New Delhi : The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) have announced that the application process for the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026 will begin on March 5, with the entrance examination scheduled to be conducted on June 7, 2026.
The IISER Aptitude Test is the exclusive gateway for admission to undergraduate programmes across all IISER campuses for the academic year 2026–27. Admissions to the institutes will be determined solely on the basis of IAT scores, and JEE scores will not be considered for admission.
According to the official announcement, the online application portal will remain open from March 5 to April 13, 2026. Candidates will also be given an opportunity to correct their application forms between April 16 and April 18, while hall tickets will be released on May 24.
Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official website https://www.iiseradmission.in/, where detailed information regarding eligibility, examination centres, and the admission process is available. Admissions through IAT 2026 will be offered at seven IISER campuses—Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram and Tirupati. Established by the Government of India, IISERs are premier autonomous institutions aimed at promoting high-quality education and research in the basic sciences.
The institutes offer undergraduate programmes designed to provide early exposure to scientific research and interdisciplinary learning in areas such as biological sciences, chemical sciences, mathematical sciences, physical sciences and earth sciences. Over the years, IISER graduates have gone on to pursue advanced research, PhD programmes and careers in leading global institutions and technology-driven industries.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who have passed Class XII or an equivalent examination, or a minimum three-year diploma programme in the science stream, in 2024, 2025 or 2026 are eligible to apply. Applicants must have secured at least 60 per cent aggregate marks (55 per cent for SC, ST and PwD candidates).
Students must have studied at least three subjects among Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics in their qualifying examination. Mathematics will be mandatory for specific programmes, including BS-MS Computational and Data Sciences at IISER Kolkata, B.Tech./BS Economic Sciences at IISER Bhopal, and BS Economic and Statistical Sciences at IISER Tirupati.
Reservation of seats will be implemented in accordance with Government of India norms, including SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC-NCL (27%), PwD (5%) and EWS (up to 10%), along with supernumerary seats for Kashmiri migrant candidates.
Application Process
Candidates can apply by visiting the official portal and selecting the “Apply for IAT-2026” option. After registration, applicants must complete the application form, upload the required documents and pay the prescribed application fee.
Applicants have been advised to carefully verify all information before submitting the form, as certain details cannot be modified after submission.
Important Dates
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March 5, 2026: Application portal opens
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April 13, 2026: Application portal closes
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April 16–18, 2026: Application correction window
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May 24, 2026: Hall tickets release
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June 7, 2026: IISER Aptitude Test (9 AM – 12 PM IST)
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official admissions portal for updates and announcements related to the examination and admission process.
For queries related to the admission process, candidates may contact the IAT 2026 helpdesk at +91 7205457461 (2 PM to 5 PM on working days) or email askjac2026@iiserbpr.ac.in.