IIT JAM 2026: Website (Launched), Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus

IIT JAM 2026: IIT Bombay has launched the JAM 2026 official website i.e., jam2026.iitb.ac.in. As per the tentative schedule released, the IIT JAM 2026 exam date is scheduled for February 15, 2026 in computer-based test (CBT) mode. The JAM 2026 registration may start from September 05, 2025. Aspirants need to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognised university, however, final year students are also eligible. The JAM 2026 Question Paper will include various question types such as Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Selection Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NATs). IIT JAM 2026 Syllabus will include seven major subjects namely, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Economics, Geology, Mathematical Statistics, Mathematics, and Physics. IIT JAM 2026 scores will be accepted by IITs, IISc Bangalore, NITs, IISERs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). Candidates’ admission to these institutions often involves centralized counseling for M.Sc./M.Sc. (Tech.) Admission (CCMN). Read further to know more about the IIT JAM 2026 exam.

IIT JAM 2026 Highlights

The Joint Admission Test, also known as IIT JAM 2026, is a national-level online entrance exam. The exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology(s) once a year on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India. The JAM 2026 exam will be conducted to offer PG admission at IITs and integrated PhD courses offered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Check out the following table for IIT JAM 2026 Highlights.

IIT JAM 2026 Exam Dates

The IIT JAM 2026 conducting institute, IIT Bombay, has released a tentative schedule on the official website at jam2026.iitb.ac.in. The JAM 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled for February 15, 2026. The admit card for the exam will be out by January 05, 2026. Check out the following table for IIT JAM 2026 Date Schedule.

IIT JAM 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are required to meet the IIT JAM 2026 Eligibility Criteria. IIT JAM applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks from a recognised university. Meeting the eligibility requirements is necessary to be eligible for the exam. Only eligible students will be able to move forward with the JAM 2026 Admission Process. The following are the qualifying criteria for IIT JAM 2026 based on age, country, educational qualifications, and minimum marks required:

IIT JAM 2026 Application Process

IIT JAM 2026 Application Process is a long and extensive application process that consists of several events such as registration, application fee, application correction window, admit card, exam day, answer key, answer the key challenge, result, counselling, and seat allocation process. The steps to the ill out IIT JAM 2026 Application Process are below:

1. Register on the official IIT JAM 2026 website with basic details (name, email, phone number).
2. Log in with the login credentials after registration.
3. Fill in personal, academic, and program preference details.
4. Upload required documents (passport-sized photo, signature, category certificates if applicable).
5. Choose the preferred exam centers.
6. Pay the JAM 2026 application fee online via Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, etc.
7. Review the entered information and submit the application form.
8. Print a copy of the completed application for future reference.
9. Ensure the application is submitted before the deadline.

IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern

The IIT JAM exam is conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT). The exam takes place for 3 hours. The question pattern of IIT JAM is in Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) with a total of 100 marks. There will be one mark & two mark questions in the JAM Question Paper 2026. Incorrect answers in MCQs will result in a deduction of ⅔ marks for 2-mark questions and ⅓ marks for 1-mark questions. Check out below for the IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern.

IIT JAM 2026 Syllabus

The IIT JAM 2026 Syllabus also has different topics depending on the test paper chosen by the candidate. For Biotechnology (BT), it includes Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology, whereas Chemistry (CY) would include Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, and Economics (EN) includes Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Statistics. Geology (GG) includes structural geology, mineralogy, and environmental geology, and Mathematics (MA) includes algebra, real analysis, and differential equations, while mathematical statistics include probability and linear models. Physics (PH) encompasses Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, and Thermodynamics. Check out the table below for IIT JAM Syllabus 2026.

IIT JAM 2026 Preparation Tips

After knowing the IIT JAM syllabus and exam pattern, candidates must prepare themselves accordingly. Candidates can prepare their study routine and plan as per the syllabus topics. Candidates need to understand the syllabus, practice numerous previous year questions, manage their time properly, focus more on weak topics, etc. Check out the following outline points for preparation tips for the IIT JAM 2026 exam.

1. Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly review the syllabus for the chosen test paper.
2. Plan a Study Schedule: Allocate time for each subject and stick to the plan.
3. Practice Previous Papers: Take up the previous years' question papers and sample tests.
4. Focus on weak areas: identify and strengthen weak spots.
5. Join Coaching (if needed): Take coaching to get the advice of experts.
6. Time Management: Practice handling time effectively in mock tests.

IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card

The IIT JAM 2025 Admit Card will be available for download from January 05, 2025, for candidates appearing for the MSc/MSc Int PhD program. Candidates can access their JAM Admit Card 2026 online through the official website. Only those candidates who have successfully registered and passed the verification process by the IIT JAM 2026 exam authorities will be eligible to download the admit card.

How To Download IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card?

The steps to Download the admit card for IIT JAM 2026 are as follows:

1. Open the official website of IIT JAM 2026 at jam2026.iitb.ac.in.
2. Click on the 'JOAPS Admit Card' link.
3. Enter enrollment/ email ID and password.
4. Solve the arithmetic expression given in it.
5. Click on the 'Submit' button.
6. Check the declaration check box.
7. Enter virtual signature- Candidate's full name.
8. Click on the 'Download Admit Card' button.
9. Download and print out the IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card.

IIT JAM 2026 Answer Key

IIT Bombay will release the provisional answer key of IIT JAM 2026 first. The exact dates of declaring the IIT JAM 2026 answer key will soon be released. In this regard, students can raise objections over the IIT JAM 2026 provisional answer key, if provided. After objections are raised by candidates, the expert team will evaluate all objections and finally the JAM 2026 final answer key will be declared.

How to Download IIT JAM 2026 Answer Key?

Candidates are recommended to follow the steps below to download the IIT JAM 2026 answer key. The steps are as given below -

1. Visit the official website of IIT JAM at jam2026.iitb.ac.in.
2. Click on the ‘Answer Key’ link available under the ‘Important Updates’ section.
3. Next, candidates need to click on the subject to get the answer key.
4. View and download the answer key for future reference.

How to Raise Objections against IIT JAM 2026 Answer Keys?

Candidates are required to follow the given steps below to raise objections against the IIT JAM 2026 answer key. The steps are as given below -

1. Visit the IIT JAM 2026 candidates portal.
2. Then, look for the answer key challenge tab and click on it.
3. While raising objections, candidates must give the question number and answer as mentioned on the official question paper posted on the official website.
4. Candidates providing the objection must give a proper detailed answer to the question.
5. To object to the IIT JAM 2026 answer key, the fee is INR 500. The fee is refundable only if the objection raised is found to be valid.

IIT JAM 2026 Results

A few weeks after the commencement of the IIT JAM 2026 exam, the IIT JAM 2026 Results will be released. Candidates can check their results by visiting the official website. The result of IIT JAM is expected to be released on March 20, 2026. Qualified candidates can download their scorecards from the JOAPS portal.

Separate merit lists will be prepared for each test paper based on performance. JAM 2026 Tie-breaking criteria will consider the ratio of positive marks to negative marks. If the tie persists, the older candidate will be given preference. Check out the steps below to check the IIT JAM Results.

How to Check IIT JAM 2026 Result?

Candidates are advised to follow the steps below to check their IIT JAM 2026 Results. The steps are as follows-

1. Candidates are required to visit the official website of IIT JAM 2026.
2. On the homepage, click on the IIT JAM 2026 results link.
3. Login using enrollment or email ID and JOAPS password.
4. Next, candidates need to evaluate the arithmetic expression and put the value in the space provided.
5. Click on the ‘Submit’ option.

IIT JAM 2026 Cutoff

The IIT JAM 2026 Cutoff will vary for each subject, category, and institute. It will depend on factors like the difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates appearing, and the availability of seats. Candidates who score equal to or above the cutoff will be eligible for admission and counselling. The official IIT JAM 2026 Cutoff will be released after the declaration of the results on the IIT JAM portal. Aspirants can check the previous year’s cutoff to get an idea of the expected cutoff for 2026.

IIT JAM 2026 Counselling

The IIT JAM 2026 Counselling will be conducted through a Centralised Admission Process (CAP). Candidates who qualify the exam will have to fill a common admission form online. They can choose multiple courses and institutes as per their preference. The admission will be offered based on the rank obtained, preferences filled, and seat availability. The admission procedure through IIT JAM 2026 Counselling are as given below-

• Candidates must fill the IIT JAM 2026 CAP application form online and upload required documents.
• They have to pay the CAP application fee through online payment modes.
• The admission list will be released based on ranks and preferences filled by candidates.
• Candidates allotted a seat must log in and choose one option: Accept and Freeze, Accept with Upgrade, or Reject and Quit.
• Seat booking fee must be paid to confirm participation in the counselling process.
• If opting for Accept and Freeze, candidates secure their seat in the allotted institute.
• If choosing Accept with Upgrade, candidates keep the allotted seat while waiting for a better option in the next round.
• Candidates who reject the seat will be removed from further counselling rounds.
• After final seat allotment, candidates must pay the remaining admission fee at the allotted institute.
• They must report to the institute with all required documents to complete admission formalities.

IIT JAM 2026 Participating Institutes

JAM 2026 scores are accepted by IITs, IISc Bangalore, several National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs). Notable participating institutes include:

IIT JAM 2026 FAQs