JAM 2026: Application (Begins), Exam Date (Feb 15), Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus & Other Details

The Joint Admission Test for MSc (JAM) is an all-India level online entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) every year on a rotational basis on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India. IIT JAM is conducted to provide admission to candidates in MSc and other postgraduate courses offered at IITs and integrated PhD courses offered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Several National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) also accept JAM scores for MSc admissions. 

To ace the JAM 2026 examination and get their desired IITs, NIT or result-sharing institutes, candidates must have their IIT JAM 2026 preparation from the authentic suggested Books. Candidates can check out the video below to get more insight about IIT JAM examination, eligibility, preparation and counselling-related information:

The following table brings the important features of the IIT JAM 2026.

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	Indian Institute of Technology Joint Admission Test for Masters
Conducting Body	IIT Bombay
Exam Level	Postgraduate Exam at National level
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Total Number of Applicants	One lakh (approx)- as per previous year's trend
Courses Offered Through Entrance Exam	MSc and Integrated PhD
Exam Fees	INR 900 (Female candidates applying for one paper) INR 1,250 (Female candidates applying for two papers) INR 1,800 (All other category candidates applying for one paper) INR 2,500 (All other category candidates applying for two papers)
Exam Duration	3 hours
Number of Papers and Total Marks	Seven papers in total with 100 marks each
Total Number of Questions	60
Marking Scheme	Differential marking scheme carrying 1 mark and 2 marks
Language/Medium of Questions	English
Colleges Accepting IIT JAM Scores	IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs and CFTIs
Total Number of Seats	2,900 (approx)
Number of Exam Cities	103
Official Website	jam2026.iitb.ac.in

Also Read: IIT JAM 2026 Seat Matrix 

The IIT JAM 2026 application process started on September 5, 2025, as per the schedule. The process is completely online, right from the registration process to depositing the online fee for the examination. Candidates need to first visit the official website of the exam to complete the application process and pay the application fee in online mode. The exam authorities will also provide an application correction window.

IIT JAM 2026 Eligibility Criteria

IIT Delhi has stated the IIT JAM 2026 eligibility criteria, which are given below:

• In order to fulfil the IIT JAM 2026 eligibility criteria, candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree. Earlier, there was a CGPA cutoff, but this year onwards, candidates need to just pass the qualifying degree.
• Candidates who have appeared or will appear for their graduation exams in 2026 are also eligible to apply, provided they submit the proof by September 2026.
• For the admission process, candidates who pass the IIT JAM 2026 exam will be eligible to apply for the admission process.

Age Limit: There is no age limit to appear for IIT JAM 2026 exam.

Also Read: IIT JAM Application Form Modification/ Correction Window

IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern remained the same as that of last year. It will be a computer-based test of three hours duration, conducted in two slots. The total number of questions is 60, and the total marks is 100. There are three types of questions, which are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). There is a differential marking scheme in the exam and a negative marking scheme for each wrong answer. Know more about the IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern here.

Also Read: CUET PG Vs IIT JAM: Which is Better for Master’s Degree 

IIT JAM 2026 Syllabus

IIT Bombay released the syllabus for IIT JAM 2026 in the Information Brochure on the official website of IIT JAM 2026. Candidates can download PDFs of the IIT JAM syllabus for each subject from the official website of the exam. As compared to last year, the IIT JAM 2026 syllabus is expected to remain the same. The syllabus refers to the topics covered under each subject that are tested in the exam. The IIT JAM syllabus is of the BSc level for the respective subjects. Check the detailed IIT JAM 2026 syllabus released by the exam authorities. 

Also Read:

IIT JAM Physics Syllabus	IIT JAM Biotechnology Syllabus	IIT JAM Chemistry Syllabus
IIT JAM Economics Syllabus	IIT JAM Mathematics Syllabus	IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics
IIT JAM Geology

IIT JAM 2026 Mock Test

IIT JAM 2025 mock test will be released by IIT Bombay on its official website in the month of January 2026, tentatively.

Candidates should take the mock test of IIT JAM 2024 for better preparation and get accustomed to the exam format and navigation scheme. To take the mock test, candidates need to follow the steps given below:

• Visit the official website of IIT JAM 2026
• Click on the tab indicating Mock Test
• Click on the subject
• Click on Sign in
• Read the instructions and click on 'Next'
• Click on the checkbox indicating the candidate has read and understood the instructions followed by clicking on the tab 'I am ready to begin'
• Take the mock test

Candidates can click on the links mentioned below to solve the official IIT JAM mock tests for the paper/subject of their choice. The IIT JAM mock test is a valuable tool for candidates to assess their knowledge of the subject matter and identify areas where they need to improve.

IIT JAM Official Mock Test Links
IIT JAM Biotechnology Mock Test- Soon	IIT JAM Chemistry Mock Test- Soon
IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics Mock Test- Soon	IIT JAM Geology Mock Test- Soon
IIT JAM Physics Mock Test- Soon	IIT JAM Mathematics Mock Test- Soon
IIT JAM Economics Mock Test- Soon	-

 

The IIT JAM Hall Ticket 2026 will be released on January 5, 2026, tentatively. Only those candidates who have successfully completed the application process by paying the application fee will be eligible to download the IIT JAM 2026 admit card. The steps to download the IIT JAM admit card are given below:

• Visit the official website of IIT JAM 2026
• Click on the tab indicating IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card download
• Log in by entering the registration credentials such as email address and password
• Enter the solution to the arithmetic expression
• Click on the agreement checkbox and enter virtual signature
• Download the IIT JAM 2026 admit card in PDF format

The admit card for IIT JAM 2026 is a mandatory document to be carried at the exam centre as well as during the counselling process. Hence, it must be preserved properly till the admission process is complete. The IIT JAM admit card carried candidates' personal information, exam day venue, address, instructions and related details. 

Before filling out the IIT JAM 2026 application form, aspirants must ensure that they have fulfilled the IIT JAM 2026 eligibility criteria.

• In order to fulfil the IIT JAM 2026 eligibility criteria, candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree. 
• Candidates who had appeared or will appear for their graduation exams in 2026 were also eligible to apply, provided they submit the proof by September 2024.
• For the admission process, candidates who would pass the IIT JAM 2026 exam were eligible to apply for the admission process/ counselling process.

Candidates need to follow the below-mentioned steps as part of the IIT JAM selection process:

Also Read: IIT JAM Chapter Wise Weightage; Know Important Topics 

IIT JAM 2026 List of Colleges and Courses

Courses in which aspirants can secure admission, along with the list of colleges accepting IIT JAM 2026 scores/ ranks are mentioned in the table below:

Chemistry (CY) Test Paper: List of Courses and Colleges accepting JAM scores 2026
Course	List of IITs Accepting JAM Scores
MSc Biotechnology	IIT Indore, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering	IIT Bombay
Integrated PhD Programmes in Biological Sciences	IISc Bangalore
MSc Chemistry	IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Patna, IIT Roorkee, IIT Ropar, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, IIT Bhilai, IIT Palakkad, IIT Delhi
Joint MSc- PhD in Chemistry	IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Kharagpur
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering	IIT Bombay
Joint MSc- PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences	IIT Bhubaneswar
Integrated PhD in Chemical Sciences	IISc Bangalore
MSc-PhD Dual Degree in Energy	IISc Bangalore
Geology (GG) Test Paper: List of Courses and Colleges accepting JAM scores 2026
Course	List of IITs Accepting JAM Scores
MSc Applied Geology	IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee
Joint MSc- PhD in Geophysics	IIT Kharagpur
Joint MSc- PhD in Geology	IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bhubaneswar
Joint MSc- PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences	IIT Bhubaneswar
MSc (Tech) in Applied Geology*	IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Mathematics (MA) Test Paper: List of Courses and Colleges accepting JAM scores 2026
Course	List of IITs Accepting JAM Scores
MSc Mathematics	IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Indore, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Patna, IIT Roorkee, IIT Ropar
MSc Mathematics / Applied Mathematics and Computing	IIT Hyderabad
MSc Mathematics and Computing	IIT Guwahati, IIT Bhilai, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Joint MSc- PhD in Mathematics	IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Kharagpur
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Operations Research	IIT Bombay
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering	IIT Bombay
Joint MSc- PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences	IIT Bhubaneswar
Integrated PhD in Mathematical Statistics	IISc Bangalore
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Energy	IISc Bangalore
Mathematical Statistics (MS) Test Paper: List of Courses and Colleges accepting JAM scores 2026
Course	List of IITs Accepting JAM Scores
MSc Applied Statistics and Informatics	IIT Bombay
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Operations Research	IIT Bombay
MSc Statistics	IIT Kanpur
Joint MSc- PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences	IIT Bhubaneswar
Integrated PhD in Mathematical Sciences	IISc Bangalore
Physics (PH)  Test Paper: List of Courses and Colleges accepting JAM scores 2026
Course	List of IITs Accepting JAM Scores
MSc Physics	IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Patna, IIT Roorkee, IIT Ropar, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, IIT Bhilai, IIT Palakkad
Joint MSc- PhD in Physics	IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Kharagpur
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Physics	IIT Kanpur
MSc Applied Geophysics	IIT Bombay
MSc Astronomy	IIT Indore
Joint MSc- PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences	IIT Bhubaneswar
Joint MSc- PhD in Geophysics	IIT Kharagpur
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering	IIT Bombay
MSc (Tech) in Applied Geophysics	IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Integrated PhD in Chemical Sciences	IISc Bangalore
Integrated PhD in Physical Sciences	IISc Bangalore
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Energy	IISc Bangalore
Economics (EN) Test Paper: List of Courses and Colleges accepting JAM scores 2026
Course	List of IITs Accepting JAM Scores
MSc Economics	IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee

Admission to each course is provided on the basis of merit in the corresponding test paper of JAM 2026.

The exam authorities released the IIT JAM 2026 question papers a few days after the exam, along with the provisional answer keys. The IIT JAM question papers are released for each paper/subject in PDF format. Candidates can download the question paper of IIT JAM as per their preferred subject from the official website. Aspirants planning to take the test next year must solve the IIT JAM question papers of previous years to prepare well for the exam. 

Download IIT JAM question papers here.

Candidates can go through the JAM 2025 question paper from here:

IIT JAM 2025 Master Question Paper	IIT JAM 2025 Answer Key
Biotechnology Question Paper	Biotechnology Answer Key
Economics Question Paper	Economics Answer Key
Mathematics Question Paper	Mathematics Answer Key
Chemistry Question Paper	Chemistry Answer Key
Mathematical Statistics Question Paper	Mathematical Statistics Answer Key
Geology Question Paper	Geology Answer Key
Physics Question Paper	Physics Answer Key

Also Read: IIT JAM Previous Years Question Papers: Download Last 5 Years JAM Subject Wise Question Paper PDF 

IIT JAM 2025 Analysis and Student Reactions

The majority of the students appeared for the Mathematics and Chemistry papers in the morning shift. There were a few takers of the Geology paper. The Mathematics section was difficult compared to the previous year. The Chemistry section has been rated as easy to moderate. IIT JAM 2025 exam shift 1 was found to be moderately easy by the maximum number of candidates who appeared for Mathematics, Chemistry, and Geology subjects. Questions were designed in such a manner to test their analytical and practical approach to the concerned subject.

According to the students, the IIT JAM 2025 Chemistry Question Paper was comparatively lengthy. The exam can be categorised as Moderate to Difficult.  

According to the students who appeared in the exam, the good attempts for the IIT JAM 2025 Chemistry Question Paper can be considered as 25-30 questions with 90% accuracy. The IIT JAM Chemistry expected cutoff this year might be in between 25 to 30 marks, according to some coaching institutes.

Candidates can go through the IIT JAM 2025 exam analysis and student reactions video from below:

IIT JAM 2026 Answer Keys

IIT Bombay will release the IIT JAM 2026 answer key in the fourth week of February 2026. Candidates can download the IIT JAM 2026 answer key by using their login credentials. In case of any discrepancy, candidates will be able to submit challenges within the time issued by the authority by logging into the IIT JAM 2026 candidate portal.

Candidates will also be given the option to file objections against the provisional IIT JAM 2026 answer keys by paying a fee of INR 500 per question. Candidates' OMR sheets will be released along with the answer keys. With the help of the answer keys of IIT JAM 2026, candidates will be able to calculate their estimated scores in the exam and assume which college and branch they are likely to get admission to. The final answer keys will be released along with the results.