IIT JAM 2026: Official Dates, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Courses
Updates (1)
IIT JAM Question Papers 2025, 2024
IIT JAM 2026: Your Complete Guide to Dates, Eligibility, and Courses 🎓
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) is the organizing institute for the Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) 2026. This national-level entrance exam is the gateway for science graduates seeking admission to over 5,000 seats in postgraduate science programs like M.Sc., Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., and other integrated courses offered by the IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs).
1. Important Dates for IIT JAM 2026
Candidates must adhere to the following key dates to ensure a smooth application process:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Begins (JOAPS Portal Opens) | September 5, 2025 |
| Registration Closes (Extended Deadline) | October 20, 2025 |
| Admit Card Release | January 5, 2026 |
| Date of Examination (CBT) | February 15, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Announcement of Results | March 20, 2026 |
2. Eligibility and Application Details
- Educational Qualification: Candidates who have either completed or are in the final year of their undergraduate program can apply.
- Minimum Marks: Typically 55% aggregate marks (or CGPA of 5.5) for General/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates and 50% marks (or CGPA of 5.0) for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Age Restriction: There is no upper age limit for the exam.
- Test Papers: The exam is conducted for seven papers (BT, CY, EN, GG, MA, MS, PH). Candidates can appear in one or two papers.
3. Exam Pattern and Structure
IIT JAM 2026 is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) with a duration of 3 hours and a total of 100 marks. The paper is divided into three sections:
| Section | Question Type | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|
| A | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | Applies |
| B | Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) | No Negative Marking |
| C | Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | No Negative Marking |
4. Participating Institutes and Offered Courses
The JAM score is accepted by 22 IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, and other CFTIs for admission to over 5,000 seats.
A. Admitting Institutes (IITs)
These 22 institutes conduct the centralized admission process (CCM) for programs like M.Sc., Joint M.Sc. - Ph.D., and M.Sc. - M.Tech. Dual Degrees.
- IIT Bombay (Organizing Institute)
- IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, and 15 other IITs.
B. Result Sharing Institutes
These institutes use the JAM score but may have separate counseling/interview processes.
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (for Integrated Ph.D.)
- National Institutes of Technology (NITs): (e.g., NIT Warangal, NIT Rourkela)
- Other CFTIs (e.g., IIEST Shibpur, IISERs).
C. Sample Courses Offered
Courses vary by institute but generally fall into these categories:
- M.Sc.: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Applied Geology.
- Joint M.Sc. - Ph.D. / Integrated Ph.D.: Dual degree programs combining Master's and Doctoral research.
- Specialized Programs: M.Sc. (Tech.) Applied Geophysics, M.Sc. Applied Statistics and Informatics.