Mistakes to Avoid While Filling Out NEST 2026 Application Form

Mistakes to Avoid While Filling Out NEST 2026 Application Form: The NEST 2026 exam will be held on May 6, 2026, at designated test centres across India. NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai - DAE CEBS accept NEST 2026 scores for admission to the 5-year MSc programmes in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.

Aspirants aiming for admission to one of these MSc programmes offered at NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai - DAE CEBS must fill out the NEST 2026 application form carefully.

If they make mistakes while filling out the form, their candidature for admission to NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai - DAE CEBS will be rejected. Therefore, they must avoid all errors during the NEST application process.

This SciAstra article lists and explains the common mistakes that must be avoided while filling out the NEST 2026 application form. So, read on!

NEST 2026 Application Process: Overview

The NEST 2026 application form was released on January 5, 2026, at nestexam.in. The last date to fill out the form is April 6, 2026. The form is only available online on the official NEST exam website. The exam authority instructs candidates to fill it out by visiting the official website only.

To fill out the NEST 2026 application form, candidates must follow these steps:

1. Go to the official NEST exam website – nestexam.in.

2. Register for the exam by clicking on the “New Registration” option. After this, you will receive login credentials via email and SMS.

3. Log in by clicking on the “LOGIN” option and fill out the application form.

4. Pay the application fee.

The NEST 2026 application fees are mentioned below:

Mistakes to Avoid While Filling Out NEST 2026 Application Form

The mistakes that candidates must avoid white filling out the NEST 2026 application form are the following:

1. Wrong Personal Details

While filling out the NEST application form, many candidates enter incorrect personal details, including their name, parents’ names, contact details, and other information. These mistakes must be avoided while filling out the NEST 2026 application form.

Fill out the details in the form exactly as they appear on your Aadhaar Card and the educational certificates of your Class 11 and Class 12. If any details on your Aadhaar Card are incorrect, get them corrected first and then fill out the NEST 2026 application form.

2. Filling Out Multiple NEST Forms

Many students fill out the NEST application form more than once. This may lead to the rejection of the application, so they need to fill out the NEST 2026 application form only once.

They must ensure not to enter wrong details. Even if they enter wrong details, some specific information can be corrected during the NEST 2026 application correction window from April 13, 2026 (10 AM) to April 14, 2026 (10 AM) at nestexam.in.

The following particulars can be corrected during the NEST 2026 application correction window:

3. Leaving NEST Application Incomplete

Sometimes, candidates leave the NEST 2026 application incomplete. As per the official NEST 2026 brochure, candidates must not leave their NEST 2026 application form incomplete. Such a scenario will lead to the rejection of the application.

4. Incorrect Email ID and Mobile Number

The exam authority will use the email address and mobile number that candidates enter at the time of registration from the NEST 2026 application process to the NEST 2026 counselling for the purpose of communication.

Therefore, the NEST exam authority instructs candidates to use a valid email ID and mobile number at the time of NEST 2026 registration. They must enter these details correctly.

They must not use the number and email address of others, such as a friend, relative, or acquaintance.

5. Incorrect Email ID and Mobile Number for Correspondence

In case candidates do not receive updates or information from the NEST exam authority, they can check the correspondence email address and mobile number. All the important details are also shared on the correspondence email ID and mobile number. Considering this, the exam authority highly recommends candidates enter the email address and mobile number for correspondence correctly.

Also Read: 

NEST Past 10 Years Question Paper

NEST Mock Test

6. Uploading Unclear Documents

All aspirants who wish to apply for NEST 2026 must note that they must not upload blurred or unclear passport-size photos and signatures, as this can cause difficulty in confirming the candidate’s identity.

The passport-size photo should be coloured with a solid background. It is recommended to upload a picture that is not more than 3 months old. Do not upload a photo in which you are wearing heavy jewellery or accessories, including earphones, headphones, sunglasses, etc.

For the signature, sign on plain white paper with blue or black ink. Click a clear picture of this signature or scan and save it using a document scanning application.

7. Incorrect Size of Photo & Signature Files

As per the NEST 2026 official guidelines, candidates must upload their passport-size photo and the scanned copy of their signature in the correct format and size. Check out the format and size for these documents below:

Also Read:

Documents Required to Fill Out NEST 2026 Application Form

8. Wrong or Manipulated Educational Details

Candidates must not manipulate their educational details, such as passing year or marks (percentage/CGPA) for Class 10 and Class 12. These details must be entered exactly as they appear in official documents.

Do not round off your percentage while filling out the form. For example, if your Class 12 percentage is 92.8%, do not enter it as 93%; enter your actual percentage without any changes.

9. Not Proofreading the Form

The most common mistake that candidates make while applying for NEST is not reviewing or proofreading all the details in their application. If they do so, they might overlook typing errors, spelling mistakes, and other incorrect entries. Therefore, before submitting the NEST 2026 form, it is recommended that all candidates carefully review all the details.

10. Asking Someone Else to Fill the Form

Do not ask someone else, such as a friend, relative, or cyber café staff, to fill out your NEST 2026 application form. They may not know your details correctly and could end up entering incorrect information.

NEST Exam 2026 Test Series Launched

The SciaAstra team has recently launched a FOCUS test series, which will emphasise Full Online Controlled Understanding and Simulation, helping candidates experience the real-time environment of the NEST 2026.

The NEST 2026 FOCUS mock test is designed based on the official exam pattern, and the difficulty level is determined through an in-depth analysis of previous years’ question papers. Candidates will get Unit-wise, Half-length, and Full-length test series, covering all chapters to assess their domain understanding, cognitive skills, and analytical abilities as per the NEST 2026 syllabus.

Attempt the NEST Exam 2026 Test Series to check your exam preparation level to get admissions to the participating institutes here:

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Conclusion

Filling out the NEST 2026 application form is a crucial step for aspirants seeking admission to the prestigious 5-year MSc programmes at NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS. Even small mistakes in personal details, contact information, educational records, or document uploads can lead to the rejection of the application. Therefore, candidates must carefully read the official guidelines, enter all details exactly as per their documents, upload clear files in the prescribed format, and review the form thoroughly before final submission.