JEST Application Process 2026: Application Form (Soon), Check Registration Date, Fees & How to Apply

Joint Entrance Screening Test 2024 ( JEST )

DeskCalelnderExam On - 12 Apr '26

Rakshit Prabhakar
Updated on Jan 27, 2026 15:57 IST

By Rakshit Prabhakar

The JEST 2026 application process will start in the second week of February 2026, tentatively. Students must note that the JEST application portal 2026 will be announced soon on the website. The exam-conducting body for JEST will be Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST); the exam will be conducted by the SERB.

Click Here: JEST Registration Link

The JEST 2026 Exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026.   Candidates aspiring to pursue a PhD or Integrated PhD in Physics, Neuroscience, Theoretical Computer Science, or Computational Biology at one of the participating institutes of JEST are advised to visit the official website of JEST to check out the exam date and for upcoming events.  

The JEST admit card will be out soon on the official site.

The non-refundable application fee for the JEST 2026 examination is:

  • INR 600 for SC/ST & PwD applicants
  • INR 1200 for all other applicants

Latest Update & News: JEST 2026 Exam on April 12: Check Out Dates, Eligibility, and Other Details

Table of contents
  • Steps to Fill JEST 2026 Application Form
  • JEST 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
  • JEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria
  • JEST 2026: Important Instructions
  • JEST 2026 Application Fee
  • FAQs Regarding JEST 2026 Application Process
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Steps to Fill JEST 2026 Application Form

Students must check out following steps to be able to successfully fill and submit JEST application form. 

Step 1: Create a Registration ID

Step 2: Fill Details in JEST Application Form

After students verify their email ID, site will lead to application form for JEST exam. Information that students needed to provide in JEST application form are mentioned below:

  • Name
  • Gender
  • Mobile number
  • Date of birth
  • Parents'/guardians' details
  • Address
  • Qualifying exam
  • Year of passing
  • Programme preference
  • College preference
  • Test centre preference

Step 3: Upload Important Documents

Students need to upload scanned copies of their photograph and signature in their Joint Entrance Screening Test application form.

Step 4: Pay JEST Application Fee

Students can pay application fee for JEST exam online through a Debit card/Credit card and net banking.

Step 5: Submit & Print JEST Application Form

Step 6: After student completes all the steps they need to click on ‘Submit’ button.

Step 7: Once students successfully submitted their registration form online they received an email on their registered email address containing their “application data after final submission containing Unique Submission Number and filled in data”.

Step 8: Students had to download and keep this information safely for future reference. In a scenario wherein students do not receive such an email notification after submission of JEST application form and completing e-payment of JEST application fee then they need to contact JEST authorities and inform same immediately. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the eligibility for JEST 2026 Exam?
A: 

All those students are eligible to apply for JEST 2026 Exam who wish to pursue a PhD or integrated PhD in Theoretical Computer Science, Computational Biology, Physics, or Neuroscience. 

JEST 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of JEST 2024 exam

DatesUpcoming Exam Dates
Feb ' 26

JEST 2026 Application Window

TENTATIVE
Feb ' 26

JEST 2026 Registration Fee End Date

TENTATIVE
Feb ' 26

JEST 2026 Admit Card

TENTATIVE
12 Apr ' 26

JEST 2026 Exam Date

JEST Logo

JEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who want to appear in the JEST exam must ensure that they fulfil the eligibility criteria mentioned by the institutions. The JEST 2026 eligibility criteria for MSc, PhD and Integrated/MSc/MTech - PhD programmes are mentioned below. The eligibility criteria for various courses vary from college to college. There is no age restriction for appearing in the JEST exam. The JEST 2026 Exam is conducted for candidates who wish to pursue PhD and integrated PhD programmes of different participating institutes. Candidates who wish to appear for the JEST 2026 Exam must visit the official website to stay updated with the upcoming events and to be able to fill out the application form and make needed arrangements accordingly.

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JEST 2026: Important Instructions

Here are some important instructions candidates must be aware of:

  •  Candidates need to pay their application fee online via Debit/Credit Cards/Net-banking options are available.
  •  Application Fee for Women candidates who belong to SC/ST is waived.
  •  Students should carefully read the application instructions, FAQ and eligibility criteria of each of the institutes, for different programmes, by visiting their respective websites before filling up the form.
  •  While filling up the application form, candidates need to upload their passport-sized photograph and their scanned signature, both in JPEG format. The size of the individual files for the photo and signature should not exceed 100 kilobytes each. Candidates can also use compression software tools to resize their images.
  •  Candidates are advised to use a black ball pen for the signature, which is to be scanned for uploading.
  •  Candidates are strictly instructed to keep an identical photograph to be pasted on the admit card, in case it is not printed on the admit card.
  •  In case the application form is incomplete, candidates can save and edit the form by clicking on "Save Draft". However, they are not allowed to make changes after the final submission after clicking on the "Submit Application" button.
  •  Only after successful online application fee payment, the application process be considered complete.
  •  Incomplete applications or applications without fee payment will be dismissed after the end date of online submissions.
  •  Candidates will receive an email after submitting their application form with a unique submission number and payment details, respectively, which will be used for all communication purposes.
JEST Logo

JEST 2026 Application Fee

The JEST official website has provided the category wise JEST 2026 registration fee in its information brochure. The JEST fees 2026 can be paid online only via Credit/Debit cards, Net banking, and UPI/wallets. Students must note that the JEST 2026 application form will be considered submitted only after successful payment of the application fee. Students can check the detailed JEST 2026 registration fees below.

Students can refer to the non refundable application fee for the JEST 2026 examination:

  • INR 600 for SC/ST & PwD applicants
  • INR 1200 for all other applicants

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I use a friend’s email address for JEST 2026 registration?
A: 

No, you must provide a valid and unique email address, which must maintained throughout the selection process. All the correspondence about JEST 2026 and the information during the selection stages of the respective institutes will be communicated to the JEST 2026 registration email. 

Q:   What is the step by step guide to fill the JEST 2026 application form?
A: 

Below is the process step by step guide to fill the JEST 2026 application form:

  • Create a Registration ID
  • Fill Details in JEST Application Form

After students verify their email ID, site will lead to application form for JEST exam. Information that students needed to provide in JEST application form are mentioned below:

Name

Gender

Mobile number

Date of birth

Parents'/guardians' details

Address

Qualifying exam

Year of passing

Programme preference

College preference

Test centre preference

  • Upload Important Documents

Students need to upload scanned copies of their photograph and signature in their Joint Entrance Screening Test application form.

  • Pay JEST Application Fee

Students can pay application fee for JEST exam online through a Debit card/Credit card and net banking.

  • Submit & Print JEST Application Form
  • After student completes all the steps they need to click on 'Submit' button.
  • Once students successfully submitted their registration form online they received an email on their registered email address containing their “application data after final submission containing Unique Submission Number and filled in data”.
  • Students had to download and keep this information safely for future reference. In a scenario wherein students do not receive such an email notification after submission of JEST application form and completing e-payment of JEST application fee then they need to contact JEST authorities and inform same immediately. 

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FAQs Regarding JEST 2026 Application Process

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions on the JEST Application Process 2026:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is there a concession in the JEST application fee for female candidates?
A: 

The JEST 2026 application fee will be paid after filling the form. Female candidates who belong to the SC/ST community need not to pay any penny while filling the form. Though female candidates other than SC/ST community need to pay a fee, that fee is INR 400 which is half of the fees paid by male applicants.

Since female participation in JEST exam is less in comparison to other exams hence exam conducting authorities offer relaxations to female applicants.

Q:   What is the size of documents to be uploaded in JEST online form?
A: 

The JEST application process includes, registeration, uploading of the documents and paying the application fees. If any step is not done as recommended then applicants won't be able to appear in the exam. 

The photograph and signature both should be of maximum 100 KB while the dimensions are different for both of them. 

For photograph it is - 

Minimum: 100 X 125 pixels

Maximum: 240 x 300 pixels (width x height) 

For signature it is - 

Minimum: 100 X 125 pixels

Maximum: 150 x 30 pixels (width x height)

Students are advised to upload the documents as per the recomended dimension of photograph and signature. 

Q:   What is correction date for JEST 2026 application form?
A: 

JEST 2026 Application Window end date will be June 2026. The exam-conducting body for JEST is the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST); previously, the exam will be conducted by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SEBS)

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JEST Exam

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 months ago

You will have to upload your photograph (passport size photo) and your signature (on a white background) during the JEST 2026 registration.

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

JEST is conducted once a year usually in the month of February, but the exam month of each year changes.

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

JEST 2026 eligibility criteria depends on the specific programme and participating institute, but generally require a master's or bachelor's degree in relevant Science or engineering field.

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

JEST 2026 Eligibility criteria depends on the specific programme and participating institute, but generally require a bachlor's or master's degree in relevant Science or engineering field.

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

12 Institutes accepting JEST

  • 48,550
  • 3 years
  • |
  • Full Time
    • 45,000
    • 3 years
    • |
    • Full Time

    St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences

    Sarjapur Road, Bangalore Private

    St. John’s
      • 1.47 Lakh
      • 42 months
      • |
      • Full Time
        • 2.58 Lakh
        • 3 years
        • |
        • Full Time

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