NEST 2026 registration window opens at nestexam.in: Check direct link to apply here

NEST 2026: The registration process for the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 has officially begun today, January 5, 2026. Candidates who wish to apply for the five year Integrated Master of Science (MSc) programmes can now submit their application forms through the official website, nestexam.in. The last date to complete the NEST 2026 application process is April 6, 2026.

NEST is a national level entrance examination conducted for admission to Integrated MSc courses in basic sciences. The entrance test for NEST 2026 is scheduled to be held on June 6, 2026, from 2 pm to 5 pm, across around 140 examination centres in India.

As per the official schedule, candidates must pay the application fee by April 12, 2026, up to 11:30 pm. The NEST 2026 admit card will be released on May 15, 2026, on the official website. Candidates will need their login details to download the hall ticket.

NEST 2026 application fee

To complete the registration process, candidates from the Unreserved (UR) and Other Backwards Classes (OBC) categories are required to pay an application fee of Rs 1,400. Applicants belonging to Unreserved-Economically Weaker Section (UR-EWS), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Divyangjan categories, and all female candidates need to pay a reduced fee of Rs 700.

NEST 2026 eligibility criteria

Candidates who have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2024 or 2025 with at least 60 percent marks are eligible to apply. For candidates belonging to SC or ST categories, the minimum required marks are 55 percent. Students who are appearing for the Class 12 examination in 2026 are also eligible to submit the application form.

Courses and seats offered

The NEST 2026 examination is conducted for admission to five year Integrated MSc programmes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Admissions are offered at two institutes: National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and University of Mumbai - Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-CEBS).

A total of 261 seats are available for admission through NEST 2026. Out of these, 202 seats are offered at NISER and 59 seats at UM-CEBS.

How to apply for NEST 2026

Candidates can follow the steps given below to apply for the examination:

1. Visit the official website at nestexam.in
2. Click on the “NEST Registration 2026” link on the homepage
3. Fill in the application form with the required personal and academic details
4. Upload the necessary documents in the prescribed format and size
5. Pay the application fee and submit the form
6. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference

Direct link here.

Candidates are advised to carefully check all details before submitting the application form to avoid errors later in the admission process.
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