NEST 2026: Counselling Started, Check Registration, EOI Form, Seat Allotment, Steps to Register and Documents Required

NEST 2026 counseling is currently underway with separate processes for NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. The Expression of Interest (EoI) submission date closed on July 6, 2026, for NISER Bhubaneswar and July 8, 2026, for UM-DAE CEBS (Mumbai).

• The UM DAE CEBS NEST merit list 2026 will be released on July 17, July 21, July 24, July 29, and August 1 for Round 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively.
• The NISER Bhubaneswar has released the NEST merit list 2026 on June 24.

NEST 2026 results was declared on June 24, 2026 at the official website nestexam.in. The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is jointly conducted by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai for admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc program in science disciplines. Candidates who appeared in the NEST 2026 exam on June 6, 2026 can now log in to the official portal to check their merit rank and section-wise scores.

• Scorecard: NEST 2026 individual scorecard will be available for download from June 25, 2026 at nestexam.in. Candidates need their application number and password to access section-wise marks and percentile.
• Seat Allotment: The first round of NEST 2026 seat allotment is expected by late July 2026 for 257 total seats — 200 at NISER Bhubaneswar and 57 at UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai across four science disciplines.

What is NEST Counselling Process 2026?

Candidates who are selected in the NEST 2026 merit lists will be eligible to participate in the NEST counseling. They will receive an email and SMS regarding the Expression of Interest (EoI), which refers to confirming whether they are interested in admission to NISER Bhubaneswar or UM DAE CEBS Mumbai. Interested candidates must reply to the EoI email. Thereafter, they will have to follow these steps:

• Fill out the NEST counseling registration form.
• After the NEST counseling registration, the admission queue will be released.
• Selected candidates will have to visit NISER Bhubaneswar or DAE CEBS Mumbai and submit the required educational documents along with copies of ID proofs.
• They must pay the admission fee to confirm their admission.

Key Highlights of NEST 2026

Source: nestexam.in — Official NEST 2026 Brochure

NEST 2026 Counselling Important Dates

The NEST 2026 calendar below lists all events with upcoming dates first. Candidates who have received a merit rank today should act on the scorecard download (June 25) and keep track of the counselling registration window, expected in the third week of July 2026.

NISER Bhubaneswar Counselling Dates 2026

NEST Counselling 2026 Registration Process: How to Apply Online

NEST 2026 counseling is ongoing. The entire process runs online through nestexam.in. Only candidates who appear in the NEST 2026 merit list — having met both SMAS and MAP criteria — are eligible to register and participate in NEST 2026 counseling.

Step-by-Step NEST 2026 Counselling Process

• Step 1 — Counselling Registration: Merit-ranked candidates must register separately for NEST 2026 counselling on the official portal. This is a separate step from the original exam application — missing the registration deadline forfeits your chance at a seat even if you have a high merit rank.
• Step 2 — Institute and Discipline Preference Filling: After registering, fill in preferences for your preferred institute (NISER Bhubaneswar or UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai) and preferred science discipline (Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, or Physical Sciences). Fill multiple preferences in priority order — earlier choices are allotted first.
• Step 3 — Document Verification: Upload scanned copies of all required documents. Provisional seat allotment is subject to successful document verification.
• Step 4 — Seat Allotment: Seats are allotted based on your NEST 2026 merit rank, category, and the preferences you submitted. The allotment is published online on the NEST portal on the scheduled date.
• Step 5 — Seat Acceptance and Fee Payment: If allotted a seat, pay the acceptance fee within the deadline. Not paying on time means the seat goes to the next candidate on the merit list.
• Step 6 — Second Round (If Applicable): Seats that remain unfilled after Round 1 are offered again in Round 2. Candidates from the waiting list may receive allotments. NISER and CEBS may run their second rounds independently after Round 1 closes.

Documents Required for NEST 2026 Counselling

• Class 10 mark sheet or passing certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 mark sheet or passing certificate
• NEST 2026 scorecard (available from June 25, 2026)
• Category certificate — SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS (current, issued by a competent authority)
• PwD (Divyangjan) certificate, if applicable
• Passport-size photograph (recent)
• Valid government-issued ID or Aadhaar card

Candidates currently appearing in Class 12 boards in 2026 who have not yet received their final marksheet may be provisionally allotted a seat. Final admission at NISER or UM-DAE CEBS will only be confirmed after submitting the actual Class 12 marksheet showing the required minimum aggregate — 60% for UR/OBC-NCL, 55% for SC/ST/PwD.

Also Read

• NISER: Admission 2026, Fees, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement
• CEBS Mumbai: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

Colleges Accepting NEST 2026 Score: NISER and UM-DAE CEBS

Only two institutions admit students through NEST 2026: NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. Both are autonomous institutions under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. Both are widely regarded as among the most research-intensive science programmes available to undergraduate students in India, with paid stipends, funded internships, and direct pathways to BARC and other national research centres.

NISER Bhubaneswar

• Full name: National Institute of Science Education and Research
• Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha — fully residential campus
• Total seats through NEST 2026: 200
• Disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences
• Programme: 5-year Integrated MSc
• All enrolled students receive a monthly stipend of ₹4,000–₹5,000
• DISHA scholarship of ₹60,000 per year available for economically weaker students, plus ₹20,000 per year for summer internships under the Department of Atomic Energy
• Students participate in projects and internships at BARC, TIFR, IISc, and other national research institutes
• Top-performing graduates are directly eligible to appear for the BARC Training School interview

UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai

• Full name: University of Mumbai — Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences
• Location: Kalina campus, University of Mumbai, Mumbai
• Total seats through NEST 2026: 57
• Disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences
• Programme: 5-year Integrated MSc
• Students have access to University of Mumbai’s library, research infrastructure, and Mumbai’s broader scientific community
• Monthly stipend and other scholarship benefits similar to NISER
• Higher competition than NISER due to only 57 seats and the Mumbai location advantage

Also Read

List of Top Colleges in India Accepting NEST Based on 2026 Ranking

NEST 2026 Marks vs Rank

Your NEST 2026 merit rank is based on the best 3 of 4 section scores, with a maximum of 180 marks. The table below maps approximate marks scored to expected merit ranks based on NEST 2025 trends. Candidates who received their result today can use this to estimate where they stand before counselling begins.

NEST 2026 Expected Marks vs Rank

Marks Scored (out of 180)	Expected Merit Rank (Approx.)	Likely Admission Outcome
155 and above	Rank 1–50	Excellent — first-choice discipline at NISER or CEBS likely secured
140–154	Rank 51–100	Very good — NISER in most disciplines; CEBS also in range
125–139	Rank 101–200	Good — NISER admission in most discipline choices
110–124	Rank 201–300	Moderate — NISER for reserved categories; UR candidates may miss out
90–109	Rank 301–500	Low for UR; some reserved category seats may still be available
Below 90	Rank 500+	Very low chance; may fall below the UR qualifying threshold

Note: These are estimates based on NEST 2025 analysis. Actual 2026 ranks depend on paper difficulty and the overall performance distribution among this year’s candidates.

Also Read

• NEST 2026 NISER Bhubaneswar Cutoff: Subject and Category Marks
• NEST 2026: Is 100 Marks a Safe Score for CBS Mumbai Admission
• NEST 2026 Safe Score for OBC-NCL: Marks Needed at NISER and CEBS

How Negative Marking Shapes Your Final Score

Because of the 3:1 risk-reward structure in NEST, accuracy matters more than coverage. A candidate who attempts 60 questions across the best 3 sections and gets all 60 correct scores 180 marks. Another who attempts 75 questions, gets 65 right and 10 wrong, earns 195 – 10 = 185 raw — but merit is capped at 180 anyway. The key message: wrong answers at –1 each cut significantly into your score. Answering only when at least 60–70% confident is the smarter NEST strategy, and it is why top NEST scorers often leave several questions unattempted.

NEST 2026 Counselling: Seat Intake

Category	Seat Intake at NISER	Seat Intake at CEBS
General	101	23
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the General category	NA (to be confirmed at the time of admission process only)	06
Other Backward Classes (OBC) – Non-Creamy Layer	54	15
Scheduled Caste (SC)	30	09
Scheduled Tribes (ST)	15	04
Divyangjan	5% of seats in each category above	5% of seats in each category
Total	200	57

NEST 2026 Seat Matrix: Category-wise Distribution

Institute	Total Seats	UR (50%)	OBC-NCL (27%)	SC (15%)	ST (7.5%)
NISER Bhubaneswar	200	100	54	30	15
UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai	57	29	15	9	4
Total	257	129	69	39	19

Note: 5% horizontal reservation for PwD (Divyangjan) applies across all categories. EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation of 10% also applies per Government of India norms. These seat figures are approximate — always check the official NEST 2026 brochure at nestexam.in for the exact seat matrix.

Also Read

• NISER 2026 Seat Matrix: Subject-Wise Seats at NISER and CEBS
• NEST 2026 Cutoff Analysis: Category-Wise Qualifying Score Trends 2023–2025

NEST Counselling 2026: Reservation Criteria

NISER and CEBS will offer reservations to the reserved category candidates applying for admission. 

• 27% of the total seats are reserved in the admission process for candidates of the OBC-NCL category.
• Candidates belonging to the OBC category are not considered eligible for reservation. They are treated the same as General category candidates. 
• 15% of the total seats are reserved for candidates of SC category
• 7.5% of seats will be reserved for candidates of ST category. 
• Candidates of PwD category will have 5% of the total seats reserved for them. 

Supernumerary Quota for students from Jammu and Kashmir
Two supernumerary seats at both NISER Bhubaneswar and UMDAE-CBS will be reserved for candidates from Jammu and Kashmir. 

Also Read

• NEST 2026 EWS Cutoff: Expected Score and Rank for NISER
• NEST 2026 Qualified Candidates: Category and Subject-Wise Stats

NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria

NEST 2026 eligibility is determined by your academic qualifications, the subjects you studied in Class 12, minimum marks obtained, and year of passing. You must meet all criteria to be considered for admission to NISER Bhubaneswar or UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai.

Academic Qualification and Year of Passing

• You must have passed Class 12 (10+2) from any recognized board in 2024 or 2025, or be currently appearing in the Class 12 board examination in 2026
• Students who passed Class 12 before 2024 are generally not eligible for NEST 2026
• Candidates appearing in 2026 boards can apply provisionally; final admission is confirmed only after submitting proof of meeting the minimum percentage requirement

Subject Requirements at Class 12 Level

• Physics and Chemistry are mandatory — you must have studied both at the Class 11–12 level
• Along with Physics and Chemistry, you must have also studied either Mathematics or Biology (or both)
• PCM students can attempt Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics sections in NEST (and optionally Biology if they have background)
• PCB students can attempt Biology, Chemistry, and Physics sections (and optionally Mathematics)
• PCMB students who studied all four subjects have maximum flexibility — they can attempt all four sections and benefit from the best 3 rule automatically

Minimum Marks in Class 12

Age Limit

NEST 2026 does not have an upper age limit. Any candidate who meets the academic eligibility requirements — regardless of age — can appear for the exam.

Special Provision for PwD (Divyangjan) Candidates

Divyangjan candidates are given compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of exam duration as per Government of India guidelines. For the 3-hour NEST exam, PwD candidates receive an additional 60 minutes of total exam time.

NEST 2026 Application Process

The NEST 2026 application process was entirely online at nestexam.in. The registration window ran from January 5, 2026 to April 6, 2026, and is now closed. The information below is for reference for candidates planning for future cycles and to understand what the process involved.

NEST 2026 Application Fee

The NEST 2026 application fee was non-refundable. Payment was accepted online through debit card, credit card, net banking, and UPI (including RuPay, Visa, and Mastercard).

Steps to Fill the NEST 2026 Application Form

• Step 1 — New Registration: Visit nestexam.in and create a new account with a valid email ID and mobile number to get an application number and password
• Step 2 — Personal and Academic Details: Log in and fill in your personal information, Class 10 and Class 12 details, and select your preferred exam city from available centres across 387 cities
• Step 3 — Section Choice: Select the subject sections you want to attempt (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics) based on your Class 12 stream
• Step 4 — Document Upload: Upload scanned photograph, signature, and relevant educational certificates in the required format and file size
• Step 5 — Fee Payment and Submission: Pay the application fee online, review the filled form, and submit. Save the confirmation page for your records.

A form correction window was open from April 13 to 14, 2026 for candidates who needed to correct any submitted details before the exam.

NEST 2026 Exam Pattern

The NEST 2026 exam pattern has four subject sections, each with 20 MCQs, and a critical "best 3 of 4 sections" scoring rule for merit. Understanding this structure — including the negative marking and SMAS qualifying threshold — is essential for planning your exam strategy.

NEST 2026 Exam Structure: Sections and Marks

Marking Scheme

• +3 marks for each correct answer
• –1 mark for each wrong answer (negative marking applies)
• 0 marks for unattempted questions — no penalty for leaving a question blank
• All 80 questions are MCQs with four options and one correct answer
• Question paper is available in both English and Hindi

The "Best 3 of 4" Scoring Rule for Merit

Your NEST 2026 merit rank is not based on all 4 section scores. Only your top 3 section scores are counted. The maximum marks for the merit list is therefore 180 (3 × 60), not 240. The section in which you scored lowest is automatically dropped from the merit calculation.

This gives strategic flexibility. A PCM student who has not studied Biology can attempt all 4 sections, and the Biology score will simply be excluded if it is the weakest section. You can use the full 3 hours without any section hurting your merit points.

SMAS and MAP: The Two Qualifying Thresholds

To appear in the NEST 2026 merit list, every candidate must clear both these thresholds:

• SMAS (Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score): You must score at least a minimum in each section you attempt. The SMAS is set at 20% of the average of the top 100 scores in that section. Approximately, UR candidates need about 9–10 marks per section, OBC-NCL candidates need about 8 marks, and ST candidates need around 4–5 marks (out of 60 per section). Failing SMAS in even one attempted section removes you from the merit list entirely.
• MAP (Minimum Admissible Percentile): You must be in the top 20th percentile of all NEST 2026 test-takers. Roughly 8–10% of all appearing candidates each year manage to qualify based on both SMAS and MAP together.

Qualifying for the merit list (SMAS + MAP) only means you receive a rank. Getting a seat at NISER or CEBS requires a rank high enough to be selected during counselling — only 257 of the 2,000+ merit-listed candidates ultimately secure admission.

NEST 2026 Answer Key

NISER released the NEST 2026 provisional answer key on June 8, 2026 — two days after the exam held on June 6. Along with the key, the NEST 2026 response sheet became available on June 10, 2026, allowing candidates to compare their submitted answers against the published answers.

Candidates could raise objections from June 10 to June 12, 2026 by submitting challenges with supporting justification and paying ₹200 per question as an objection fee. After reviewing all valid objections, NISER released the NEST 2026 final answer key on June 18, 2026. The result declared today (June 24, 2026) is entirely based on this final answer key — all accepted objections have already been factored into the final scores and merit ranks.

NEST 2026 Answer Key Timeline

• Provisional Answer Key: June 8, 2026 (Released)
• Response Sheet Available: June 10, 2026 (Released)
• Objection Submission Window: June 10–12, 2026 (Over)
• Final Answer Key: June 18, 2026 (Released)

Accepted objections change marks for every candidate who attempted the challenged question. In NEST, where a single mark can separate hundreds of merit-list candidates, even one or two changed answers from the objection review can meaningfully shift ranks.