  We present sub-arcsecond (FWHM ~ 0".7), NIR JHKs-band images and a high
sensitivity radio continuum image at 1280 MHz, using SIRIUS on UH 88-inch
telescope and GMRT. The NIR survey covers an area of ~ 24 arcmin^2 with
10-sigma limiting mags of ~ 19.5, 18.4, and 17.3 in J, H, and Ks-band,
respectively. Our NIR images are deeper than any JHK surveys to date for the
larger area of NGC 7538 star forming region. We construct JHK CC and J-H/J and
H-K/K CM diagrams to identify YSOs and to estimate their masses. Based on these
CC and CM diagrams, we identified a rich population of YSOs (Class I and Class
II), associated with the NGC 7538 region. A large number of red sources (H-K >
2) have also been detected around NGC 7538. We argue that these red stars are
most probably PMS stars with intrinsic color excesses. Most of YSOs in NGC 7538
are arranged from the N-W toward S-E regions, forming a sequence in age: the
diffuse H II region (N-W, oldest: where most of the Class II and Class I
sources are detected); the compact IR core (center); and the regions with the
extensive IR reflection nebula and a cluster of red young stars (S-E and S). We
find that the slope of the KLF of NGC 7538 is lower than the typical values
reported for the young embedded clusters, although equally low values have also
been reported in the W3 Main star forming region. From the slope of the KLF and
the analysis by Megeath et al. (1996), we infer that the embedded stellar
population is comprised of YSOs with an age of ~ 1 Myr. Based on the comparison
between models of PMS stars with the observed CM diagram we find that the
stellar population in NGC 7538 is primarily composed of low mass PMS stars
similar to those observed in the W3 Main star forming region.
