IIT Bombay has released the IIT JAM 2026 Provisional Answer Keys of all 7 subjects on 24th February 2026 on the official website. The IIT Bombay has opened the IIT JAM 2026 Objection Window; now, the students can raise objections against the JAM 2026 answer key until February 27, 2026.

IIT JAM Objection window

Source –  jam2026.iitb.ac.in/

  • With the help of the IIT JAM Response sheet, candidates can estimate their scores, accuracy, and qualifying chances before the official results are announced.
  • The IIT JAM 2026 results are expected to be declared on March 20, 2026, and the counselling process is expected to begin in April 2026.
  • Only candidates who qualify in the exam will be eligible to participate in the IIT JAM Counselling.

Qualifying in the IIT JAM exam can get you admission to ​3000 seats in various postgraduate programmes at IITs such as IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, and six IITs comprising IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Roorkee.

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What is IIT JAM 2026?

The Joint Admission Test for MSc (JAM exam) is an all-India level online entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs). IIT JAM is conducted to provide admission to candidates in MSc and other postgraduate courses offered at IITs and integrated PhD courses offered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

Particulars Details
Exam Name IIT JAM 2026
Full-Form Indian Institute of Technology Joint Admission Test for Masters
Conducting Body IIT Bombay
Exam Type Postgraduate Entrance Exam
Frequency Once a Year
Application Mode Online (via JOAPS Portal)
Exam Mode Online – Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Duration 3 Hours
Number of Test Papers 7 Subjects
Medium of Exam English Only
Official Website jam2026.iitb.ac.in
Helpdesk Email jam2026@iitb.ac.in
Helpline Numbers +91-22-2576 7068 / +91-22-2576 7022

IIT JAM Exam Dates Schedule 2026

The table below provides the IIT Jam exam dates, result dates, and counselling dates. You can check the details below:

Dates Upcoming Exam Dates
18 Feb 2026 (Out) IIT JAM 2026 Response Sheet
Feb 24 2026 IIT JAM 2026 Provisional Answer Key 
Mar 2026 IIT JAM 2026 Final Answer Key (Tentative)
20 Mar 2026 IIT JAM 2026 Result

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13 January 2026 (Out)

IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card
15 Feb 2026 IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day

IIT JAM Response Sheet 2026

The IIT JAM Response Sheet is an official document that shows the answers marked by the candidates in the IIT JAM 2026 exam. It allows candidates to review their recorded responses and compare them with the provisional answer key to estimate their probable score before the final results are declared.

IIT JAM Answer Key 2026

The official provisional answer key is released soon after the response sheets, expected in late February 2026. It is the official document that shows the correct answers to all the questions on the IIT JAM 2026 exam.

It helps candidates verify their responses, calculate their estimated scores, and raise objections (if any) during the challenge window before the final answer key is published.

How to Calculate IIT JAM Scores?

The answer key tells you the correct answers for each question.

You match your responses to this key to estimate your likely score. IIT JAM scores are based on the JAM marking scheme:

  • Section A: MCQs (1/2 marks; negative marking for wrong answers)
  • Section B & C: No negative marks

IIT JAM 2026 Objection Window

After the provisional answer key is released, IIT JAM opens an objection window (also known as the challenge period) for a limited time. During this period, candidates can submit objections against any question or answer they believe is incorrect.

IIT JAM 2026 Score vs Rank

Score Range (Out of 100) Expected Rank Range (Approx.)
70–85 marks Top ~100 ranks
60–70 marks ~80–170 ranks
50–60 marks ~170–600 ranks
40–50 marks ~600–1200 ranks
30–40 marks ~1200–2400 ranks
Below 30 marks Beyond 2400 ranks

What is a good score in the IIT JAM exam?

As per IIT Delhi, scoring 75 or above in IIT JAM exam can be considered a very good score (depending upon the subject a candidate appeared for). IIT JAM offers admission to approximately 3,000 seats in various postgraduate programs across 21 IITs.

IIT JAM 2026: Courses and Colleges Accepting JAM Score

Some of the top courses and colleges accepting IIT JAM are:

Paper Code Respective Course List of IITs Accepting Scores
Biotechnology(BT) MSC Biotechnology IIT Indore, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee
MSc-PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Engg IIT Bombay
Chemistry (CY) MSc Chemistry IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Madras, Patna, Roorkee, Ropar, Dhanbad, Madras, Bhilai, Plakad, Varanasi
MSc-PhD in Chemistry IIT Bhubaneshwar, IIT Kharagpur
MSc-PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences IIT Bhubaneshwar
Geology (GG) MSc Applied Geology IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee
MSc-PhD Geophysics IIT Kharagpur
MSc-PhD Geology IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bhubaneshwar
MSc Tech in Applied Geology IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Mathematics (MA) MSc Mathematics IIT Bombay, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Madras, Patna, Roorkee, Ropar
MSc Economics IIT Roorkee
MSc Applied Mathematics and Computing IIT Hyderabad, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIT Guwahati, IIT Bhilai
MSc-PhD in Mathematics IIT Bhubaneshwar, IIT Kharagpur
MSc-PhD in Operation Research IIT Bombay
Mathematics Statistics (MS) MSc Applied Statistics and Informatics IIT Bombay
MSc Statistics IIT Kanpur
Physics (PH) MSc Physics IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Madras, Patna, Roorkee, Ropar, Dhanbad, Madras, Bhilai, Plakad, Varanasi
MSc-PhD Physics IIT Bhubaneshwar, IIT Kharagpur
MSc Astronomy IIT Indore

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IIT JAM 2026 Expected Cut-Off: Subject-Wise Marks

The cut-off marks in IIT JAM 2026 would declare the candidate eligible for IITs as well as other esteemed institutes.

IIT JAM Cut off

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IIT JAM 2026: Expected cut-off trends from top IIT’s

  • Increasing Competition: The cut-offs for high-demand courses such as Physics and Chemistry will increase by 2-3% since there are more applicants and the exam may be more competitive.
  • Institute Reputation: Institutes like IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi would command 3-5% higher cut-offs due to higher demand and reputation.
  • Course Impact: This would mean that more employable popular courses like Data Science and Mathematics could go up by 4-6% in their cut-offs.
  • Category-wise cut-offs: SC/ST/OBC candidates would get a 5% relaxation in cut-offs as compared to the general category.
Institute Expected Cut-Off Range (General Category) Factors Influencing Cut-Off
IIT Bombay 30 - 35% of total marks High demand for courses like M.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
IIT Delhi 28 - 32% of total marks Competitive candidates, especially for M.Sc. Physics
IIT Kanpur 33 - 37% of total marks Popular courses like M.Sc. in Applied Geology and Mathematics
IIT Madras 32 - 36% of total marks Strong demand for M.Sc. in Physics and Biological Sciences
IIT Kharagpur 30 - 33% of total marks Higher cut-offs due to the prestige of the institute
IIT Roorkee 31 - 34% of total marks Steady demand across engineering-related programs
IIT Guwahati 29 - 33% of total marks Emerging courses like M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences
IIT Bhubaneswar 28 - 32% of total marks Focus on new courses and interdisciplinary programs

IIT JAM Last 3 Years Cut-Off Analysis

The IIT JAM cut-off marks are different every year due to exam difficulty, number of candidates, and seat availability. The past three years' cut-off trends analysis will help aspirants estimate the target scores for IIT JAM 2026.

Subject Year General OBC-NCL/EWS SC/ST/PwD
Biotechnology 2024 44.46 40.01 22.23
2023 35.25 31.73 17.62
2022 35.25 31.73 17.62
Chemistry 2024 25.38 22.84 12.69
2023 20.51 18.46 10.26
2022 27.81 25.03 13.89
Economics 2024 24.64 22.17 12.32
2023 24.56 22.1 12.28
2022 29.03 26.12 14.51
Mathematics 2024 11.22 10.09 5.61
2023 22.91 20.62 11.46
2022 27 24.3 13.5
Mathematical Statistics 2024 23.03 20.72 11.51
2023 19.96 17.96 9.98
2022 16.39 14.75 8.2
Geology 2024 33.09 29.78 16.54
2023 36.6 32.94 18.3
2022 40 36 20
Physics 2024 19.63 17.66 9.81
2023 19.82 17.84 9.91
2022 26.05 23.45 13.03

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IIT JAM 2026 Results

The results for IIT JAM 2026 will be available online. It will let the candidate know whether they are qualified or not for M.Sc., Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., and other postgraduate programs.

It will have marks, rank, and qualifying status, which is required to take further steps for admission. The result-related process follows as below:

Aspect Details
Result Announcement Results will be made official in the website in March 2026.
Result Access Candidates can log into their account and check the results using their enrollment ID and Password.
Scorecard The scorecard will show marks, AIR, and qualifying status subject-wise.
Qualifying Marks The outcome will thus determine if the candidate has surpassed the minimum qualifying marks for a given subject.
All India Rank (AIR) Candidates will be allocated an AIR based on their cumulative performance.
Validity of Scorecard The IIT JAM 2026 scorecard is valid for the current academic year for admissions.
Counseling Process Qualified candidates will then be considered for counseling and admission to different IITs and NITs.
Tie-Breaking Criteria In case of a tie, the ranking will be done based on candidates' performance in the section on Mathematics for MSc programs.
Rechecking If the candidates do not like their results, then they can demand that the exam paper be rechecked before final admission.
Merit List A merit list would appear along with the results, showing students who could qualify for the following rounds of admissions.

IIT JAM 2026 Counselling Process

The IIT JAM 2026 Counselling Process is the procedure through which qualified candidates are given a place in the desired course and institute. It consists of preference filling, seat allotment, and document verification.

Stages What You Need to Know
Eligibility Only those candidates are eligible for counseling who qualify and meet the cut-off for the course of their choice.
Registration on COAP You should register on the Common Offer Acceptance Portal (COAP) using your JAM 2026 login details.
Preference Filling Choose your course and institute of preference as the allotment depends on it.
Seat Allotment Ranking and preference would decide the seating arrangement. Allotment shall be made as soon as seats are available.
Seat Acceptance Pay the acceptance fee to be allocated a seat and confirm attendance in the next phase.
Document Verification Verify your original documents at the verification center that has been allocated to you.
Final Admission After verification, get admitted at the institute in question and finally get on board for your college career!
Withdrawal/Rejection Candidates may decline or withdraw the offer, but this will likely reduce their chances in later rounds.
Documents Required The admit card, scorecard, valid ID proof, category certificate (if applied), and educational certificates are needed for verification.

IIT JAM 2026 Topper's List

As the IIT JAM 2026 is yet to commence, candidates can go through the JAM 2025 Topper's list. The subject-wise topper names for IIT JAM 2025 are given in the table below:

Test Papers and Codes Name of the Candidate Raw Marks (out of 100)
Biotechnology (BT) SIDDHANT BHARDWAJ 90
Chemistry (CY) SAURABH KUMAR 91.67
Economics (EN) MIHIR DEV CHOUDHARY 70
Geology (GG) FARHEEN NAAZ 85.33
Mathematics (MA) SARTHAK YASH SETHI 57.33
Mathematical Statistics (MS) BISHWAYAN GHOSH 93.33
Physics (PH) INDUREKHA KUNDU 84.33

IIT JAM 2026 FAQs

IIT JAM 2026 FAQs

Ques. 1. What is IIT JAM 2026?

Ans. IIT JAM (Joint Admission Test for Masters) is a national-level entrance exam. It is conducted by one of the IITs on a rotational basis. It is held for admission into M.Sc., Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., M.Sc.-Ph.D. Dual Degree, and other postgraduate science programs at IITs and IISc Bangalore. Scores are also accepted by NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and various universities across India.

Ques. 2. Who can apply for IIT JAM 2026?

Ans. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Science/ relevant subject. Final-year students of Bachelor’s degree programs are also eligible. There is no age limit for appearing in the exam. Candidates need to meet the eligibility criteria of individual institutes/programs during admission.

Ques. 3. What is the exam pattern of IIT JAM 2026?

Ans. Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test). Duration: 3 hours. Number of Papers: 7 subjects (Biotechnology, Chemistry, Economics, Geology, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Physics). Question Types: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. Total Marks: 100 marks.

Ques. 4. How is IIT JAM 2026 different from other MSc entrance exams?

Ans. Conducted by IITs, ensuring national-level prestige. Single exam opens admission to IITs, IISc, NITs, and other top institutes. Wider subject coverage compared to some state/university-level exams. Accepted by over 30+ institutes apart from IITs.

Ques. 5. What is the selection process after IIT JAM 2026 result?

Ans. Step 1: Qualify the exam by scoring equal to or above the cutoff. Step 2: Apply for Centralized Counselling Process (CCMN/IIT JAM Counselling). Step 3: Fill institute and program choices based on preference. Step 4: Seat allotment is done based on rank, category, and seat availability. Step 5: Confirm admission by paying the admission fee and completing document verification.