TIFR GS – Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Previous Year Question papers

TIFR GS is supervised by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research for Graduate School Admissions. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is India’s premier institution for advanced research in fundamental sciences. The Institute runs a graduate programme leading to the award of Ph.D., Integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D. as well as M.Sc. degree in certain subjects. With its distinguished faculty, world-class facilities and stimulating research environment, it is an ideal place for aspiring scientists to initiate their career.

TIFR GS

The Graduate Programme at TIFR is classified into the following Subjects, like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer & Systems Sciences (including Communications and Applied Probability) and Science Education. TIFR GS 2020 will be conducted at the Mumbai campus and various National Centres of TIFR. 

TIFR GS 2020, is also known as Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (JGEEBILS). Candidates can check more details of TIFR GS such as how to apply, exam centers, scholarship, fee and previous years question papers are given here.

Exam Pattern for TIFR GS

For Mathematics – The candidates who will be appearing for the admission to the various programs in Mathematics in TIFR, namely the Ph.D. and Integrated Ph.D. programs at TIFR, Mumbai and TIFR CAM, Bengaluru and Ph.D. at ICTS, Bengaluru, there has been a change in the exam pattern. The exam pattern is as follows:

1. Duration of the exam: 2 hours
2. Type of Questions: Objective type MCQ
3. There will be 20 true/false and 20 multiple-choice questions.

For Physics

1. Type of Questions: Objective type MCQ
2. Standard of the Questions: The questions will be based on the topics studied in the Undergraduate and Masters levels at an Indian University.
3. Marking Scheme: For every correct answer in Multiple-choice questions, 3 marks will be given. Whereas for the Numerical and Symbolic section, 5 marks will be given for the correct answer.
4. Negative Marking: There is a negative marking of 1 mark in MCQ section only.
5. Syllabus: Classical Mechanics; Mathematics relevant to Physics; Electricity and Magnetism; Quantum
   Mechanics; Heat, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics; General Physics; Modern Physics; Electronics and Experimental Physics.

For Chemistry

1. Type of Questions: Objective type MCQ
2. Number of Questions: 40
3. Duration of the exam: 3 hours
4. Marking Scheme: For each correct answer, 3 marks will be given.
5. Negative Marking: For every incorrect answer, 1 marks will be deducted.
6. Syllabus: The syllabus of the written exam is similar to the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree course standard syllabus followed in an Indian University. The candidates can prepare from the topics such as:

• Physical Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Analytical, electro and quantum chemistry
• Biophysics
• Thermodynamics
• Spectroscopy (NMR, fluorescence, IR, UV and X-ray), logic and statistics and mathematical method.

For Biology

1. Type of Questions: Objective type MCQ
2. Syllabus: The test will cover basics only in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. 

For Computer & Systems Sciences

The question paper will be divided into three parts. Part A will be common to both the streams, i.e, Computer Science and Systems Science. Part B will be oriented for the Computer Sciences, whereas, Part C will be oriented for the System Sciences.

1. Duration of the Exam: 3 hours
2. Type of Questions: MCQ
3. Negative Marking: There will be a negative marking of 1 mark for every incorect answer.

TIFT GS Syllabus

The syllabus for TIFR GS entrance exam consist of important topics which a candidate should study to prepare for the test. Candidates can check the syllabus for each subject from below.

TIFR GS 2020 Syllabus for Mathematics

1. Algebra: Definitions and examples of groups (finite and infinite, commutative and non-commutative), cyclic groups, subgroups, homomorphisms, quotients. Definitions and examples of rings and fields. Basic facts about vector spaces, matrices, determinants, ranks of linear transformations, characteristic and minimal polynomials, symmetric matrices. Integers and their basic properties. Inner products, positive definiteness
2. Analysis: Basic facts about real and complex numbers, convergence of sequences and series of real and complex numbers, continuity, differentiability and Riemann integration of real valued functions defined on an interval (finite or infinite), elementary functions (polynomial functions, rational functions, exponential and log, trigonometric functions), sequences and series of functions and their different types of convergence, oridinary differential equations.
3. Geometry/Topology: Elementary geometric properties of common shapes and figures in 2 and 3 dimensional Euclidean spaces (e.g. triangles, circles, discs, spheres, etc.). Plane analytic geometry (= coordinate geometry) and trigonometry. Definition and basic properties of metric spaces, examples of subset Euclidean spaces (of any dimension), connectedness, compactness. Convergence in metric spaces, continuity of functions between metric spaces..
4. General: Pigeon-hole principle (box principle), induction, elementary properties of divisibility, elementary
   combinatorics (permutations and combinations, binomial coefficients), elementary probability theory, elementary reasoning with graphs.

TIFR GS 2020 Syllabus for Physics

The questions in the written test (multiple-choice type) and Interview are distributed over the following areas:

• Classical Mechanics
• Mathematics relevant to Physics
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Quantum Mechanics
• Heat, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
• General Physics
• Modern Physics
• Electronics and Experimental Physics.

TIFR GS 2020 Syllabus for Chemistry

The syllabus for the Written test in Chemistry is similar to the typical standard syllabus followed in any Indian university for the BSc and MSc degree course. The questions are asked in the areas of physical, organic, inorganic, analytical, electro and quantum chemistry, biophysics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy (NMR, fluorescence, IR, UV and X-ray), logic and statistics and mathematical methods.

TIFR GS 2020 Syllabus for Computer & Systems Sciences

The topics under Computer Science are as follows:

1. Discrete Mathematics: Sets and Relations, Combinatorics (Counting) and Elementary Probability Theory, Graph Theory, Propositional and Predicate Logic.
2. Formal Languages, Automata Theory and Computability
3. Data Structures and Algorithms: Arrays, Lists and Trees, Sorting and Searching, Graph algorithms, Complexity of problems and NP-completeness.
4. Fundamentals of Programming Languages and Compilers: Control structures, Parameter passing mechanisms, Recursion, Parsing and type checking, Memory management.
5. Operating Systems and Concurrency
6. Switching Theory and Digital Circuits
7. Theory of Databases

The topics under System Science are as follows:

1. Engineering Mathematics: Complex Analysis, Linear Algebra, Elementary Numerical Analysis, Basic Optimization Theory and Algorithms, Introduction to Probability Theory and Statistics.
2. Electrical and Computer Sciences: Introduction to Signals and Linear Systems Analysis, Control Systems, Digital Signal Processing, Basic Circuit Theory, Introduction to Digital Communications, Digital Computer Fundamentals, Introduction to Computer Programming.

TIFR GS Admission Procedure

The admissions procedure (in all subjects, except Science Education) consists of a written test at one of the several nationwide centres, followed by interviews of the shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews to be held during end-February to early-April, 2020.

TIFR Admissions