Students who have completed or expect to complete their M.Sc./Integrated M.Sc. degree (in Physics, Applied Physics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Electronics, or Astronomy) or B.E./ B.Tech./ M.E./ M.Tech. degree (in any branch) by July 2025, with 55% marks or more are eligible to apply for INAT-2025 towards a Ph.D. scholarship.
Students completing a B. Sc. degree in Physics (with Mathematics up to 2nd year) or a B.E. / B. Tech. degree in any branch of engineering, with a minimum of 55% marks may apply to be selected to the SPPU-IUCAA Joint M.Sc. (Physics with Astrophysics) programme (https://www.iucaa.in/en/education/m-sc/sppu-iucaa-msc)
In addition, talented final-year B.Sc., 1st year M.Sc., 3rd/4th year Integrated M.Sc. and 2nd/ 3rd year B.E./ B.Tech. students may also apply to be pre-selected for the Ph.D. programme at IUCAA.
A relaxation of 5% in the qualifying marks, from 55% to 50%, is applicable for candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL/ EWS or Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category.
Selection Procedure:
IUCAA is looking for highly motivated students with a consistently good academic record. While students from engineering backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply for INAT-2025, we emphasize that we are looking for students who are interested in carrying out doctoral research or post-graduate studies in Physics, or Astronomy and Astrophysics. Prospective candidates are hence expected to have a good understanding of basic Physics.
Based on the applications and referee assessments, a subset of the candidates will be short-listed and invited to take the written test, to be held in various cities across the country on Sunday, January 19, 2025. All candidates should report at the assigned test centre with the necessary documents for verification (Passport-size Photo, one of the Photo IDs (in original) like Aadhaar/ PAN/ Voter ID/ Driving License/ College ID/ Passport AND the Admit letter). Registration for the test will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 09:45 a.m. A seat in the test is not guaranteed unless registration is completed by the candidate during this period. The final selection to the research scholarship will be based on the results of the written test (on January 19, 2025) and two interviews (Dates of interviews will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates via registered email ID).
No walk-in candidates will be allowed entry to the INAT-2025 written test. Only those with a valid Admit Letter will be given entry.
Note that the selection to the Ph.D. programme at IUCAA through INAT is in addition to the selection through the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST), while selection to the SPPU-IUCAA M.Sc. (Physics with Astrophysics) Programme is only through the INAT written test.
Nature of the Written Test:
The test will be of TWO hours duration. The question paper will be in English. The questions will be from basic Physics, Mathematics, Electronics/ Engineering to advanced areas of the same subjects and consist of three parts:
Part - A: Basic Physics, Mathematics, and Engineering
Part - B: Advanced Physics, Mathematics and Engineering
Part - C: Both basic and advanced areas of Physics, Mathematics and Engineering
| Question paper | Type | # of questions | marks for each question | Negative marking | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-A | Objective | 16 | 3 | Yes (-1) | Total of two hours |
| Part-B | Objective | 16 | 3 | Yes (-1) | |
| Part-C | Integer type (all answers are in integers of 3 digits) | 8 | 3 | No |
- Only one out of four choices is correct in Part-A and Part-B -Candidates must answer Part-C questions by filling in the appropriate squares in the Answer Sheet.Candidates will have to make their own arrangements towards the travel and stay for the written test. No TA/DA shall be paid to students writing the examination. However, TA/DA will be paid, as per institute's norms, to the candidates shortlisted for the interviews to be held at IUCAA, Pune.
All the candidates who are invited to take the IUCAA National Admission Test (INAT) MUST bring the Admit Letter with them. For the written test, the candidates should bring a pen, a pencil (HB), an eraser, and a simple (non-programmable) scientific calculator.
If shortlisted for interviews, the candidates are requested to bring all original mark sheets (starting from Class X) and any other relevant certificates.
Mobile phones, digital diaries, laptops or any other electronic devices that can communicate with the outside world are NOT allowed in the test and interview halls.
