NEST 2027 Eligibility: Age, Qualifying Subjects and Percentage

NEST 2027 expects you to have passed Class 12 with Physics and Chemistry plus Mathematics or Biology, scoring at least 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST/PwD students), and to have been born on or after August 1, 2002 (August 1, 1997 for SC/ST/PwD).

NEST (National Entrance Screening Test) is conducted jointly by NISER Bhubaneswar and CEBS Mumbai for admission to 5-year Integrated MSc programs in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The official NEST 2027 notification is yet to be released; the criteria below are based on the NEST 2026 brochure and established patterns.

• Age limit (General/OBC-NCL/EWS): Born on or after August 1, 2002.
• Age limit (SC/ST/PwD): Born on or after August 1, 1997 (5-year relaxation).
• Qualifying exam year: Class 12 passed in 2026 or appearing in 2027.
• Compulsory Class 12 subjects: Physics and Chemistry, plus Mathematics or Biology.
• Minimum aggregate: 60% for General/OBC-NCL/EWS; 55% for SC/ST/PwD.
• Maximum attempts: 2 times in two consecutive years only.

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NEST 2027 Eligibility at a Glance

The table below summarises all key NEST 2027 eligibility parameters based on NEST 2026 brochure patterns.

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Age Limit for NEST 2027

NEST enforces a strict age limit. General, OBC-NCL and EWS students must have been born on or after August 1, 2002. Reserved category students receive a 5-year relaxation: SC, ST and PwD students must have been born on or after August 1, 1997. No further relaxation is available. If you are attempting NEST for the second time in 2027, you must still satisfy the age limit on the date of the exam.

These dates follow the NEST 2026 brochure pattern. Confirm exact cutoffs once the official NEST 2027 notification is published at nestexam.in.

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Qualifying Exam and Year of Passing

You must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board. Only students who passed Class 12 in 2026 or are appearing in 2027 are eligible for NEST 2027. Students who passed in 2025 or earlier cannot apply, even if all other criteria are met. The qualifying exam must be from a board recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Diploma holders from polytechnic institutes are not eligible — Class 12 in the science stream is mandatory.

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Required Subjects in Class 12 for NEST 2027

Physics and Chemistry are compulsory Class 12 subjects for all NEST 2027 applicants. You must also have studied at least one of Mathematics or Biology. The combination you need depends on the Integrated MSc program you wish to join.

Students with all four subjects — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology — in Class 12 can apply for all programs, giving them a wider choice during rank-based allotment.

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Minimum Percentage in Class 12 for NEST 2027

Your Class 12 aggregate determines whether you qualify. General, OBC-NCL and EWS students must score at least 60% aggregate in the Class 12 board exam. SC, ST and PwD students need a minimum of 55% aggregate. The aggregate is calculated across all subjects in the qualifying exam, not only the science subjects.

Students appearing in Class 12 in 2027 can apply before board results; admission is confirmed only after submitting proof of meeting the percentage threshold. Boards that award CGPA (such as CBSE) must use the percentage conversion formula published in the official NEST 2027 brochure at nestexam.in.

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Nationality and Attempt Limit

Only Indian nationals and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders are eligible for NEST 2027. Foreign nationals are not eligible. OCI and PIO applicants must carry their cards for verification at the exam centre and during counselling.

You can appear in NEST a maximum of 2 times, in two consecutive years only. If you appeared in NEST 2026 and did not secure admission, you may appear in NEST 2027 as your second and final attempt — provided you still satisfy the age limit and qualifying exam year requirements. A third attempt is not permitted under any category.

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