Studying at IISER: Cracking IAT 2026, career prospects

For many students interested in pursuing careers in science, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are one of their top priorities for admission. IISERs are now calling for applications for IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026, the exclusive and mandatory gateway for admission to undergraduate programmes for the academic year 2026–27.

IISER has in recent years adopted one common entrance examination rather than relying on numerous different routes. In the past, students could use pathways such as the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) fellowship, or Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE-A) for IISER admissions.

Register now for free to ask questions and interact with the panellists. The three best questions will receive a free online subscription to The Hindu.

When parents and students consider applying for IAT, there are a lot of questions about how to apply, eligibility criteria, how to prepare, and an intent to understand what studying at an IISER will be like.

This also brings questions to the forefront about why institutions rely on certain national exams, what dedicated entrance tests seek to assess, and how these changes affect students. The Hindu will host a webinar titled, ‘Studying at IISER: Cracking IAT 2026, career prospects’, on March 21, at 5:00 p.m. The panellists include: Prof. Ashok Kumar Ganguli, Director, IISER, Berhampur; Prof. TV Venkateswaran, Visiting Professor, IISER Mohali; and Arnav Ashish Tagare, Student, IISER, Berhampur.

Register now for free to ask questions and interact with the panellists. The three best questions will receive a free online subscription to The Hindu.

Panellists

Prof. Ashok Kumar Ganguli, Director, IISER, Berhampur

Professor Ashok Kumar Ganguli is the Director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur, Odisha, India. Professor Ganguli was holding the Prof N.K. Jha Chair in the Dept. of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi and was earlier Institute Chair Professor (2019-21). He was also a Joint Professor in the Dept. of Materials Science & Engg and Deputy Director (Strategy & Planning) at IIT Delhi. He is the founding Director of the Institute of Nano Science and Technology in Mohali (Jan 2013- Jan 2018). He is the Fellow of Indian National Science Academy and also Honorary Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore.

Prof. TV Venkateswaran, Visiting Professor, IISER Mohali

TV Venkateswaran is a Visiting Professor at IISER Mohali. He received a Ph.D. from Tamil University, Thanjavur in 2002 for research on popular perceptions of science in colonial Tamil Nadu (1820–1920). He has worked at Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi from 2002 to 2023, and earlier at the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology, Thiruvananthapuram from 1996 to 2002. His work includes studies on the history of science, science and society, science education, public communication of science and technology, and more.

Arnav Ashish Tagare, Student, IISER, Berhampur

Arnav Ashish Tagare is a student at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur, where he is currently pursuing a 5-year BS-MS (Integrated Master’s) degree. He had appeared for the IISER aptitude test in 2022, through which he secured an admission. Currently in fourth year, his primary research interests lie in the subfields of Chemical Biology and Bioorganic Chemistry—rapidly advancing areas with important applications in medicine, therapeutics, and the diagnosis of various disorders. He aims to pursue a Ph.D. in this field and contribute to expanding the current knowledge and frontiers of the discipline.

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