NEST 2026 Syllabus PDFs (Available): Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths

Feature

Details

Exam Mode

Online (Computer-Based Test – CBT)

Exam Level

National level (Undergraduate entrance exam)

Test Language

English only

Question Type

Objective-type questions:

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

• Multiple Selection Questions (MSQs)

Total Questions

68

Total Marks

200

NEST 2026 Syllabus (Physics)

Class 11 Physics Topics

1. Units of Measurement

2. Motion in a Straight Line

3. Motion in a Plane

4. Laws of Motion

5. Work, Energy and Power

6. Rigid System of Particles and Rotational Motion

7. Gravitation

8. Mechanical Properties of Solids

9. Mechanical Properties of Fluids

10. Thermal Properties of Matter

11. Thermodynamics

12. Kinetic Theory of Gases

13. Oscillations

14. Waves

Class 12 Physics Topics

1. Electric Charges and Fields

2. Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

3. Current Electricity

4. Moving Charges and Magnetism

5. Magnetism and Matter

6. Electromagnetic Induction'

7. Alternating Current

8. Electromagnetic Waves

9. Ray Optics

10. Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

11. Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

12. Atoms

13. Nuclei

14. Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits

NEST 2026 Syllabus (Chemistry)

Class 11 Chemistry Topics

Unit I: Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry

1. General Introduction

2. Dalton's Atomic Theory

Unit II: Structure of Atom

1. Discovery of Electron, Proton and Neutron

2. Atomic Number

3. Isotopes and Isobars

4. Thomson's Model and Its Limitations

5. Rutherford's Model and Its Limitations

6. Bohr's Model and Its Limitations

7. Concept of Shells and Subshells

8. Dual Nature of Matter and Light

9. de Broglie's Relationship

10. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

11. Concept of Orbitals

12. Quantum Numbers

13. Shapes of s, p and d Orbitals

14. Rules for Filling Electrons in Orbitals – Aufbau Principle, Pauli's Exclusion Principle and Hund's Rule

15. Electronic Configuration of Atoms

16. Stability of Half-filled and Completely Filled Orbitals

Unit III: Classification of Elements and Periodicity

1. Significance of classification, brief history of the development of periodic table, modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties of elements- atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, electronegativity, valiancy, Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100.

2. s & p Block Elements - Electronic configuration, atomic & Ionic radii, Ionization Enthalpy, Hydration Enthalpy and general trends in physical and chemical properties of s and p block elements across the periods and down the groups; unique behavior of the first element in each group.

Unit IV: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

1. Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis structure, polar character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory, resonance, geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization, involving s, p and d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital theory of homonuclear diatomic molecules (qualitative idea only), Hydrogen bond.

Unit V: Chemical Theromdynamics

1. Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and intensive properties, state functions.

2. First law of thermodynamics - internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity and specific heat, measurement of ∆U and ∆H, Hess's law of constant heat summation, enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution and dilution.

3. Second law of Thermodynamics - (brief introduction), Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb's energy change for spontaneous and non- spontaneous processes, criteria for equilibrium,

4. Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction).

5. The Gaseous State - Qualitative treatment of Gas laws, Ideal gas equation and deviations from it.

Unit VI: Equilibirium

1. Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of mass action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium – Le Chatelier's principle, ionic equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of ionization, ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, hydrolysis of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, Henderson Equation, solubility product, common ion effect (with illustrative examples).

Unit VII: Redox Reactions

1. Concept of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, balancing redox reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number, applications of redox reactions.

Unit VIII: Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques

1. General introduction, methods of purification, qualitative and quantitative analysis, classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds. Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electrometric effect, resonance and hyper conjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions.

Unit IX: Hydrocarbons

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

1. Alkanes - Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical properties, chemical reactions including free radical mechanism of halogenation, combustion and pyrolysis.

2. Alkenes - Nomenclature, structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism, physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen, halogen, water, hydrogen halides (Markovnikov's addition and peroxide effect), ozonolysis, oxidation, mechanism of electrophilic addition.

3. Alkynes - Nomenclature, structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of - hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

1. Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance, aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration, sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive influence of functional group in mono substituted benzene, carcinogenicity and toxicity

Class 12 Chemistry Topics

Unit I: Solutions

Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids, solubility of gases in liquids, solid solutions, Raoult’s law, colligative properties - relative lowering of vapor pressure, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point, osmotic pressure, determination of molecular masses using colligative properties, abnormal molecular mass, Van't Hoff factor.

Unit II: Electrochemistry

Redox reactions, EMF of a cell, standard electrode potential, Nernst equation and its application to chemical cells, Relation between Gibbs energy change and EMF of a cell, conductance in electrolytic solutions, specific and molar conductivity, variations of conductivity with concentration, Kohlrausch's Law, electrolysis and law of electrolysis (elementary idea), dry cellelectrolytic cells and Galvanic cells, lead accumulator, fuel cells, corrosion.

Unit III: Chemical Kinetics

Rate of a reaction (Average and instantaneous), factors affecting rate of reaction: concentration, temperature, catalyst; order and molecularity of a reaction, rate law and specific rate constant, integrated rate equations and half-life (only for zero and first order reactions), concept of collision theory (elementary idea, no mathematical treatment), activation energy, Arrhenius equation.

Unit IV: d and f Block Elements

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics of transition metals, general trends in properties of the first row transition metals – metallic character, ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic property, magnetic properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation, preparation and properties of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4.

Lanthanides - Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity and lanthanide contraction and its consequences.

Actinides - Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanides.

Unit V: Coordination Compounds

Coordination compounds - Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic properties and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds. Bonding, Werner's theory, VBT, and CFT; structure and stereoisomerism, importance of coordination compounds (in qualitative analysis, extraction of metals and biological system).

Unit VI: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Haloalkanes: Nomenclature, nature of C–X bond, physical and chemical properties, optical rotation mechanism of substitution reactions.

Haloarenes: Nature of C–X bond, substitution reactions (Directive influence of halogen in monosubstituted compounds only).

Uses and environmental effects of - dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, DDT.

Unit VII: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Alcohols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties (of primary alcohols only), identification of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, mechanism of dehydration, uses with special reference to methanol and ethanol. Phenols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, acidic nature of phenol, electrophilic substitution reactions, uses of phenols.

Ethers: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses

Unit 8: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes and Ketones: Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, mechanism of nucleophilic addition, reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes, uses.

Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties; uses.

Unit IX: Amines

Amines: Nomenclature, classification, structure, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines. Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions and importance in synthetic organic chemistry.

Unit X: Biomolecules

Carbohydrates - Classification (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccahrides (glucose and fructose), D-L configuration oligosaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose), polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, glycogen); Importance of carbohydrates.

Proteins - Elementary idea of- amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins, structure of proteins - primary, secondary, tertiary structure and quaternary structures (qualitative idea only), denaturation of proteins; enzymes. Hormones - Elementary idea excluding structure.

Vitamins - Classification and functions.

Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA.

NEST 2026 Syllabus (Maths)

Class 11 Mathematics Topics

Unit I: Sets and Functions

1. Sets

2. Relations & Functions

3. Trignometric Functions

Unit II: Algebra

1. Principles of Mathematical Induction

2. Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations

3. Linear Inequalities

4. Permutations and Combinations

5. Binomial Theorem

6. Sequence and Series

Unit III: Coordinate Geometry

1. Straight Lines

2. Conic Sections

3. Introduction to Three-dimensional Geometry

Unit IV: Calculus

1. Limits and Derivatives

Unit V: Statistics and Probability

1. Statistics

2. Probability

Class 12 Mathematics Topics

Unit I: Relations and Functions

1. Relations and Functions

2. Inverse Trignometric Functions

Unit II: Algebra

1. Matrices

2. Determinant

Unit III: Calculus

1. Continuity and Differentiability

2. Applications of Derivatives

3. Integrals

4. Application of the Integrals

Unit IV: Vectors and Three-dimensional Geometry

1. Vectors

2. Three-dimensional Geometry

Unit V: Linear Programming Problem

1. Linear Programming

Unit VI: Probability

1. Probability

2. Statistics and Probability

NEST 2026 Syllabus (Biology)

Biology Class 11 Topics

Unit I: Diversity of Living Organism

1. The Diversity in Living World

2. Biological Classification

3. Plant Kingdom

4. Animal Kingdom

Unit II: Structural Organization in Plants and Animals

1. Morphology of Flowering Plants

2. Anatomy of Flowering Plants

3. Structural Organisation in Animals

Unit III: Structure and Function

1. Cell: The Unit of Life

2. Biomolecules

3. Life Cycle and Cell Division

Unit IV: Plant Physiology

1. Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

2. Respiration in Plants

3. Plant Growth and Development

Unit V: Human Physiology

1. Breathing and Exchange of Gases

2. Body Fluids and Circulation

3. Digestion and Absorption

4. Excretory Products and their Elimination

5. Locomotion and Movement

6. Neural Control and Coordination

7. Chemical Coordination and Integration

Unit VI: Reproduction

1. Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

2. Human Reproduction

3. Reproductive Health

Unit VII: Genetics and Evolution

1. Principles of Inheritance and Variation

2. Molecular Basis of Inheritance

3. Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Unit VIII: Biology and Human Welfare

1. Human Health and Diseases

2. Microbes in Human Welfare

Unit IX: Biotechnology and its Applications

1. Biotechnology - Principles and Processes

2. Biotechnology and its Applications

Unit X: Ecology and Environment

1. Organisms and Populations

2. Ecosystem

3. Biodiversity and its Conservation

Biology Class 12 Topics

Unit I: Reproduction

1. Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

2. Human Reproduction

3. Reproductive Health

Unit II: Genetics and Evolution

1. Principles of Inheritance and Variation

2. Molecular Basis of Inheritance

3. Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Unit III: Biology and Human Welfare

1. Human Health and Diseases

2. Microbes in Human Welfare

Unit IV: Biotechnology and its Applications

1. Biotechnology - Principles and Processes

2. Biotechnology and its Applications

Unit V: Ecology and Environment

1. Organisms and Populations

2. Ecosystem

3. Biodiversity and its Conservation

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