The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2027 will be conducted for admission to the five-year Integrated MSc programmes offered by NISER Bhubaneswar and CEBS Mumbai. The NEST 2026 application process for the exam is expected to begin in the first week of January 2027 on the official NEST website, nestexam.in.

The NEST 2027 exam will tentatively be conducted in the first week of June 2027 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode at designated test centres across India.

If you are planning to appear for NEST 2027, this SciAstra blog provides all the important information about the examination, including the application process, important dates, exam pattern, syllabus, eligibility criteria, and other key details.

What is the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)?

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is a national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to five-year integrated programmes in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology offered at two 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), both of which function under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India.

About NISER Bhubaneswar

NISER, located near Bhubaneswar in Odisha, is an off-campus centre of the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), a deemed-to-be university established by DAE. Academic programmes of NISER are affiliated with HBNI. This institute was established in 2007.

About UM–DAE CEBS, Mumbai

UM-DAE CEBS, located on the Vidyanagari campus of the University of Mumbai (UM), was established jointly by DAE and UM in 2007. Academic programmes of CEBS are affiliated with the University of Mumbai.

NEST 2027: Highlights

Candidates preparing for the NEST 2027 examination must be familiar with all the important details related to the exam and plan their preparation strategy accordingly. Check out the key highlights of the NEST 2027 exam below:

NEST 2026 Highlights

Features

Details

Exam Name

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)

Exam Conducting Body

  • National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar

  • University of Mumbai – The Department of Atomic Energy, Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai

Exam Level

Undergraduate Level

Courses Offered

  • 5-year MSc in Physics

  • 5-year MSc in Chemistry

  • 5-year MSc in Biology

  • 5-year MSc in Mathematics

Exam Mode

Online (Computer-Based Test)

Exam Frequency

Once a year

Registration Fee

  • Female candidates (all categories) – INR 700

  • SC//ST/PwD candidates – INR 700

  • Male candidates (UR/UB category) – INR 1,400

Note: The registration fees are subject to change.

Type of Question

Multiple-Choice Question (80 questions)

Marking Scheme

+3 marks for each correct answer

-1 mark for each incorrect answer

Official Website

https://www.nestexam.in/

NEST 2027 Notification

The NEST 2027 notification will be an official document containing all the information about the exam. It will tentatively be published in the first week of February 2027 on the official NEST exam website – nestexam.in.

The notification will contain the following details:

NEST 2027 Mentioned Details

  • Exam conducting body (NISER Bhubaneswar)

  • Name of the examination (NEST 2027)

  • Exam dates and schedule (tentative/final)

  • Application form release date and last date to apply

  • Application correction window details

  • Exam mode (Computer-Based Test – CBT)

  • Available test paper languages

  • Number of test papers/domains offered

  • Exam pattern and marking scheme

  • NEST syllabus

  • Eligibility criteria (age, educational qualifications, subject requirements)

  • Reservation policy and guidelines

  • Step-by-step application process

  • Exam fee details and payment methods

  • Admit card release date and download instructions

  • Guidelines for exam day (what to carry, reporting time, prohibited items)

  • Result declaration date and scorecard details

  • Counselling/admission process information

NEST 2027 Dates

The official dates for NEST 2027 will be announced along with the NEST 2027 notification on the official website, nestexam.in. Based on the previous year's schedule, candidates can check the tentative NEST 2027 dates below.

NEST 2027 Exam Schedule

Events

Dates (Tentative)

NEST 2027 Notification

First Week of February 2027

NEST 2027 Registration Starts

First Week of February 2027

NEST 2027 Last Date for Registration

Second Week of May 2027

NEST 2027 Last Date to Submit Fee

Second Week of May 2027

NEST 2027 Application Correction Window

Third Week of May 2027

NEST 2027 Mock Test Opens

Third Week of May 2027

NEST 2027 Admit Card

Fourth Week of June 2027

NEST 2027 Exam

First Week of June 2027

NEST 2027 Provisional Answer Key

Second Week of June 2027

NEST 2027 Provisional Answer Objection Window

Third Week of June 2027

NEST 2027 Final Answer Key

First Week of July 2027

NEST 2027 Result

Fourth Week of July 2027

NEST UG 2027 Counselling Begins

Third Week of July 2027

NEST 2027 Eligibility Criteria

NISER Bhubaneswar and CEBS Mumbai have prescribed specific eligibility criteria for admission to their five-year Integrated MSc programmes through NEST 2027. Only candidates who fulfil these requirements will be eligible to apply for the examination. Check out the NEST 2027 eligibility criteria below.

NEST 2027 Eligibility

Qualification

  • Class 12 pass in Science stream from a recognised state or central board in 2025 or 2026

  • Candidates who are going to appear for the Class 12 final exam in 2027 can also apply for the exam. They need their final scorecard at the time of admission.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

  • 60% marks in Class 12 board exam for general and OBC candidates

  • 55% marks in Class 12 for SC/ST/PwD candidates

Age Limit

  • No age limit

Citizenship

Indian

NEST 2027 Application Form

The NEST 2027 application process will be conducted entirely online through the official NEST website. The NEST 2027 application form is expected to be released in the first week of February 2027.

Candidates will be able to submit the application form until the last date for registration, which is tentatively expected to fall in the second week of May 2027. To fill out the NEST 2027 application form, follow the steps given below:

  • Visit nestexam.in.

  • Click on the “Registration” option.

  • Enter your email address and mobile number.

  • Generate a password and save details.

  • Log in again and enter your personal and educational details and address for communication.

  • Upload your passport-size photo and a scanned copy of your signature.

  • Pay the application fee online using Net Banking, UPI or credit/debit card.

  • Submit the application and download its copy as a PDF.

NEST 2027 Pattern

The NEST exam pattern outlines the structure and format of the examination. It includes important details such as the type and number of questions, exam mode, duration, medium of the examination, and marking scheme. Candidates can refer to the overview of the NEST 2027 exam pattern provided below.

NEST 2027 Exam Pattern Overview

Exam Medium (Language)

English and Hindi

Exam Medium

Computer-Based Test Mode (CBT) / Online

Exam Duration

3 hours

Total Number of Questions

80 multiple choice-based questions

Sections

  • Physics (20 questions, 60 marks)

  • Chemistry (20 questions, 60 marks)

  • Biology (20 questions, 60 marks)

  • Mathematics (20 questions, 60 marks)

Check out the details related to NEST 2027 exam sections:

NEST 2027 Exam Sections

Section

No. of Questions

Total Marks

Physics

20 questions

60 marks

Chemistry

20 questions

60 marks

Biology

20 questions

60 marks

Mathematics

20 questions

60 marks

Total

80 questions

240 marks

Note: The NEST 2027 merit list for NISER, Bhubaneswar, and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai, will be prepared using the best three scores out of the four sections, and the section with the lowest score will not be considered.

NEST Marking Scheme 2027

Refer to the following details related to the marking scheme for NEST 2027:

  • 1 correct attempt = +3 marks

  • 1 wrong attempt = -1 mark

NEST 2027 Syllabus

The NEST 2027 syllabus is expected to be based on the NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 curricula for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Detailed information regarding the syllabus will be released along with the official NEST 2027 notification.

NEST 2027 Admit Card

The NEST admit card is a mandatory document that candidates must carry to the examination centre for identity verification and entry into the exam hall. The NEST 2027 admit card is tentatively expected to be released in the fourth week of June 2027 on the official NEST website.

Use the following steps to download the admit card:

  • Go to the official NEST website — nestexam.in.

  • Click on the “Login” option.

  • Enter your login details: Username/Application Number and Password.

  • Your admit card will appear on the screen.

  • Click on the download option to save the admit card as a PDF.

NEST 2027 Result

The NEST 2027 result will be announced in the fourth week of July 2026 (tentative) on the official website — nestexam.in. Candidates can download their scorecards by logging into their login accounts using their application number/email ID and password.

The exam consists of four sections, but while preparing the NEST 2027 merit list, only the marks from the top three scoring sections will be considered. Additionally, section-wise cut-offs will also be applied.