NEST 2026 Cut Off: Marks vs Rank, Category Wise Cut-offs

NEST 2026 Cut Off: Are you a student who wants to study at top-tier research institutes in India and aspire to build a strong foundation in science and innovation? For thousands of aspirants, NEST 2026 is not just about appearing for the exam, scoring high marks, or securing admission—it is a decisive step toward building a successful career at premier institutes such as NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai.

Merely qualifying for the examination is not sufficient unless candidates meet the NEST 2026 cut-off. The cut-off acts as the fine line between applying to and securing admission at NISER or UM-DAE CEBS. Given the highly competitive nature of the exam, candidates must clearly understand the NEST 2026 cut-off trends and marks vs rank analysis well in advance to plan their preparation effectively.

The NEST 2026 notification has already been released, and the exam is scheduled to be held on June 6, 2026, in online (CBT) mode. The test will assess candidates’ conceptual understanding in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.

With only a few months left for the exam, the SciAstra team has curated and formulated the expected NEST 2026 cut-off and marks vs rank data. The data presented in this article is based on candidates’ response forms and marks submitted to the SciAstra team.

Read this SciAstra blog to gain complete insights into the NEST 2026 expected cut-off, marks vs rank, category-wise cut-offs, good scores, and other key details.

Latest Updates:

• NEST 2026 Registration Begins @nestexam.in; Know Eligibility, Fees and Steps to Apply

NEST 2026 SMAS and MAP Marks

In order to secure admission after appearing for the NEST 2026 exam, candidates must first satisfy the SMAS and MAP criteria. Only those candidates who meet these requirements will be eligible to participate in the NEST 2026 counselling registration process. Based on the number of registrations received and the availability of seats, the NEST 2026 cut-off marks will be determined. Check out the complete details here:

Section-Wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS) for NEST

Candidates must score a minimum of marks in each section of NEST 2026 as decided by the exam authorities. These section-wise minimum marks are called the Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS).

For example, if the average of the top 100 scores in the Chemistry section is 48 out of 60, the SMAS for Chemistry will be 9.6 marks (48 × 0.20).

For each section, the Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score can be different.

Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) for NEST

In addition to SMAS, candidates are required to score equal to or above the Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP). This refers to the specific category-wise percentile that candidates must achieve in order to hold a place in the NEST merit list. MAP is also known as the NEST overall cut-off. Check out the category-wise MAP below.

Factors Determining NEST Cut-Off 2026

Here are the key factors on which the NEST Cut Off 2026 will depend:

• Number of Applicants:
  The NEST 2026 cutoff will vary significantly based on the number of applicants. There are two types of applicants: those who appeared for NEST 2026 and those who applied for NEST 2026 counselling. If the number of applicants for a particular course is higher during counselling, the NEST 2026 cutoff will likely increase.

• NEST 2026 Exam Difficulty Level:
  The overall difficulty level of the exam plays an important role. If the exam is found to be difficult, the NEST 2026 cutoff will likely be lower compared to previous years.

• Seat Availability:
  This factor largely depends on the popularity of the course. If the number of seats available is low and the course is highly popular, the NEST 2026 cutoff will be high.

• Popularity of the Course:
  If a particular degree is widely preferred and more candidates apply for it, the NEST 2026 cutoff is expected to be comparatively higher.

Also Read: NEST Previous Year Question Papers

NEST 2026 Cut Off (Expected)

NEST 2026 cut off stipulates the minimum marks candidates are required to score in order to qualify for the admissions process in the participating institutes (NISER/UM DAE-CEBS). Before appearing for the exam, candidates must check out the expected NEST cut off so that must know the minimum marks that they must achieve in the NEST exam.

NEST 2026 Marks vs Ranks

The NEST 2026 Marks vs Rank (Category Wise) analysis helps candidates understand how many marks are required to achieve a particular rank in their respective category and vice versa. This analysis is especially useful when candidates are aware of the number of seats available in a specific institute, as it allows them to assess their chances of selection by comparing their scores and ranks with the given data.

Generally, higher marks lead to better ranks, improving the chances of securing admission to institutes like NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. This comparison also assists aspirants in setting realistic score targets based on their category and expected cut-offs.

Check out the category-wise NEST 2026 marks vs ranks list from here:

NEST 2026 Marks vs Ranks: General Category

Check out the NEST 2026 marks vs ranks for the general category from here:

NEST 2026 Marks vs Ranks: OBC Category

Check out the NEST 2026 marks vs ranks for the OBC category from here:

NEST 2026 Marks vs Ranks: SC Category

Check out the NEST 2026 marks vs ranks for the SC category from here:

NEST 2026 Marks vs Ranks: ST Category

Check out the NEST 2026 marks vs ranks for the ST category from here:

NEST 2026 Marks vs Ranks: JK

Check out the NEST 2026 marks vs ranks for Jammu and Kashmir applicants from here:

SciAstra NEST 2026 Mock Test Series Launched

SciAstra is providing the NEST 2026 mock test to help the candidates with their exam preparation to get admissions in the top-most participating institutes.

Candidates will be getting the NCET 2026 PCMB mock test to enhance their exam preparation:

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