IISER 2025 Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualification, Attempts & Reservation

Checking your eligibility for the IISER Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Entrance Exam 2025 is the first step toward a successful application. As per the Joint Admissions Committee of the IISERs, candidates must have passed the Class XII or an equivalent examination with a science stream from any board recognized by the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) in India. This includes students who passed their Class XII in 2023, 2024, or are appearing in 2025. A minimum of 60% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade is required for General, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories. For candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Persons with Disability categories, the minimum requirement is 55% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade. Final-year students whose Class XII results have not yet been declared can also apply, subject to fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria at the time of admission. It is essential for candidates to have taken at least three subjects among Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics during their Class XII examination. For certain programs, such as the 5-year BS-MS in Computational and Data Sciences at IISER Kolkata and 4-year B.Tech programs at IISER Bhopal, having Mathematics in Class XII is a mandatory requirement. By confirming your eligibility early, you can avoid last-minute hurdles and apply with confidence.

Before applying for the IISER Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Entrance Exam 2025, it’s important to understand the age criteria set by the Joint Admissions Committee of the IISERs. While there is no strict upper age limit for the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2025, eligibility is primarily determined by the year of passing the qualifying examination. Candidates must have passed their Class XII or equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or 2025 to be eligible to appear for the IAT 2025. This effectively defines the age window for applicants. Although a minimum age of 18 years is sometimes mentioned, the focus remains on the year of passing. No specific age relaxations are provided for reserved categories, as there isn't an upper age limit to relax. However, Persons with Disability candidates with at least 40% impairment are eligible for one hour of compensatory time during the IISER Aptitude Test. Knowing the year of passing rules in advance ensures you apply within the permitted criteria.

The IISER Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Entrance Exam 2025 offers relaxations for candidates belonging to specific reserved categories as per Government of India guidelines. These benefits may include reduced qualifying marks and reservation of seats. For instance, while General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates need a minimum of 60% in their Class XII examination, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Persons with Disability candidates require a minimum of 55%. In terms of seat reservations, 15% of seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe candidates, and 27% for Other Backward Classes belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer. A 5% horizontal reservation is provided for Persons with Disability candidates with at least 40% impairment within their respective categories. Additionally, up to 10% of seats are set aside for the Economically Weaker Section. Kashmiri Migrants and Kashmiri Pandit or Kashmiri Hindu Families (Non-Migrants) are also entitled to special supernumerary seats. To avail these benefits, candidates must upload valid and up-to-date category certificates, such as OBC-NCL or EWS certificates issued on or after April 01, 2025, during the registration process. Verification will follow the official protocol set by the authority. By understanding and following the process, eligible candidates can make full use of the category-based benefits available for the IISER Aptitude Test.

The IISER Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Entrance Exam 2025 is open to Indian citizens and valid OCI or PIO card holders as per the Joint Admissions Committee rules. Indian citizens are fully eligible for admission to the various programs offered. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders are also eligible to apply for the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2025, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria. However, OCI and PIO candidates are generally eligible to compete only for the unreserved (General) seats. They may also be required to upload an equivalence certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities, unless their Class XII or equivalent examination was passed from a board recognized by the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) in India. Domicile requirements are typically not a primary factor for admission to central institutions like IISERs, except for specific categories like Kashmiri Migrants where a domicile certificate is necessary. Foreign nationals, those who are not citizens of India and do not hold OCI or PIO cards, are also eligible to appear for IAT 2025, subject to fulfilling all other eligibility criteria and uploading an equivalence certificate as applicable. By understanding these rules early, candidates can ensure they meet the required nationality conditions before applying.

Before preparing for the IISER Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Entrance Exam 2025, it’s essential to know if there’s a cap on the number of attempts. The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) allows candidates to apply if they passed their Class XII or equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or 2025. This effectively provides a window of up to three attempts for a candidate, depending on their year of passing. For instance, if a student appeared for their Class XII exams in 2023, they would be eligible to take the IAT in 2023, 2024, and 2025. If a candidate is appearing for their Class XII exams in 2025, this would be their first eligible attempt. There are no specific additional attempts or relaxations based on reserved categories mentioned for the number of times a candidate can appear for the IAT. Being aware of this eligible window helps you plan your preparation strategy effectively.

Candidates must have passed their Class 12th (or equivalent) examination in the year 2023, 2024, or 2025 for the 2025-26 academic year