NEST Exam 2026

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is a mandatory competitive examination for admission to the 5-year Integrated M.Sc. programme at NISER, Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai. Below are the key highlights for the 2026 session:

• Exam Level: National
• Conducting Body: NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai
• Frequency: Once a year
• Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Courses Offered: 5-year Integrated M.Sc. in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics
• Language: English

Candidates planning to appear for the exam should keep track of the following tentative schedule for 2026:

• Online Registration Starts: First week of April 2026
• Last Date to Apply: Last week of May 2026
• Admit Card Release: Mid-June 2026
• NEST 2026 Exam Date: Last week of June 2026
• Result Declaration: Second week of July 2026
• Counselling Commencement: Third week of July 2026

NEST is a specialized entrance examination conducted in India for students seeking a career in fundamental sciences. It serves as the gateway for admission into two of India's premier research-oriented institutes: the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. Both institutes were established with the goal of training scientific manpower for the Department of Atomic Energy.

The full form of NEST is the National Entrance Screening Test. It is specifically designed to evaluate the scientific aptitude and knowledge of students in core science subjects at the undergraduate level.

Since its inception, NEST has grown significantly in terms of candidate participation and competitiveness. Initially conducted as a paper-based test, it transitioned to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) to ensure transparency and efficiency. The exam has maintained a reputation for having a high difficulty level, often compared to JEE Advanced and KVPY, focusing heavily on conceptual understanding rather than rote learning.

To be eligible for NEST 2026, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:

• Educational Qualification: Must have passed the Class 12 (10+2) examination or equivalent in 2024 or 2025. Those appearing for the board exams in 2026 are also eligible.
• Subject Requirement: Candidates must be from the Science stream with at least three subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
• Minimum Marks: At least 60% aggregate marks (or equivalent grade) in Class 12 for General and OBC candidates; 55% for SC/ST/Divyangjan candidates.
• Age Limit: General and OBC candidates must be born on or after August 1, 2006 (with a 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates).

The application process for NEST 2026 is entirely online. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official portal at nestexam.in.
2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number to generate login credentials.
3. Fill out the application form with personal, academic, and contact details.
4. Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
5. Pay the application fee (approx. ₹1,400 for General/OBC Males and ₹700 for Females/SC/ST/PwD) via online payment modes.
6. Submit and print the confirmation page for future reference.

The NEST examination covers four major science subjects. While candidates can attempt all four, the merit list is typically prepared based on the best three scores out of the four sections:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Mathematics

The NEST 2026 syllabus is primarily aligned with the NCERT curriculum for Class 11 and Class 12. It includes:

• Biology: Cell Biology, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Plant and Animal Physiology.
• Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Thermodynamics, Chemical Bonding, Organic Chemistry, Biomolecules.
• Physics: Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics, Thermal Physics.
• Mathematics: Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Vectors, Probability, and Analytical Geometry.

The exam pattern for NEST 2026 is designed to test deep analytical skills:

• Mode: Online (CBT)
• Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Sections: 4 sections (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology) of 50 marks each.
• Total Marks: 200 (Merit calculated out of 150 based on best 3 sections).
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Multiple Select Questions (MSQ).
• Negative Marking: Generally applies to MCQ sections but not to MSQ sections.

Admission to NISER and CEBS involves the following stages:

1. Registration and appearing for the NEST entrance exam.
2. Declaration of results and a merit list based on SMAS (Section-wise Minimum Admissibility Score) and MAP (Minimum Admissibility Percentile).
3. Online expression of interest for counselling.
4. In-person or online counselling rounds for document verification and seat allotment.

There are two prestigious participating institutes under NEST:

• NISER (National Institute of Science Education and Research), Bhubaneswar: An autonomous institute under DAE, Government of India.
• UM-DAE CEBS (University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences), Mumbai: Established by DAE in collaboration with the University of Mumbai.

The results for NEST 2026 will be published on the official website. The scorecard will display the percentile score for each section and the overall percentile. To be included in the merit list, candidates must score above the SMAS in at least three sections and meet the overall MAP criteria.

After the results are announced, successful candidates are eligible for the DISHA scholarship provided by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. This scholarship currently amounts to ₹60,000 per annum, plus an additional ₹20,000 per annum for summer internships. Graduates often pursue PhDs at top-tier international and national universities or join research wings of the DAE.

Counselling for NEST 2026 will be conducted separately by NISER and CEBS but follows a similar pattern:

• Candidates must register their interest on the portal after results are declared.
• Admission is strictly based on the merit rank.
• Selected candidates must present original documents (10th/12th mark sheets, Caste certificate, etc.) for verification.
• Payment of admission fees confirms the seat.

The NEST cut-off consists of two parts:

• SMAS: The minimum score required in each subject section (usually 20% of the average of the top 100 scores in that section).
• MAP: The overall percentile required to qualify for the merit list (usually 95 percentile for General, 90 for OBC, and 75 for SC/ST).

Note: NEST is conducted by NISER and CEBS, not NTA. For official queries, contact:

NISER Bhubaneswar:
Email: nest-exam@niser.ac.in
Website: www.niser.ac.in

UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai:
Email: info@cbs.ac.in
Website: www.cbs.ac.in