IIT JAM 2027 brochure releases August 22, registration opens September 5. Get exam dates, eligibility, fees,

Introduction

If you’re planning to pursue an MSc, MS (Research), or an integrated PhD at an IIT, mark your calendar right now. IIT Kharagpur, the organizing institute for IIT JAM 2027, has officially launched the exam website and released the complete schedule. The Information Brochure goes live on August 22, 2026, and the registration window opens on September 5, 2026.

This isn’t just another notification to skim past. JAM is one of the most competitive postgraduate entrance exams in India, and small delays in reading the brochure or gathering documents can cost you a smooth application. In this guide, you’ll get a clear breakdown of the IIT JAM 2027 important dates, eligibility criteria, application process, exam pattern, and practical tips to avoid last-minute mistakes.

Table of Contents

1. What Is IIT JAM 2027?
2. IIT JAM 2027 Important Dates
3. Eligibility Criteria
4. Test Papers and Exam Pattern
5. Step-by-Step Registration Guide
6. Application Fees
7. Why the Information Brochure Matters
8. Tips and Best Practices
9. Common Mistakes to Avoid
10. Latest Updates and Trends
11. Key Takeaways
12. Conclusion
13. FAQs

What Is IIT JAM 2027?

The Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) is an all-India entrance examination conducted by the IITs on a rotational basis for admission to MSc, joint MSc-PhD, MSc-MTech, and other postgraduate science programmes at the IITs, IISc Bangalore, and several other centrally funded technical institutes.

For the 2027 admission cycle, IIT Kharagpur is the organizing institute. The official website, jam.iitkgp.ac.in, is now live, and candidates can track every update related to registration, syllabus, and exam city allotment there.

Think of JAM as the “gateway exam” for science graduates who want to continue at premier institutes without going through a general university admission process. A strong JAM score can open doors to research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and direct entry into PhD tracks at some IITs.

IIT JAM 2027 Important Dates

Here’s the full schedule announced so far:

A few things worth noting about this timeline:

• The exam will be held in two sessions on February 14, 2027, each roughly three hours long.
• Candidates can appear for one or two test papers, but if you choose two, they must fall in different sessions—you can’t take two papers scheduled in the same slot.
• The roughly five-week registration window (Sept 5 to Oct 12) is fairly standard for JAM, so don’t assume you have unlimited time.

Eligibility Criteria

JAM eligibility is fairly straightforward, but the subject-wise qualifying degree requirements can get detailed—those specifics will be spelled out in the August 22 brochure. Based on the pattern followed in previous years and confirmed for 2027:

• Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree or be in the final year of their undergraduate programme.
• There is no upper age limit.
• Candidates of all nationalities can apply, though final admission is subject to the rules of the specific admitting institute.
• Each test paper (like Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics) has its own minimum qualifying degree background, which you should verify against the brochure before applying.

Practical tip: If you’re in your final year, don’t wait for your final marksheet to apply. JAM allows provisional eligibility, but you’ll need to submit proof of degree completion within the deadline set by your admitting institute later in the admission cycle.

Test Papers and Exam Pattern

IIT JAM 2027 will be conducted across seven test papers:

• BT – Biotechnology
• CY – Chemistry
• EN – Economics
• GG – Geology
• MA – Mathematics
• MS – Mathematical Statistics
• PH – Physics

All papers are conducted only in English, and the test is entirely computer-based. Each paper typically includes a mix of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions, with negative marking applicable only to MCQs.

Real-world insight: Candidates preparing for Mathematics or Physics papers often underestimate the weight given to NAT questions, where there’s no negative marking but also no room for guesswork—you need to calculate the exact numerical answer. Practicing NAT-style questions separately, rather than treating them like MCQs, tends to improve accuracy significantly.

Step-by-Step Registration Guide

Once the portal opens on September 5, here’s how to complete your application:

1. Visit the official website – jam.iitkgp.ac.in
2. Open the JOAPS portal (JAM Online Application Processing System) and register using your name, a valid email ID, mobile number, and password.
3. Log in using your enrolment ID or registered email ID.
4. Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and category details.
5. Select your test paper(s) — remember, two papers must be in different sessions.
6. Upload required documents — photograph, signature, category/PwD certificates (if applicable), and academic records.
7. Pay the application fee through the payment gateway.
8. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.

Keep scanned copies of all documents ready before the portal opens. Rushing to scan a certificate on the last day is one of the most common (and avoidable) reasons candidates miss deadlines.

Application Fees

Exact fee figures for JAM 2027 will be confirmed in the brochure, but based on the consistent fee structure IITs have followed in recent cycles, expect a tiered fee system based on:

• Number of test papers selected (one vs. two)
• Category (General/OBC-NCL vs. SC/ST/PwD)
• Gender (female candidates in reserved categories often get fee relaxations)

Payment is typically accepted via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI through the JOAPS portal.

Why the Information Brochure Matters

It’s tempting to skip straight to the registration form, but the Information Brochure releasing on August 22 is genuinely the most important document in this entire process. It contains:

• Subject-wise eligibility and qualifying degree requirements
• Detailed syllabus for each test paper
• Complete exam pattern and marking scheme
• List of participating institutes and programmes offered
• Reservation policy and category-wise seat details
• Exam city list

Skipping the brochure and relying only on news summaries (including this one) is risky—always cross-check subject-specific eligibility against the official PDF before you register.

Tips and Best Practices

• Read the brochure fully once, then bookmark it. You’ll refer back to it multiple times during the application and exam prep phase.
• Choose your test paper strategically. If your undergraduate background overlaps with two subjects (say, Physics and Mathematics), compare previous years’ cutoffs and seat availability before deciding to attempt two papers.
• Register early, even though the window runs over a month. Server load typically spikes in the final week, and early registration also gives you more time to fix document upload issues.
• Use the mock test link (usually released a few weeks before the exam) to get familiar with the CBT interface.
• Track admit card and city allotment dates separately once they’re announced — these usually follow a few weeks after registration closes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting until the last day to register. Payment gateway failures and portal slowdowns are common near deadlines.
• Choosing two papers in the same session by mistake — the system won’t allow it, but confusion here wastes time.
• Uploading blurry or incorrectly sized photographs/signatures, leading to application rejection or correction-window headaches.
• Ignoring category certificate formats specified in the brochure — outdated or incorrectly attested certificates are a frequent rejection reason.
• Not verifying subject eligibility carefully — some candidates assume any science degree qualifies for any paper, which isn’t always true.

Latest Updates and Trends

• IIT Kharagpur has already launched the JAM 2027 portal ahead of the brochure release — a sign that the exam authority is aiming for a smoother, more predictable rollout this cycle.
• The exam will once again span two sessions in a single day, a format IITs have used for the past few cycles to accommodate high applicant volume across ~100 cities.
• No changes have been announced to the seven test papers, suggesting continuity in subject offerings for 2027.

Key Takeaways

• IIT JAM 2027 Information Brochure releases August 22, 2026.
• Registration runs from September 5 to October 12, 2026, on jam.iitkgp.ac.in.
• The exam is on February 14, 2027, in two CBT sessions across ~100 cities.
• Candidates need a completed or final-year bachelor’s degree; there’s no age limit.
• Seven test papers are offered: BT, CY, EN, GG, MA, MS, and PH.
• Always verify subject-specific eligibility in the official brochure before applying.

Conclusion

IIT JAM 2027 is shaping up to follow a familiar, well-structured timeline — brochure first, then a five-week registration window, followed by the exam in mid-February. The key to a stress-free application isn’t complicated: read the brochure carefully, keep your documents ready before the portal opens, and register early rather than waiting for the deadline. If you’re serious about a postgraduate seat at an IIT, treat August 22 and September 5 as two dates you genuinely cannot afford to miss.

FAQs

1. When will the IIT JAM 2027 Information Brochure be released? The brochure will be released on August 22, 2026, on the official website jam.iitkgp.ac.in.

2. When does IIT JAM 2027 registration start and end? Registration opens on September 5, 2026, and closes on October 12, 2026.

3. When is the IIT JAM 2027 exam date? The exam will be held on February 14, 2027, in two computer-based test sessions.

4. Who is organizing IIT JAM 2027? IIT Kharagpur is the organizing institute for JAM 2027.

5. What is the eligibility criteria for IIT JAM 2027? Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree or be in their final year, with no age restriction and no nationality restriction, subject to individual institute rules.

6. How many test papers does IIT JAM 2027 offer? Seven papers: Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), Economics (EN), Geology (GG), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS), and Physics (PH).

7. Can I appear for two test papers in IIT JAM 2027? Yes, but the two papers must be scheduled in different sessions on exam day.