NEST Counselling 2027: Expected July, EOI Form, Seat Allotment and DISHA Scholarship

NEST 2027 counselling will be conducted independently by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai — two autonomous institutes under the Department of Atomic Energy — for the 5-year Integrated MSc programme in Basic Sciences. Based on the 2026 cycle, the counselling process is expected to begin in early July 2027, a few days after the NEST 2027 result is anticipated in late June 2027.

• NEST counselling is institute-specific — NISER and CEBS run entirely separate merit lists, EOI processes, and campus reporting dates; there is no single unified counselling portal.
• Total intake: 257 regular seats (200 at NISER Bhubaneswar + 57 at UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai), plus 4 supernumerary J&K/Ladakh seats.
• Eligibility uses a two-tier system: MAP (Minimum Admissible Percentile) plus SMAS (section-wise minimum score in at least 3 of the 4 subject sections).
• EWS reservation (6 seats) applies only at CEBS, not at NISER — a critical distinction if you hold an EWS certificate.
• Every student admitted at either institute receives the DISHA scholarship of Rs 60,000 per year from DAE, significantly offsetting annual fees.

Reservation of Quotas for NEST Counselling 2027

NEST 2027 offers a combined total of 261 seats (257 regular + 4 supernumerary J&K/Ladakh) across two institutes. Reservation norms differ between NISER and CEBS — most significantly, the EWS quota exists only at CEBS.

NISER Bhubaneswar – Seat Matrix (200 Regular Seats)

UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai – Seat Matrix (57 Regular Seats)

Key seat-transfer rules: unfilled OBC-NCL seats at both institutes transfer to the General (UR) pool. Unfilled SC and ST seats are not transferred to any other category — they stay vacant. Unfilled PwD seats are offered to non-PwD students within the same parent category (e.g., a vacant SC-PwD seat goes to an eligible SC student, not a General-PwD student).

How to Apply for NEST Counselling 2027?

NEST counselling has no common portal — NISER and CEBS each manage their own admission process. You can apply to both simultaneously with no restriction on dual participation. The five steps below cover the full lifecycle from result to admission confirmation.

Step 1: Appear in NEST 2027 and Verify Your Eligibility

Appear in NEST 2027 (expected June 2027) and download your scorecard from nestexam.in after the result is declared. Verify that your overall NEST percentile meets the MAP for your category (General/EWS: 95th; OBC-NCL: 90th; SC/ST/PwD/J&K: 75th) and that you have cleared the SMAS in at least 3 of the 4 subject sections. Only students satisfying both tiers are eligible to participate in NISER and/or CEBS counselling.

Step 2: Submit the Expression of Interest (EOI)

This is the single most time-sensitive step. Eligible students receive an email from NISER (typically within 10 days of the result) with a direct link to the EOI portal. For CEBS, access the EOI form on cbs.ac.in during the announced EOI window. Registering for counselling is mandatory — your NEST rank alone does not guarantee a seat. You must submit the EOI form within the deadline to be considered for allotment. The NISER EOI window in 2026 was just 3 days from the email date — submit immediately. Apply independently to both institutes to keep all options open.

Step 3: Monitor Merit Lists and Respond to Seat Offers

After the EOI window closes, NISER publishes an admission queue (modified merit list) and CEBS releases its first merit list. Check the respective institute website daily. If your rank appears in the current list, you receive a seat offer with a short response window — respond before the deadline or the offer lapses and you move to the waitlist. CEBS in 2026 released 24 rolling lists; if you did not appear in an early list, you may appear in a later one as higher-ranked students decline offers.

Step 4: Physical Document Verification on Campus

If you receive and accept a seat offer, you must report in person to the institute campus on the specified date. NISER students report to the NISER Jatni campus near Bhubaneswar, Odisha; CEBS students report to the CEBS Santacruz East campus in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Bring originals and at least one photocopy of every document listed in the Documents Required section. Document verification is conducted in person — no online-only alternative is available for this step.

Step 5: Fee Payment and Admission Confirmation

After successful document verification, pay the prescribed fees (see the Fees section) at the institute counter or via the online payment portal to formally confirm your admission. Once payment is received, you are issued an admission letter and hostel allocation details. If you subsequently decide to withdraw, submit a formal written withdrawal request — by email or in person — to the institute’s admissions office before the notified withdrawal deadline to retain eligibility for any refundable deposits.

How to Submit EOI Online – Step-by-Step Guide

The Expression of Interest (EOI) is NEST’s equivalent of choice filling — it places you in the admission queue. Missing this step at either institute means automatic exclusion from all rounds at that institute, regardless of your rank or score.

Step 1: Check Your Email Immediately After Result Declaration

• Log in to the email address registered with NEST right after the result is out; check both inbox and spam/promotions folders.
• NISER sends the EOI invitation from nest-exam@niser.ac.in — the email contains a unique access link; do not share it.
• For CEBS, visit cbs.ac.in directly and navigate to the Admissions section to find the EOI form or download link.

Step 2: Log In to the Institute Admissions Portal

• For NISER: click the portal link in the email; log in using your NEST roll number and the credentials provided.
• For CEBS: use the credentials from your NEST application or follow the portal login instructions on cbs.ac.in to access the admission form.

Step 3: Fill the EOI Form Accurately

• Confirm all personal details: name, date of birth, NEST roll number, NEST rank, and category.
• Indicate your subject preference if prompted (Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, or Physical Sciences) — this preference is considered in seat allocation subject to availability.
• Upload a recent passport-size photograph in the prescribed format if the portal requires it.
• For CEBS: state that you are applying to the CEBS Mumbai campus and specify your subject preference.

Step 4: Review and Submit Before the Deadline

• Review every entry before clicking Submit — EOI forms typically cannot be edited after submission.
• The deadline is non-negotiable: in 2026, NISER’s cutoff was 4:00 PM on the third day after the email. Late submissions are not processed.
• Submit both NISER and CEBS EOI forms independently within their respective windows.

Step 5: Save the Acknowledgement

• After successful submission, download or screenshot the acknowledgement page.
• Note your EOI registration or acknowledgement number — you will need it to track your position in the admission queue.

Submit EOI at both NISER and CEBS to maximise your admission chances across all available seats — you can always decline one offer later, but you cannot enter a queue you never joined.

NEST Counselling Documents Required 2027

Bring originals and at least one photocopy of each document to campus on reporting day. Both NISER and CEBS verify all documents in person — no online upload fully replaces physical verification. A missing document can delay or disqualify your admission confirmation.

• NEST 2027 Scorecard (printed from nestexam.in)
• NEST 2027 Admit Card
• Class 10 Marksheet and Passing Certificate (as proof of date of birth)
• Class 12 Marksheet and Passing Certificate
• School Leaving Certificate / Transfer Certificate
• Valid Government-Issued Photo ID: Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Driving License
• 4–6 recent passport-size photographs (colour, white background, taken within 3 months of reporting)
• Category Certificates (carry only those applicable to you):
  • OBC-NCL Certificate — issued by a competent state authority in the central government format; must explicitly state non-creamy layer (NCL) status; certificates without the NCL clause are not accepted
  • SC / ST Certificate — issued by the competent district authority (Tehsildar or equivalent)
  • EWS Certificate — for CEBS applicants only; issued by a revenue officer not below Tehsildar rank in the prescribed Income and Asset Certificate format
  • PwD / Divyangjan Certificate — confirming minimum 40% disability; issued by a recognised medical authority or disability board
  • J&K / Ladakh Domicile or Migration Certificate — for students claiming supernumerary seats at either institute
• Anti-Ragging Affidavit (download from the respective institute’s admissions portal; sign before reporting day)
• Medical History Form (institute-specific form; download from portal before reporting day)
• Student Undertaking Form (download from portal before reporting day)

Note: OBC-NCL certificates must explicitly state non-creamy layer (NCL) status — a certificate that says only "OBC" without the NCL clause is rejected at both NISER and CEBS. If your OBC-NCL certificate is more than one year old, obtain a fresh one before reporting day.

How Much Money is Needed for NEST Counselling 2027?

NEST does not charge a separate counselling registration fee (unlike JEE via JoSAA or NEET via MCC). All fees are paid directly to the respective institute at the time of admission confirmation. The figures below are based on NISER’s 2025–26 fee structure and CEBS’s 2025–26 schedule; minor revisions are possible for 2027.

Non-Refundable Admission Fees

These fees are paid at the time of joining and are not returned if you withdraw after formally confirming admission.

Note: The DISHA scholarship of Rs 60,000 per year is awarded automatically to all admitted students at both NISER and CEBS by DAE — no separate application is needed. Students also receive up to Rs 20,000 as an internship stipend annually. This substantially offsets programme and hostel costs. Confirm the current disbursement schedule with the institute at joining.

Refundable Deposits

Caution and security deposits are collected at admission and returned at graduation or formal departure — provided you have no outstanding dues with the institute.

If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the seat acceptance fee is not fully refunded — only caution money deposits are returned subject to the institute’s published withdrawal policy and the date on which you formally submit the withdrawal request. NISER publishes its Fee Refund Policy on the admissions portal each cycle; review it before withdrawing.

Round-Wise Merit List and Seat Allotment

NISER and CEBS follow different allotment structures. NISER conducts 2 formal admission rounds; CEBS releases a rolling series of merit lists until all 57 seats are filled. Both processes run in parallel from July onward, so your NEST rank determines when you appear in each institute’s queue independently.

In 2026, approximately 2,400–2,500 students qualified for counselling against 261 seats — roughly 10 qualified students per seat — underscoring why prompt EOI submission and active monitoring of merit lists are essential.

NISER Bhubaneswar – Round-Wise Allotment (2026 Reference)

UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai – Rolling Merit List Structure (2026 Reference)

Why does CEBS release up to 24 lists? Each new list fills the seats vacated when students from the previous list declined offers — typically choosing NISER over CEBS, or opting out entirely. CEBS continues issuing lists until all 57 seats are filled or the session start is reached. Students at lower NEST ranks who did not appear in early lists may receive offers in later rounds as seats cascade down the merit order.

Seat Acceptance, Withdrawal, and Round Management

Unlike JoSAA-style freeze/float/slide/withdraw options, NEST’s model is binary: accept the offer (pay fees and report) or decline it (do not respond or write in formally). Here is guidance for the four most common situations students encounter.

Scenario 1 – You Have Offers from Both NISER and CEBS

• You can participate in both processes simultaneously until you formally pay fees and confirm admission at one institute.
• Once you confirm at one, immediately inform the other in writing (email is sufficient) to release your seat — this allows the next student on the waitlist to be offered that seat in the following round.
• Holding both seats without intending to join at one delays admissions for other eligible students and may invite formal action from the institute.

Scenario 2 – You Accepted a Seat and Now Want to Withdraw

• Submit a formal withdrawal request in writing — via email or in person — to the institute’s admissions office before their notified withdrawal deadline.
• Caution money deposits (Rs 6,000 at NISER) are refunded after the admission cycle concludes, subject to no outstanding dues.
• One-time admission fees (admission fee, hostel admission fee, welfare fund, etc.) are generally non-refundable once a seat is formally accepted and fees paid.
• NISER publishes its Fee Refund Policy on its admissions portal each cycle — review the current version before initiating withdrawal.

Scenario 3 – You Submitted EOI at NISER but Were Not in the Round 1 Queue

• If you submitted EOI in time but your rank did not appear in Round 1, you are automatically on the waitlist for Round 2 (if seats remain vacant after Round 1).
• Monitor the NISER admissions website and your registered email closely after Round 1 closes — Round 2 notices in past cycles had a 2–4 day response window.

Scenario 4 – You Have Not Appeared in Any CEBS Merit List

• CEBS released up to 24 rolling lists in 2026. If you qualified but have not appeared in any list yet, continue checking cbs.ac.in with each new release.
• Each new list moves deeper into the rank order. If all seats in your category are filled before your rank is reached, no offer will be made in that cycle.

If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the seat acceptance fee is not fully refunded — only refundable caution money deposits are returned subject to the institute’s withdrawal policy and timeline.