TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern: Subjects-wise Pattern, Marking Scheme, Time Duration & Marks

The table below brings the expected TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern highlights.

TIFR GS 2026 Exam will be held in two stages for the academic session 2026-27. The TIFR GS shift-wise timings are mentioned in the table below as per the previous year's exam. Candidates are advised to understand the exam timing to be aware of the exam schedule for the academic session 2026-27.

TIFR GS Exam Pattern for Mathematics is divided into two parts. Part A of the Mathematics subject consists of 20 MCQs (multiple-choice questions). Every question consists of four options, and students need to pick one correct answer out of the four options. Part B of he mathematics subject consists of 20 true/false questions. The exam time of exam is three hours. For further information, students must read the table below. 

Note: Students will be graded only for Part A of the exam. The top 100 students will be selected for the next evaluation step based on the cutoff scores. As per the official website, only the selected student's Part B Answer Booklet will be graded. 
TIFR GS Marking Scheme:

Part A: For every right answer, students get two marks. One mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
Part B: For each correct answer, full marks are given. For partially correct answers, half marks are given.
Selection Criteria for Mathematics:

At TIFR, the selection process to take admission to different Mathematics programs at TIFR GS 2026 Centres (Integrated PhD at TIFR Mumbai, PhD, CAM-TIFR Bengaluru, ICTS-TIFR Bengaluru) includes two stages. If students clear the TIFR GS Written exam, only then will they be eligible for the second stage of the TIFR GS 2025 Admission Process. The scores that are achieved in the First Stage of the exam are also used in the second stage of the exam.

TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern for the Physics course includes two parts. Part A includes objective-type questions, and there are a total of 25 Multiple Choice Questions questions. The Part A questions are based on the basic topics. Part B also consists of the MCQ-type questions. The total exam time is three hours. For further clarification, students must read the information given below.

The marking scheme for the Physics subjects is mentioned as follows:

Section A: For each correct answer, 3 marks are given, for each wrong answer, there is a negative marking of 1 mark and 0 marks for not attempting a question. 

Section B: For each correct answer, 5 marks are given, for each wrong answer, there is no negative marking, and 0 marks for not attempting a question. 

Selection Process for Physics Course

The Physics entrance test is conducted in two stages:
1. The first stage is the Screening Test, which includes multiple-choice type questions.
2. The second stage is for the candidates who clear the screening test and are eligible for the Interviews/written tests. 

TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern for Chemistry consists of one part. Part A of the Chemistry subject includes a total of 40 MCQ (multiple choice questions). For every question, there are four options, and the candidates need to select one correct option out of the four options given. The Chemistry exam time is three hours. For more information, candidates can refer to the table below:

Marking Scheme for Chemistry Courses: 

Part A: For each right answer, 3 marks will be awarded. For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted.

TIFR GS exam pattern for Computer & Systems Sciences paper consists of multiple-choice questions that students need to complete within three hours. The paper was divided into three parts as shown in the table below:

The exam duration for the Computer & System Sciences paper is three hours in total. Students need to complete all three parts as per their understanding because there is no separate time allotted for each part. Each part consists of a total of fifteen questions. 

NOTE:

• Common: All the candidates need to attempt Part A. 
• If a candidates want to be considered for the Computer Science Course, then it is mandatory to attempt Part B, but if a candidate does not wish to be considered for entrance into Computer Science, then they are allowed to skip all the questions in Part B: Computer Science. 
• Students need to attempt Part C in case they want to be considered for the Learning, Information and Data Science, and if they do not want to be considered for LIDS, they can skip Part C. 
• Students can also attempt both Part B: CS and Part C: LIDS; regardless, no extra time will be given. Students who wish to attempt both Part B: CS and Part C: LIDS will be assessed for TIFR GS 2025 entrance into both Computer Science and Learning, Information and Data Sciences.
• As in a paper exam, questions and sections can be attempted in any order and revisited as frequently as desired.

Marking Scheme of Computer and System Science: There is negative marking in the exam for incorrect answers.

Correct Answers: Four marks will be given for each right answer. 

Incorrect Answers: Mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.

Candidates appearing for TIFR GS can go through the links mentioned below:

TIFR GS 2026 Science Education exam pattern is divided into two parts. Part A includes a total of 80 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions). Every question consists of four options, and candidates need to choose one correct opinion out of the four options. Part B includes 3 descriptive questions for 50 marks. The total exam time is three hours. For further clarification, students should refer to the table below:

Section A