National Entrance Screening Test Result 2026

What is NEST Result 2026?

The NEST 2026 result is the official score declaration for the National Entrance Screening Test. NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai conduct this exam jointly.

The result decides which students qualify for the 5-year Integrated MSc programme in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics. These two institutions function under India's Department of Atomic Energy.

The result comes as a scorecard with section-wise marks, overall percentile, and All-India merit rank. Only candidates who clear both qualifying thresholds — the Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS) and the Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) — receive a scorecard. Candidates who do not clear either threshold cannot access a scorecard through the portal.

NEST 2026 Result: Important Dates

NEST 2026 result was declared on June 24, 2026 at the official website nestexam.in. Qualified candidates can log in with their application ID and password to view their scorecard.

How to Download NEST Result 2026

Visit the official website nestexam.in. The direct link to download the NEST 2026 result is available on the homepage.

• Click on the result link and enter your application ID and password
• View your scorecard on the screen
• Download and print the scorecard for future reference

NEST 2026 Scorecard

The scorecard is issued only to candidates who clear both qualifying thresholds — SMAS and MAP. The scorecard carries section-wise marks, overall percentile, All-India merit rank, and category rank.

To qualify, candidates must clear SMAS in the General section plus at least 3 of 4 subject sections. Candidates must also meet the MAP threshold for their category.

NEST 2026 Qualifying Marks

MAP is the Minimum Admissible Percentile a candidate needs to qualify. The MAP values differ by category.

NEST 2026 Merit List

The NEST merit list is prepared separately for NISER and UM-DAE CEBS. It is based on the candidate's total score in the General section plus the best 3 of 4 subject sections, out of a maximum of 180 marks.

Qualified NISER applicants must submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) form online by July 6, 2026 (4:00 PM). CEBS counselling registration takes place in the third week of July 2026.

NEST 2026 Seat Matrix

NEST score is used for admission to two institutions only. The combined intake across both institutions is 257 seats.

Key Summary

• NEST 2026 result declared on June 24, 2026 at nestexam.in
• Scorecard login available from June 25; PDF download opens June 30, 2026
• MAP for General/OBC-NCL: 80th percentile; SC/ST: 75th percentile; PwD: 40th percentile
• Combined intake: 257 seats — NISER Bhubaneswar (200) and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai (57)
• NISER EOI form deadline: July 6, 2026; CEBS counselling registration: third week of July 2026

NEST 2026 Exam Overview

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is conducted by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. The exam is held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

NEST Result 2026: Important Dates

The table below covers every key event in the NEST 2026 cycle. Upcoming events (as of June 26, 2026) appear first so you know what to act on next.

NEST Result Previous Year Statistics

NEST has grown in participation over the last five cycles, though total seats remain at 257. The table below tracks key metrics across recent years.

The biggest shift in 2026 is the MAP for General/OBC-NCL candidates dropping sharply from 95th percentile in 2025 to 80th percentile — the lowest qualifying bar in five years. This means more students cleared the threshold in 2026 compared to the previous cycle. Despite the lower MAP, competition for actual seats stays intense: with only 257 seats available and roughly 1 in 12 test-takers qualifying historically, a high merit rank still matters for admission.

The 2026 result also arrived in late June rather than mid-July — about two to three weeks earlier than the 2023–2024 pattern. For context, the 2025 result was re-declared on July 17 after an initial July 10 publication, following a percentile recalculation issue. Always check the final published scorecard rather than relying on the initial portal display.

How to Download NEST Result 2026

You can check your NEST 2026 result by logging in at nestexam.in. The scorecard is issued only to qualified candidates. Follow these steps to access it.

How to Check NEST 2026 Result

Visit nestexam.in to check your NEST 2026 result. The result portal opens on the official website.

1. Go to nestexam.in.
2. Click the "NEST Result 2026" or "Scorecard Download" link on the homepage.
3. Enter your Application ID (or User ID) and Password.
4. Click the login or submit button.
5. Your NEST 2026 scorecard appears on screen. Review your section-wise marks, percentile, and rank.
6. Save the page or download the scorecard. The PDF download option opens on June 30, 2026 — use it to get a printable copy for counselling.

If you log in and do not see a scorecard, it means you did not clear the SMAS or MAP thresholds for your category. Non-qualified candidates do not receive a scorecard through the NEST portal.

Forgot your password? Use the "Forgot Password" option on the login page and enter your registered email ID to reset it. If the registered email is inaccessible, contact NEST support via the helpline details listed on nestexam.in.

NEST 2026 Result FAQ

Can I check my NEST 2026 result without my application ID?

No. The NEST result portal requires your Application ID (or User ID) and password to log in. You can find your Application ID in the confirmation email sent at registration or on your NEST 2026 admit card. If you cannot access either, contact NEST support via nestexam.in.

I qualified but cannot download the PDF scorecard yet. What should I do?

The scorecard PDF download is available from June 30, 2026. If you logged in before that date, you can view your result online but the PDF export may not be active yet. Try again on or after June 30. If the issue persists after June 30, contact NEST support via nestexam.in.

NEST 2026 Scorecard

Your NEST 2026 scorecard is the official document confirming your qualification and merit rank. You will need it at counselling for both NISER and UM-DAE CEBS. It is available only to candidates who clear both SMAS and MAP.

The NEST 2026 scorecard contains the following details:

• Candidate name, date of birth, and photograph
• Roll number and application number
• Category
• Date of examination
• Section-wise marks — General section, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics
• Total merit score (General section + best 3 of 4 subject section scores; maximum 180 marks)
• Overall percentile score
• Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) applicable for your category
• SMAS values applicable for your category
• All-India merit rank and category rank
• Number of candidates who appeared and qualified (aggregate statistics)
• Documents required for counselling
• Counselling schedule and venue details

Take a printout of your scorecard and keep the originals of all supporting documents ready before counselling. You can re-download the scorecard from nestexam.in if needed, but a printed copy is easier to carry on the day.

NEST 2026 Qualifying Marks

To qualify in NEST 2026, you must clear two independent thresholds at the same time: the Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS) and the Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP). A high overall score does not save you if you miss the SMAS in a required section. And meeting every SMAS threshold does not help if your overall percentile falls below the MAP for your category.

Threshold 1 — SMAS (Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score)

SMAS is the minimum marks required in each individual section. You must clear the SMAS in the General section and in at least 3 of the 4 subject sections (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics). SMAS equals 20% of the average of the best 100 scores in each section. Note: one question each from Chemistry and Physics was dropped in NEST 2026, and scores were scaled accordingly before SMAS was applied.

OBC-NCL SMAS = 90% of the General SMAS. SC/ST/PwD SMAS = 50% of the General SMAS.

Threshold 2 — MAP (Minimum Admissible Percentile)

MAP is the minimum overall percentile you must achieve across the complete NEST 2026 paper. If your percentile falls below the MAP for your category, you do not qualify regardless of your SMAS performance.

Minimum Admission Percentile (MAP) for NEST 2026

The Minimum Admission Percentile (MAP) is the second qualifying condition in NEST 2026. You must clear both the Subject-wise Minimum Admission Score (SMAS) and the MAP to qualify.

The MAP for NEST 2026 varies by category. The table below lists the required percentile for each category.

The MAP for General/OBC-NCL candidates came down from 95th percentile in 2025 to 80th percentile in 2026. This is the most accessible qualifying bar since 2021. The conducting bodies made this decision to widen the pool of qualified candidates relative to the available seats.

Qualifying Conditions for NEST 2026

You must clear both SMAS and MAP to qualify for NEST 2026. Meeting one threshold without the other does not make you eligible for the merit list or admission at NISER or UM-DAE CEBS.

You do not need to clear the SMAS in all four subject sections. You must clear the SMAS in the General section plus at least 3 of the 4 subject sections. You can miss the SMAS in one subject section and still qualify, provided all other conditions, including MAP, are met.

NEST 2026 Merit List

The NEST 2026 merit list was released on June 24, 2026, the same day as the result. It ranks all qualified candidates and is the basis for admission at both institutions.

Separate merit lists are prepared for NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. They are hosted at niser.ac.in/admission/ and cbs.ac.in/Academics/admission respectively.

How your merit rank is calculated:

• Merit score = General section marks + your best 3 out of 4 subject section marks
• Maximum possible merit score = 180 marks
• All-India rank is based on this 180-mark merit score, not the full raw paper total
• Ties are broken first by the General section score, then by Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics scores in that order

Your All-India rank on the NEST 2026 scorecard directly reflects your position on the combined merit list. With only 257 total seats, every rank matters. The difference of even a few positions can decide whether you get a seat in your preferred subject at NISER or CEBS.

NEST 2026 Cutoff

NEST cutoff works at two levels. The qualifying cutoff, which is SMAS plus MAP, decides who receives a scorecard. The admission cutoff, which is the actual closing rank for a seat, depends on how many qualified candidates submit the EOI form and report for counselling.

With only 257 total seats, even candidates well above the MAP may not secure a seat depending on their rank and subject preference. The table below shows the year-wise MAP trend for General category candidates.

The 2026 MAP for General/OBC-NCL is the lowest since 2021. This means more candidates qualified this year. This slightly increases competition for actual seats during counselling, since a larger qualified pool chases the same 257 seats.

Based on 2024 data, roughly 2,378 candidates qualified out of about 28,000 who appeared. The top few hundred merit ranks typically fill all General category seats at NISER and CEBS combined.

NEST 2026 Seat Matrix

NEST score is valid only for admission to NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. Both offer a 5-year Integrated MSc programme in basic sciences.

The combined intake for NEST 2026 is 257 regular seats plus 4 supernumerary seats reserved for candidates from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Seat Distribution for NEST 2026

NEST 2026 has 257 regular seats across two institutions. NISER Bhubaneswar has 200 seats, and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai has 57 seats.

NISER does not offer EWS reservation. EWS candidates compete in the General category there. CEBS Mumbai has 6 dedicated EWS seats.

PwD reservation is horizontal. It is applied as a 5% sub-quota within each vertical category.

All admitted students at both institutions receive the DISHA scholarship of Rs. 60,000 per year for all 5 years. They also get an internship stipend of Rs. 20,000 per year.

Admission Process After NEST 2026 Result

Qualifying in NEST 2026 opens two separate admission tracks. One is for NISER, and the other is for UM-DAE CEBS.

You can apply to both institutions to maximise your options. The two processes run independently; applying to one does not affect the other.

Track 1 — NISER Bhubaneswar

1. Submit the online Expression of Interest (EOI) form at niser.ac.in/admission/ by July 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM. This step is mandatory — qualifying NEST alone does not reserve a seat. Skip the EOI, and you are out of NISER’s process entirely.
2. NISER publishes the admission queue on July 10, 2026. It ranks EOI submitters by merit.
3. Report in person at NISER campus, Bhubaneswar, on July 28, 2026 by 9:00 AM. Carry all original documents and photocopies.
4. If seats remain after the first round, NISER announces a waitlist on July 29, 2026.

Track 2 — UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai

1. CEBS runs a separate registration. It opens in the third week of July 2026 at cbs.ac.in/Academics/admission.
2. CEBS releases three merit lists. The first is in the third week of July, the second in the first week of August, and the third in the second week of August 2026.
3. Spot admissions happen in the fourth week of August 2026 if seats remain after all three lists.
4. Admitted candidates report to CEBS Mumbai for document verification before the academic year starts.

Documents to Carry at Counselling

Carry these documents for both NISER and CEBS counselling:

• Class 12 marksheet and certificate
• Class 10 certificate (for date of birth proof)
• NEST 2026 scorecard (printed)
• Category certificate if applicable — OBC-NCL (non-creamy layer), SC, ST, EWS, or PwD certificate
• Four recent passport-sized photographs
• Photocopies of all original documents

Can I Apply to Both NISER and UM-DAE CEBS?

Yes. Qualifying NEST 2026 makes you eligible for both institutions. You must submit the EOI form for NISER and separately register for CEBS counselling.

The two processes are independent — no conflict in applying to both. If you secure a seat at one, you can choose whether to accept or wait for the other institution’s list.

DISHA Scholarship Details

The DISHA (Department of Atomic Energy Initiative for Science and Higher Education Advancement) scholarship gives every student admitted to NISER or UM-DAE CEBS through NEST Rs. 60,000 per year for all 5 years of the Integrated MSc.

You also get Rs. 20,000 per year as an internship stipend. The scholarship applies to all admitted students regardless of category — you do not need to apply separately for it.

NEST 2026 Result and Scorecard

The NEST 2026 result was declared on June 24, 2026 at nestexam.in. Scorecards became available for login on June 25, 2026.

The full scorecard PDF download opens on June 30, 2026. Log in at nestexam.in using your application ID and password to access it. Only qualified candidates receive a scorecard.

Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) for NEST 2026

The Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) for NEST 2026 is 80th percentile for General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates.

• SC and ST candidates: 75th percentile
• J&K/Ladakh supernumerary candidates: 75th percentile
• PwD candidates across all categories: 40th percentile

Total Seats in NEST 2026

NEST 2026 offers 257 regular seats. NISER Bhubaneswar has 200 seats, and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai has 57 seats.

There are also 4 supernumerary seats for J&K and Ladakh candidates. Each institution gets 2 of these seats.

What is SMAS and MAP in NEST?

SMAS stands for Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score. It is the minimum marks you need in each individual section of the paper. MAP stands for Minimum Admissible Percentile. It is the overall percentile you must achieve across the full paper.

You must clear both SMAS and MAP at the same time. SMAS checks your performance in each section. MAP checks your overall standing among all test-takers.

Age Limit for NEST

There is no upper age limit for NEST. To appear in NEST 2026, you must have passed Class 12 in 2025 or be appearing in Class 12 in 2026.

There is no minimum age restriction beyond the Class 12 eligibility requirement.

Number of Attempts for NEST

There is no cap on the number of attempts. You can appear in NEST every year as long as you passed Class 12 in the year of the exam or in the immediately preceding year.

Courses Offered Through NEST

NEST qualifies you for the 5-year Integrated MSc programme at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. Subjects offered include Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.

Both institutions are under India's Department of Atomic Energy. They are known for their research-intensive environment in basic sciences.

EOI Form for NISER

If you do not submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) form at niser.ac.in/admission/ by July 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM, you will not be considered for a NISER seat. Qualifying NEST is a prerequisite, but submitting the EOI is a separate mandatory step for NISER admission.

EWS Reservation at NISER

No. NISER does not have EWS reservation. EWS candidates compete in the General category at NISER.

UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai has 6 EWS seats. If you want to use EWS reservation benefits, apply to CEBS Mumbai through the CEBS admission process.

NEST 2026 Result Declaration Date

The NEST 2026 result was declared on June 24, 2026 at nestexam.in. Scorecards became available for login on June 25, 2026. The full scorecard PDF download opens on June 30, 2026.

How to Check NEST 2026 Result

Log in at nestexam.in using your application ID and password. The scorecard appears after login. The PDF download becomes available from June 30, 2026. Only qualified candidates receive a scorecard.

Can I Check Result Without Application ID?

No. The NEST result portal requires your Application ID (or User ID) and password to log in. You can find your Application ID in the confirmation email sent at registration or on your NEST 2026 admit card. If you cannot access either, contact NEST support via nestexam.in.

Scorecard PDF Download Issues

The scorecard PDF download is available from June 30, 2026. If you logged in before that date, you can view your result online but the PDF export may not be active yet. Try again on or after June 30. If the issue persists after June 30, contact NEST support via nestexam.in.

SMAS and MAP in NEST

SMAS (Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score) is the minimum marks you need in each individual section of the paper. MAP (Minimum Admissible Percentile) is the overall percentile you must achieve across the full paper. Both must be cleared at the same time. SMAS checks your section-level performance; MAP checks your overall standing among all test-takers.

Qualification Criteria

You do not qualify if you clear SMAS but miss the MAP. Both SMAS and MAP must be cleared at the same time. Meeting one threshold without the other does not make you eligible for the merit list or admission at NISER or UM-DAE CEBS.

You must clear the SMAS in the General section plus at least 3 of the 4 subject sections. You can miss the SMAS in one subject section and still qualify, provided all other conditions (including MAP) are met.

MAP for NEST 2026

The Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) for NEST 2026 is 80th percentile for General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates. For SC and ST candidates and J&K/Ladakh supernumerary candidates, the MAP is 75th percentile. PwD candidates across all categories need 40th percentile.

Seats Available Through NEST 2026

NEST 2026 offers 257 regular seats — 200 at NISER Bhubaneswar and 57 at UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. There are also 4 supernumerary seats for J&K and Ladakh candidates (2 at each institution).

Applying to NISER and UM-DAE CEBS

Yes. Qualifying NEST 2026 makes you eligible for both institutions. You must submit the EOI form for NISER and separately register for CEBS counselling. The two processes are independent — no conflict in applying to both. If you secure a seat at one, you can choose whether to accept or wait for the other institution's list.

EOI Form for NISER

If you do not submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) form at niser.ac.in/admission/ by July 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM, you will not be considered for a NISER seat. Qualifying NEST is a prerequisite, but submitting the EOI is a separate mandatory step for NISER admission.

DISHA Scholarship

The DISHA (Department of Atomic Energy Initiative for Science and Higher Education Advancement) scholarship gives every student admitted to NISER or UM-DAE CEBS through NEST Rs. 60,000 per year for all 5 years of the Integrated MSc. You also get Rs. 20,000 per year as an internship stipend. The scholarship applies to all admitted students regardless of category — you do not need to apply separately for it.

Age Limit for NEST

There is no upper age limit for NEST. To appear in NEST 2026, you must have passed Class 12 in 2025 or be appearing in Class 12 in 2026. There is no minimum age restriction beyond the Class 12 eligibility requirement.

Number of Attempts

There is no cap on the number of attempts. You can appear in NEST every year as long as you passed Class 12 in the year of the exam or in the immediately preceding year.

Courses Through NEST

NEST qualifies you for the 5-year Integrated MSc programme at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. Subjects offered include Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Both institutions are under India's Department of Atomic Energy and are known for their research-intensive environment in basic sciences.

What is the National Entrance Screening Test?

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is the entrance exam for admission to the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar and the UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS) Mumbai. The exam is held once a year.

EWS Reservation at NISER and CEBS

NISER does not have Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation. Candidates from the EWS category compete in the General category at NISER.

UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai has 6 EWS seats. If you want to use EWS reservation benefits, apply to CEBS Mumbai through the CEBS admission process.