National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 Notification Released
Notification Date: 2025-12-20
Last Updated on: 2025-12-24
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is a compulsory online computer-based test for admission to the five-year Integrated MSc programme offered by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS).
NISER and UM-DAE CEBS are autonomous institutions established by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, in 2007.
These institutes were started with the mandate of providing research-oriented teaching in basic sciences by faculties of practising scientists aimed at creating a national pool of human resources to lead the nation to excellence in teaching and research in basic and applied sciences.
NEST 2026 will be conducted in around 140 cities across India.
Courses Offered:
Five years Msc Integrated Program (for both MPC & BIPC)
MSc Biology
MSc Physics
MSc Chemistry
MSc Mathematics
Seat Matrix:
Category
NISER
CEBS
General
101
23
General-EWS
0
06
OBC-NCL
54
15
SC
30
09
ST
15
04
Divyangjan
5% seats in each category
5% seats in each category
Total
200
57
J & K, Ladakh
02
02
Total proposed intake
202
59
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates must qualify all FOUR eligibility criteria listed below:
Candidates should have at least three out of the four disciplines of basic sciences, namely, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, in classes XI and XII.
Candidates should have passed the class XII examination from any recognised Board in India in the year 2024 or 2025 or should be appearing for the same in 2026. The (provisional) certificate declaring the aggregate should be from a single board. Candidates appearing for the board examination in 2026 must satisfy the eligibility criteria at the time of admission into the programme.
Candidates must secure at least 60% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in class XII examination. For candidates belonging to scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), and Divyangjan categories, the minimum requirement of marks is 55% in aggregate or equivalent grade in class XII examination.
Candidate should secure a rank in the NEST 2026 merit list.
There is no upper age limit for appearing in the NEST 2026 examination and admission to either NISER or UM-DAE CEBS provided all the above eligibility criteria are fulfilled.
There will be no negative
marking in the general section. Sections 2 through 5 are of 50 marks each and will contain
subject specific questions from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
It is in the
interest of the candidate to attempt all sections. As the merit list for both the institutes is
prepared with best 3 scores of the subject sections (in addition to the general section),
and section with the worst score is omitted. Thus attempting all sections will increase their
chances of a better total score
In the
subject sections, for certain questions there will be negative marking for incorrect answers.
Some questions may have one or more correct answers for which marks can only be
earned by marking all correct answers and no wrong answer
Important Dates:
Events
Dates
Online Application Opens
05 January 2026 (10 am)
Online Application Closes
06 April 2026 (11:30 pm)
Correction & Update window
13 April 2026 (10 am) Until 14 April (10 am)
Mock Test Opens
To be announced Link will appear here
Download of Admit Card
15 May 2026 (10 am)
Date of Examination
06 June 2026, Saturday (2 pm)
Challenge the Answer Keys
To be announced
Result Announcement
To be announced
Scorecard Download
To be announced Only for qualified candidates
For complete information about National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 Notification and for Register online, Visit https://www.nestexam.in/#about
MyRank can assist you in this Application Process.
If interested, Call us @
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is a compulsory online computer-based test for admission to the five-year Integrated MSc programme offered by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS).
NISER and UM-DAE CEBS are autonomous institutions established by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, in 2007.
These institutes were started with the mandate of providing research-oriented teaching in basic sciences by faculties of practising scientists aimed at creating a national pool of human resources to lead the nation to excellence in teaching and research in basic and applied sciences.
NEST 2026 will be conducted in around 140 cities across India.
Courses Offered:
Five years Msc Integrated Program (for both MPC & BIPC)
MSc Biology
MSc Physics
MSc Chemistry
MSc Mathematics
Seat Matrix:
Category
NISER
CEBS
General
101
23
General-EWS
0
06
OBC-NCL
54
15
SC
30
09
ST
15
04
Divyangjan
5% seats in each category
5% seats in each category
Total
200
57
J & K, Ladakh
02
02
Total proposed intake
202
59
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates must qualify all FOUR eligibility criteria listed below:
Candidates should have at least three out of the four disciplines of basic sciences, namely, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, in classes XI and XII.
Candidates should have passed the class XII examination from any recognised Board in India in the year 2024 or 2025 or should be appearing for the same in 2026. The (provisional) certificate declaring the aggregate should be from a single board. Candidates appearing for the board examination in 2026 must satisfy the eligibility criteria at the time of admission into the programme.
Candidates must secure at least 60% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in class XII examination. For candidates belonging to scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), and Divyangjan categories, the minimum requirement of marks is 55% in aggregate or equivalent grade in class XII examination.
Candidate should secure a rank in the NEST 2026 merit list.
There is no upper age limit for appearing in the NEST 2026 examination and admission to either NISER or UM-DAE CEBS provided all the above eligibility criteria are fulfilled.
There will be no negative
marking in the general section. Sections 2 through 5 are of 50 marks each and will contain
subject specific questions from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
It is in the
interest of the candidate to attempt all sections. As the merit list for both the institutes is
prepared with best 3 scores of the subject sections (in addition to the general section),
and section with the worst score is omitted. Thus attempting all sections will increase their
chances of a better total score
In the
subject sections, for certain questions there will be negative marking for incorrect answers.
Some questions may have one or more correct answers for which marks can only be
earned by marking all correct answers and no wrong answer
Important Dates:
Events
Dates
Online Application Opens
05 January 2026 (10 am)
Online Application Closes
06 April 2026 (11:30 pm)
Correction & Update window
13 April 2026 (10 am) Until 14 April (10 am)
Mock Test Opens
To be announced Link will appear here
Download of Admit Card
15 May 2026 (10 am)
Date of Examination
06 June 2026, Saturday (2 pm)
Challenge the Answer Keys
To be announced
Result Announcement
To be announced
Scorecard Download
To be announced Only for qualified candidates
For complete information about National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 Notification and for Register online, Visit https://www.nestexam.in/#about
MyRank can assist you in this Application Process.
If interested, Call us @
