The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 will be conducted on June 6, 2026 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Through this test, candidates can secure admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc programme in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics at NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS, Mumbai.
Candidates who fill out the NEST 2026 application/registration form can appear for the exam if they meet the NEST 2026 eligibility criteria. The registration for NEST 2026 is open from January 5, 2026 to April 6, 2026 at nestexam.in.
The direct link to apply for NEST 2026 is available on this page.
Check out all the details about the NEST 2026 application process, including registration dates, eligibility criteria, required documents, and registration fees.
Latest Update:
NEST Application Form 2026 Important Dates
Candidates preparing for the National Entrance Screening Test 2026 must know all the important details related to its application form. The expected important dates related to the NEST 2026 application form are as follows:
NEST 2026 Application: Important Dates | |
Events | Dates |
NEST 2026 Exam Notification | Released |
NEST 2026 Registration Starts | January 5, 2026 (Released) |
NEST 2026 Last Date for Registration | April 6, 2026 |
NEST 2026 Application Correction Window | April 13, 2026 (10 AM) to April 14, 2026 (10 AM) |
NEST 2026 Exam Date | June 6, 2026 |
Also Read:
Who Can Apply for NEST 2026?
Candidates who meet the NEST eligibility criteria 2026 can appear for the exam. Check out the eligibility details below:
Qualification |
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Minimum Qualifying Marks |
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Age Limit |
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Citizenship | Indian |
What are the NEST 2026 Exam Dates?
NISER, UM DAE-CEBS have released the NEST 2026 exam notification. Candidates interested in taking admission to the integrated BSc-MSc courses (5-year Integrated MSc courses). NEST 2026 exam dates have also been released, and it is scheduled to be held on June 6, 2026, in online/CBT mode to test candidates’ domain knowledge in subjects like Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Physics.
What are the NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria?
Candidates are advised to meticulously check out the minimal NEST eligibility criteria 2026 in order not to lose their candidature during any stage of the admission process:
Educational Requirement:
Candidates must 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.
Unreserved Candidates need to secure at least 60% in aggregate in the XII standard board examination. For SC/ST/Divyangjan candidates, this requirement is 55%.
Age limit:
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.
Subject Combination:
In Class 11, Students need to choose the Science stream and must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics.
What is the frequency of the NEST exam?
The NEST entrance exam is conducted once a year. It is a national-level entrance examination which is held jointly by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM–DAE CEBS Mumbai for admission to their five-year integrated MSc programmes.
Since the NEST is an annual exam, candidates get only one opportunity per year to appear for it. For the academic session 2026-2027, the NEST exam is scheduled to be conducted on June 6, 2026, in online mode at multiple centres across the nation.
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NEST Application Process 2026: Documents Required
Candidates applying for NEST 2026 need specific documents to complete the application process. These documents are the following:
Valid Email ID and Mobile Number
Government-issued Photo ID (Aadhaar Card/Passport/PAN Card/Driving License/Voter ID)
Class 10 Marksheet (for date of birth proof)
Class 12 Marksheet / Passing Certificate (if already passed)
Class 12 Admit Card / Hall Ticket (if appearing in current year)
Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued by a competent authority
PwD Certificate (if applicable).
Recent Passport-size Photograph
Scanned Signature
Income Certificate (for fee concession/financial aid, if required)
What are the NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria?
Candidates are advised to meticulously check out the minimal NEST eligibility criteria 2026 in order not to lose their candidature during any stage of the admission process:
Educational Requirement:
Candidates must 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.
Unreserved Candidates need to secure at least 60% in aggregate in the XII standard board examination. For SC/ST/Divyangjan candidates, this requirement is 55%.
Age limit:
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.
Subject Combination:
In Class 11, Students need to choose the Science stream and must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics.
Can I change details in the NEST Application Form after submitting it?
Yes, candidates can change specific details in their NEST Application Form after submitting by logging in to their NEST registration portal/account during the application correction window.
The NEST 2026 application correction will remain open from April 13, 2026 (10 AM), to April 14, 2026 (10 AM), at nestexam.in.
During the application correction process, candidates can amend the following details:
Academic Details: Marks, passing year, or school/board names for Class 10 and Class 12.
Exam Centre Preferences: You can usually update your choice of cities for the examination.
Address: Your permanent or correspondence postal address.
Parental Details: Spelling mistakes in your Father’s or Mother’s names.
Category/Caste: In some years, a change in category is allowed (though this may require paying an additional fee if moving from a reserved to a general category).
When will the NEST 2026 application correction window open?
The NEST 2026 application correction will open on April 13, 2026 at 10 AM. Candidates can access the link to application correction at nestexam.in. The last to make corrections in the NEST 2026 application correction form is April 14, 2026 (10 AM)
Is Biology Compulsory for the NEST Exam?
For a candidate to secure admission to the courses offered through NEST 2026, they must have studied at least three subjects in the Science stream in Classes 11 and 12. These subjects should be chosen from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. This means that Biology is not a compulsory subject for the NEST 2026 exam.
However, during the examination, candidates are required to attempt all four sections, and the NEST 2026 cut-off will be calculated based on the best three subjects.
How to Fill Out the NEST Application Form 2026?
The NEST 2026 participating institutes will make the NEST 2026 application form available online at nestexam.in.
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 2026 Application Form Link
To apply for the NEST 2026, candidates will have to visit nestexam.in. The direct link to apply for NEST 2026:
NEST 2026 Application Form (Direct Link) - Click Here
Refer to the following video to understand how to fill out the NEST 2026 application form:
NEST Application Fee 2026
The exam authority will provide details about the NEST 2026 application fee once the application form is released. Meanwhile, candidates can estimate the NEST 2026 application fee based on the previous year’s fee structure.
Category | NEST 2026 Fee |
Female candidates (all categories) | INR 700 |
SC/ST/PwD candidates | INR 700 |
Male candidates (UR/UB category) | INR 1,400 |
Can I change details in the NEST Application Form after submitting it?
Yes, candidates can change specific details in their NEST Application Form after submitting by logging in to their NEST registration portal/account during the application correction window.
The NEST 2026 application correction will remain open from April 13, 2026 (10 AM), to April 14, 2026 (10 AM), at nestexam.in.
During the application correction process, candidates can amend the following details:
Academic Details: Marks, passing year, or school/board names for Class 10 and Class 12.
Exam Centre Preferences: You can usually update your choice of cities for the examination.
Address: Your permanent or correspondence postal address.
Parental Details: Spelling mistakes in your Father’s or Mother’s names.
Category/Caste: In some years, a change in category is allowed (though this may require paying an additional fee if moving from a reserved to a general category).
How to pay NEST 2026 Registration Fees?
In order to pay the NEST 2026 Registration Fees, candidates can follow the steps mentioned below:
At first, candidates need to visit the official website nestexam.in and complete the registration.
Log in using your credentials and fill out the application form.
Proceed to the fee payment section.
Pay the fee online only via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
Download and save the payment receipt after successful payment.
Is the NEST registration fee refundable?
The registration fee for NEST 2026 is non-refundable. Candidates can check the category-wise fee details below:
Female applicants (irrespective of category): ₹700
Applicants of SC/ST/ Divyangjan category: ₹700
Applicants of Unreserved-EWS (UR-EWS): ₹700
Male/Other applicants of UR/OBC category: ₹1,400
When is the last day to apply for the NEST 2026 Application Form?
The last date to apply for the NEST 2026 Registration Form will be April 6, 2026, at 11:30 pm. Candidates interested in applying for the online registration must read all the important details, like NEST 2026 eligibility criteria, steps to fill the application form, documents required, registration fee and all other details in hand to have a hassle-free admission process.
