IIT JAM Biotechnology 2027
Complete syllabus, exam scheme, eligibility, closing ranks for IITs, preparation strategy and previous papers for the national entrance exam for M.Sc. and integrated Ph.D. programmes.
WRITTEN BYShabab Anwar and Sabiha ParveenWhat is IIT JAM Biotechnology (BT)?
Admission to IIT programmes is based on your JAM rank, category and seats, subject to each programme's eligibility requirements, through the central JOAPS counselling process.
| Field | Copy |
|---|---|
| Examination | Joint Admission Test for Masters 2027 |
| Paper | Biotechnology (BT) |
| Organising institute | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Questions | 60 compulsory questions |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Question types | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
| Exam date and session | 14 February 2027, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
| Admission cycle | 2027-28 |
What JAM qualification does and does not mean: JAM rank can be used for admission to programmes that list the candidate's paper, degree and other requirements. Qualifying the test does not by itself guarantee admission, a scholarship or employment.
Compact JAM BT versus GAT-B note: JAM BT and GAT-B serve different programme networks and use different syllabi and admission systems. Choose an examination after checking the actual programmes you want, their current eligibility rules and the subjects you are prepared to study. Do not describe either exam as a universal substitute for the other.
Who can appear for IIT JAM 2027?
Candidates who have completed an undergraduate degree, or will appear in the final examination of their undergraduate programme in 2027, may appear for JAM 2027. Proof that the degree has been completed within the admitting institute's timeline is required for admission.
| Question | Official position |
|---|---|
| Minimum percentage to write JAM | The JAM 2027 brochure does not state a universal minimum percentage for appearing. |
| Final-year candidate | Eligible to appear, subject to completing the degree before admission requirements are enforced |
| Age limit | No age restriction |
| Number of attempts | The brochure does not specify an attempt cap |
| One or two papers | Permitted, provided the two papers are in different sessions |
| Admission eligibility | Determined separately by each programme's MEQ and other requirements |
Important distinction
Being eligible to write JAM BT does not make a candidate eligible for every programme listed under BT. Before applying for admission, match the degree, subject background and programme-specific MEQ in the current admission brochure.
IIT JAM BT 2027 paper pattern
All 60 questions are compulsory. The question paper is divided by question type, not by Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
| Section | Question numbers | Question type | Mark split | Section marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 to 30 | MCQ, one correct option | Q1 to Q10: 1 mark each; Q11 to Q30: 2 marks each | 50 |
| B | 31 to 40 | MSQ, one or more correct options | 10 questions of 2 marks each | 20 |
| C | 41 to 60 | NAT, numerical answer | Q41 to Q50: 1 mark each; Q51 to Q60: 2 marks each | 30 |
| Total | 1 to 60 | MCQ, MSQ and NAT | 20 one-mark and 40 two-mark questions | 100 |
Question types and marking
| Type | Answer rule | Wrong-answer rule |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | Select one correct option | 1/3 mark is deducted for a wrong 1-mark answer; 2/3 mark is deducted for a wrong 2-mark answer |
| MSQ | One or more, but not all four, options may be correct | No negative marking; no partial marking |
| NAT | Enter a real number through the on-screen numeric keypad | No negative marking |
Exam interface note: A virtual scientific calculator is available on screen. Physical calculators are not allowed. Candidates receive a scribble pad for rough work. For NAT questions, use the on-screen numeric keypad rather than the physical keyboard.
Weightage note: JAM does not publish a fixed subject-wise marks split for BT. Do not display Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics percentages as official weightage.
Official IIT JAM Biotechnology 2027 syllabus
The official JAM 2027 syllabus is divided into six sections: General Biology; Microbial, Plant and Animal Biotechnology; Biotechniques; Chemistry; Mathematics; and Physics, with no subject weightage. Chemistry is at the 10+2+3 graduate level; Mathematics and Physics are at the 10+2 level. All topic names follow the official JAM brochure.
IIT JAM BT 2027 syllabus PDF
All six sections, from Biology to Physics, word for word from IIT Kharagpur, with tick boxes. Free, no sign-up.
Cell Biology
- •Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell organisation.
- •Cell membranes and membrane transport.
- •Structure and functions of intracellular organelles.
- •Cell communication and signalling, including endocrine and paracrine signalling.
- •Extracellular matrix and programmed cell death.
- •Cell division through mitosis and meiosis.
Biochemistry
- •Structure and functions of biological macromolecules.
- •Enzyme catalysis, regulation and kinetics.
- •Michaelis-Menten kinetics, the Hill relationship and enzyme inhibition.
- •Vitamins and coenzymes.
- •Bioenergetics, oxidation-reduction reactions and reduction potential.
- •Glycolysis and the TCA cycle, including their regulation.
- •Oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis.
- •Nitrogen fixation and the urea cycle.
Genetics
- •Mendelian inheritance.
- •Extensions and exceptions to independent assortment.
- •Gene interactions, linkage, recombination and genetic mapping.
- •Chromosomal mutations and genetic disorders.
- •Fundamentals of population genetics.
Molecular Biology
- •Landmark experiments that established DNA as genetic material.
- •DNA replication, proofreading, repair and recombination.
- •Transcription and RNA processing.
- •Translation and the genetic code.
- •Regulation of gene expression, including operons and differential gene expression.
Evolution and Ecology
- •Evidence for evolution through natural selection, fossils and common descent.
- •Speciation and phylogenetic relationships.
- •Origin of life, protocells, fossil dating and the evolution of multicellularity.
- •Climate and major biomes.
- •Distribution of species and population density.
- •Interactions within ecological communities.
- •Ecosystem processes and environmental remediation.
Microbiology
- •Genetic exchange through transformation, conjugation and transduction.
- •Biology of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, including important pathogens.
- •Nutritional classification and microbial metabolism.
- •Isolation, cultivation and growth kinetics of microorganisms.
- •Control of microorganisms and sterilisation methods.
- •Batch, fed-batch and continuous fermentation.
- •Basic bioreactor operation.
- •Recovery and purification in downstream processing.
- •Treatment of biological effluents.
Plant Biology and Biotechnology
- •Organisation of plant tissues and organs.
- •Primary and secondary growth.
- •Morphogenesis.
- •Vascular transport and mineral nutrition.
- •Flowering and the development of gametophyte and sporophyte.
- •Plant growth regulators and photobiology.
- •Plant tissue culture, totipotency and micropropagation.
- •Transgenic plants.
- •Plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress.
Animal Biology and Biotechnology
- •Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems.
- •Innate and adaptive immunity.
- •Immune cells, immunoglobulins and the major histocompatibility complex.
- •Fertilisation, pattern formation, cleavage, gastrulation, differentiation and morphogenesis.
- •Mammalian cell culture.
- •Cloning and transgenic animals.
Biochemical and Microscopy Methods
- •Chromatography, centrifugation and electrophoresis.
- •ELISA, Western blotting and immunostaining.
- •Light, fluorescence and electron microscopy.
Molecular Biology Methods
- •Gene cloning, plasmids and restriction enzymes.
- •Polymerase chain reaction.
- •Expression of eukaryotic genes in bacteria.
- •Nucleic-acid hybridisation and sequencing.
- •Applications of recombinant DNA technology in medicine, agriculture and forensic science.
Computational Biology
- •Fundamentals of bioinformatics.
- •Sequence and structure databases.
- •Analysis of DNA, RNA and protein sequences.
- •Prediction of secondary and three-dimensional structure.
- •Use of biochemical databases.
Instrumental and Spectroscopic Methods
- •Fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy, including absorption and emission.
- •UV-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism and FTIR.
- •One-dimensional proton NMR and the basics of mass spectrometry.
- •Calorimetry, crystallography and flow cytometry.
Undergraduate Chemistry Topics
- •Atomic structure through Bohr's theory and periodicity in atomic properties.
- •Chemical bonding, complex formation and the physical and chemical basis of molecular interactions.
- •Chemical equilibrium.
- •The first and second laws of thermodynamics.
- •Chemical kinetics, including zero-order and first-order reactions.
- •Chemical catalysis.
- •Acid-base concepts, pH and buffers.
- •Conjugative effects, resonance, inductive effects and electromeric effects.
- •Photochemistry and electrochemistry.
- •Chemistry of hydrocarbons, alkyl halides, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amines and their derivatives.
- •Aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic halides, nitro compounds, amino compounds, phenols, diazonium salts, aromatic carboxylic acids and sulphonic acids.
- •Soaps and detergents.
- •Stereochemistry of carbon compounds.
Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry
- •Sets, relations and functions.
- •Logarithms, complex numbers, linear equations and quadratic equations.
- •Sequences and series.
- •Trigonometry.
- •Cartesian rectangular coordinates, straight lines, families of straight lines and three-dimensional geometry.
- •Permutations and combinations, and the binomial theorem.
- •Vectors, matrices and determinants.
Calculus and Differential Equations
- •Limits and continuity.
- •Differentiation and applications of derivatives.
- •Ordinary differential equations.
- •Integration as the inverse of differentiation.
- •Definite and indefinite integrals, methods of integration and integration by parts.
Statistics and Probability
- •Mean, median, mode and standard deviation.
- •Random variables.
- •Binomial, Poisson and normal distributions.
- •Correlation and regression.
Core 10+2 Physics Topics
- •Units and measurements.
- •Motion in one and two dimensions.
- •Laws of motion.
- •Work and kinetic energy.
- •Conservation of energy.
- •Systems of particles and rotational motion.
- •Mechanical properties of solids and fluids.
- •Thermal properties of matter, heat and the laws of thermodynamics.
- •Kinetic theory of gases.
- •Electric charge and electric field.
- •Electric potential and capacitance.
- •Current, resistance and simple circuits.
- •Moving charges and magnetic fields, and magnetism in matter.
- •Electromagnetic induction, alternating current and electromagnetic waves.
- •Geometrical optics, including reflection by spherical mirrors, refraction at spherical surfaces and lenses, total internal reflection and optical instruments.
- •Wave optics, including reflection and refraction of plane waves, interference, diffraction, polarisation and Young's experiment.
- •Dual nature of matter and radiation.
- •Atoms, nuclei and fundamentals of nuclear physics.
- •Semiconductor electronics, devices and simple circuits.
IIT JAM Biotechnology previous year papers
11 papers from 2016 to 2026, each retyped from the official paper and checked question by question against the official answer key. Fill one short form once, and every paper is yours.
| Paper | Practice | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026Newest | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2025 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
| 2024 | Get the PDF | Free mock test → |
IIT programmes listed under JAM BT for 2027
The JAM 2027 brochure currently lists 115 seats across six programmes at five IITs under the BT paper. These are not all MSc Biotechnology seats. Programme names, seat counts, reservation distribution and minimum educational qualifications can change, so the official admission brochure remains controlling.
| Institute | Programme and code | Seats | Minimum educational qualification in the 2027 brochure |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | MSc Biotechnology, 1204 | 35 | Any branch or subject |
| IIT Bombay | MSc-PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering, 1213 | 4 | Any one of Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics for two years or four semesters; one of the other four subjects for at least one year or two semesters; and Mathematics for at least one semester |
| IIT Delhi | MSc Biological Sciences, 1305 | 11 | A three-year or four-year bachelor's degree in any STEM branch or subject |
| IIT Dharwad | MSc Molecular Medicine, 3304 | 15 | A three-year or four-year bachelor's degree in any STEM branch or subject The brochure marks a 5% PwD reservation across categories for this programme. |
| IIT Indore | MSc Biotechnology, 2204 | 15 | Any branch or subject |
| IIT Roorkee | MSc Bioscience and Bioengineering, 1806 | 35 | Any branch or subject |
| Total | Six programmes | 115 | Programme-specific MEQ applies |
Result-sharing institutes: The JAM 2027 brochure says more than 2,000 additional seats use JAM results at institutions including IISc, CFTIs, NITs, DIAT, IIEST Shibpur, IISER Pune, IISER Bhopal, IIPE, JNCASR and SLIET. These are result-sharing routes through CCMN for candidates who meet the relevant eligibility requirements; they are not part of the central IIT JAM admission list.
Mandatory qualification note: A programme showing 'Any Branch/Subject' still requires the candidate to satisfy the admitting institute's degree-completion, document, category and other admission conditions. Do not infer eligibility from the BT paper name alone.
JAM BT qualifying marks are not IIT admission cutoffs
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum paper-level mark used to qualify in BT for a category. IIT admission depends on rank, category, programme preferences, seats, MEQ and the counselling round.
| Cycle | General | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC / ST / PwD | Registered | Appeared | Qualified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 42.3 | 38.07 | 21.15 | 13,202 | 11,084 | 2,593 |
| 2025 | 24.46 | 22.01 | 12.23 | 13,802 | 11,772 | 2,768 |
Recent official BT qualifying marks
Marks are out of 100. The large year-to-year change is a reason not to treat a previous cutoff as a target for 2027.
2026 final-round General closing-rank examples
| Programme | General closing rank, final round |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay MSc Biotechnology | 26 |
| IIT Delhi MSc Biological Sciences | 32 |
| IIT Bombay MSc-PhD Environmental Science and Engineering | 46 |
| IIT Roorkee MSc Bioscience and Bioengineering | 70 |
| IIT Indore MSc Biotechnology | 78 |
| IIT Dharwad MSc Molecular Medicine | 87 |
These are 2026 General-category final-round closing ranks from the official JAM 2026 admission list. They are historical examples, not 2027 predictions or safe ranks. Category, programme, seat matrix, preference order and counselling movement all affect admission.
IIT JAM 2027 dates and application
Registration closed on 24 October 2026 · Fee payment for registered candidates closed on 26 October 2026
| Event | Official date |
|---|---|
| JAM 2027 information brochure released | 31 August 2026 |
| JOAPS application portal opens | 11 September 2026 |
| Last date to register | 24 October 2026 (extended from 19 and 22 October) |
| Last date to pay the fee (registered candidates only) | 26 October 2026 |
| JOAPS opens for data correction (paid, ₹300) | 10 November 2026 (tentative) |
| PwD candidates: options and documents due on JOAPS | 30 December 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card available on JOAPS | From 5 January 2027 until the exam day |
| JAM 2027 examination (BT: afternoon session, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM) | Sunday 14 February 2027, BT 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
| Answer key | Not yet announced |
| Result | 18 March 2027 |
| JAM 2027 admission brochure | Second week of March 2027 |
| JOAPS admission rounds (up to four, plus an extra round if seats remain) | Dates in the admission brochure (not yet published) |
Dates may change. Treat the current official JAM website and JOAPS portal as controlling.
Application fees
| Candidate category | One test paper | Two test papers |
|---|---|---|
| Female candidates of all categories; SC, ST and PwD candidates | ₹1,000 | ₹1,350 |
| All other candidates | ₹2,000 | ₹2,700 |
Fees are non-refundable. An additional fee of ₹300 applies for permitted correction, paper addition or change, plus any applicable difference in application fee.
Admission-stage fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Admission application fee | ₹750 |
| Seat-booking fee for General, OBC-NCL and EWS | ₹15,000 |
| Seat-booking fee for SC, ST and PwD | ₹7,500 |
The seat-booking fee is adjusted against the admitting institute's fee. Reverify these figures when the 2027 admission brochure is released.
Application checklist
- Read the official brochure and confirm exam eligibility.
- Check the MEQ for every programme you may select later.
- Register once on JOAPS using an active email address and mobile number.
- Upload the required photograph, signature and documents in the prescribed format.
- Choose BT and, if needed, a second paper from the morning session.
- Review the application before payment and download the submitted form.
- Monitor JOAPS for scrutiny, correction and admit-card notices.
Apply or check status on JOAPS
Frequently asked questions
Common queries regarding eligibility, test pattern, cutoffs, and admissions through IIT JAM Biotechnology.
Yes. Candidates who will take the final examination of their undergraduate degree in 2027 may appear. The degree must be completed within the admitting institute's admission timeline.
No. Exam eligibility and programme admission eligibility are separate. Each programme applies its own minimum educational qualification and other requirements.
The official syllabus has six sections: General Biology; Microbial, Plant and Animal Biotechnology; Biotechniques; Chemistry; Mathematics; and Physics. Chemistry is at 10+2+3 level, while Mathematics and Physics are at 10+2 level.
No. The official syllabus and pattern do not prescribe a fixed subject-wise marks split. Prepare every listed section and use previous papers only as historical practice, not as a guaranteed blueprint.
No. Only wrong MCQ answers receive negative marks. MSQ and NAT questions have no negative marking, but MSQs also have no partial credit.
The current JAM 2027 brochure lists 115 seats across six programmes at five IITs under the BT paper. They are not all MSc Biotechnology seats, and the admission brochure may update the matrix.
No. Admission depends on rank, category, preferences, seat availability, programme eligibility and counselling movement.
Yes, if the second paper is in the other examination session. BT is scheduled in the afternoon, so the current morning-session choices are Chemistry, Geology and Mathematics. Programme eligibility still applies independently.
No. JAM does not create one universal MSc stipend. Scholarships, assistantships and fee support are institute-specific and should be checked on the admitting institute's current page.
Use the official JAM download archive linked in the Previous Papers section. It includes recent BT papers and answer keys.
There may be overlapping life-science topics, but the papers, programme networks and syllabi are not identical. Compare the current official syllabus and pattern of each examination before combining preparation.
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