JEST 2026 Syllabus - Subject-Wise Topics, Exam Pattern

Highlights

Details

Exam Name

Joint Entrance Screening Test

Conducted By

Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology

Official Website

https://www.jest.org.in/

Given For

PhD in Physics or Neuroscience, Theoretical Computer Science, or Computational Biology

Mode of Examination

Offline exam (Pen and Paper)

Duration of Exam

3 hours

Registration Date

May to June 2026

Exam Date 

June 2026 

Admit Card (Release)

June 2026

Result

June- August 2026

Dicipline

Subjects

Mathematical Methods

• Vector algebra and vector calculus
• Tensors
• Curvilinear coordinate systems
• linear algebra
• Linear differential equations
• elements of Sturm–Liouville theory
• Special functions
• Complex analysis
• Fourier series and Fourier transforms
• Laplace transforms
• Elementary properties of discrete groups
• Elements of probability theory
• Error analysis.

Classical Mechanics

• Newton’s laws
• Conservation of energy and momentum, collisions
• Generalized coordinates\
• Principle of least action
• Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics
• Symmetry and conservation laws
• Central force problem
• Kepler problem\
• Small oscillations and normal modes
• Special relativity in classical mechanics.

Electromagnetism & Optics

• Electrostatics and magnetostatics
• boundary value problems
• multipole expansion
• Fields in conducting
• Dielectric
• diamagnetic and paramagnetic media 
• Faraday’s law and time-varying fields
• displacement current
• Maxwell’s equations
• energy and momentum of electromagnetic fields
• Propagation of plane electromagnetic waves, reflection
• Refraction
•  Electromagnetic waves in dispersive and conducting media
• Diffraction
• Interference
•  polarization. 

Quantum Mechanics  

• Uncertainty principle
• Schrodinger equation
• central potentials
• hydrogen atom
• Orbital and spin angular momenta
• addition of angular momenta
• Matrix formulation of quantum theory
• unitary transformations
• Hermitian operators
• Variational principle
• Time-independent perturbation theory
• Time-dependent perturbation theory.  

Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics  

• Laws of thermodynamics
• work and heat
• thermodynamic potentials
• Elements of kinetic theory
• Maxwell’s relations
• Statistical ensembles
• partition function
• classical ideal gas
• harmonic oscillators  
• Classical and quantum statistics
• Fermi and Bose gases; 
• black body radiation
• Statistics of paramagnetism  

Electronics  

• Basics of semiconductor
• p-n junctions
• Diodes
• Transistors
• LCR circuits
• Rectifiers
• Amplifiers
• active filters and oscillators
• Basics of OPAMPs and their applications
• basics of digital electronics. 

Participating Universities

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital

Specialization:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics,  
• Atmospheric Physics.

Bose Institute, Kolkata: 

• Atmospheric sciences
• Biophysics
• Complex systems and networks
• Condensed matter physics and materials science
• High-energy physics and astroparticle physics
• Quantum physics and quantum information, Nuclear and radiation physics

HBNI

Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai

Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad:

• Theoretical Physics
• Astrophysics

International centre for theoretical sciences (TIFR), Bangalore:

• Astrophysical Relativity
• Data Assimilation and Dynamical Systems
•  Statistical Physics and Turbulence
• String theory 
•  Quantum Gravity.

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam:

• Solid State Phase Transformations, Superconductivity
• Structure and dynamics of soft condensed matter
• Band structure studies
• Accelerators based Irradiation induced phenomena
• Low-dimensional systems
• Physics of interfaces
• Nano-materials
• Thin film technology 
• Theoretical physics

Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore: Astronomy: 

• Astrophysics
• Astronomical Instrumentation
• Optics
• Atomic Physics.

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore: Condensed Matter Physics (Experiments and Theory)

• Astronomy and Astrophysics (Theoretical), Atomic and Optical Physics (Experimental), Biocrystallography 
• Bio-informatics
• High Energy Physics (Theoretical).

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal:

• Condensed Matter Physics (Theory and Experiment),
• Soft Matter Physics (Theory)
• Biophysics
• Laser Plasma Interactions
• Ultrafast Physics (Experiment),
• Astrophysics and Cosmology
• High Energy Physics (Theory, Phenomenology, and Experiment)
• Non-linear Optics

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur:

• Condensed Matter Physics (Theory and Experiment)
• Electronic Materials & Devices
• High energy physics (Theory, Phenomenology, Experiment)
• Nuclear Structure
• Photonics
• Quantum Theory
• Quantum Information.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Field Theory
• Classical & Quantum Gravity
• Cosmology
• Solar Science
• High Energy Physics
• Non-linear dynamics
• Statistical Physics
• Soft Matter
• Optics & Spectroscopy
• Atomic physics
• Biophotonics
• Spintronics
• Nanoscience
• NMR
• Quantum Information

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali:

• Quantum Information (Experiment and Theory)
• Complex systems & Networks
• Theoretical Astrophysics & Cosmology, Particle Physics and Field Theory
• Statistical physics
• Quantum thermodynamics
• Condensed Matter (Theory and Experiment), NMR-Methodology
• Ultra-fast Physics
• low temperature physics.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune:

• Field Theory
• Theoretical Particle Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Non-linear Dynamics
• Complex Systems and Networks
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Quantum Information Processing
• Radio Astrophysics
• Atomic Physics 
• Quantum Optics
• Energy Studies
• Solar and Plasma Physics
• Nanosciences
• Scanning Probe Techniques
•  Semiconductor Physics and Devices.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram: Experimental:

•  Magnetism
• Superconductivity
• Nanoscience
• Photonics
• Semiconductor physics
• Surface sciences
• Nanoscale plasmonics
• Ultrafast spectroscopy
• Nonlinear Optics.

Theory: 

• Cosmology
• Quantum information
• Statistical physics
• Condensed matter
• String theory & Nonlinear dynamics.

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupathi:

• Theoretical Astrophysics
• Observational Astronomy
• Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Soft Matter Physics
• Nonlinear Physics
• Experimental High Energy Physics
• Atomic and Molecular Physics

Indian Institute of Space Science  and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Applied and Adaptive Optics
• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanotechnology
• Nonlinear Dynamics
• Photonics
• Quantum Information 
• Statistical Physics

The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai:

• Theoretical Physics
• Theoretical Computer Science, Computational Biology

Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar:

• Physics (Condensed Matter, Nuclear and High Energy Physics) 
• Accelerator-based Research.

Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar:

• Physics (Experimental and Theoretical).

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune:

• Physics
• Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore:

• Experimental and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Statistical Mechanics
• Materials Science.

National Brain Research Centre, Manesar: Molecular:

• Computational and Systems Neuroscience Sensory & motor systems
• learning & memory
• language & speech processing
• functional neuroimaging:
• EEG
• MEG
• fMRI
• MRS
• stem cells
• developmental neurobiology
• Neurogenetics
• neurodegenerative 
• neurodevelopmental disorders cancer signaling
• glial tumor biology.

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR, Pune: 

• Astronomy 
• Astrophysics.

National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar:

• Theoretical High Energy Physics and Lattice QCD
• Experimental High Energy Physics, Condensed Matter Physics (Theory and Experiment)
• Optics 
• Metamaterials.

Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad:

• Theoretical Physics
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Solar Physics
• Space and Atmospheric Sciences
• Planetary Science 
• Geo-Sciences.

Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore:

• Lasers and Their Applications
• Laser Plasma Interaction
• Cold Atom Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics (Superconductivity and Magnetism, Crystals and Thin Films)
• Nanomaterials and Applications
• Non-linear and Ultrafast Optical Studies Beam Physics
• Free Electron Laser.

Raman Research Institute, Bangalore:  Astronomy & Astrophysics

• Light & Matter Physics
• Soft Condensed Matter and Theoretical Physics
• Signal Processing
• Imaging and Instrumentation.

Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata:

•  Condensed Matter Physics (Theory and Experiments)
• Nuclear Physics (Theory and Experiments), High Energy Physics (Theory and Experiments)
• Astroparticle Physics
• Quantum Gravity
• String Theory
• Mathematical Physics
• Materials Science (Surface Science and Plasma Physics).

Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata:

• Astrophysics 
• Cosmology
• Chemical and Biological Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science
• High Energy Physics 
• Quantum Field Theory
• Mathematical Physics
• Nanosciences
• Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Statistical Physics 
• Complex Systems.

TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad: 

• Condensed Matter Physics & Materials Science of Nonequilibrium
• Soft & Living matter
• Fluid Dynamics
• Intense Laser-matter interactions
•  Computational Physics
• Statistical physics
• NMR of Biophysical & other systems

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai: 

• Astronomy 
• Astrophysics
• Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science
• High Energy Physics
• Nuclear and Atomic Physics
• Theoretical Physics

UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore: 

• Surfaces
• Interfaces
• Thin Films and Nanomaterials
• Physics at Low Temperatures and High Magnetic Fields
• X-ray
• Optical and Electron Spectroscopic Studies Using Synchrotron and Laboratory Sources
• Electrical
• Magnetic and Thermal Properties of Condensed Matter;
• Condensed Matter studies using Magnetic Neutron Diffraction
• Nuclear Technique-Based Condensed Matter Physics-Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy, Mossbauer Spectroscopy
• Experimental Nuclear Physics
• Gamma Ray Spectroscopy of Nuclear High Spin States
•  Nuclear Reactions.

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata: Accelerator physics

• Condensed matter physics & materials science
• Nuclear physics (Experiment and Theory), Relativistic heavy ion collisions 
• QCD Phase transition (Experiment and Theory)

Universities Offering DBA

Specialization

Birchwood Online University DBA Online

• Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• Generative AI
• Human Resource
• Emerging Technology
• Data Science
• Business Data & Analytics
• Finance Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Marketing Management
• Healthcare Management
• Leadership and strategy
• International Business
• Sustainability
• Accounting 
• Cyber Security
• Information Technology
• Computer Science
• Project Management
• Social Impact Management
• Digital Leadership
• Big Data
• Tourism and hospitality
• Strategic Marketing
• General Management
• Cloud Computing
• Blockchain
• Management and Technology
• Big Data and Robots
• FinTech
• Performing Arts Management
• Digital Transformation
• Public Policy
• Digital Marketing
• Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
• AR and VR
• Circular Economy
• Internet of Things
• Product Life Cycle
• Talent Management
• Quantum Computing
• E-commerce
• Customer Behaviour Management
• Corporate Governance
• Green Energy
• Robotics and Automation
• Real Estate Management
• Public Relations
• Risk management

Golden Gate University DBA Online

• Generative AI
• Finance
• Marketing
• Emerging Technology
• Business Data & Analytics
• Leadership & Strategy
• Digital Leadership

Rushford Business School DBA Online

• International Business
• Finance
• Healthcare Management
• HR Management
• Marketing
• Supply Chain Management
• Big Data
• Data Science
• Sustainabilty
• Business Analytics
• General Management

ESGCI International School of Management Paris DBA Online

• Online DBA course

EIMT Online DBA

• HR
• Finance
• Logistics & Supply Chain
• Toursim & Hospitality
• Generative AI
• Strategic Marketing 
• Machine Learning
• AI
• Data Science
• Emerging Technology
• Green Energy

Swiss School of Business Management DBA Online

• Business Analytics
• Finance management
• HR Management
• Marketing Management
• Healthcare Management
• Machine Learning
• Supply Chain Management
• Data Science
• Accounting
• Cyber Security
• Technology Entrepreneurship
• Project Management
• Social Impact Management
• Operations Management
• Strategic Management
• IT Management
• Crisis Management
• International Business Leadership
• AI
• Big Data
• Public Policy
• Product Life Management
• Digital Marketing

Edgewood College DBA Online

• Leadership
• Finance
• Healthcare