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The JEST 2024 Exam Date has been announced by SERB. The JEST 2024 exam will take place on March 3, 2024. The Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is an annual national-level entrance exam. The exam is held to provide admission to Ph.D./Integrated Ph.D. programs in Physics, Theoretical Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Computation Biology, among other fields. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has designated JEST as the National Eligibility Test (NET).
Qualified candidates will be able to participate in a variety of institutions, including IIST, NISER, and IISc.
What is JEST 2024?
Several premier institutes, including IISc, IISERs, NISER, and others, collaborate to conduct the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST). JEST is a screening test for PhD and International Ph.D. programs at various participating institutes (see list on JEST home page) in Physics, Theoretical Computer Science, Neuroscience, or Computational Biology.
The JEST exam is only given for two subjects: physics and theoretical computer science. However, the requirements for admission to the PhD and International PhD programs vary by participating institute.
The admission notice for the JEST Entrance Examination will be announced in the fourth week of January 2024 by the examination conducting organization, SERB (Science & Engineering Research Board). Aspirants preparing for the JEST 2024 Examination will be able to fill out an online registration form for the Ph.D. degree offered by participating JEST 2024 universities.
JEST 2024 Overview
Some of the important highlights of the JEST exam 2024 is given in the table.
| Exam Name | JEST 2024 |
| Full Form | Joint Entrance Screening Test |
| Conducted by | Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Courses Offered | Ph.D./ Integrated Ph.D. Programmes |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen-Paper Based) Mode |
JEST 2024 Important Dates
Some of the important dates that candidates should remember are listed in the table below:
| Events | Dates 2024 |
| Online Application Form | 4th Week of January 2024 |
| Last Date to Apply | 1st Week of February 2024 |
| Correction Facility | 1st Week of February 2024 |
| Admit Card | 1st Week of March 2024 |
| Exam Date | March 3, 2024, |
| Answer Key | 1st Week of April 2024 |
| Result | 2nd Week of April 2024 |
| Interview Process | 3rd Week of April 2024 |
JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria
The general JEST 2024 eligibility criteria for MSc, PhD, and Integrated/MSc/MTech – PhD programs are listed below. Candidates are advised to visit the official website of the respective colleges/institutes to view detailed eligibility criteria for admission in programs offered at colleges accepting JEST scores for admission.
JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D. Program in Physics
The requirements for taking the JEST exam for the Ph.D. course in Physics vary by college.
- MSc in Physics (available at all participating institutes).
- MSc degrees in Mathematics, Applied Physics, Applied Mathematics, Optics and Photonics, Instrumentation, and Electronics will also be considered by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore.
- BE or BTech students will be considered for admission to IISc, IMSc, ICTS-TIFR, IUCAA, JNCASR, NCRA-TIFR, TIFR-TCIS, RRI, IISER Mohali, IISER Pune, and IISER Thiruvananthapuram.
- IUCAA will consider MSc degrees in Physics, Electronics, Astronomy, and Applied Mathematics.
- IPR will also consider MScs in Physics, Engineering Physics, or Applied Physics.
- SNBNCBS will consider MSc candidates with degrees in Physics, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, Biophysics, or Biochemistry.
- TIFR will take into account BTech Eng Phys.
- NISER will consider ME/MTech in Applied Physics.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D. Program in Theoretical Computer Science at IMSc
- MSc/ME/MTech.in Computer Science and related disciplines, and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D. in Neuroscience at NBRC
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D. in Computational Biology at IMSc
- MSc/ME/MTech?/MCA in any engineering or science discipline, with good mathematical skills and a strong interest in biological problems.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated MSc/MTech – PhD Programme (Physics)
- BSc (Physics/Mathematics) will be considered at SNBNCBS.
- BSc (Physics) will be considered at IMSc.
- BSc (Physics/Mathematics/BE/BTech in Electrical/Instrumentation/Engineering Physics/Electronics and Communications/Computer Science and Engineering/Optics and Photonics) will be considered in IIA.
- BSc (Physics) or BE/BTech in Engineering Physics, with a minimum of first-class marks, will be considered at NISER.
- BSc (Physics) will be considered at IISER-Pune, ICTS-TIFR, NCRA-TIFR, and TIFR-TCIS.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated PhD Programme in Theoretical Computer Science at IMSc
- BSc/BE/BTech/MCA in Computer Science or related disciplines and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated MTech – PhD Program at IIA
- MSc (Physics/Applied Physics/Post-BSc (Hons) in Optics and Optoelectronics / Radio Physics and Electronics.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Integrated PhD Programme at IISER Thiruvananthapuram
- BSc (Physics) or BE/BTech in any discipline.
- JEST 2024 Eligibility Criteria for MSc Program at HRI
- BSc (Physics) or BE/BTech degree in any discipline.
- HRI has started a new MSc program in Physics in 2021. The Integrated Ph.D. program in Physics at HRI will be discontinued in 2021.
JEST 2024 Age Limit:
There is no age restriction for appearing in the JEST exam.
JEST 2024 Application Form
- JEST 2024 Application Form will only be available online; no other method will be accepted.
- Candidates must complete the application form with information such as academic details, personal information, contact information, and so on.
- JEST 2024 registration forms will be available in the fourth week of January 2024.
- After completing the form, upload a scanned passport-size photograph and signature in the size and format specified.
- For a limited time, the authority will also provide a correction facility to edit incorrect details (if any) in the application form.
- The application form must be submitted by the first week of February 2024.
- Finally, students must submit the form and print a copy of the application form for future reference.
JEST 2024 Application Fee
- The application fee will be submitted online.
- The registration fee will be paid with a debit card, a credit card, or through Net Banking.
- Once paid, there will be no refunds.
The application fees for JEST 2024 are listed below, according to category:
| Category | Application Fee |
| General | Rs. 800/- |
| SC/ST | Rs. 400/- |
JEST 2024 Courses Offered
The following courses are available based on the results of JEST 2024:
| Program | Degree Type |
| PhD in Physics | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
| Integrated PhD in Physics | Integrated Doctor of Philosophy |
| PhD in Theoretical Computer Science | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
| Integrated PhD in Theoretical Computer Science | Integrated Doctor of Philosophy |
| PhD in Neuroscience | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
| Integrated PhD in Neuroscience | Integrated Doctor of Philosophy |
| PhD in Computational Biology | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
| Integrated PhD in Computational Biology | Integrated Doctor of Philosophy |
JEST 2024 Admit Card
Candidates who are looking forward to the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) 2024 will be able to access their admission cards on the official website on March 16. Candidates must visit the official website and log in with their registration number and password to obtain their JEST 2024 admit card. Individual admit cards are secured with this personalized information.
The admit card is an important document that serves as proof of a candidate’s successful registration and eligibility to take the exam. Candidates who have registered for JEST 2024 should download their admit cards as soon as possible from the official website.
The JEST 2024 admit card includes important information such as the candidate’s name, roll number, contact information, photographs, and signatures. Important information such as the exam date and time, the location of the exam center, and specific instructions for the exam day are also included. This detailed information ensures that candidates are well-informed about the logistics of their examination, allowing them to prepare adequately. Candidates must bring a printed copy of their JEST 2024 admit card to the exam centre.
JEST 2024 Results
JEST 2024 Score Card will be available in the fourth week of April 2024. Individuals who took the JEST 2024 exam will be able to view their results on the official website. Candidates can check their JEST 2024 results by entering information such as their roll number and date of birth on the exam’s official website. The JEST 2024 result, or scorecard, will encompass details such as sectional and overall scores, along with the candidates’ All India Rank (AIR).
JEST 2024 Participating Institutes
The JEST 2024 exam is offered by a number of institutes and universities. The institutes’ names are as follows:
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)
- Bose Institute Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI)
- Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI)
- International Center for theoretical sciences (ICTS)
- Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
- Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram
- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST)
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc)
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Institute for Plasma Research (IPR)
- Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)
- National Brain Research Centre (NBRC)
- National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR (NCRA-TIFR)
- National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER)
- Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
- Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT)
- Raman Research Institute (RRI)
- Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP)
- Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS)
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences (TIFR-TCIS)
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
- UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research (UGC-DAE CSR)
- Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC)
JEST 2024 FAQs
What is the pattern of the JEST 2024 exam?
Candidates will be given three hours to complete the paper. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) will be included in the paper. Medium: The exam will be conducted entirely in English. Total number of questions: The exam will have 50 questions.
Is JEST tougher than jam?
JAM is easier for us to crack because it has a BSc-level syllabus, as opposed to JEST and other MSc exams, which require us to cover a much larger syllabus. The second point is that JAM takes place in February, while most other BSc-level exams (such as MSc entrance exams) take place in June or later.
Which is better, JEST or IIT JAM?
The former is primarily for doing a two-year MSc program at IIT (some institutes will call you for an interview based on your JAM score for I. PhD), whereas the latter is solely for doing research at various research institutes across India. As a result of this purpose, JEST is more difficult than JAM.
