Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (TIFR) Math Written Exam Experience

I was a student of the Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University enrolled in the program of Bachelor of Sciences (Math Majors) 2020-23 session. I was also an INSPIRE(https://www.online-inspire.gov.in/) scholar under the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. I wanted to go for higher studies in mathematics, but since the condition of central universities for higher education in pure science is deplorable (even in the topmost ones, my case, for instance) I appeared for the TIFR GS 2023 exam in mathematics.

The Tata Institute for Fundamental Research (TIFR) is one of the premier institutes for Education and Research in Sciences. Over the years, it has produced some of the brightest minds in India. Many top researchers and scientists have had their connections with TIFR as graduate students, guest/visiting faculties, or post-doctoral researchers.

The TIFR GS Exam for mathematics has the same question paper for PhD. and integrated PhD, although the cutoff is different. As a bachelor’s student, I filled out the form for an integrated PhD in mathematics. The forms are generally out in the month of October and exams are held in the first week of December. There are mainly two centers that offer integrated Ph.D. and Ph.D. in math, one is TIFR Mumbai (the main center), and the other is TIFR CAM. The syllabus mainly focuses on analysis, algebra, and some misc. topics such as number theory. Ideally, a student appearing for this exam should have studied and solved exercises from Baby Rudin (first 9 chapters) and studied algebra from Herstein or Hungerford. If one has spent enough quality time with these books, he or she can sail through the written exams as well as interviews. In my case, I did not have enough exposure to the foreign author’s book. In my class, mainly low-standard Indian author books are followed (why call them low standard, you will understand after you have read both the Indian author books and books that are followed worldwide). Also, I would like to add that there is no solid preparation for clearing such exams as there are personal interviews/ descriptive questions around after clearing the GS Exam. The only thing that will help clear this exam is your burning desire/love for mathematics.

My exam was scheduled for the evening shift somewhere in Varanasi (I don’t remember). I along with some of my friends went to give the exam. The exam paper was pretty tough given our preparation. One key takeaway is that in such exams not all questions are meant to be answered, some are even research level problems, sit for three hours and try to focus all that you know. Questions are difficult, but the cut off also goes very low. I remember I managed to score 29/80. You can find the GS 2023 mathematics question paper here for your reference

The results were out on 14th of February 2023, two days after the IIT JAM exam. Me and one of my friends got a interview call from TIFR CAM. We were elated, accordingly our professors in BHU came to know about us and congratulated us. We then became busy in collecting recommendation letters and getting train tickets to Bangalore for our life’s first big interview.