Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) JEST is a premier national level examination conducted annually in Physics and Theoretical Computer Science at various exam centers. The JEST score is used by the participating institutes of JEST together with their respective eligibility criteria to shortlist candidates for Ph.D., Integrated Ph.D., and M.Sc. programs in Physics; Ph.D. and Integrated Ph.D. programs in Theoretical Computer Science; and Ph.D. program in Computational Biology. The examination will be at the level of M.Sc., or an advanced B.Sc. in Physics and Computer Science. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), previously known as the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) (statutory body established through an Act of Parliament), recognizes JEST as a National Eligibility Test (NET) in their office Memo vide OM No.SB/S9/Z-01/2015. Fellows working in SERB programs and qualified in NET are eligible to get appropriate fellowship. Eligibility Criteria There are no specific criteria to appear for JEST. JEST is a screening test for admission to Ph.D., Integrated Ph.D., and M.Sc. programs of various participating institutes in physics and theoretical computer science. For the results of JEST to be useful, the candidates must qualify additional eligibility criteria, which depends on the institutes where they would like to apply. Listed below are tentative eligibility criteria for admission to M.Sc., Ph.D., and Integrated M.Sc. / M.Tech. - Ph.D. programs in the participating institutes, which use JEST results for screening. Kindly confirm these with the most-updated eligibility criteria by visiting websites of the respective institutes. Program Qualification Institute Ph.D. in Physics M.Sc. in Physics All participating Institutes M.Sc. in Mathematics / Applied Physics / Applied Mathematics / Optics and Photonics / Instrumentation / Electronics IIA B.E. or B.Tech. IISC, IMSc, ICTS-TIFR, IUCAA, NCRA-TIFR, TIFR-TCIS, RRI, IISER Mohali, IISER Pune, and IISER Thiruvananthapuram M.Sc. in Physics / Electronics / Astronomy / Applied Mathematics IUCAA and NCRA-TIFR M.Sc. in Physics, Engineering Physics or Applied Physics IPR M.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, Biophysics or Biochemistry SNBNCBS B.Tech. Engg Phys TIFR and NCRA-TIFR M.E. / M.Tech. in Applied Physics NISER M.Sc. in Physics / Astronomy / Optics / Photonics / Biophysics/ RRI Mathematics or ME / M.Tech. in Engineering Ph.D. in Theoretical Computer Science M.Sc. / M.E. / M.Tech. in Computer Science and related disciplines, and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science IM.Sc. Ph.D. in Computational Biology M.Sc. / M.E. / M.Tech. / MCA in any engineering or science discipline, with good mathematical skills and strong interest in biological problems IM.Sc. Integrated M.Sc. / M.Tech. - Ph.D. Program in Physics B.Sc. in Physics (Major / Hons), or in Physics and Mathematics (Physics cannot be an allied / subsidiary / minor subject) SNBNCBS B.Sc. (Physics) IM.Sc., IISER-Pune, ICTS-TIFR, NCRA-TIFR, and TIFR-TCIS B.Sc. (Physics / Mathematics) / B.E. / B.Tech. in Electrical / Instrumentation / Engineering Physics / Electronics and Communications / Computer Science and IIA Engineering / Optics and Photonics B.Sc. (Physics) or B.E. / B.Tech. in Engineering Physics, with a minimum of first class marks NISER B.Sc. (Physics / Mathematics/ Computer Science/ Electronics) / B.E. / B.Tech. Bose Institute Integrated Ph.D. in Theoretical Computer Science B.Sc. / B.E. / B.Tech. / MCA in Computer Science or related disciplines and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science IM.Sc. Integrated M.Tech. - Ph.D. M.Sc. (Physics / Applied Physics) / Post-B.Sc. (Hons) in Optics and Optoelectronics / Radio Physics and Electronics IIA Integrated Ph.D. B.Sc. (Physics) or B.E. / B.Tech. in any discipline IISER Kolkata and IISER Thiruvananthapuram M.Sc. B.Sc. (Physics) or B.E. / B.Tech. degree in any discipline HRI Application Fee The non-refundable application fee for JEST 2026 examination is: Rs. 600/- for SC/ST and PwD applicantsRs. 1200/- for all other applicants Participating Institutes Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital Bose Institute, Kolkata Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Prayagraj Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Berhampur Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bangalore National Centre for Radio Astrophysics - TIFR, Pune National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore Raman Research Institute, Bangalore Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences Hyderabad UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata For more details about the Participating Institutes, visit https://www.jest.org.in/participating-institutes Important Dates Application portal will be active during: 26 February 2026 - 23 March 2026 Date & Time for JEST 2026 Examination: 12 April 2026, 2 - 5 PM Declaration of Results (Tentative): 30 April 2026 Related Links Physics Syllabus Sample Physics Question Paper A Note on TCS Exam Sample TCS Question Paper Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Application Portal Candidates are advised to visit the official website for more details and updates. Source: Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) 2026