹) | Two Test Papers (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| GEN/OBC | 2,000 | 2,700 |
| Female/SC/ST/PwD | 1,000 | 1,350 |
JAM 2026 Application Correction Window
| Correction Type | Additional Fee (₹) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Category, Gender, Examination City, or Date of Birth | 300 | November 10, 2025 |
| Add an Additional Test Paper or Change Test Paper(s) | 300 | November 10, 2025 |
Also Read: Documents Required for IIT JAM 2026
IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern
JAM 2026 exam pattern depicts the type of questions asked in the examination to test a candidate’s domain knowledge. JAM 2026 exam will be conducted online/CBT mode in two shifts at various exam centres across the nation. Check out the exam pattern from below:
| Section | Question Type | Details | Question Numbers |
| Section A | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | Only one correct option out of four choices | Q.1 – Q.10, Q.11 – Q.30 |
| Section B | Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) | One or more correct choices | Q.31 – Q.40 |
| Section C | Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | Real number entered via virtual keyboard, no choices provided | Q.41 – Q.50, Q.51 – Q.60 |
Marking Scheme:
| Section | Marks per Question | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Marking Scheme |
| Section A |
|
|
|
Negative marking: -1/3 mark for 1-mark questions, -2/3 mark for 2-mark questions |
| Section B |
|
|
|
No negative or partial marking |
| Section C |
|
|
|
No negative marking |
- Total Questions: 60
- Total Marks: 100
IIT JAM 2026 Syllabus
Start your preparation meticulously by reviewing the officially released IIT JAM syllabus 2026 for your specific subject. Don’t just glance at the topic headings; understand the sub-topics and key concepts listed under each.
IIT JAM Biotechnology Syllabus 2026
Check out the topics covered in the biotechnology syllabus from below:
- Biology: Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Evolution, Micro biology, plant and animal biology, ecology, biotechnology, Biochemical Techniques.
- Chemistry: Structure and properties of atoms, bonding in molecules, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, physical and chemical properties of compound, chemistry of organic compounds, Instrumental techniques.
- Mathematics: Statistics, Probability, Differentiation, Calculus, Trigonometry etc.
- Physics: Units and measurements, Laws of motion, current electricity, work and kinetic energy, magnetism, reflection and rarefaction, what is Ohm’s law, waves optics, lenses, etc.
JAM Previous Year Question
Referring to the IIT JAM previous year questions helps the aspirants in about having the trend and analysis of the types of questions asked during the examination by the examination conducting body. Check out the JAM 2026 master question paper and answer key from here:
| IIT JAM 2024 Question Paper | Answer Key |
| Biotechnology Question Paper | Final Answer Key |
| Economics Question Paper | Final Answer key |
| Geology Question Paper | Final Answer Key |
| Mathematics Question Paper | Final Answer Key |
| Physics Question Paper | Available Soon |
| Chemistry Question Paper | Available Soon |
| Mathematical Statistics Question Paper | Available Soon |
Conclusion
JAM 2026 exam will be held in online mode on February 15, 2025, in two shifts for a duration of two hours in each shift. The exam will test candidate’s domain knowledge in Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics, and Mathematical Statistics subjects. Selected candidates in the exam will be offered admission to the MSc, MS, and Integrated PhD courses at IITs, NITs, IISERs, and other participating institutes.
