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NEST 2026: One Examination, Two Distinguished Institutes, 261 Admission Opportunities
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 will take place on June 6, 2026, as a computer-based examination across 140+ testing centres in approximately 387 cities across India. Scored jointly by both 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, this test is the singular route to the 5-year Integrated MSc in the disciplines of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics at the two institutions.
NISER and UM-DAE CEBS were both established by India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 2007 as autonomous institutions. Their purpose is to train students to become scientists engaged in research from the very first year, through a combination of classroom instruction and laboratory exposure. For students aspiring to work in research and academic careers as well as in institutions like BARC, the NEST 2026 is the first important step in that direction. The official site for any updates is nestexam.in.
NEST Eligibility, Registration & Application Process
The registration window for NEST 2026 was from January 5 to April 8, 2026. The online registration portal is found at nestexam. in. To complete the registration, candidates must enter their name, contact information, and educational information. Candidates must choose three exam centre cities, in order of preference, and submit a signature and a photo. Finally, candidates must submit a non-refundable application fee. The application fee is Rs. 1,100 for male candidates and Rs. 700 for female candidates belonging to the General, OBC, and EWS categories. Candidates belonging to the SC and ST categories also receive a fee waiver and a reduced fee.
Students can qualify to take the NEST 2026 exam if they have completed their 12th-grade education from a recognised Indian Board in 2025 or are currently completing their education in 2026. Students must have a background in at least three of the core science subjects, including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. General and OBC category candidates must have 60% in 12th grade. Candidates from SC, ST or Divyangjan categories must have at least 55% in their 12th grade. The NEST 2026 exam has no upper age limit. The lower age limit for candidates is August 1, 2006.
Exam Structure, Syllabus, and Evaluation Criteria
NEST 2026 is a 3-hour-long exam that takes place on a computer during a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The exam consists of four sections, each focused on Biology, Chemistry, Math, or Physics. Each section is worth 60 points, and the total exam is worth 240 points. Each question is worth 3 points for a correct answer, while for each incorrect answer, 1 point is deducted. To qualify for a score, candidates must attempt at least 3 out of the 4 sections.
The merit list is composed of the 3 highest-scoring sections, meaning the section with the lowest score is automatically disregarded. The syllabus is based on the NCERT and CBSE science curricula for Classes 11 and 12. NISER conducted the NEST 2026 mock test on April 14, allowing registered candidates to interact with the actual test's user interface. For candidates with PWD status, the Government of India’s guidelines provide a compensatory 20 minutes per hour as additional time for the exam.
Admit Card, Result, and Aftermath
NEST 2026's approval card website, nestexam.in, opened to aspirants as of May 15, 2026. Candidates must now log in to the website using their registration number and password to download their hall ticket as a PDF. The admit card includes one's roll number, the exam centre address, the reporting time, and instructions for the exam. It is an essential document and should be taken to the exam centre along with a valid photo ID. NEST will not mail admit cards.
NEST 2026 results are expected on June 24, 2026, and scorecards will be posted on nestexam. in on June 25. It is expected that the provisional answer key will be posted by June 10. Candidates will have the opportunity to raise objections to the answer key via the official portal. Counselling for the National Institute of Science Education and Research, NISER, and the UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, UM-DAE CEBS, will be conducted separately from July to September 2026. NISER has 200 seats, and UM-DAE CEBS has 57 seats, with 2 supernumerary seats this year for candidates from the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Qualified students will also receive an annual scholarship of Rs. 60,000, which is provided through the DISHA programme of the Department of Atomic Energy.
Important Dates to Note:
Start of Registration: January 5, 2026
End of Registration: April 8, 2026 (date extended)
Mock Test Link Opens: April 14, 2026
Available: May 15, 2026
Examination: June 6, 2026 (from 2 PM to 5 PM)
Answer Keys (tentative): June 10, 2026
Results Announced: June 24, 2026
Scores Published: June 25, 2026
Counselling: July - September 2026 (tentative)
FAQ SECTION
1. What is NEST 2026?
NEST 2026 is the National Entrance Screening Test, which is conducted for admission to the five-year Integrated MSc programme in NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai, which offers a 5-year Integrated MSc course in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. This is the only admission test for admission in both of these institutes.
2. Will NEST 2026 have negative marking?
Yes, answering correctly fetches you three marks, whereas answering incorrectly leads to a deduction of one mark. If not attempted, a question fetches you zero marks. Hence, you are advised not to answer the questions randomly.
3. What is the total availability of the seats through NEST 2026?
The total number of available seats is 261. NISER Bhubaneswar offers 200 seats, and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai offers 57 seats, and this year, 2 additional supernumerary seats (total 59) have been allotted by UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai for students from J&K and Ladakh.
4. What does the NEST scholarship offer?
Students who are admitted to the NEST-qualified schools are given a scholarship of Rs. 60,000 each year under the DAE’s DISHA program.
5. Who can appear for NEST?
To be eligible to appear for the NEST, you must be a science student. However, you must have studied three of the four subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology at both school and plus two, that is, Class XI and Class XII.
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