NEST 2026 Application Form Out: Link, Eligibility & Process

• NEST 2026 application out Jan 5; deadline Apr 6
• Exam June 6; admit cards from May 15 onward
• Eligibility: 60 percent in Class 12; no age limit

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 application form was released today, after a brief delay, with online registration commencing shortly after noon on the official portal at www.nestexam.in. Jointly conducted by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai, the test facilitates admission to the prestigious 5-year Integrated MSc programs in basic sciences.

Candidates can apply until April 6, 2026 (11:30 PM), with the fee payment deadline extended to April 12, 2026 (11:30 PM). A correction window will be open from April 13 to 14, 2026, while admit cards are scheduled for release on May 15, 2026, from 10 AM onward. The computer-based exam is set for June 6, 2026, from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Also Read: IIT JAM 2026 Admit Card Live: Download Hall Ticket

Eligibility requires candidates to have passed or be appearing for Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024, 2025, or 2026, with at least three subjects among Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology, securing a minimum 60 percent aggregate (55 percent for SC/ST/PwD categories). There is no upper age limit.

The application process is fully online: register with email/mobile, fill in details, upload a scanned photograph and signature (under 80 KB in JPG format), and pay the fee (₹1,400 for male General/OBC/EWS; ₹700 for female candidates across categories, male SC/ST/PwD, and transgender). The online exam will be held in approximately 140 cities, allowing three preference selections.

The pattern features 80 questions (20 per section: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics) totaling 240 marks, with +3 for correct answers, -1 for wrong, and 0 for unattempted, in a 3-hour duration (with extra time for PwD candidates). Candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly and regularly check the official site for updates.