Syllabus · TIFR GS PhysicsTIFR Physics Syllabus
The complete subject-wise and topic-wise TIFR Physics syllabus, mapped to the topics that actually appear in TIFR Graduate School question papers from 2013 through 2026. Use this as your master checklist alongside the PYQ PDFs and analytics.
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Subject-wise · topics ordered by weightage · with overall % share — from 745 actual TIFR Physics questions (2013–2026).
Classical Mechanics
- ▸Basic Mechanics & Newton's laws
- ▸Oscillations (SHM, damped, forced, coupled)
- ▸Rotational Motion & rigid body dynamics
- ▸Lagrangian & Hamiltonian formalism
- ▸Central forces, Kepler problem, gravitation
- ▸Special Theory of Relativity
- ▸Small oscillations & normal modes
- ▸Non-inertial frames
- ▸Fluid mechanics (basics)
Quantum Mechanics
- ▸Postulates of QM, wavefunctions, operators
- ▸1-D problems: potential well, barrier, harmonic oscillator
- ▸Angular momentum, spin, addition of angular momenta
- ▸Hydrogen atom, central potentials
- ▸Time-independent & time-dependent perturbation theory
- ▸Identical particles, symmetric/antisymmetric states
- ▸Scattering theory (basic)
Electromagnetism
- ▸Electrostatics — Gauss law, potentials, conductors, dielectrics
- ▸Magnetostatics — Biot–Savart, Ampere, magnetic materials
- ▸Time-varying fields, Maxwell's equations
- ▸Electromagnetic waves & polarization
- ▸Wave propagation in media, waveguides
- ▸Radiation from accelerated charges
- ▸Boundary value problems
Thermodynamics
- ▸Zeroth, first, second & third laws
- ▸Thermodynamic potentials & Maxwell relations
- ▸Phase transitions, Clausius–Clapeyron
- ▸Kinetic theory of gases
Statistical Mechanics
- ▸Microcanonical, canonical, grand canonical ensembles
- ▸Classical & quantum statistics — MB, BE, FD
- ▸Bose–Einstein condensation, photon gas, phonons
- ▸Fermi gas, white dwarfs, electron degeneracy
- ▸Partition functions & thermodynamic derivations
- ▸Fluctuations & response functions
Mathematical Physics
- ▸Vector calculus, curvilinear coordinates
- ▸Linear algebra, eigenvalue problems
- ▸Complex analysis, contour integration
- ▸ODEs & special functions (Legendre, Bessel, Hermite)
- ▸PDEs — wave, heat, Laplace
- ▸Fourier & Laplace transforms
- ▸Delta, Gamma, Beta functions and integrals
- ▸Group theory basics
- ▸Tensors & differential geometry (intro)
Electronics
- ▸Semiconductor physics
- ▸Diodes & rectifiers
- ▸BJT, FET, MOSFET amplifiers
- ▸Operational amplifiers — linear & non-linear circuits
- ▸Digital electronics — combinational & sequential
- ▸Oscillators & feedback
Solid State Physics
- ▸Crystal structure, reciprocal lattice, X-ray diffraction
- ▸Free electron theory & band theory
- ▸Semiconductors & p-n junctions
- ▸Phonons, specific heat models (Einstein, Debye)
- ▸Magnetism — dia, para, ferro
Nuclear and Particle Physics
- ▸Nuclear properties, binding energy, mass formula
- ▸Radioactivity — alpha, beta, gamma decay
- ▸Nuclear models — liquid drop, shell
- ▸Nuclear reactions, fission, fusion
- ▸Elementary particles, quarks, conservation laws
Atomic and Molecular Physics
- ▸Hydrogenic spectra, fine & hyperfine structure
- ▸Multi-electron atoms, LS & jj coupling
- ▸Zeeman & Stark effects
- ▸Molecular bonding & spectra
Optics
- ▸Geometrical optics
- ▸Interference (Young, thin films, Michelson)
- ▸Diffraction (Fraunhofer, Fresnel, gratings)
- ▸Polarization
- ▸Lasers (basics)
Experimental Physics
- ▸Error analysis & propagation
- ▸Data fitting & graphical analysis
- ▸Common lab techniques (oscilloscope, multimeter, lock-in)
- ▸Detector basics
Modern Physics
- ▸Photoelectric effect, Compton scattering
- ▸Wave-particle duality, de Broglie
- ▸Atomic models, Bohr atom
Where to focus first?
Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism and Mathematical Physics together contribute well over half of every TIFR Physics paper. Master these four first, then layer Statistical Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Electronics. See the analytics page for exact weightage.
