IISER 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Check Educational, National, Performance Based, Reservation Criteria Here

IISER Eligibility Criteria 2026 is an important condition, also a prerequisite needed by the aspirants to fill out the IAT 2026 application form and for the complete admission process. IAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria stipulates the minimal qualifications, like educational, nationality and generic information required by the candidates. Read this Shiksha article to know the complete information on IISER Eligibility Criteria 2026 for the courses available by the various IISER participating institutes.

IISER Eligibility Criteria 2026

IISER 2026 eligibility criteria have been released. The eligibility criteria are the minimum conditions to appear for the IISER Aptitude Test. Candidates can check the eligibility criteria, to know the education qualification and nationality required to appear for the test. There is no age restriction to appear for the IISER entrance exam 2026. Passed 10+2 from a recognized board with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and obtained 60% marks (50% for Sc/ST/PwD) in aggregate can apply online. Candidates can check the page for detailed IISER eligibility criteria 2026.

Also Read: IISER 2026 Application Form 

IISER Eligibility Criteria

Last year, the authority made a change in the IISER eligibility criteria. According to the new eligibility criteria, the IISER entrance exam could be conducted based on the Date of Birth Criteria instead of the Class 12 passing year. Later, it was reversed by the exam authority. 

IAT exam for BS-MS course admissions Eligibility Criteria:

• The student should have done Class 12 from the science stream in the last three years - 2024, 2025, and 2026.
• The foreign students who have not completed this criteria, must upload an equivalence certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities.
• The students must have taken a minimum of three subjects among Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics in Class 12.

• Applicants must be Indian nationals, OCI/PIO/Foreign Nationals to apply for IAT 2026.
• They should have completed class 12 with a minimum of three subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
• Foreign nationals either should have completed class 12 or they need to upload an equivalence certificate.
• Students of SC/ST/PwD categories need to have scored a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate in their class 12 exam. Other category students need to score a minimum of 60% marks in Class 12 exam.

IAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Performance Criteria in Class XII/equivalent examination

IAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Reservation Policy

• Scheduled Caste (SC) - 15per cent of seats
• Scheduled Tribe (ST) - 7.5per cent of seats
• Other Backward Classes belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) - 27per cent of seats
• Persons with Disability (PwD) with at least 40per cent impairment - 5per cent of seats (supernumerary)
• Kashmiri Migrants - 3 seats per IISER (supernumerary)
• Economically Weaker Section (EWS) - up to 10per cent (as per Government of India rules)
• Note that the EWS/OBC-NCL certificate should be valid for the financial year 2026-27

Also Read:

IISER Eligibility Criteria 2026: Services of a Scribe

• As per the office memorandum of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the PwD candidates who are visually impaired OR dyslexic (severe) OR have disability in the upper limbs OR have lost fingers/hands, thereby preventing them from properly operating the computer-based test platform, may avail the services of a scribe (amanuensis) for the IISER Aptitude Test.
• As per the office memorandum of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, candidates with less than 40per cent disability and having difficulty in writing may avail the services of a scribe (amanuensis). These candidates must also upload the “Disability and Difficulty in Writing Certificate” (see Downloads section), duly issued by the competent authority.
• Eligible candidates who desire to avail the services of a scribe need to opt for this during the online application process of IAT 2026.
• If it is found at any stage that a candidate has availed the services of a scribe, but is not eligible to do so, the candidate will be excluded from the process of evaluation, ranking, and admission. If such a candidate has already been admitted to any IISER, the candidate's admission will be cancelled. The opinion of the medical board constituted by individual IISER shall be final.

Academic Programmes Offered by IISER Exam 2026

IISER offers BS-MS/ BS/B.Tech degree. Admission is based on the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT). Students have to appear for the IISER entrance exam and participate in the counselling for admission. The list of programmes offered at IISER institutions is mentioned below.

• Biological Sciences
• Chemical Sciences
• Earth & Climate Sciences/Earth & Environmental Sciences
• Economic Sciences
• Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering, Data Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science)
• Geological Sciences
• Integrated & Interdisciplinary Sciences (Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences)
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Sciences

Note: The Four-year BS program in Engineering Sciences and Economics Sciences is offered only by IISER Bhopal.

 IISER Entrance Exam 2026 Seat Matrix

The exam authority will update the IISER 2026 seat matrix online. The seat matrix helps to know the number of seats reserved in each IISER campus. Last year IISER Seat matrix is shown below.

Read More: List of IISERs in India: Courses, Fee, Admission Process, Placements & Cutoffs