NISER Bhubaneswar will release the NEST 2026 Admit Card on May 15, 2026 at nestexam.in. To access the admit card, candidates must vist the mentioned official website, click on the admit card/hall ticket and enter their NEST application number and password. The direct link to download the NEST 2026 admit card/hall ticket will be provided on this page.
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 will be conducted on June 6, 2026 for admission to the 5-year integrated MSc programmes in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics at NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS, Mumbai. Candidates who meet criteria related to the NEST 2026 selection process will get admission to the courses they applied for.
Candidates preparing for the exam for admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc courses in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Mathematics must know all the details to plan their preparation strategy effectively.
Check this page for complete information on the NEST 2026 application process, important dates, syllabus, exam pattern, preparation tips, and admission details. Candidates need to note that the information provided here is based on the previous year’s data. SciAstra will provide the updated details once the official NEST notification is released.
NEST Admit Card 2026
The NEST 2026 admit card (hall ticket) is expected to be released on May 15, 2026 on the official website — nestexam.in. On the exam day, candidates must carry a printed, coloured copy of the admit card.
To download the NEST syllabus, use the following steps:
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.
FAQs
How can I download the NEST admit card?
To download the NEST 2026 admit card, candidates first need to visit the official NEST website - nestexam.in. The admit card will be released on May 15, 2026.
After visiting the official website, they must click on the official admit card link and enter their NEST 2026 application number and password. Save the admit card as a PDF and take its coloured printout.
Can I show a digital copy of the NEST admit card at the exam centre?
No, a printed hard copy of the NEST admit card is required at the exam centre. Digital copies on mobile devices are not accepted.
What can I do if I forget my login details to download the NEST admit card?
If you forget the password to your NEST candidate login account, click on the “Forgot Password” option while downloading the NEST admit card.
After that, enter your registered email ID or mobile number. You will receive an OTP via SMS or a password reset link via email. Use the provided details to reset your password and create a new one.
If you forget your NEST application number, check the inbox of the email ID you used during registration. Look for the official confirmation email received after successful registration, as it contains your application number.
What should I do if there is incorrect information on my NEST admit card?
If you find any incorrect information on your NEST admit card, you should act immediately to avoid issues on the exam day, first, verify all the details such as your name, photograph, signature, exam centre, and date. Make sure the error is genuine and not due to misunderstanding.
Thereafter, report the error to the official NEST helpdesk or exam authorities as soon as possible. You can usually find contact details (email/phone) on the official NEST website.
Be ready to share valid proof (such as your application form, ID proof, or certificates) to support the correction request.
Which documents should I carry to the NEST exam centre?
Candidates should carry the following documents to the NEST exam centre:
NEST admit card (coloured printed copy)
A valid photo ID proof, such as Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport (any one)
Passport-size photos (coloured and recent, the one that you used for NEST registration)
PwD Certificate (if applicable)
NEST Highlights 2026
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is the only pathway to get admission to 5-year MSc courses offered by NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai – DAE CEBS, Mumbai. These two institutions are affiliated with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
NEST 2026will be conducted on June 6, 2026 in online mode.
In order to get a quick summary of all the important details about NEST 2026, candidates should check the exam highlights. The following table provides these key details:
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.
Candidates seeking admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc courses at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai, must know all the important NEST 2026 exam dates. Considering this, SciAstra has listed these dates below:
NEST 2026 Exam Schedule
Events
Dates
NEST 2026 Notification
Released
NEST 2026 Registration Starts
January 5, 2026
NEST 2026 Last Date for Registration
April 6, 2026
April 8, 2026
NEST 2026 Last Date to Submit Fee
April 6, 2026
April 8, 2026
NEST 2026 Application Correction Window
April 13, 2026 (10 AM) to April 14, 2026 (10 AM)
April 18, 2026 (10 AM) to April 19, 2026 (10 AM)
NEST 2026 Mock Test Opens
April 14, 2026
NEST 2026 Admit Card
May 15, 2026
NEST 2026 Exam
June 6, 2026
NEST 2026 Provisional Answer Key
Third Week of June 2026
NEST 2026 Provisional Answer Objection Window
June 10, 2026 (10 AM) to June 12, 2026 (11:30 PM)
NEST 2026 Final Answer Key
First Week of July 2026
NEST 2026 Result
June 24, 2026
NEST 2026 Scorecard Download
June 25, 2026
NEST UG 2026 Counselling Begins
Third Week of July 2026
NEST 2026 Syllabus
NEST 2026 Syllabus
NEST Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates who meet the NEST 2026 eligibility criteria prescribed by NISER and CEBS can apply for NEST 2026. Therefore, before applying for the exam, check out the following eligibility requirements for NEST 2026:
Qualification
Class 12 pass in Science stream from a recognised state or central board in 2024 or 2025
Candidates who are going to appear for the Class 12 final exam in 2026 can also apply for the exam.
These candidates need their final scorecard at the time of admission.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
60% marks in Class 12 board exam for general and OBC candidates
The NEST 2026 application process includes creating a candidate registration account, filling out the application form, and paying the application fee. Aspirants can follow the steps below to complete the NEST 2026 application form:
Visit the official NEST website – nestexam.in.
Click on the “Registration” option.
Enter your email address and mobile number.
Create a password and save all the details.
Log in again and enter these details: 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 Link
Click on the provided link to apply for NEST 2026:
NEST 2026 Application Form (Direct Link) - Click Here
Refer to the video below to know how to fill out the NEST 2026 application form:
How to Fill OUT NEST 2026 Application Form
NEST Exam Pattern 2026
The NEST 2026 question paper will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided into four sections: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. There will be a total of 240 questions in the question paper, and the exam duration will be 90 minutes (3 hours). NEST 2026 will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
Refer to the table below for the section-wise exam pattern details:
NEST 2026 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 2026 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 2026
Refer to the following details related to the marking scheme for NEST 2026:
1 correct attempt = +3 marks
1 wrong attempt = -1 mark
NEST Syllabus 2026
The NEST 2026 syllabus covers topics from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics taught in Classes 11 and 12, based on NCERT textbooks. The detailed and updated syllabus is available on the official website — nestexam.in.
The syllabus PDF is also available below:
NEST 2026 Syllabus (Official PDF)
NEST Preparation Tips 2026
Scoring well in the NEST exam requires using effective preparation tips. Candidates can use the following steps to achieve this goal: ‘
Know the NEST 2026 pattern patterns. It includes the number of sections, question type (MCQs), marking strategy, and duration of the exam (3 hours).
Concentrate on Class 11 and 12 NCERT textbooks' Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics since a majority of questions come from them.
Decide on which subjects you excel at and then spend additional time studying weaker sections.
Practise old NEST question papers to know the level of difficulty and question types.
Practise online CBT-mode mock tests for developing speed, accuracy, and time management.
Prepare small notes or formula sheets for quick revision before the exam.
Work on all four subjects equally but don't neglect Biology or Maths even if they're not your areas of strength.
NEST Answer Key 2026
The provisional answer key of NEST 2026 will be released in the third week of June 2026 on the official NEST website — nestexam.in. Candidates can raise objections to the answer key online. After taking all the objections into account, the exam authority will release the NEST 2026 final answer key on the same official website.
NEST Result 2026
The NEST 2026 result will be announced on June 24, 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 2026 merit list, only the marks from the top three scoring sections will be considered. Additionally, section-wise cut-offs will also be applied.
NEST 2026 Seat Intake
Check out the number of seats to which NISER Bhubaneswar and DAE CEBS are offering admissions through NEST 2026:
NEST 2026 Seat Intake
Category
NISER Seats
UM-DAE CEBS
Unreserved (UR)
101
23
UR - EWS
0
6
OBC - NCL
54
15
SC
30
9
ST
15
4
Divyagjan
5% seats in each category
(UR)-05; (OBC-NCL)-03; (SC)-02; (ST)-01
5% seats in each category
Total Seats
200
57
J & K, Ladakh
2
2
Total intake (including J & K, Ladakh)
202
59
NEST Counselling 2026
For securing admission to NISER or UM-DAE CEBS, candidates will have to participate in the counselling process. For this they will have to first fill out the counselling registration form at nestexam.in. The NEST 2026 counselling will include the following steps:
NEST 2026 counselling registration and course choice filling
