NEST 2027 is the National Entrance Screening Test, held jointly by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai, two Department of Atomic Energy institutes. It decides admission to their 5-year Integrated MSc in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The online exam is expected in June 2027, with applications expected from January 2027.
NEST 2027
This page covers the expected NEST 2027 dates, how to apply and the fee, eligibility, exam pattern, seats and official links.
| Full name | National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2027 |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai (Department of Atomic Energy institutes) |
| Exam level | National |
| Courses / Purpose | 5-year Integrated MSc in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics at NISER and UM-DAE CEBS |
| Exam date | Expected June 2027 (6 June in 2026) |
| Application | Expected from January 2027, online only at nestexam.in |
| Application fee | Rs 1,400 General and OBC male; Rs 700 female, EWS, SC, ST and Divyangjan (2026) |
| Eligibility | Class 12 with three of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics; 60% (55% SC, ST, Divyangjan) |
| Mode | Online, computer-based test; English and Hindi |
| Questions and marks | 80 MCQs in 4 sections, 240 marks, 3 hours; best 3 qualifying sections count |
| Negative marking | 1 mark deducted per wrong answer (+3 for a correct one) |
| Official website | nestexam.in |
NEST 2027 Important Dates
NEST 2027 dates are not announced yet. In 2026 the form was open from 5 January to 8 April and the exam was on 6 June, so NEST 2027 is expected in June 2027.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | January 2027 Expected |
| Admit card | May 2027 Expected |
| NEST 2027 exam | June 2027 Expected |
| Provisional answer key | June 2027 Expected |
| Result | June 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for NEST 2027
You apply for NEST 2027 only online at nestexam.in, which links to the application portal. There is no offline form, and you do not send any documents to the NEST office. The form is expected to open in January 2027.
Apply Online for NEST 2027
Applications for NEST 2027 are expected in January 2027.
- Open nestexam.in and click New Registration.
- Register with an email ID and a mobile number you use; NEST writes to you only by email.
- Log in and fill in your personal, category and Class 12 details.
- Choose 3 exam centres in order of preference.
- Upload a recent passport-size photo and your signature (JPG or JPEG, up to 80 KB each).
- Pay the fee online by card, net banking or UPI and submit the form.
- Save the confirmation page and note your login details for the admit card and result.
| Category | Fee (NEST 2026) |
|---|---|
| Male candidates, General (UR) and OBC | Rs 1,400 |
| All female candidates | Rs 700 |
| UR-EWS, SC, ST and Divyangjan | Rs 700 |
These are the NEST 2026 fees. The NEST 2027 fee will be confirmed in the 2027 brochure.
Who can apply for NEST 2027?
You can apply for NEST 2027 if you studied at least three of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics in Class 11 and 12. These are the rules from the NEST 2026 brochure; the 2027 brochure will confirm them.
- Class 12 year: in 2026 the test was open to those who passed in 2024 or 2025 or were appearing in 2026. For 2027 this is expected to be 2025, 2026 or appearing in 2027.
- Marks: at least 60% aggregate in Class 12, or 55% for SC, ST and Divyangjan candidates. The marks must come from a single board.
- If you take the board exam in 2027, you must meet the marks rule at the time of admission.
- Age: there is no age limit for the exam or for admission.
- Certificates are checked only at admission, not when you apply or take the test.
What is the NEST 2027 exam pattern?
NEST is a 3-hour computer-based test with four subject sections of 20 multiple-choice questions each. Each question has four options and one correct answer. You must attempt at least three sections, and only your best three qualifying section scores count.
| Feature | Details (as per NEST 2026) |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in 2026) |
| Sections | Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics |
| Questions | 20 MCQs per section, 80 in all |
| Marks | 60 per section, 240 in all |
| Marking | +3 correct, -1 wrong, 0 unanswered |
| Merit score | Best 3 qualifying sections (out of 180) |
| Language | English and Hindi |
A simple on-screen calculator is given, but log tables and your own calculator are not allowed. The topics are listed on the NEST syllabus page.
Which institutes take admission through NEST?
Only NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai use NEST scores. Both run a residential Integrated MSc, and each institute prepares its own admission merit list.
| Institute | Seats in 2026 | J&K and Ladakh (extra) |
|---|---|---|
| NISER Bhubaneswar (Odisha) | 200 | 2 |
| UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai (Maharashtra) | 57 | 2 |
| Total | 257 | 4 |
Seats follow central reservation rules: 27% OBC-NCL, 15% SC, 7.5% ST and 5% Divyangjan in each category. EWS reservation applies at UM-DAE CEBS only.
NEST Official Notices and Downloads
The NEST 2027 brochure is not out yet. Until it is, the NEST 2026 brochure is the latest official reference.
- PDFNEST 2026 Information Brochure and Syllabus (latest) (12 January 2026)Official site · nestexam.inOpen
- LINKNEST official website (nestexam.in)Official site · nestexam.inOpen