IISER 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Check Educational, National, Performance Based, Reservation Criteria Here
Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Entrance Exam 2026 ( IISER Entrance Exam )
IISER Aptitude Test 2026 Hall Ticket
24 May '26 - 7 Jun '26
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
- IISER Eligibility Criteria 2026: Services of a Scribe
- Academic Programmes Offered by IISER Exam 2026
- IISER Entrance Exam 2026 Seat Matrix
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
Check out the complete queries from here:
What if the Class 12 result is not declared, can a candidate apply?
Candidates whose Class XII (or equivalent) examination results have not yet been declared can apply for IAT 2026. However, their admission will be subject to fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria given on the official website.
What happens if the candidate is appearing for Class 12 for the second time?
For candidates who had appeared in the Class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in 2025 and reappeared in any subject (for whatever reason) in 2026, the better of two performances will be considered.
What to do if the candidate's Class 11 and 12 results are clubbed together and declared?
If a board gives aggregate marks considering both Class XI and Class XII, then only Class XII (or equivalent) examination marks will be considered. If a board gives aggregate marks considering the results of all three years of a 3-year diploma or courses of equivalent duration, then the final year marks will be considered. Similarly, the marks of the final two semesters will be considered for boards that follow a semester system.
What happens if the Board awards only letter grades instead of percentages?
If a board awards only letter grades without providing an equivalent percentage of marks on the grade sheet, the candidate should obtain a certificate from the board specifying the equivalent marks and submit it before the deadline for the mark sheet submission. In case the board does not provide such a certificate, the percentage marks will be assessed as follows:
| percentage marks = (CGPA or CPI obtained × 100) / PS |
where PS is the maximum value of the point scale used by the respective board.
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:
Commonly asked questions
Yes, you can appear for the IISER Entrance Exam if you have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects in Class 11 and 12. According to the conducting body, students have to study a minimum of three subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Hence, students from the PCB combination are eligible for the exam.
There is no provision for re-evaluation/re-checking of IAT result. The official notification reads, No correspondence in this regard shall be entertained. The candidates can only raise objections against the provisional answer key. Based on the objections raised by the candidates the final answer key and the result is released.
The General All India category student seeking admission to the BS-MS Dual Degree programme had Round 1 closing rank of 175 according to the IISER Pune cutoff for 2023. For 2022 and 2021, the corresponding Round 1 closing ranks were 535 and 529. According to this, there is a significant possibility that a student who ranks 120 or lower will get admitted to IISER Pune.
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.
Commonly asked questions
Following the previous years' trends, the exam officials release the round-wise IISER institute-wise closing ranks. IAT cutoff marks refer to the minimum marks test takers need to score to get admission in the programmes offered by the participating institutes.
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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.
| BS-MS Programme | Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| IISER Berhampur | 300 |
| IISER Bhopal | 300 |
| IISER Kolkata | 280 |
| IISER Mohali | 270 |
| IISER Pune | 288 |
| IISER Tirupati | 350 |
| IISER Thiruvananthapuram | 320 |
| B. Tech. / BS Programme | Number of Seats |
| IISER Bhopal (B. Tech.) | 140 |
| IISER Bhopal (BS in Economic Sciences) | 35 |
| IISER Tirupati (BS in Economic and Statistical Sciences) | 50 |
| Total | 2333 |
Read More: List of IISERs in India: Courses, Fee, Admission Process, Placements & Cutoffs
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
IISER answer key will be released on June 7, 2026. Candidates can download the answer key online. The answer key challenge window will open on June 9, 2026.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The IISER exam date is June 7, 2026. The exam will commence at 9 AM and continue till 12 PM. It is a computer-based test.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
IISER score 200 or above is a good marks. It can help to get admission to IISER Pune and IISc Bangalore. Candidates must have a good conceptual knowledge, give priority to all four subjects. Prepare for the exam according to the exam syllabus and take mock test to score above 200.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Based on previous year analysis, IAT exam is moderately difficult. It requires strong conceptual knowledge. Students who have prepared properly for exam can easily score good marks.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
It is quite difficult for the GEN / OBC category to get admission to IISER with 50 marks. Even the reserved category students have less chance in the later counelling round for admission. To secure admission, students must score above 150 marks.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
IISER exam is considered of moderate difficulty level. Majority of students finds Physics, and Mathematics challenging. PCM students may find biology tough while PCB students might find Mathematics tough. However, the difficulty level of IISER compared to JEE Main and Advanced is moderate to easy.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The last date to apply for IISER 2026 was April 13, 2026. IAT application form was available on the website, iiseradmission.in.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IISER 2026 application was available from March 5 to April 13 online at iiseradmission.in. IISER application process is registration, form filling, and payment of fees.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IISER Berhampur released the application form for IISER 2026 on March 5, 2026. The registration link is updated on the website, iiseradmission.in.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IISER 2026 application fee is updated online. The application fee for IISER 2026 is Rs. 2000 (General, EWS, OBC, and OBC-NCL). For other categories, the fee is Rs. 1000.
V
Contributor-Level 10