NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Qualifications, Age, Nationality & Reservation Criteria

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 will tentatively be held in the third week of June 2026 for admission to the integrated MSc courses offered by NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS, Mumbai. To appear for the test, candidates must fill out the NEST 2026 application form at nestexam.in. Only those candidates who meet the NEST 2026 eligibility criteria should fill out the NEST 2026 application form to avoid cancellation of their candidature during the admission process.

As per last year’s NEST Information Brochure, Class 12 passed or appearing general category candidates with a minimum of 55% marks in the final exam will be eligible to apply for NEST. The minimum qualifying marks for SC/ST/PwD candidates for the same qualification are 55%. Check out the complete eligibility criteria in this article.

Note: NEST 2026 aspirants should note that the eligibility criteria mentioned in this article are based on the previous year’s information brochure. The details will be updated as per the NEST 2026 Information Brochure if there are any changes in the eligibility criteria.

NEST 2026 Courses

Through the NEST 2026 exam, candidates can get admission to the National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar (NISER Bhubaneswar), and the Department of Atomic Energy – Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai (University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS, Mumbai). These institutes offer admission to the following courses through the exam:

1. Integrated 5-year Master of Science in Biology

2. Integrated 5-year Master of Science in Physics

3. Integrated 5-year Master of Science in Chemistry

4. Integrated 5-year Master of Science in Mathematics

NEST 2026: Important Dates

If you are checking the NEST eligibility criteria 2026 and planning to apply for the exam, make sure to go through the following dates related to the exam.

NEST Eligibility Criteria 2026

To appear for NEST 2026, candidates must meet the qualification requirements specified by NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS. Check out the complete eligibility criteria below:

NEST 2026 Reservation Criteria

NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS have reserved specific percentages of seats for different categories in the Integrated MSc courses offered through NEST 2026. Check out the seat reservation percentages for each category in the following table:

NEST Reservation Criteria 2026: Important Points to Remember

To understand the seat reservation criteria for NEST 2026, candidates must consider the following points:

• Two supernumerary seats are reserved at both NISER and CEBS for eligible candidates from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, as per existing government regulations.

• Candidates not belonging to the non-creamy layer (NCL) are not eligible for reservation and must apply under the General category.

• The reservation criteria mentioned here are based on the previous year’s information and are therefore subject to change.

• Candidates belonging to the Divyangjan or Person with Disabilities (PwD) category will be eligible for reservation only if they have at least 40% disability.

• Candidates applying under the PwD category must submit a PwD certificate in Hindi or English.

NEST 2026 Seat Intake

NISER and UM-DAE CEBS release a category-wise seat intake list for admissions through the NEST exam. Candidates can check the seat intake details for NEST 2026 below:

NEST 2026 Application Process

After exploring the eligibility criteria for NEST 2026, candidates must know how to apply for the exam application form. They can refer to the following steps to fill out the NEST 2026 application form:

• 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 a credit/debit card.

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

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Conclusion

NEST 2026 is the pathway for students seeking admission to Integrated MSc programmes at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM–DAE CEBS. Candidates must ensure they meet the NEST 2026 eligibility criteria before filling out the NEST 2026 application form to avoid cancellation of their candidature. As per the eligibility criteria, candidates should have passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025. Candidates appearing for Class 12 in 2026 can also apply for the exam. These candidates will need to present their final marksheet at the time of counselling. The minimum qualifying marks in Class 12 are 60% and 45% for General and OBC categories and SC/ST/PwD categories, respectively.