TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 (Released): Question Types, Total Marks, Negative Marking, Duration

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026

The TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern has been released on the official website of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research @tifr.res.in. Students who are appearing for the TIFR GS exam 2026 must go through the detailed TIFR GS exam pattern 2026, TIFR GS 2026 syllabus, and previous years' question papers to understand the pattern of the examination. As per the TIFR GS paper pattern 2026, the exam is conducted for 3 hours in online mode, for all subjects.

The TIFR GS marking scheme is different for each subject. Students are required to answer 80 to 100 multiple-choice questions in a CBT mode. Negative marking will be done for questions answered incorrectly. Students who are appearing for the TIFR GS entrance exam 2026 must go through the detailed TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern, marks distribution, marking scheme, and other factors to score good marks in this entrance exam.

Scroll down to find the detailed TIFR GS exam pattern 2026, marking scheme, total number of questions asked, negative marking, and more.

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights

Refer to the table attached below to check out the TIFR GS 2026 exam pattern in detail:

TIFR GS 2026 Session Timings

The TIFR GS 2026 examination will be conducted on December 14, 2025. As per the latest updates, the TIFR GS exam 2026 will take place in two sessions: Morning & Afternoon sessions. The exact shift timings for all exams are tabulated below:

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Biology

The TIFR GS Biology exam is divided into two main sections, Biology A and Biology B, which test your understanding of fundamental science concepts typically covered in high school and undergraduate courses. The exam does not require any specialized topics beyond these general subjects. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions, with each question having only one correct answer. The total time of the exam will be 3 hours. You can check the complete structure of sections in the TIFR GS exam pattern 2026 for Biology:

Marking Scheme: 

• Correct answers in Section A are awarded 1 mark each.
• Correct answers in Section B are awarded 2 marks each.
• Incorrect answers will result in a negative marking of -1 mark each.

Download the TIFR GS exam pattern 2026 for Biology here!

TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern Chemistry

TIFR GS 2026 Chemistry exam includes a single section, Part A, which consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. Each question will offer four answer choices, and students have to select the one correct option from the four given. The total time to attempt the TIFR GS Chemistry exam will be 3 hours. You can check the complete structure of sections in the TIFR Exam Pattern Chemistry 2026 from below:

Marking Scheme: 

• Each correct answer is awarded 3 marks.
• Each incorrect answer will result in a deduction of 1 mark.
• No marks are added or deducted for unattempted questions.

Download TIFR Exam Pattern Chemistry 2026 here!

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Computer Science & Learning, Information and Data Sciences

For admissions into the Computer Science and Learning, Information and Data Sciences programs, the TIFR GS 2026 exam includes three parts, all of which are to be completed within a total time of three hours. There is no separate time limit for each part. You can check the complete structure of sections in the TIFR Exam Pattern 2026 for CS & LIDS from below:

Marking Scheme: All questions from all parts carry equal marks. 

• Correct answers are awarded 4 marks each.
• Incorrect answers will result in a negative marking of -1 mark each.
• No marks are added or deducted for unattempted questions.

Download TIFR Exam Pattern 2026 for CS & LIDS here!

Important Instructions

• Part A (Common): This part must be attempted by all applicants, regardless of the program they are applying to. It includes 15 multiple-choice questions that test general knowledge and foundational understanding applicable to both fields.
• Part B (Computer Science): Students wishing to gain admission into the Computer Science program must attempt all questions in Part B. This section contains 15 multiple-choice questions specific to Computer Science topics. If you do not wish to apply to the Computer Science program, skip this part entirely.
• Part C (Learning, Information, and Data Sciences): Students wishing to take admission to the Learning, Information, and Data Sciences program must attempt Part C. This section also contains 15 multiple-choice questions, focusing on areas related to data sciences and information systems. If you’re not applying to this program, you can choose to leave this section entirely.
• Attempting Both Part B and Part C: Students who wish to be considered for admission into both programs may attempt both Part B and Part C. However, no additional time will be provided for attempting both sections. If you are able to complete both sections, you will be evaluated for eligibility in both the Computer Science and Learning, Information, and Data Sciences programs.

TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern Mathematics

TIFR GS 2026 Mathematics exam is divided into two sections: Part A and Part B. Only Part A will be evaluated for those applying to the Integrated PhD program at TIFR CAM, Bengaluru. For all other programs, answers to both parts are mandatory. The exam duration will be three hours. You can check the complete structure of sections in the TIFR Exam Pattern 2026 for Mathematics from below:

Marking Scheme: 

• For Part A, two marks are awarded for each correct answer, and one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
• For Part B, two marks are given for correct answers, while incorrect answers lead to a deduction of two marks.
• No marks are added or deducted for unattempted questions.

Download TIFR Exam Pattern 2026 for Mathematics here!

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Mathematics PhD at CAM

TIFR GS Exam for the Mathematics PhD program at CAM is a 120-minute test consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions. Each question may have one or multiple correct answers, with a marking scheme as follows:

• For questions with only one correct answer:
  • You earn 10 points for selecting the correct answer.
  • You lose 5 points for selecting an incorrect answer.
• For questions with multiple correct answers:
  • You earn 10 points if you select all the correct answers.
  • You earn 5 points if you select at least one correct answer (but not all) and avoid any incorrect answers.
  • You lose 5 points if you select any incorrect answer.

Download TIFR GS exam pattern for the Mathematics PhD program at CAM here!

TIFR GS 2026 Exam Pattern Physics

TIFR GS 2026 exam for Physics is divided into two sections: Part A and Part B, each with multiple-choice questions. Part A consists of 25 questions focused on fundamental topics. These questions test basic understanding and foundational knowledge. Part B includes 15 multiple-choice questions that may require deeper thinking and a more advanced understanding of the material. The total time allotted for the exam is three hours. You can check the complete structure of sections in TIFR Exam Pattern for Physics from below:

Marking Scheme: The grading scheme will be as follows: Section A: +3 marks if correct; ‐1 mark if incorrect; 0 marks if not attempted Section B: +5 marks if correct; 0 marks if incorrect or not attempted, i.e., NO negative marks.

Download TIFR Exam Pattern for Physics 2026 here!

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 Science Education

TIFR GS 2026 Science Education exam is divided into two sections: Part A and Part B. Part A consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options. You can select any 50 questions to answer. If more than 50 questions are attempted, the score will be normalized to match the top 50 responses. Part B includes 3 descriptive questions, focusing on critical reasoning, and is worth a total of 50 marks. The total duration for the exam is three hours. You can check the complete structure of sections in the TIFR Exam Pattern 2026 for Science Education from below:

Marking Scheme: Each correct answer in Section A is awarded 2 marks, while unanswered or incorrect answers receive no marks. In Section B of descriptive questions, one question is of 20 marks, and the remaining two questions will be of 15 marks each.

Download TIFR Exam Pattern 2026 for Science Education here!

TIFR GS Exam Pattern 2026 provides precise details about the structure, marking scheme, and duration for each subject. Familiarity with the exam pattern for TIFR GS 2026 exam is very important for effective preparation and maximizing performance in the test. Best of Luck!