JAM 2026 FAQs | Answers to Common Questions About the Exam

Who can Apply?

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Candidates who have completed an undergraduate degree or currently studying in the final year of undergraduate programme are eligible to apply for JAM 2026 examination.

I do not have a valid OBC-NCL certificate. How do I apply for JAM 2026 in OBC-NCL category?

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You can apply with the existing certificate. However, for any minor defects (such as photo/signature scan quality, uploaded document validity/clarity etc.) the candidates will be contacted via email/phone/SMS for rectifying the defects, within a specific period ( tentatively before November 10, 2025).
The format for OBC-NCL Certificate is given in Annexure VI.

I do not have a valid EWS (Economically Weaker Section) certificate. How do I apply JAM 2026 in EWS category?

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You can apply with the existing certificate. However, for any minor defects (such as photo/signature scan quality, uploaded document validity/clarity etc.) the candidates will be contacted via email/phone/SMS for rectifying the defects, within a specific period( tentatively before November 10, 2025).
The format for EWS Certificate is given in Annexure VII.

I am a foreign national. Am I eligible to apply for JAM 2026?

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YES. JAM 2026 is open to foreign nationals.

Do I need to have a minimum percentage to be eligible to appear for JAM 2026 Examination?

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NO. Please refer the Eligibility Requirements.

I have Backlog. Am I eligible to apply JAM 2026 Examination?

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YES. You are eligible to apply for JAM 2026 Examination.

Is there any age limit to appear for JAM 2026?

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There is NO age limit to appear for JAM 2026.

Are there any restrictions on the number of times one can appear for JAM?

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NO. One can appear for the JAM examination any number of times.

I have made mistake in filling my Category OR Date of Birth OR Name OR Parent's/Guardian's Name OR College Name OR Degree OR Year of Graduation OR ... (some other field). How do I fix it?

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JAM 2026 application portal will allow the corrections in the data entered by the candidate after the scrutiny. Incorporation of these corrections may require you to pay additional fees. Refer Application Fees

Do I have to pay some fees to rectify defects?

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There is NO fee for fixing the defects identified during scrutiny.

Is filling an Indian mobile number mandatory for JAM application?

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YES. Candidates need to fill a 10-digit mobile number while filling the application form. If you don’t have an Indian mobile number, fill an Indian number of a friend or relative. All information and updates will be sent by SMS to this number and also to the registered e-mail.

Is it possible to submit the application without verifying the mobile number?

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YES. But you must verify the mobile number after submitting the application. However, you will have to verify the registered email id with the OTP. Verification of either mobile number or email id is mandatory to submit the application. Note that no communication would be sent to unverified email or unverified mobile number.

Which Identity Document (ID) will be accepted in the application form?

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For Indian candidates, the following valid photo identification documents/cards will be accepted: Aadhaar-UID (preferable), Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID and Driving License. For foreign nationals, documents like valid Passport, any other valid photo ID issued by their government, Driving License is acceptable.

How do I make the fee payment for JAM 2026 examination?

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The payment option will appear after filling the online application form in JAM 2026 website. The mode of Payment is only Online (Net banking / Debit card / Credit card / UPI / Wallet). The application fee will be automatically determined based on the category, gender, and number of Test Paper(s) that have been opted by the candidate. Refer Application Fees
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JAM 2026 does not charge any processing fee or service charge from the candidates for online payment. However, the candidates have to pay the other charges, as applicable for online payment, to the payment gateway or merchant banks.

I have already paid my application fee. However, the JAM 2026 application portal shows that the payment is not done.

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Please logout of the JAM 2026 application portal and login after some time to check if the payment is reflected. If not, send an email to jam2026@iitb.ac.in

Please follow the below procedure:
1. Please login JOAPS Portal with your Credentials.
2. Click the "Proceed to Payment" button. It will direct you to payment page and please proceed to pay the application fee once again.
3. In case, your previous payment is Success, it will automatically update and redirect you to the JAM 2026 Application page.
4. If your payment is unsuccessful, click the "Proceed to Payment" button till success. The unsuccessful payment will be credited back to your account as early as possible.

Why should I choose THREE examination cities?

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The candidates will most likely be allotted a centre in the examination city of their first choice. Only in cases, where there are too many candidates opting for a certain city as their first choice, the other two choices become relevant. The candidates are required to fill their choices of cities to appear in the examination, but should remember that because of operational constraints, the JAM committee reserves the right to add a new city or remove an existing one, and allot a city that may not be any of the choices of a candidate.

Do I need to fill two forms to appear in two papers?

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NO. The two papers option may be selected based on the given set of combinations in a SINGLE form only.

I have successfully submitted my application for a JAM paper. I want to appear for one more JAM paper. How do I make this change?

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Login to JAM 2026 application portal and click on "Add Paper" and choose from the list and pay the applicable fee. A candidate can appear for a maximum of two papers in JAM 2026.

What are the documents I have to upload during Online Application?

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JAM 2026 Applicants should upload the following documents in JOAPS portal.

1. Upload your recent Passport Size Photograph and Signature.
2. Scanned copy of 10th standard (SSC) Marksheet with Date of Birth (DOB).
3. if applicable, PwD Certificate in the case of PwD candidates. Refer PwD Guidelines
4. if applicable, SC/ ST Certificate in the case of SC/ ST Candidates.
5. if applicable, OBC-NCL Certificate (issued on or after 01 April 2025) in the case of OBC-NCL (non-creamy layer) Candidates.
The format for OBC-NCL Certificate is given in Annexure VI.
6. if applicable, EWS Certificate (issued on or after 01 April 2025) in the case of EWS Candidates.
The format for EWS Certificate is given in Annexure VII.

Note: The photograph, signature, 10th standard (SSC) Marksheet, Category (OBC-NCL/EWS/SC/ST) Certificate and Physical Disability Certificate uploaded during the application process for JAM 2026 Examination will be used for the admission process.

If I have not uploaded photograph as per the specifications mentioned, will my application be rejected?

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NO. Your application will be marked DEFECTIVE after Scrutiny. You will be intimated by email or SMS from JAM 2026 Admin to RECTIFY your DEFECT (by uploading a new photograph). You will be given chances for rectification up to the deadline, beyond which your application will either be considered as PROVISIONAL or REJECTED.

If I have not uploaded signature as per the specifications mentioned in JAM 2026, will my application be rejected?

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NO. Your application will be marked DEFECTIVE after Scrutiny. You will be intimated by email or SMS from JAM 2026 Admin to RECTIFY your DEFECT (by uploading a new signature image). You will be given chances for rectification up to a deadline, beyond which your application will either be considered as PROVISIONAL or REJECTED.

I belong to OBC(NCL)/EWS/SC/ST and/or PwD category. Should I upload category and/or PwD certificates?

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YES. You have to upload the category and/or PwD certificate if applicable during the submission of application for JAM examination

Who is a "Person with Benchmark Disability"?

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A “person with benchmark disability” means a person with not less than 40% of a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and also includes specified disability that has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authorities (Section 2(r), RPwD act 2016). Refer PwD Guidelines

Are candidates with less than 40% disabilities and having difficulty in writing eligible for availing the services of a SCRIBE and/or compensatory time?

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YES. The candidates with less than 40% disabilities AND having difficulty in writing are eligible for the services of a SCRIBE and/or compensatory time as per office memorandum of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (F.No. P-13013/75/2023-Policy-DD-III dated 01st August, 2025).

When and how will I know the status of my application?

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You can check the status of your application by logging into JAM 2026 website from time to time.

My application status is under scrutiny. What should I do now?

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You need not worry. Wait till the scrutiny team processes your application. Only those candidates whose applications need to be rectified for photo/signature/Xth (SSC) Certificate/Category Certificate/PwD Certificate, will be contacted by email and SMS. The scrutiny process will continue even after the application portal is closed.

Do I have to send the print-out of the application form?

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NO. The print-out of the application form is not required to be sent to the Organizing Institute or any other JAM zonal Institute.

When will I receive my Admit Card?

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Admit Card can ONLY be downloaded from JAM 2026 website in the first week of January 2026. Admit Cards will NOT be sent by post or as an e-mail attachment.

Is the Admit Card alone sufficient to gain entry to the examination centre?

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NO. Candidates MUST also bring original and valid photo Identity Document (NO photocopy/scanned copy/NOT an expired document), which was specified during filling up of the online application.For Indian candidates, only following identification documents will be accepted: Aadhaar-UID (front side must), Passport, PAN card, Voter ID and Driving License. For foreign nationals, documents like valid Passport, any other valid photo ID issued by their government, Driving License is acceptable

Can I bring soft copy of the Admit Card (in mobile phone/tablet/laptop) to gain entry to the examination centre?

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NO. Hard copy (preferably printed in colour) of the Admit Card is required to gain entry to the examination centre.

In case of permitted delayed entry in the examination hall, will I get extra time corresponding to my delayed entry?

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NO. The candidate with permitted delayed entry will NOT get any extra time.

I want to withdraw my application. Will my application fee be refunded?

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NO. Fee is non-refundable.

What do I do, if the power/internet connection failed during the submission of application process?

Please login to your account at the Application Portal again and continue the application process.

After completing the ONLINE application process and generating a PDF file, will I be able to change my application data?

NO. After completing all the steps up to PDF application form generation in the ONLINE application process, you can only download the application form and CANNOT modify the data. Hence, you need to be very careful while entering the data.

Facts & Questions