The NEST 2026 registration will commence on January 5, 2026, at 10 AM on the official NEST exam website – nestexam.in. To fill out the form, candidates will have to visit this official website. The registration form will not be available offline.

By filling out the NEST 2026 registration form, candidates can apply for the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026, which is being conducted for admission to the 5-year Integrated M.Sc. courses offered by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai–DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS).

The NEST 2026 exam will be held on June 6, 2026, from 2 PM to 5 PM in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. There will be only one shift of the exam in 2026. Candidates planning to apply can check all the important details about the NEST 2026 registration form, eligibility criteria, and important dates.

Who can apply for NEST 2026?

Candidates who meet the following eligibility criteria can apply for NEST 2026:

  • Candidates should have at least three out of the four disciplines of basic sciences, namely, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, in classes XI and XII.

  • They should 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.

  • They must secure at least 60% marks in aggregate or an equivalent grade in the class XII examination. For candidates belonging to scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), and Divyangjan categories, the minimum requirement of marks is 55% in aggregate or an equivalent grade in the class XII examination.

How to fill out the NEST 2026 Registration Form?

To fill out the NEST registration form, candidates must follow these steps:

  1. Go to the official NEST website – nestexam.in.

  2. Click on the “New Registration” option and enter the required details.

  3. Once you complete the registration, you will receive your login credentials via email.

  4. Now, click on the “LOGIN” option and fill out the application form.

  5. Upload your passport-size photo and a scanned copy of your signature.

  6. Pay the application fee and submit the form.

NEST 2026 Application Fee

Check out the category-wise NEST 2026 application fees below:

NEST 2026 Category-Wise Application Fee

Female applicants (irrespective of category)

INR 700

Applicants of SC/ST/Divyangjan category

INR 700

Applicants of Unreserved-EWS (UR-EWS)

INR 700

Male/Other applicants of UR/OBC category

INR 1,400