NEST Eligibility Criteria 2026: Check Nationality, Age Limit, Aggregate Score & Qualifications

The NEST exam 2026 eligibility criteria is specified by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai.

Both the autonomous Institutions prescribed that students should be appearing or have passed the 10+2 with requisite marks in order to register for the entrance test.

Students will get brief information on NEST exam eligibility criteria 2026 including academic qualifications, age limit, reservation criteria, and more in this article.

The NEST (National Entrance Screening Test) exam is a National-level online entrance test, conducted to offer admission to the students in the 5 years Integrated M.Sc program in NISER Bhubaneswar & UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai.

With the aim of securing admission in a specified Institution, students need to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the NEST Exam; check the following details for the same:

Academic Qualification

Candidates should be enrolled in 12^th Class in 2026 or have qualified the same in the year 2024 or 2025 from any recognised Board in India. Moreover, students should have studied at least 3 out of the 4 subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics in 11^th & 12^th Standard.

Qualifying Marks

In accordance with NEST exam eligibility criteria 2026, candidates belonging to the unreserved category should score at least 60% marks in aggregate or equal grades. Whereas, students who belong to SC / ST / Divyangjan categories need to secure a minimum 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination.

Age Limit

The conducting body has specified no minimum and maximum age limit for applying for the NEST Exam 2026.

Nationality

As per the NEST exam eligibility criteria, Indian students are qualified to take the entrance exam.

* Candidates should ensure that they must fulfill the eligibility criteria before proceeding for the NEST Exam Registration 2026.

According to the NEST exam eligibility criteria 2026, both the Institutions provide reservation on seats as per rules prescribed by Government of India. The detailed information on reservation criteria for reserved categories are as follows:

In accordance with NEST exam eligibility criteria 2026, Divyangjan or PwD candidates will get 5% of reserved seats in every category i.e., UR (Unreserved), OBC, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST. Moreover, candidates who want to avail the reserved seats under the Divyangjan sub-category, should fulfill the following criteria:

• 40% impairment regardless of the type of disability.

OR

• Leprosy-cured person who is medically fit in other respects.

Other than above mentioned NEST exam 2026 eligibility criteria, candidates should also consider the following points:

1. Candidates who will appear for the Board examination in 2026 year, should fulfill the NEST exam eligibility criteria 2026, at the time of admission. In addition to it, the passing certificate of 12^th Class, mentioning the aggregate should be granted by a single Board.
2. The reservation for PwD candidates is horizontal. Hence, unfilled seats under this category will be allotted to candidates of the respective categories.
3. The reservation for EWS (Economically Weaker Section) comes under the UR-EWS category for admission in the UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai only.
4. Moreover, some supernumerary seats are reserved for students belonging to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh region.

* Students should be well acquainted with the NEST Exam Syllabus 2026 & NEST Exam Pattern 2026, in order to get desired results.