NEST 2026 Result & Cut-off is released on 24th June 2026. Final Answer Key is released from 17th June 2026. National Eligibility Screening Test (NEST) is conducted for applicants interested for admission into a 5 Years Integrated MSc. programme in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics.
Seeking admission to NISER and CEBS?…Qualify NEST 2026. Know details below.
NEST 2026 Answer Key | NEST Result | NEST Exam Date
NEST 2026 Notifications – Result OUT
NEST 2026 Result is released on 24th June 2026. Check here for result details.
NEST 2026 Cut-off is announced on 24th June 2026. Check here for cut-off details.
NEST 2026 Final Answer Key has been released on 17th June 2026. Check here for answer key details.
This entrance exam is regulated at national level once a year by the NISER, Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai – Department of Atomic Energy Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE-CEBS).
All You Need To Know About NEST 2026 Exam:
- What is the procedure to get NEST 2026 answer key?…Get Instructions to Download here.
- Stay updated on the NEST 2026 important dates. Go through the Tentative schedule.
- When will be result out for the NEST 2026 exam?… Check NEST 2026 Result.
- What after the result announcement? Explore NEST Admission here.
Still doubts? Leave your comments here.
In this article, we have provided complete details related to NEST 2026 such as answer key, exam date, result, cut-off, admission and more.
NEST 2026 Overview
| Exam Name | NEST 2026 |
| Full Name | National Entrance Screening Test |
| Conducting Body | NISER, Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE-CEBS, Mumbai |
| Exam Level | National level exam |
| Courses Offered | Integrated M.Sc. programme |
| Exam Mode | Online Mode |
| Application Mode | Online Mode |
| Website | nestexam.in |
NEST 2026 Exam Dates
From the below table, students must check the NEST Exam Dates 2026:
| Events | Dates 2026 (Announced) |
| Online application opens | 5th January 2026 |
| Online application closes | 8th April 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment | 12th April 2026 |
| Application correction | 17th – 18th April 2026 |
| Mock Test | 14th April 2026 |
| Download of admit card | 18th May 2026 |
| Date of examination | 6th June 2026 |
| Answer key objection window | 10th – 12th June 2026 |
| Final key out | 17th June 2026 |
| Announcement of result & cut-off | 24th June 2026 |
| Downloading of score card | 30th June 2026 |
NEST 2026 Answer Key
After the completion of exam, the authority has released the NEST Answer Key 2026 via online mode from 10th June 2026. The answer key include correct answers to the questions asked in the entrance exam. It can help students to estimate their tentative score before declaration of final result.
If students find discrepancies in answer Key, they must raise their objections by submitting a required processing fee. The objections raised are reviewed by the expert committee, after which NEST 2026 final answer key has been published.
NEST 2026 Result
After the exam completion, NEST Result 2026 has been announced via online mode. Students are able to download the result on 24th June 2026 by using their login credentials. The result contain total marks, scaled score for each section, and percentile ranking.
Based on the candidate’s scores in entrance exam, NEST 2026 merit list will be prepared inviting eligible candidates to participate in counseling process. The final ranking will be based on percentile scores calculated from the best three section scores.
NEST 2026 Cut Off
NEST Cut Off 2026 has been released via online mode after the declaration of results. These cut off marks serve as the minimum qualifying criteria that candidates must achieve to be eligible for admission.
Candidates who fail to meet the cut off score will not be considered for further admission processes. The cut-off marks are released as per category of the candidate.
NEST 2026 Reservation Criteria
Students can check the NEST Reservation Criteria 2026 from the table below:
| Category | Reservation |
| OBC- NCL | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| Divyangjan | 5% |
NEST 2026 Counselling
NEST counselling 2026 will be conducted via offline mode separately by NISER and UM-DAE-CEBS. The authority will conduct the counselling procedures in month of July 2026 in three rounds. Shortlisted applicants must participate in the counselling procedure for seat allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
NEST 2026 Application Form
Here are some necessary instructions to fill out the NEST Application Form 2026:
- NEST 2026 Registration Form can be filled by the applicants via online mode.
- Registration form is made available to applicants from 5th January 2026.
- Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria before completing the application form.
- The application form will require personal, address, communication and qualification information.
- While filling out the application form, students must choose any 3 centers in order of their preferences.
- Upload scanned copy of recent Photographs and Signatures in the specified format.
- Last date to register for NEST 2026 exam will be till 8th April 2026.
- Candidates must retain a printed copy of their completed application form for future references.
Application Fee:
- NEST 2026 Application Fee 2026 can be remitted via online mode.
- Students should use credit card, debit card, net-banking, UPI for online payment.
- Registration fee for Male-General/ OBC candidates is Rs. 1400/-.
- For SC/ST/Divyangjan & female candidates, application fee is Rs. 700/-.
How to Apply for NEST 2026
Below, students can check the steps to apply for NEST 2026 exam:
- Step-1: Go through the NEST website (link is provided above).
- Step-2: Press on the “New Registration” link from the homepage.
- Step-3: Register to the portal with name, email ID, phone number and other details.
- Step-4: Login and fill the application form with personal & qualifications details.
- Step-5: Upload scanned passport size photograph and signature in given format.
- Step-6: Pay the application fee to finalize the application process.
- Step-7: At last, print a hard copy of the application form for future records.
NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the following NEST Eligibility Criteria 2026 prior to registration:
- Qualification: Candidates must pass 12th standard or equivalent in 2024 or 2025 from a recognized board.
- Age Limit: There will be no age bar for appearing in the NEST 2026 exam.
- Subjects: One must have passed with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics as compulsory subjects in their qualifying exam.
- Marks: Students must have obtained at least 60% marks in aggregate (55% for reserved category candidates) to be eligible.
- Appearing: Candidates appearing for their Class 12th exams will also be eligible to apply.
NEST 2026 Admit Card
NEST Admit Card 2026 has been issued via online mode a few weeks before the exam date. It has been issued for all the successfully registered candidates from 18th May 2026. Applicants must bring their admit card along with photo ID proof on the exam day to be permitted inside the exam hall.
Candidates are required to download their admit cards from the website through login, as it will not be sent by post. The admit card contain essential details such as candidate’s name, exam venue, date of birth and important guidelines for examination.
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern
Students can go through the below section for NEST Exam Pattern 2026 details:
- Mode of Exam: NEST 2026 exam will be conducted via online (CBT) mode only.
- Duration: Students will get 3 hours to solve the paper. Compensatory time will be given to Divyangjan candidates.
- Sections: Question paper will be divided into 4 sections.
- Types of Questions: In the exam, Objective Type-Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) will be asked.
- Total Questions: Each section will have 20 questions (i.e. 80 questions in total).
- Total Marks: Exam Paper will comprise of a total 240 marks (i.e. 60 marks in each section).
- Marking Scheme: Each correct answer will get 3 marks and every incorrect answer will lead to a deduction of 1 mark.
NEST 2026 Syllabus
Students can check the section-wise NEST Syllabus 2026 from the below section:
- Physics: Units and dimensions, Interpretation of data, Conservation of angular momentum, Design of some experience, Graphical representation etc.
- Chemistry: Measurement in chemistry, Chemical kinetics, Mole concept, Thermodynamics, Amines, Chemical Equilibrium, Solid state, Atomic Structure and Chemical bonding etc.
- Biology: Development biology, Genetics and Evolution, Digestive system, Ecology, Cell Biology, Systematics, Human and Environment, Immunology etc.
- Mathematics: Logarithms, Algebra, Vectors, Trigonometry, Integral calculus, Analytical geometry etc.
NEST 2026 Preparation Tips
Here, we have provided some NEST Preparation Tips 2026 to score well:
- Students must create an effective study schedule.
- Focus on the syllabus and exam format.
- Evaluate performance by reviewing past exam papers.
- Create concise notes and emphasize key details.
- Regularly revise topics to reinforce memory.
NEST Books
Go through the below list of some helpful books for NEST 2026 preparation:
- Problems in General Physics by I.E. Irodov
- Understanding Physics Series by D.C Pandey
- Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J.D. Lee
- Objective NCERT at your Fingertips Chemistry by MTG
- Objective Mathematics by R.D. Sharma
- Higher Algebra by Hall and Knight
NEST 2026 Exam Centre
NEST 2026 exam will be conducted at multiple centres within various states/cities all over India. Some of the NEST Exam Centre 2026 will be located in cities such as Port Blair, Guntur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Naharlagun, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Tezpur, Bhagalpur, Patna, Bhilai Nagar, Raipur, New Delhi, Panaji, Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Rajkot, Surat, Hisar, Kurukshetra, Hamirpur, Shimla, Jammu, Srinagar etc.
Students must report at the allotted center, with their original documents such as Class 10th & 12th marksheets and certificates, NEST 2026 admit card & result, caste certificate, valid ID proof, provisional call letter and passport-size photographs for verification and confirmation of seats.
If there are any other queries related to NEST 2026, candidates can feel free to ask us by leaving their queries in the given comment box.