Exam Overview

• Full Name: Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. (JAM) – Biotechnology (BT)
• Conducting Body: IITs & IISc (on a rotational basis)
• Purpose: Admission to M.Sc., M.Sc.-Ph.D. Dual Degree, and other Postgraduate Programs at IITs, IISc, and other institutes
• Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Language: English
• Exam Duration: 3 Hours
• Total Questions: 60
• Total Marks: 100
• Sections: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics

2. Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Open to Indian and Foreign candidates
• Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc./B.Tech./B.E.) in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or any related discipline.
• Minimum 55 percentage required (subject to institute-specific criteria).
• Age Limit: No age limit
• Final Year Students: Eligible to apply
• Subject Requirements for IIT JAM Biotechnology (BT) Eligibility: To appear for the IIT JAM Biotechnology (BT) paper, candidates must meet the minimum educational qualification criteria. Candidates should have studied Biology and Chemistry compulsorily at the +2 level. Mathematics and Physics are also recommended, as they are part of the syllabus

3. Exam Pattern

• Negative Marking: Only in Section A (MCQs)
  • 1-mark questions: -0.33
  • 2-mark questions: -0.67
• No negative marking in MSQ & NAT sections

4. Syllabus

     A. Biology (44% weightage)

• Cell Biology: Structure & function of organelles, membrane transport, cell cycle
• Biochemistry: Biomolecules, enzymes, metabolism, bioenergetics
• Molecular Biology: DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation
• Genetics: Mendelian & molecular genetics, genetic mapping, mutations
• Microbiology: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, microbial metabolism & genetics
• Immunology: Innate & adaptive immunity, antigens, antibodies, MHC, hypersensitivity
• Recombinant DNA Technology: Cloning, PCR, sequencing, gene editing (CRISPR)
• Developmental Biology: Early embryonic development, morphogenesis

    B. Chemistry (20% weightage)

• General, Organic & Physical Chemistry
• Atomic structure, bonding, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics
• Organic reaction mechanisms, biomolecules

    C. Mathematics (18% weightage)

• Matrices & determinants
• Probability & statistics
• Calculus & differential equations

    D. Physics (18% weightage)

• Mechanics, electricity & magnetism, optics, modern physics

5. Application Process

• Online registration via JAM Online Application Processing System (JOAPS)
• Documents required:
  • Scanned photograph & signature
  • Academic certificates
  • Category certificate (if applicable)
• Application Fee: ₹900 – ₹1800 (varies by category & number of papers)

6. Important Dates (Tentative for 2026)

• Registration Begins: September 2025
• Last Date to Apply: October 2025
• Admit Card Release: January 2026
• Exam Date: February 2026
• Results Announcement: March 2026
• Counseling & Admission: April – June 2026

7. Participating Institutes

• IITs: Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, Indore, Guwahati, etc.
• IISc Bangalore
• NITs, IISERs & Other Institutes

8. Career & Higher Studies Opportunities

• M.Sc. & Ph.D. Admissions at IITs, IISc, and top universities
• Research opportunities in Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology
• Jobs in pharma, biotech, healthcare, R&D, academia

IIT-JAM Biotechnology 2026: Syllabus (Probable)

The Biotechnology (BT) Test Paper comprises Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

BIOLOGY (10+2+3 level)

• Cell Biology :Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Membrane structure and function; Organelles and internal organization of the eukaryotic cell Protein trafficking in a eukaryotic cell; Cell communication – signalling pathways: endocrine and paracrine signalling; Extracellular matrix and apoptosis; Cell cycle – stages of mitosis and meiosis, and control of cell division cycle.
• Biochemistry :Structure and function of biological macromolecules; Allostery; Enzymes – basic mechanisms of enzyme catalysis, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, enzyme inhibition, vitamins as coenzymes, and regulation; Bioenergetics – free-energy change, high-energy compounds, biological oxidation-reduction reactions and reduction potential; Metabolism – glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, urea cycle, and regulation of glycolysis and TCA cycle.
• Genetics :Mendel’s laws; Inheritance patterns of polygenic traits; Mendelian inheritance patterns of human disorders; Pedigree analysis; Chromosomal basis of inheritance; Genetic recombination; Mapping genes on chromosomes based on linkage analysis; Plant breeding.
• Molecular Biology :Landmark experiments that established DNA is the genetic material; DNA replication; Proofreading and repair of DNA; DNA recombination; Transcription; RNA processing; Translation; Regulation of gene expression including operons bacteria and differential gene expression in multicellular eukaryotes.
• Evolution :Darwinian view – natural selection, fossil record and descent with modification; Population genetics – sources of genetic variation, gene pools and allele frequencies, Hardy-Weinberg equation, genetic drift, gene flow and adaptive evolution; Different types of speciation; Phylogenetic classification; Origin of life – abiotic synthesis of biological macromolecules, protocell, dating fossils and origin of multicellularity.
• Microbiology :Isolation; Cultivation; Structural features of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa; Pathogenic microorganisms; Nutrition-based classification of microbes; Microbial metabolism; Growth kinetics; Submerged fermentation techniques; Microbial genetics.
• Plant Biology :Types of tissues and organs; Primary and secondary growth; Morphogenesis; Transport in vascular plants; Plant nutrition; Development of flowering plants – gametophytic and sporophytic generations, different developmental phases, genetic control of flowering, gametogenesis, incompatibility, embryogenesis, dormancy, germination and environmental influence; Plant hormones; Photobiology; Plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses
• Animal Biology :Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems; Basics of immunology – Innate and adaptive immunity, Immune cells and Immunoglobulins; Animal development – Fertilization, embryonic pattern formation, cleavage, gastrulation, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.
• Ecology :Climate patterns; Terrestrial and aquatic biomes; Environmental constraints on species distribution; Factors affecting population density; Interactions among communities; Ecosystems; Ecological remediation.
• Biotechnology :Plant tissue culture; Cloning of animals through somatic cell nuclear transfer; Applications of recombinant DNA technology in medicine, agriculture and forensic science.
• Methods in Biology :

Cell Biology: Microscopy (light microscopy and electron microscopy); Staining proteins with antibodies; Visualizations using the GFP reporter.

Biochemical techniques: UV spectrophotometry; Biomolecular chromatography; cell fractionation by centrifugation; Electrophoresis; and Western blotting.

Molecular biology techniques: DNA cloning – plasmid vectors, and restriction enzymes; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Expression of cloned eukaryotic genes in bacteria; Hybridization techniques; DNA sequencing.

Chemistry (10+2+3 level)

• Structure and properties of Atoms :Bohr’s theory; Periodicity in properties.
• Bonding in molecules :Chemical bonding; Complex formation; Physical and chemical basis of molecular interactions.
• Chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium :Chemical equilibrium; Chemical thermodynamics (first and second law); and Chemical kinetics (zero and first order reactions).
• Physical and chemical properties of compounds :Chemical catalysis; Acid-base concepts; Concepts of pH and buffer; Conjugative effects and resonance; Inductive effects; Electromeric effects; Photochemistry; and Electrochemistry.
• Chemistry of organic compounds :Hydrocarbons; Alkyl halides; Alcohols; Aldehydes; Ketones; Carboxylic acids; Amines and their derivatives; Aromatic hydrocarbons, halides, nitro and amino compounds, phenols, diazonium salts, carboxylic and sulphonic acids; Soaps and detergents; Stereochemistry of carbon compounds.
• Instrumental techniques – Spectroscopy :fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy, emission and absorption spectroscopy, UV-Vis, IR and 1-D proton NMR spectroscopy, basics of mass spectrometry; Basics of calorimetry; Basic concepts of crystallography.

Mathematics (10+2 level)

• Sets; Relations and Functions; Mathematical Induction; Logarithms; Complex numbers; Linear and Quadratic equations; Sequences and Series; Trigonometry; Cartesian System of Rectangular Coordinates; Straight lines and Family; Three Dimensional Geometry; Permutations and Combinations; Binomial Theorem; Vectors; Matrices and Determinants; Boolean Algebra; Functions; Limits and Continuity; Differentiation; Ordinary Differential Equations; Application of Derivatives; Integration as inverse process of differentiation; Definite and indefinite integrals; Methods of Integration; Integration by parts.
• Statistics :Measures of dispersion; Mean Deviation for grouped and ungrouped data; Variance and Standard Deviation; and Analysis of Frequency Distribution.
• Probability :Random Experiments; Event; Axiomatic Approach to Probability; Conditional Probability and its properties; Multiplication Theorem on Probability; Independent Events; Bayes’ Theorem; Random Variables and its Probability Distributions; Bernoulli Trails and Binomial Distributions.

Physics (10+2 level)

Units and measurements; Motion in one and two dimensions; Laws of motion; Work and kinetic energy; Conservation of energy; System of particles and rotational motion; Mechanical properties of solids and fluids; Thermal properties of matter; Heat and laws of thermodynamics; Kinetic theory of gases; Electric charge and field; Electric potential and capacitance; Current, resistance and simple circuits; Moving charges and magnetic field; Magnetism and matter; Electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic waves; Alternating currents; Optics: Geometrical Optics – Reflection by spherical mirrors, Refraction at spherical surfaces and lenses, Total internal reflection and Optical instruments; Wave optics – Reflection and refraction of plane waves, Interference, Diffraction, Polarization, and Young’s experiment: Dual nature of radiation and matter; Atoms, nuclei and nuclear physics; Semiconductor materials, devices and simple circuits.