ISI MSQMS Syllabus 2026: Detailed Topic Analysis

ISI MSQMS 2026 Entrance Exam Overview

The Indian Statistical Institute's Master of Science in Quantitative Economics (MSQMS) is one of India's most prestigious programs. The entrance exam tests mathematical aptitude, economics fundamentals, and analytical skills.

Paper Structure

The exam consists of two papers:

• Paper 1 (PEA): Mathematics and Statistics
• Paper 2 (PEB): Economics and Analytical Ability

Mathematics Section (Paper 1)

Calculus

• Functions of one variable: limits, continuity, differentiation
• Mean value theorems and Taylor expansion
• Integration techniques and applications
• Functions of several variables
• Constrained and unconstrained optimization

Linear Algebra

• Systems of linear equations
• Matrix operations and properties
• Determinants
• Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
• Quadratic forms

Probability and Statistics

• Elementary probability theory
• Standard distributions
• Expectation and variance
• Sampling distributions
• Basic hypothesis testing

Economics Section (Paper 2)

Microeconomics

• Consumer theory and demand
• Producer theory and supply
• Market structures
• Game theory basics
• General equilibrium

Macroeconomics

• National income accounting
• IS-LM model
• Money and banking
• Inflation and unemployment
• Growth models

Important Topics by Weightage

Topic	Weightage	Difficulty
Calculus and Optimization	25%	High
Probability	20%	Medium-High
Linear Algebra	15%	Medium
Microeconomics	25%	Medium
Macroeconomics	15%	Medium