The IIT JAM 2026 application for admission to postgraduate courses offered by IITs, NITs, and other reputed institutes is open from September 5 to October 12, 2025, at jam2026.iitb.ac.in. Candidates who wish to get admission to a postgraduate programme in Geology through the exam must fill out the IIT JAM 2026 application form and appear for the exam. To crack the exam, they must refer to the IIT JAM 2026 Geology syllabus provided in this SciAstra article.
It provides complete details about the syllabus, including important topics and subtopics. Candidates can also find the official IIT JAM Geology syllabus PDF along with preparation tips for the exam. So, read on!
Latest Update:
IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern
The IIT JAM 2026 will be conducted on February 12, 2026, in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Candidates who plan to appear for the exam must know its pattern, as the exam pattern provides details about the structure of the exam, outlining the types and number of questions, exam mode, language, duration, and other important information. Check out the JAM 2026 exam pattern as follows:
| 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 |
IIT JAM 2026 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 Geology Syllabus
The IIT JAM 2026 Geology question paper contains three sections: Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Section B: Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Section C: Numerical Answer Type (NAT). Section A will contain Geology-based MCQs, while Section B will have MSQs, which are questions that can have multiple correct answers. Section C (NAT) will include numerical problems related to Geology.
There will be a total of 60 questions in the IIT JAM 2026 Geology paper, based on the official exam syllabus for the subject. Therefore, it is imperative for candidates to refer to the syllabus. To help with this, SciAstra has provided the IIT JAM Geology syllabus as follows:
| Topics | Areas Covered / Subtopics |
| The Planet Earth | Origin of the Solar System and the Earth; Internal structure, composition, and age of the Earth; Pressure-temperature-density variations within the Earth; Principles of radiometric dating (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, 14C); Volcanism and volcanic landforms; Earthquakes; Earth’s magnetism and gravity, Isostasy; Concepts of Plate Tectonics and orogeny. |
| Geomorphology | Weathering, erosion, deposition; Endogenous and exogenous processes of landform development; Soil formation; River and drainage basin/drainage pattern, network characteristics; Fluvial, aeolian, marine, glacial and karst landforms. |
| Structural Geology | Concept of dip, strike, rake and plunge; Contour lines; Rule of ‘V’s and outcrop patterns; Interpretation of geological maps; Cross-section construction; Classification and origin of folds, faults, joints, unconformities, foliations and lineations; Stereographic and equal-area projections of planes and lines; Quantitative interpretation of structures, outcrops, and bore-hole data. |
| Paleontology | Major stages in the evolution of life forms; Fossils and their mode of preservation; Application of macrofossils in age determination and paleoenvironmental interpretations; Morphology, major evolutionary trends and ages of important groups of invertebrates – Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Trilobita, Echinodermata; Gondwana plant fossils; Vertebrate fossils (Equidae, Proboscidea) in India. |
| Stratigraphy | Principles of stratigraphy; Litho-, chrono- and bio-stratigraphic classification; Stratigraphic correlation techniques; Archaean cratons of Peninsular India (Dharwar, Singhbhum and Aravalli); Proterozoic mobile belts; Stratigraphy of Cuddapah and Vindhyan basins; Stratigraphy of Paleozoic – Mesozoic of Spiti and Kashmir, Gondwana Supergroup, Jurassic of Kutch, Cretaceous of Trichinopoly, Cenozonic sequences of Assam, Bengal and Siwaliks. |
| Mineralogy | Symmetry and forms in common crystal classes; Miller indices; Twinning and twinning laws; Isomorphism, polymorphism, solid solution and exsolution; Elements of Optical Mineralogy; Classification, structure, chemistry, physical, and optical properties of common rock-forming minerals. |
| Petrology | Igneous rocks – classification and texture; Forms of igneous bodies; Evolution and diversification of magma; Use of binary systems to understand melting and crystallization behaviour of rocks and magmas; Genesis of common igneous rocks and associations. Sedimentary rocks – classification, texture, and structure; Petrology of sandstone and limestone; Basics of sedimentary environments and facies. Metamorphic rocks – classification and texture; Types of metamorphism; Controls on metamorphism – pressure, temperature and fluids; Concept of projections – ACF, AKF and AFM diagrams; Phase Rule and its applications; Concepts of zones and facies; Characteristic mineral assemblages of pelites in the Barrovian zones and mafic rocks in common facies. |
| Economic Geology | Physical properties of common economic minerals; Processes of formations of ore mineral deposits – magmatic concentration, hydrothermal processes, oxidation and supergene sulphide enrichment, residual and mechanical concentration; Mode of occurrence and distribution of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits in India; Ore grade and reserve estimation; Coal and hydrocarbon geology and their Indian occurrences. |
| Applied Geology | Basics of groundwater geology; Types of aquifers, porosity and permeability; Groundwater flow; Principles of engineering geology; Geological considerations in construction of dams and tunnels; Basics of remote sensing. |
IIT JAM 2026 Geology Syllabus PDF Download
If you want a downloadable format for the IIT JAM Geology syllabus 2026, check out the IIT JAM 2026 Geology syllabus PDF available here:
| IIT JAM Geology Syllabus 2026 PDF (Official) | IIT JAM 2026 Geology Syllabus |
Also Read: JAM 2026 participating Institutes
Best Books for IIT JAM 2026 Geology Preparation
Considering the relevance of the book content with the IIT JAM 2026 syllabus and the credibility of the authors or publishers, we have curated a list of the best books for IIT JAM Geology preparation. The list of these books is given below:
| Book | Author / Publisher |
| Principles of Petrology | G.W. Tyrell |
| Rutley’s Elements of Mineralogy | Frank Rutley (revised by C.D. Gribble) |
| Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | Anthony R. Philpotts & Jay J. Ague |
| Invertebrate Paleontology and Evolution | E.N.K. Clarkson |
| Stratigraphic Principles and Practice | W.C. Krumbein & L.L. Sloss |
| Fundamentals of Structural Geology | S.K. Ghosh |
| Engineering and General Geology | Parbin Singh |
| IIT JAM Geology Solved Papers & Practice Sets | Arihant Experts (Publisher) |
Also Read: IIT JAM 2026 Eligibility Criteria
IIT JAM 2026 Preparation Tips for Geology
Geology is one of the most challenging subjects that requires an understanding of the Earth, its structure, constituents, and history. Therefore, candidates must meticulously learn and revise concepts related to the subject to prepare for the IIT JAM Geology paper. Apart from this, the following tips can help them with exam preparation:
- Learn concepts relevant to the IIT JAM 2026 official Geology syllabus.
- Focus on conceptual clarity and strengthen your basic understanding of Earth science, minerals and the process of rock forming.
- Make diagrams to learn concepts like the structure of the Earth, the rock cycle, the cycle of erosion (Davis’ model), the geological timescale, etc.
- Use the recommended books to learn and revise the most important Geology concepts.
- Set a time frame and solve Geology-related numericals in it to increase your efficiency.
- Solve IIT JAM previous years’ questions of Geology and take mock tests.
Conclusion
The IIT JAM 2026 Geology paper demands strong conceptual clarity, consistent practice, and effective revision. With the right strategy, standard books, and thorough knowledge of the official syllabus, candidates can perform well in the exam. Stay disciplined, practice regularly, and approach preparation with confidence to achieve success.
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