NEST 2026

National Entrance Screening Test

The NEST is a prestigious national-level entrance examination for students who are passionate about pure sciences and research. It is the sole gateway for admission to the 5-year Integrated M.Sc. program at two of India's premier scientific institutions.

📅 2026 Important Timeline

  • Registration Period: 05 January – 06 April 2026

  • Correction Window: 13 April – 14 April 2026

  • Admit Card Release: 15 May 2026

  • Examination Date: 06 June 2026

  • Result Declaration: 25 June 2026

🎓 Participating Institutes & Seats

  • NISER Bhubaneswar (National Institute of Science Education and Research): 200 seats (+2 for J&K/Ladakh).

  • UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai (University of Mumbai - Dept. of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences): 57 seats (+2 for J&K/Ladakh).

Note: Students admitted to these programs are eligible for a ₹60,000 annual scholarship (DISHA) plus ₹20,000 for summer internships.

📝 Eligibility Criteria

  • Academic: Passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or appearing in 2026.

  • Subjects: Must have studied at least three of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics.

  • Minimum Marks: At least 60% aggregate in Class 12 (55% for SC/ST/PwD).

  • Age Limit: No age limit for the 2026 session.

🧪 Exam Pattern (CBT Mode)

The exam is a 3-hour Computer-Based Test. It is unique because it rewards versatility while allowing specialization.

  • Total Questions: 80 (20 questions per subject section).

  • Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.

  • Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answers; -1 for incorrect answers. (Some questions may be multi-correct).

  • Total Marks: 240.

  • Merit Ranking: The best three subject scores out of the four are considered for the final merit list. The fourth (lowest) score is discarded.

💰 Application Fee

  • General / OBC (Male): ₹1,400

  • SC / ST / PwD / All Female Candidates: ₹700

  • EWS: ₹700 (varies slightly by institute rules, check portal)

📂 Syllabus Focus

The syllabus is primarily based on the NCERT curriculum for Class 11 and 12. Unlike JEE or NEET, NEST questions are highly analytical and research-oriented, testing your conceptual depth rather than just speed or rote memorization.

🔗 Official Links

  • Official Portal: nestexam.in

  • Helpdesk: 0674-2494017 | nest-exam@niser.ac.in

Pro-Tip for 2026: Since the merit list uses the "Best of 3" subjects, you should still prepare all four if possible. This gives you a "safety net"—if one subject paper turns out to be exceptionally difficult on the day of the exam, it won't ruin your overall rank as it will be the one discarded!