IIT JAM Syllabus 2026: Subject-wise Syllabus PDF & Topics

Indian Institute of Technology Joint Admission Test for MSc 2026 ( IIT JAM )

DeskCalelnderExam On - 15 Feb '26

Rakshit Prabhakar
Updated on Jan 12, 2026 09:51 IST

By Rakshit Prabhakar

The release date of the IIT JAM Admit Card has been postponed. Students are advised to check the website regularly. IIT JAM 2026 exam will be held on February 15, 2026, to get admissions to master's degree and integrated PhD programmes in MSc and MS. IIT JAM 2026 syllabus mentions the topics of various subjects that will be covered in the JAM 2026 examination preparation of the students. While preparing for the IIT JAM 2026 exam, one must look for the syllabus of the concerned subject that one has opted for in the examination. IIT Bombay released IIT JAM 2026 Sylabus in the Information Brochure on the webpage of IIT JAM 2026.

As compared to last year, the IIT JAM 2026 syllabus is expected to remain the same. Syllabus refers to the topics covered under each subject that are tested in the exam. IIT JAM syllabus is of BSc level for the respective subjects. Check detailed IIT JAM 2026 syllabus released by the exam authorities. 

 

Table of contents
  • IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Biotechnology (BL)
  • IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Chemistry (CY)
  • IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Mathematics (MA)
  • IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Mathematical Statistics (MS)
  • IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Physics (PH)
  • IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Economics (EN)
  • IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern
  • Important Topics for IIT JAM 2026
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IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Biotechnology (BL)

The JAM test paper for Biotechnology consists of four subjects - Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Aspirants can go through the IIT JAM Biotechnology syllabus below:

IIT JAM 2026 Biology Syllabus

The standard of questions asked in IIT JAM 2026 for Biology subject is of 10+2+3 level. Topics that candidates need to study to perform well in the IIT JAM Biology section of the Biotechnology test paper are listed below.

Biology Syllabus:

Cell Biology

Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Membrane structure and function; Organelles and internal organization of the eukaryotic cell Protein trafficking in a eukaryotic cell; Cell communication – signalling pathways: endocrine and paracrine signalling; Extracellular matrix and apoptosis; Cell cycle – stages of mitosis and meiosis, and control of cell division cycle.
Biochemistry

Structure and function of biological macromolecules; Allostery; Enzymes – basic mechanisms of enzyme catalysis, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, enzyme inhibition, vitamins as coenzymes, and regulation; Bioenergetics – free-energy change, high-energy compounds, biological oxidation-reduction reactions and reduction potential; Metabolism – glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, urea cycle, and regulation of glycolysis and TCA cycle.

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

Genetics

Mendel’s laws; Inheritance patterns of polygenic traits; Mendelian inheritance patterns of human disorders; Pedigree analysis; Chromosomal basis of inheritance; Genetic recombination; Mapping genes on chromosomes based on linkage analysis; Plant breeding.
Molecular Biology
Landmark experiments that established DNA is the genetic material; DNA replication; Proof-reading and repair of DNA; DNA recombination; Transcription; RNA processing; Translation; Regulation of gene expression including operons bacteria and differential gene expression in multicellular eukaryotes.
Evolution
Darwinian view – natural selection, fossil record and descent with modification; Population genetics – sources of genetic variation, gene pools and allele frequencies, Hardy- Weinberg equation, genetic drift, gene flow and adaptive evolution; Different types of speciation; Phylogenetic classification; Origin of life – abiotic synthesis of biological macromolecules, protocell, dating fossils and origin of multicellularity.
Microbiology
Isolation; Cultivation; Structural features of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa; Pathogenic microorganisms; Nutrition-based classification of microbes; Microbial metabolism; Growth kinetics; Submerged fermentation techniques; Microbial genetics.
Plant Biology
Types of tissues and organs; Primary and secondary growth; Morphogenesis; Transport in vascular plants; Plant nutrition; Development of flowering plants – gametophytic and sporophytic generations, different developmental phases, genetic control of flowering, gametogenesis, incompatibility, embryogenesis, dormancy, germination and environmental influence; Plant hormones; Photobiology; Plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Animal Biology
Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems; Basics of immunology – Innate and adaptive immunity, Immune cells and Immunoglobulins; Animal development – Fertilization, embryonic pattern formation, cleavage, gastrulation, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.
Ecology
Climate patterns; Terrestrial and aquatic biomes; Environmental constraints on species distribution; Factors affecting population density; Interactions among communities; Ecosystems; Ecological remediation.
Biotechnology
Plant tissue culture; Cloning of animals through somatic cell nuclear transfer; Applications of recombinant DNA technology in medicine, agriculture and forensic science.
Methods in Biology
Cell Biology: Microscopy (light microscopy and electron microscopy); Staining proteins with antibodies; Visualizations using the GFP reporter.
Biochemical techniques
UV spectrophotometry; Biomolecular chromatography; cell fractionation by centrifugation; Electrophoresis; and Western blotting. Molecular biology techniques DNA cloning – plasmid vectors, and restriction enzymes; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Expression of cloned eukaryotic genes in bacteria; Hybridization techniques; DNA sequencing.

Chemistry Syllabus

Structure and Properties of Atoms

Bohr's theory; Periodicity in properties.

Bonding in molecules

Chemical bonding; Complex formation; Physical and chemical basis of molecular interactions.

Chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium

Chemical equilibrium; Chemical thermodynamics (first and second law); and Chemical kinetics (zero and first order reactions).

Physical and chemical properties of compounds:

Chemical catalysis; Acid-base concepts; Concepts of pH and buffer; Conjugative effects and resonance; Inductive effects; Electromeric effects; Photochemistry; and Electrochemistry.

Chemistry of organic compounds:

Hydrocarbons; Alkyl halides; Alcohols; Aldehydes; Ketones; Carboxylic acids; Amines and their derivatives; Aromatic hydrocarbons, halides, nitro and amino compounds, phenols, diazonium salts, carboxylic and sulphonic acids; Soaps and detergents; Stereochemistry of carbon compounds.

Instrumental techniques - Spectroscopy:

fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy, emission and absorption spectroscopy, UV-Vis, IR and 1-D proton NMR spectroscopy, basics of mass spectrometry; Basics of calorimetry; Basic concepts of crystallography.

Mathematics Syllabus

Sets; Relations and Functions; Mathematical Induction; Logarithms; Complex numbers; Linear and Quadratic equations; Sequences and Series; Trigonometry; Cartesian System of Rectangular
Coordinates; Straight lines and Family; Three Dimensional Geometry; Permutations and Combinations; Binomial Theorem; Vectors; Matrices and Determinants; Boolean Algebra; Functions; Limits and Continuity; Differentiation; Ordinary Differential Equations; Application of Derivatives; Integration as inverse process of differentiation; Definite and indefinite integrals; Methods of Integration; Integration by parts.

Statistics

Measures of dispersion; Mean Deviation for grouped and ungrouped data; Variance and Standard Deviation; and Analysis of Frequency Distribution.

Probability

Random Experiments; Event; Axiomatic Approach to Probability; Conditional Probability and its properties; Multiplication Theorem on Probability; Independent Events; Bayes’ Theorem; Random Variables and its Probability Distributions; Bernoulli Trails and Binomial Distributions.

Physics Syllabus

Units and measurements; Motion in one and two dimensions; Laws of motion; Work and kinetic energy; Conservation of energy; System of particles and rotational motion; Mechanical properties
of solids and fluids; Thermal properties of matter; Heat and laws of thermodynamics; Kinetic theory of gases; Electric charge and field; Electric potential and capacitance; Current, resistance and
simple circuits; Moving charges and magnetic field; Magnetism and matter; Electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic waves; Alternating currents; Optics: Geometrical Optics – Reflection by
spherical mirrors, Refraction at spherical surfaces and lenses, Total internal reflection and Optical instruments; Wave optics – Reflection and refraction of plane waves, Interference, Diffraction,
Polarization, and Young’s experiment: Dual nature of radiation and matter; Atoms, nuclei and nuclear physics; Semiconductor materials, devices and simple circuits.

Click Here: IIT JAM 2026 Biology Syllabus PDF

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the key factors affecting IIT JAM ranks?
A: 

There are several factors that can affect the relationship between marks and rank in IIT JAM:

Individual Score

Number of candidates applied

Difficulty Level of the Exam

Seat Availability

Category Reservation

Q:   What are some important topics of Biotechnology for the preparation of IIT JAM 2025 examination?
A: 

Candidates seeking admission in MSc Biotechnology courses offered at IITs should consider taking IIT JAM 2025. One of the most sought after courses, Biotechnology, is an extremely technical field and it requires aspirants to be thorough with all the topics at hand. 

IIT JAM exam pattern for Biotechnology course admissions is such that aspirants need to attempt Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.

The weightage of questions asked in the IIT JAM Biotechnology paper is as mentioned below:

Subject

Weightage (In percent)

Biology

44

Chemistry

20

Mathematics

18

Physics

18

View Syllabus
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IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Chemistry (CY)

The JAM test paper for Chemistry consists of three subjects which are Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry. Aspirants can go through the detailed IIT JAM Chemistry syllabus below.

IIT JAM 2026 Physical Chemistry Syllabus

Atomic and Molecular Structure
Planck’s black body radiation, Photoelectric effect, Bohr’s theory, de Broglie postulate, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle; Schrödinger’s wave equation (including mathematical treatment), postulates of quantum mechanics, normalized and orthogonal wave functions, its complex conjugate (idea of complex numbers) and significance of Ѱ2; Operators; Particle in one-
dimension box, radial and angular wave functions for hydrogen atom, radial probability distribution; Finding maxima of distribution functions (idea of maxima and minima), energy spectrum of hydrogen atom; Shapes of s, p, d and f orbitals; Pauli’s Exclusion Principle; Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity.
Gaseous State
Kinetic molecular model of a gas: collision frequency; collision diameter; mean free path and viscosity of gases; Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution: molecular velocities, law of equipartition of energy, molecular basis of heat capacities; Ideal gases, and deviations from ideal gas behaviour,van der Waals equation of state; critical state, law of corresponding states.
Liquid State
Physical properties of Liquid, vapour pressure, surface tension and co-efficient of viscosity and their applications; effect of concentration of solutes on surface tension and viscosity; effect of
temperature on viscosity of liquids.
Solid State
Unit Cells, Miller indices, crystal systems and Bravais Lattices, elementary applications of vectors to crystal systems; X-ray diffraction, Bragg’s Law, Structure of NaCl, CsCl, and KCl, diamond, and graphite; Close packing in metals and metal compounds, semiconductors, insulators; Defects in crystals, lattice energy; isomorphism; heat capacity of solids.
Chemical Thermodynamics
Mathematical treatment: Exact and in-exact differentials, partial derivatives, Euler’s reciprocity, cyclic rule; Reversible and irreversible processes; Laws of thermodynamics, thermochemistry, thermodynamic functions, such as enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy, their properties and applications; Partial molar quantities, dependence of thermodynamic parameters on composition,
Gibbs Duhem equation, chemical potential and its applications. Chemical and Phase Equilibria: Law of mass action; Kp, Kc, Kx and Kn; Effect of temperature on K; Le-Chatelier principle; Ionic
equilibria in solutions; pH and buffer solutions; Salt hydrolysis; Solubility and solubility product; Acid–base titration curves; Indicators; Dilute solutions; Raoult’s and Henry’s Laws and their applications; Colligative properties; Gibbs phase rule; Phase equilibria; single and two- component phase diagrams.
Electrochemistry
Conductivity, equivalent and molar conductivity and their properties; Kohlrausch law; DebyeHückel-Onsager equation; Ionic velocities, mobilities, transference numbers; Applications of conductance measurement; Quantitative aspects of Faraday’s laws of electrolysis, applications of electrolysis in metallurgy and industry; Electromotive force of a cell, Nernst equation; Standard electrode potential, Electrochemical series; Concentration cells with and without transference; Applications of EMF measurements including potentiometric titrations.
Chemical Kinetics
Order and molecularity of a reaction, differential and integrated form of rate expressions - basic ideas of integration and differentiation; Kinetics of opposing, parallel, and consecutive reactions;
Steady state approximation in reaction mechanisms; Chain reactions; Uni-molecular reaction (Lindemann mechanism); Temperature dependence of reaction rates, Arrhenius equation; activation energy; Collision theory of reaction rates; Types of catalysts, specificity and selectivity, mechanisms of catalyzed reactions at solid surfaces; Enzyme catalysis (Michaelis- Menten mechanism, Double reciprocal plot), Acid-base catalysis.
Adsorption
Gibbs adsorption equation; adsorption isotherm; types of adsorption; surface area of adsorbents; surface films on liquids.
Spectroscopy
Beer-Lambert’s law; fundamental concepts of rotational, vibrational, electronic and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

IIT JAM 2026 Organic Chemistry Syllabus

Basic Concepts in Organic Chemistry and Stereochemistry
Electronic effects (resonance, inductive, hyperconjugation) and steric effects and its applications (acid/base property); optical isomerism in compounds with and without any stereocenters (allenes, biphenyls); conformation of acyclic systems (substituted ethane/n- propane/n-butane) and cyclic systems, substituted cyclohexanes, and polycyclic (cis and trans decalins) systems.
Organic Reaction Mechanism and Synthetic Applications
Chemistry of reactive intermediates (carbocations, carbanions, free radicals, carbenes, nitrenes, benzynes); nucleophilic substitution, elimination reactions and mechanisms; Hofmann-Curtius-
Lossen rearrangement, Wolff rearrangement, Simmons-Smith reaction, Reimer-Tiemann reaction, Michael reaction, Darzens reaction, Wittig reaction and McMurry reaction; Pinacolpinacolone, Favorskii, benzilic acid rearrangement, Baeyer-Villeger reaction; oxidation and reduction reactions in organic chemistry; Organometallic reagents in organic synthesis (Grignard, organolithium , organocopper and organozinc (Reformatsky only); Diels-Alder, electrocyclic and sigmatropic reactions; functional group inter-conversions and structural problems using chemical reactions.
Qualitative Organic Analysis
Identification of functional groups by chemical tests; elementary UV, IR and 1 H NMR spectroscopic techniques as tools for structural elucidation of simple organic molecules.
Natural Products Chemistry
Chemistry of alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides and nucleic acids.
Aromatic and Heterocyclic Chemistry
Monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and monocyclic compounds with one hetero atom: synthesis, reactivity and properties, aromaticity; Electrophilic and nucleophilic
aromatic substitution reactions.

IIT JAM 2026 Inorganic Chemistry Syllabus

Periodic Table
Periodic classification of elements, Aufbau’s principle, periodicity; Variations of orbital energy, effective nuclear charge, atomic, covalent, and ionic radii, ionization enthalpy, electron gain
enthalpy, and electronegativity with atomic number, electronic configuration of diatomic molecules (first and second row elements).
Extractions of Metals
General methods of isolation and purification of elements; Principles and applications of Ellingham diagram.
Chemical Bonding and shapes of molecules
lonic bond: Packing of ions in crystals, radius ratio rule, Born-Landé equation, Kapustinskii expression, Madelung constant, Born-Haber cycle, solvation energy, polarizing power and polarizability; Fajan’s rules; Covalent bond: Lewis structure, valence bond theory. Hybridization,

Click Here: IIT JAM 2026 Chemistry Syllabus PDF

Also Read: IIT JAM Eligibility Criteria 2025: Know Educational Qualification and Age limit 

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What type of questions does Section B of IIT JAM exam have?
A: 

JAM 2026 Examination will be conducted in SEVEN subjects, also referred to as Test Papers; Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), Economics (EN), Geology (GG), Mathematics (MA),  Mathematical Statistics (MS), and Physics (PH). The medium for all the Test Papers is English only.

JAM 2026 examination pattern is divided in such a way that the exam will be conducted in the form of three sections ie., Section A, B and C.

Section - B contains a total of 10 Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) carrying two marks each. Each MSQ is similar to MCQ but with the difference that MSQ may have one or more than one correct choice (s) out of the four given choices. The candidate is awarded full credit only if all the correct answer (s) and no wrong answers are selected. Candidates can mark the answer (s) by clicking the choice (s). There is no negative marking or partial marking for MSQ.

Q:   Will marks be deducted for unanswered questions in IIT JAM 2026?
A: 

In IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern there will be no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Such questions will not be taken into consideration while calculating the total marks.

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IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Mathematics (MA)

Aspirants can go through the detailed IIT JAM Mathematics syllabus here. The JAM test paper for Mathematics comprises of the below-mentioned topics:

  • Sequences and Series of Real Numbers: Sequence of real numbers, the convergence of sequences, bounded and monotone sequences, convergence criteria for sequences of real numbers, Cauchy sequences, subsequences, Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem. Series of real numbers, absolute convergence, tests of convergence for series of positive terms – comparison test, ratio test, root test; Leibniz test for convergence of alternating series.
  • Functions of One Real Variable: Limit, continuity, intermediate value property, differentiation, Rolle’s Theorem, mean value theorem, L'Hospital rule, Taylor's theorem, maxima, and minima. 
  • Functions of Two or Three Real Variables: Limit, continuity, partial derivatives, differentiability, maxima, and minima. 
  • Integral Calculus: Integration as the inverse process of differentiation, definite integrals, and their properties, fundamental theorem of calculus. Double and triple integrals, change of order of integration, calculating surface areas and volumes using double integrals, calculating volumes using triple integrals. 
  • Differential Equations: Ordinary differential equations of the first order of the form y'=f(x,y), Bernoulli’s equation, exact differential equations, integrating factor, orthogonal trajectories, homogeneous differential equations, variable separable equations, linear differential equations of second order with constant coefficients, Method of variation of parameters, Cauchy-Euler equation. 
  • Vector Calculus: Scalar and vector fields, gradient, divergence, curl, line integrals, surface integrals, Green, Stokes, and Gauss theorems. 
  • Group Theory: Groups, subgroups, Abelian groups, non-Abelian groups, cyclic groups, permutation groups, normal subgroups, Lagrange's Theorem for finite groups, group homomorphism, and basic concepts of quotient groups. 
  • Linear Algebra: Finite dimensional vector spaces, linear independence of vectors, basis, dimension, linear transformations, matrix representation, range space, null space, rank-nullity theorem. Rank and inverse of a matrix, determinant, solutions of systems of linear equations, consistency conditions, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors for matrices, Cayley-Hamilton theorem. 
  • Real Analysis: Interior points, limit points, open sets, closed sets, bounded sets, connected sets, compact sets, completeness of R. Power series (of real variable), Taylor’s series, radius and interval of convergence, term-wise differentiation, and integration of power series.

Click Here: IIT JAM 2026 Mathematics Syllabus PDF

 

 

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the duration of IIT JAM 2026 examination?
A: 

IIT JAM 2026 examination will be held on February 15, 2026. Exam will be conducted in two sessions:

 Session 1 -  9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Session 2 - 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Q:   How many admitting institutes are there in IIT JAM 2026?
A: 

There are around 3000 seats in postgraduate programmes at 21 IITs for the academic year 2026-27. JAM 2026 Scores will be used to admit the candidates subject to satisfying the ERs and MEQs and any other necessary requirements, without any additional interview or written test.
JAM scores will be used for admission to over 2000 seats for postgraduate programmes such as M.Sc. and M.A. at IISc and various NITs, IIEST Shibpur, SLIET, DIAT through Centralized Counselling for M.Sc / M.Sc. (Tech.) Admission (CCMN).

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IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Mathematical Statistics (MS)

The JAM test paper for Mathematical Statistics consists of two subjects which are Mathematics and Statistics. The weightage given to Mathematics is 40 per cent and Statistics is 60 per cent. Aspirants can go through the detailed IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics syllabus here. Find out the important topics for the Mathematical Statistics course below:

IIT JAM 2026 Mathematics Syllabus

  • Sequences and Series: Convergence of sequences of real numbers, Comparison, root and ratio tests for convergence of series of real numbers.
  • Differential Calculus: Limits, continuity, and differentiability of functions of one and two variables. Rolle's theorem, mean value theorems, Taylor's theorem, indeterminate forms, maxima and minima of functions of one and two variables.
  • Integral Calculus: Fundamental theorems of integral calculus. Double and triple integrals, applications of definite integrals, arc lengths, areas, and volumes.
  • Matrices: Rank, inverse of a matrix, Systems of linear equations, Linear transformations, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors. Cayley-Hamilton theorem, symmetric, skew-symmetric, and orthogonal matrices.

IIT JAM 2026 Statistics Syllabus

  • Probability: Axiomatic definition of probability and properties, conditional probability, multiplication rule. The theorem of total probability. Bayes’ theorem and independence of events.
  • Random Variables: Probability mass function, probability density function, and cumulative distribution functions, distribution of a function of a random variable. Mathematical expectation, moments, and moment generating function. Chebyshev's inequality.
  • Standard Distributions: Binomial, negative binomial, geometric, Poisson, hypergeometric, uniform, exponential, gamma, beta, and normal distributions. Poisson and normal approximations of a binomial distribution.
  • Joint Distributions: Joint, marginal, and conditional distributions. Distribution of functions of random variables. Joint moment generating function. Product moments, correlation, simple linear regression. Independence of random variables.
  • Sampling Distributions: Chi-square, t and F distributions, and their properties.
  • Limit Theorems: Weak law of large numbers. Central limit theorem (i.i.d.with finite variance case only).
  • Estimation: Unbiasedness, consistency, and efficiency of estimators, method of moments, and method of maximum likelihood. Sufficiency, factorization theorem. Completeness, Rao-Blackwell, and Lehmann-Scheffe theorems, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimators. Rao-Cramer inequality. Confidence intervals for the parameters of univariate normal, two independent normal, and one parameter exponential distributions.
  • Testing of Hypotheses: Basic concepts, applications of Neyman-Pearson Lemma for testing simple and composite hypotheses. Likelihood ratio tests for parameters of univariate normal distribution. 

Click Here: IIT JAM 2026 Mathematics Statistics Syllabus PDF

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the important topics for Mathematical statistics subject for the preparation of IIT JAM 2026 exam?
A: 

Topics to Study in IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics:

Aspirants can go through important topics that they should study to secure good marks in the IIT JAM exam for Mathematical Statistics below:

Important Topics in Mathematics

Sequences and Series

Differential Calculus

Integral Calculus

Matrices

Important Topics in Statistics

Probability

Random Variables

Standard Distributions

Joint Distributions

Sampling Distributions

Limit Theorems

Estimation

Testing of Hypotheses

Q:   What is the difficulty level of IIT JAM examination?
A: 

The difficulty level of IIT JAM is moderate to tough. The difficulty level for subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics is tougher as compared to the IIT JAM subjects of Economics, Biotechnology and Geology.

If we compare the difficulty level of IIT JAM examination with CUET PG exam, ISI Admission test, NEST exam, IISER Entrance examination, then it will be found that IIT JAM examination is comparetively tougher than the other top colleges/ universities entrance examination.

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IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Physics (PH)

Aspirants can go through the detailed IIT JAM Physics syllabus below. The JAM test paper for Physics comprises of the below-mentioned topics:

  • Mathematical Methods: Calculus of single and multiple variables, partial derivatives, Jacobian, imperfect and perfect differentials, Taylor expansion, Fourier series. Vector algebra, Vector Calculus, Multiple integrals, Divergence theorem, Green’s theorem, Stokes’ theorem. First-order equations and linear second-order differential equations with constant coefficients. Matrices and determinants, Algebra of complex numbers.
  • Mechanics and General Properties of Matter: Newton’s laws of motion and applications, Velocity and acceleration in Cartesian, polar and cylindrical coordinate systems, uniformly rotating frame, centrifugal and Coriolis forces, Motion under a central force, Kepler’s laws, Gravitational Law and field, Conservative and non-conservative forces. System of particles, Center of mass, equation of motion of the CM, conservation of linear and angular momentum, conservation of energy, variable mass systems. Elastic and inelastic collisions. Rigid body motion, fixed axis rotations, rotation and translation, moments of Inertia and products of Inertia, parallel and perpendicular axes theorem. Principal moments and axes. Kinematics of moving fluids, equation of continuity, Euler’s equation, Bernoulli’s theorem. 
  • Oscillations, Waves and Optics: Differential equation for simple harmonic oscillator and its general solution. Superposition of two or more simple harmonic oscillators. Lissajous figures. Damped and forced oscillators, resonance. Wave equation, traveling, and standing waves in one-dimension. Energy density and energy transmission in waves. Group velocity and phase velocity. Sound waves in media. Doppler Effect. Fermat’s Principle. General theory of image formation. Thick lens, thin lens, and lens combinations. Interference of light, optical path retardation. Fraunhofer diffraction. Rayleigh criterion and resolving power. Diffraction gratings. Polarization: linear, circular, and elliptic polarization. Double refraction and optical rotation.
  • Electricity and Magnetism: Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law. Electric field and potential. Electrostatic boundary conditions, Solution of Laplace’s equation for simple cases. Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, dielectric polarization, volume and surface charges, electrostatic energy. Biot-Savart law, Ampere’s law, Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, Self and mutual inductance. Alternating currents. Simple DC and AC circuits with R, L, and C components. Displacement current, Maxwell’s equations and plane electromagnetic waves, Poynting’s theorem, reflection, and refraction at a dielectric interface, transmission, and reflection coefficients (normal incidence only). Lorentz Force and motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
  • Kinetic theory, Thermodynamics: Elements of Kinetic theory of gases. Velocity distribution and Equipartition of energy. Specific heat of Mono-, di- and tri-atomic gases. Ideal gas, van-der-Waals gas, and equation of state. Mean free path. Laws of thermodynamics. Zeroth law and the concept of thermal equilibrium. First law and its consequences. Isothermal and adiabatic processes. Reversible, irreversible, and quasi-static processes. Second law and entropy. Carnot cycle. Maxwell’s thermodynamic relations and simple applications. Thermodynamic potentials and their applications. Phase transitions and Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Ideas of ensembles, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein distributions.
  • Modern Physics: Inertial frames and Galilean invariance. Postulates of special relativity. Lorentz transformations. Length contraction, time dilation. Relativistic velocity addition theorem, mass-energy equivalence. Blackbody radiation, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, Bohr’s atomic model, X-rays. Wave-particle duality, Uncertainty principle, the superposition principle, calculation of expectation values, Schrödinger equation, and its solution for one, two, and three-dimensional boxes. Solution of Schrödinger equation for the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Reflection and transmission at a step potential, Pauli exclusion principle. Structure of the atomic nucleus, mass, and binding energy. Radioactivity and its applications. Laws of radioactive decay.
  • Solid State Physics, Devices, and Electronics: Crystal structure, Bravais lattices, and basis. Miller indices. X-ray diffraction and Bragg's law; Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, variation of resistivity with temperature. Fermi level. p-n junction diode, I-V characteristics, Zener diode, and its applications, BJT: characteristics in CB, CE, CC modes. Single-stage amplifier, two-stage R-C coupled amplifiers. Simple Oscillators: Barkhausen condition, sinusoidal oscillators. OPAMP and applications: Inverting and non-inverting amplifier. Boolean algebra: Binary number systems; conversion from one system to another system; binary addition and subtraction. Logic Gates AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR exclusive OR; Truth tables; a combination of gates; de Morgan’s theorem.

Click Here: IIT JAM 2026 Physics Syllabus PDF

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are some important topics of Physics subject for the preparation of IIT JAM Physics?
A: 

Candidates who want to appear for IIT JAM exam for Physics course admission should formulate a strategy to crack this Science entrance exam. Here, it is important that candidates go through important IIT JAM Physics books, identify important topics, and thereafter solve as many IIT JAM question papers as they can. This is a sure-shot way of getting a good rank in IIT JAM result.

Candidates can go through important topics that they should study to score well in IIT JAM exam in the table mentioned below:

Kinetic theory,  Thermodynamics

Mathematical Methods

Simple Oscillators

Mechanics and General Properties of Matter

Oscillations,  Waves andBoolean Physics

Electricity and Magnetism

Solid State Physics, Devices and Electronics

Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT)

Boolean algebra

 

Q:   I have 3 subjects in my graduation (B.Sc) Physics, Maths and Chemistry, I am confused about what subject should I prepare for in IIT JAM?
A: 

Well, if you have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, all three in your Bachelor's degree you should first understand and analyze that which subject you like the most and you are highly interested in. Then devote atleast a year and evaluate the scope of M.Sc in that particular subject, study it and then select the subject. Don't be in a rush, take your time.

 

 

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IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 for Economics (EN)

Aspirants can go through the detailed IIT JAM Economics syllabus here. The IIT JAM test paper for Economics comprises of the below-mentioned topics:

Microeconomics: Consumer theory, Theory of production and cost, General equilibrium and welfare, Market structure, Game theory, Public goods and market failure.

Macroeconomics: National income accounting, Behavioural and technological functions, Business cycles and economic models, Inflation and unemployment, Growth models

Statistics for Economics: Probability theory, Mathematical statistics, Hypothesis Testing, Correlation and regression.

Indian Economy: Indian economy before 1950, Planning and Indian development, Indian economy after 1991, Banking, finance and macroeconomic policies, Inequalities in social development, Poverty, India’s labour market.

Mathematics for Economics: Preliminaries and functions, Differential calculus, Integral calculus, Differential equations, and difference equations, Linear Algebra, Optimisation.

Click Here: IIT JAM 2026 Economics Syllabus PDF

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What type of question does Section C of IIT JAM exam has?
A: 

There will be a total of 60 questions carrying a total of 100 marks

Section - C has total 20 Numerical Answer Type questions involving 10 questions of one mark each and 10 questions of two marks each. For NAT questions.

Q:   Are their any scribes arranged by the examination authority for IIT JAM 2026 examination?
A: 

Scribes will be arranged for those PwD candidates who have requested to be provided with a scribe at the time of application.
Qualification of the scribe arranged by test center will NOT be more than the minimum eligibility criteria of JAM 2026. However, the qualification of the scribe will be matriculation (10th) or above. If there are Y candidates who require scribe, it will be ensured that a panel of (Y+1) scribes is available at the exam centre so that every candidate can have an alternative scribe to choose for the services.

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IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates preparing for IIT JAM 2026 exam must also go through the JAM 2026 exam pattern along with the syllabus. Knowing the IIT JAM exam pattern 2026 will help the candidates understand the types of questions that are being asked in the examination and its marking scheme as well. Knowing the marking scheme will help to understand the risk they can take when they are unsure about the correct answer in the examination. Here are the IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern highlights mentioned below which the aspirants can check:

Particulars

Details

Exam Mode

Online, Computer Based Test (CBT)

Exam Duration

Three hours

Test Language

English

Type of Questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT)

Subjects

Biotechnology (BL), Chemistry (CY), Geology (GG), Economics (EN), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS) and Physics (PH)

Total Questions

60

Total Marks

100 marks

 
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the JAM 2026 shift timings?
A: 

IIT JAM 2026 aspirants can check the below table for exam day shift timings:

Examination DateSession TimeTest Papers and Code
February 15, 2026
(Sunday)
Forenoon (FN)
9.30 am to 12.30 pm
• Chemistry (CY)
• Geology (GG)
• Mathematics (MA)
Afternoon (AN)
2.30 pm to 5.30 pm
• Biotechnology (BT)
• Economics (EN)
• Mathematical Statistics (MS)
• Physics (PH)

 

Q:   Will marks be deducted for unanswered questions in IIT JAM 2026?
A: 

In IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern there will be no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Such questions will not be taken into consideration while calculating the total marks.

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Important Topics for IIT JAM 2026

Aspirants can go through the list of important topics for the IIT JAM 2026 exam for all test papers in the table below:

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Biotechnology (BL)

Subject

Topics

Biology (10+2+3 level)

General Biology

Biochemistry and Physiology

Basic Biotechnology

Molecular Biology

Cell Biology

Microbiology

Chemistry (10+2+3 level)

-

Mathematics (10+2 level)

-

Physics (10+2 level)

-

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Chemistry (CY)

Subject

Topics

Physical Chemistry

Basic Mathematical Concepts

Atomic and Molecular Structure

Theory of Gases

Solid State

Chemical Thermodynamics

Chemical and Phase Equilibria

Electrochemistry

Chemical Kinetics

Adsorption

Spectroscopy

Organic Chemistry 

Basic Concepts in Organic Chemistry and Stereochemistry

Organic Reaction Mechanism and Synthetic Applications

Qualitative Organic Analysis

Natural Products Chemistry

Aromatic and Heterocyclic Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry 

Periodic Table

Chemical Bonding and Shapes of Compounds

Main Group Elements (s and p blocks)

Transition Metals (d block)

Bioinorganic Chemistry

Instrumental Methods of Analysis

Analytical Chemistry

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Geology (GG)

Subjects

Topics

The Planet Earth

 

 

 

 

Origin of Solar System and the Earth

 Geosphere and the composition of the Earth
Shape and size of the Earth
Earth-Moon system
Dating rocks and age of the Earth

Geomorphology

 

 

Weathering and erosion

Soil formation
Transportation and deposition by wind, ice,
river, sea and resulting landforms

Structural Geology

 

 

 

 

Orientation of planes and lines in space – concept of dip, strike, rake and plunge.
Contour lines

 Rule of ‘V’s and outcrop patterns
Interpretation of geological maps and cross-section
construction
Classification and origin of folds, faults, joints, unconformities, foliations and lineations
Stereographic and equal-area projections of planes and lines

Palaeontology

 

 

 

 

Major steps in the evolution of life forms

Fossils, their mode of preservation and utility in
age determination and paleoenvironmental interpretations
Morphology, major evolutionary trends and
ages of important groups of animals – Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Trilobita, Graptolitoidea, Anthozoa,
Echinodermata
Gondwana plant fossils
Elementary idea of vertebrate fossils in India

Stratigraphy

 

 

 

 

Principles of stratigraphy

Litho-, Chrono- and biostratigraphic classification
Stratigraphic correlation techniques
Archaean cratons of Peninsular India (Dharwar, Singhbhum and Aravalli)
Proterozoic mobile belts

Mineralogy

 

 

 

 

Symmetry and forms in common crystal classes

Physical properties of minerals
Isomorphism, polymorphism, solid solution and exsolution
Classification of minerals
 Structure of silicates

Petrology

 

 

 

 

Definition and classification of rocks

Igneous rocks – forms of igneous bodies
Processes of evolution and diversification of magma
 Classification, association, and genesis of common igneous rocks
Sedimentary rocks – classification, texture, and structure

Economic Geology

 

 

 

 

Physical properties of common economic minerals

General processes of formation of mineral deposits
Mode of occurrence and distribution of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits in
India
Fundamentals of reserve calculation
Elements of coal and hydrocarbon geology

Applied Geology

 

 

Groundwater and hydrological cycle, Types of aquifers, porosity and permeability

Principles of engineering geology

Geological considerations in construction of dams and tunnels

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Mathematics (MA)

Real Analysis

 

Sequences and Series of Real Numbers

Functions of One Real Variable

Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations

 

 

Functions of Two or Three Real Variables

Integral Calculus

Differential Equations

Linear Algebra and Algebra

 

 

Matrices

Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces

Groups

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Mathematical Statistics (MS)

Subject

Topics

Mathematics

Sequences and Series

Differential Calculus

Integral Calculus

Matrices

Statistics 

Probability

Random Variables

Standard Distributions

Joint Distributions

Sampling distributions

Limit Theorems

Estimation

Testing of Hypotheses

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Physics (PH)

Subjects

Topics

Mathematical Methods

 

 

 

 

Calculus of single and multiple variables

Vector Algebra

Ventor Calculus

Multiple Integrals

Divergence Theorem

Mechanics and General Properties of Matter

 

 

 

 

Newton’s laws of motion and applications

Velocity and acceleration

Motion

Gravitational Law and field
Kinematics of moving fluids

Oscillations, Waves and Optic

 

 

 

 

Differential equation for simple harmonic oscillator and its general
solution

Superposition of two or more simple harmonic oscillators
Lissajous figures
Damped and forced oscillators, resonance
Wave equation, traveling and standing waves in one-dimension

Electricity and Magnetism

 

 

 

 

Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law

Electric field and potential

Electrostatic boundary conditions, Solution of Laplace’s equation for simple cases
Conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, dielectric polarization, volume and surface charges, electrostatic energy
Alternating Currents

Kinetic theory, Thermodynamics

 

 

 

 

Elements of Kinetic theory of gases

Velocity distribution and
Equipartition of energy
Specific heat of Mono-, di- and tri-atomic gases
 Ideal gas, van-der-Waals gas
and equation of state
Mean free path

Modern Physics

 

 

 

 

Inertial frames and Galilean invariance

Postulates of special relativity
Lorentz transformations. Length contraction, time dilation
 Relativistic velocity addition theorem, mass energy equivalence
Radioactivity and its applications

Solid State Physics, Devices and Electronics

 

 

 

 

Crystal structure, Bravais lattices and basis

Miller indices
X-ray diffraction and Bragg's law
Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors
Simple Oscillators

IIT JAM 2025: Important Topics for Economics (EN)

Microeconomics

 

 

 

 

Consumer theory

Theory of production and cost

General equilibrium and welfare,

Market structure

Game theory

Macroeconomics

 

 

 

 

National income accounting   

Behavioural and technological functions

Business cycles and economic models,

Inflation and unemployment,

Growth models

Statistics for Economics

 

 

 

Probability theory   

Mathematical statistics

Hypothesis Testing

Correlation and regression

Indian Economy

 

 

 

 

Indian economy before 1950   

Planning and Indian development

Indian economy after 1991

Banking, finance and macroeconomic policies

Inequalities in social development

Mathematics for Economics

 

 

 

 

Preliminaries and functions   

Differential calculus

Integral calculus

Differential equations, and difference equations
Linear Algebra

Candidates appearing for IIT JAM 2025 can go through the below-mentioned links:

IIT JAM Exam Pattern IIT JAM Preparation IIT JAM Question Papers

 

Read more
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the duration of IIT JAM 2026 examination?
A: 

IIT JAM 2026 examination will be held on February 15, 2026. Exam will be conducted in two sessions:

 Session 1 -  9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Session 2 - 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Q:   What is the study plan for the preparation of IIT JAM Physics exam?
A: 

Physics is one of the most sought course of choice among students who want to take admission in IITs, IISc, etc. It is for this reason alone that IIT JAM Physics paper is extremely competitive. Thus, when preparing for the Physics paper in JAM exam, candidates are suggested to pay less attention to the number of books from which they are studying and more emphasis on finding the topics that will help them score more.

To have an effective prep plan for IIT JAM Physics paper, students should have a timetable in place and make notes of important formulas that will make their last-minute preparation easy.

IIT JAM Physics Study Plan for First Month

Week of Study

Topic to Study

Sub-topic to Study

1

Mechanics and General Properties of Matter-I

Newton’s Laws of Motion and Applications

Kepler’s Laws

Polar and Cylindrical Coordinate Systems,

Conservative and Non-Conservative Forces

Centrifugal and Coriolis Forces

Motion Under a Central Force

Uniformly Rotating Frame

Gravitational Law and Field

Velocity and Acceleration in Cartesian

2

Mechanics and General Properties of Matter-II

System of Particles

Conservation of Linear and Angular Momentum

Conservation of Energy

Center of Mass

Equation of Motion of the Center of Mass

Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Fixed Axis Rotations

Rigid Body Motion

Rotation and Translation

Parallel and Perpendicular Axes Theorem

Moments of Inertia and Products of Inertia

Principal Moments and Axes

Equation of Continuity

Kinematics of Moving Fluids

Euler’s Equation

Bernoulli’s Theorem

3

Mathematical Methods-I

Stokes’ Theorem

Green’s Theorem

Divergence Theorem

Multiple Integrals

Vector Calculus

Vector Algebra

Fourier Series

Taylor Expansion

Imperfect and Perfect Differentials

Jacobian Matrix

Partial Derivatives

Calculus of Single and Multiple Variables

4

Mathematical Methods-II

 First Order Equations

Linear Second Order Differential Equations with Constant Coefficients

Algebra of Complex Numbers

Matrices and Determinants

IIT JAM Physics Study Plan for Second Month

Week of Study

Topic to Study

Sub-topic to Study

5

Electricity and Magnetism-I

Coulomb’s Law

Gauss’s Law

Electric Field and Potential

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions

Solution of Laplace’s Equation for Simple Cases

Capacitors

Conductors

Dielectric Polarization

Electrostatic Energy

Volume and Surface Charges

6

Oscillations, Waves and Optics-I

Differential Equation for Simple Harmonic Oscillator and Its General Solution

Superposition of Two or More Simple Harmonic Oscillator

Damped and Forced Oscillators

Resonance

7

Oscillations, Waves and Optics-II

Energy Density and Energy Transmission in Waves

Wave Equation

Group Velocity and Phase Velocity

Sound Waves in Media

Doppler Effect

Wave Equation

Fermat’s Principle

8

Oscillations, Waves and Optics-III

General Theory of Image Formation

Thick Lens, Thin Lens and Lens Combinations

Fraunhofer Diffraction

Rayleigh Criterion and Resolving Power

Diffraction Gratings

Polarization

Double Refraction and Optical Rotation

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