JAM 2026 scores accepted by 22 IITs, 20 NITs, IISc for 2,000 postgraduate seats

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), the organizing institute for JAM 2026, has announced that scores from the Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) 2026 will be used for admissions to various postgraduate science programs across 22 IITs, 20 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru. The examination, a Computer Based Test (CBT), was conducted on February 15, 2026, across approximately 116 cities in India.

JAM 2026 serves as the primary gateway for admission to M.Sc., M.Sc. (Tech), MS (Research), M.Sc.-M.Tech. Dual Degree, Joint M.Sc.- Ph.D., M.Sc. – Ph.D. Dual Degree, and Integrated Ph.D. programs for the academic year 2026-27. These participating institutes collectively offer admissions to a total of approximately 2,000 seats through the IIT JAM 2026 scores.

JAM 2026 Examination Structure and Key Dates

The JAM 2026 examination was conducted in seven different subjects at the undergraduate level, with test papers comprising Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions. Candidates had the option to appear in one or two test papers. The examination was held in two sessions on February 15, 2026, with Session 1 covering Chemistry, Geology, and Mathematics, and Session 2 covering Biotechnology, Economics, Mathematical Statistics, and Physics.

The application window for JAM 2026 was open from September 5 to October 12, 2025. The admit cards were released on January 5, 2026, and the results were announced on March 20, 2026. JAM 2026 was open to all nationals, both Indian and foreign, with no age restrictions.

Participating Institutions and Seat Matrix

A total of 22 IITs, 20 NITs, IISc Bengaluru, IIEST Shibpur, IISER Pune, IISER Bhopal, IIEP, JNCASR, and SLIET are accepting JAM 2026 scores for postgraduate admissions. IISc Bengaluru specifically offers Integrated PhD and research programs through JAM. NITs use JAM scores for admission via the Centralized Counselling for M.Sc./M.Sc.(Tech) Admissions (CCMN) portal. Beyond these, institutions such as Banaras Hindu University (BHU), University of Hyderabad, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Delhi University (DU) also participate in JAM counselling or conduct their own admission processes using JAM scores.

The approximate total seats available across various IITs include 345 at IIT Bombay, 229 at IIT Delhi, 218 at IIT Kanpur, and 239 at IIT Kharagpur, among others. IISc Bangalore offers over 40 seats. The total seats offered by NITs and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) via CCMN exceed 2,000. Specific eligibility criteria, such as IIT Roorkee’s requirement of Mathematics at the 10+2 level for Biotechnology admission, apply to individual programs.

Admission Process and Candidate Guidance

Candidates who are present on the JAM 2026 merit list are required to apply for admission once again on the official IIT JAM website. It is advised that candidates consider factors such as institute reputation, course structure, faculty, research opportunities, previous year cut-offs, and placement prospects before finalizing their college preferences. Verification of specific eligibility criteria for each institute and subject-wise admission offerings is also crucial.

A strategic preference list, including reputable NITs and central universities as backup options, is recommended. Candidates should also monitor annual cutoff trends and participate in all counselling rounds. The information brochure for JAM 2026, copyrighted by IIT Bombay, contains full details for the examination and admission process.

Further reading

• NEET PG Counselling 2026 registration opens for postgraduate medical seats
• GPAT 2026 scores accepted for M.Pharm admissions in India, results on June 25

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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