What are the important things candidates must remember while filling online application for NEST exam?

Important things to remember for the NEST 2026 online application are mentioned below: The correct email address should be provided. The NEST office communicates with candidates through this e-mail ID only. The phone number that is provided during the application should be accessible by the candidate. The NEST office uses this phone number to reach a candidate or to send SMS messages whenever necessary. A properly scanned and cropped recent passport-sized photograph should be uploaded. A properly scanned and cropped signature should be uploaded. The photograph and signature files must not be more than 80 KB each and must be in. JPG or JPEG format only. Applications incomplete in any respect will not be accepted.

Is there any other mode to submit NEST application?

Applications can be submitted only through the NEST 2026 website only. There is no other mode of application submission. Login credentials for logging into the application submission and fee payment portals will be provided upon online registration.

What are the important documents candidates need to fill the application form for NEST?

Applicants must have the following document to upload while filling NEST application form: Class 10 mark sheet/ report card/ certificate Class 12 mark sheet/ report card/ certificate Digital copy of the photograph Scanned signature The size of photograph and signature will be mentioned in official notification. Applicants are advised to follow the same specifications otherwise their candidature/application form may be rejected by the authorities.

When will the NEST application form 2026 release?

The NEST 2026 application form has been released on January 5. The last date is April 6. The application process is completely online. The application correction facility will be provided from April 13 to April 14.

What is the eligibility for NEST exam?

The NEST 2026 eligibility criteria are defined on both basis age wise as well education wise. Admissions in NISER, Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai are done based on a candidate's score in the NEST exam. Candidates who have passed Class 12 from the Science stream are eligible to apply for the NEST exam. Candidates should pass Class 12 in Science stream from a recognised board in India with at least 60% aggregate marks (55% for SC/ ST/ PWD category candidates). Candidates should have passed Class XII either last year or will pass this year. There is no age limit to appear for NEST.

How many exam cities can be chosen while filling the NEST 2026 application form?

NEST 2026 exam will be conducted in 140 cities across India. Applicants have to select three cities in order of preference. Every effort will be made to allot the centre of first preference. The final decision lies with the authorities. The exam conducting authorities will release the NEST 2026 admit card on May 15, 2026, which will mention the allotted NEST exam centre to the applicants.

What is the application fee for NEST exam?

The Application fee for the NEST Exam for the upcoming academic session 2026 is notified. The NEST 2026 Application fee for male candidates of the General and OBC categories is INR 1,400. The application fee for candidates in the SC/ST/Divyangjan categories and for all female candidates is INR 700. Payments can be made using credit card/debit card/Netbanking, and UPI modes.

NEST Application Form 2026 (Begins): Eligibility, Document, Fees & Steps to Apply Online

442 Students Q&A

Registration - 5 Jan '26 - 6 Apr '26

Updated on Mar 6, 2026 17:35 IST

By Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

NEST Registration 2026 last date is April 6. NISER and UM-DAE CEBS has updated the NEST 2026 application form online. NEST application process involves registration, form filling, and payment of application fees. Passed 10+2 Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics / Biology in 2024, 2025, or appearing 2026 can apply. Candidates must have obtained 60% marks (55% for SC, ST, Divyangjan) in aggregate. The authority will conduct the National Entrance Screening Test on June 6, 2026.

Click here to Register for NEST 2026

Candidates who are interested for admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc programme offered at National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre of Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS) must submit the form before the NEST registration 2026 last date. The authority will open the NEST form correction window on April 13, 2026. Check the page for detailed information on NEST 2026 application form.

Also Read: NEST 2026 Exam Dates Out

Table of contents

NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria
NEST 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
How to Fill NEST 2026 Application Form?
What to Keep Ready Before Filling the NEST Application Form 2026?
NEST 2026 Application Correction Window
FAQs on NEST 2026 Application Form

NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The NEST 2026 eligibility criteria are announced by the conducting body on the information bulletin, which is provided below.

The candidates who have cleared the Class 12 examination or equivalent in 2024, 2025 or those who will be appearing for the Class 12 Board exam or equivalent in 2026, irrespective of category and age, will be eligible for NEST 2026.
Candidates must have studied at least three subjects between Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics in Class 11 and Class 12.
Applicants must secure at least 60 per cent marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade) in the Class 12 examination from any recognised Board in India. For Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and Divyangjan candidates, the minimum requirement is 55 per cent.
There is no age limit to appear for NEST 2026.

NEST 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NEST 2026 exam

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
05 Jan ' 26 - 06 Apr ' 26	NEST 2026 Application Process ONGOING
05 Jan ' 26 - 12 Apr ' 26	NEST 2026 Application Process ONGOING
13 Apr ' 26 - 14 Apr ' 26	NEST 2026 Application Form Correction Window
May ' 26	NEST 2026 Mock Test Release TENTATIVE
15 May ' 26	NEST 2026 Admit Card
06 Jun ' 26	NEST 2026 Exam Date

How to Fill NEST 2026 Application Form?

DeskCalendar Registration: 05 Jan ' 26 - 06 Apr ' 26

The NEST 2026 Application process has to be completed in online mode by visiting the exam website. The detailed procedure is given below.

Visit the official website, i.e. nestexam.in
Click on the tab Register Now or directly click on the link - https://cdn3.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/1834/97119/Registration.html
Fill up the mandatory fields
Generate Username and Password
Login with the registration details
Fill up the application form and upload documents
Pay the application fee through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking and UPI modes
Once the registration form is submitted then students must take a printout and save it for further usage.

NEST Application Fee

Check out the information in the table below related to the NEST Fee to submit the application form.

Category	Fees (in INR)
Male candidates of the Unreserved/ EWS/OBC category	1,400
Female candidates in the Unreserved/EWS/OBC category	700
SC/ST/PwD/Transgender category candidates	700

What to Keep Ready Before Filling the NEST Application Form 2026?

The exam authorities have suggested that candidates keep the following information or documents ready before filling the NEST Application Form 2026.

An active email address and mobile number for the registration process. Since NEST officials will communicate on these, the correct details should be provided.
A recent passport-sized photograph and signature, scanned and cropped as mentioned in the application portal, should be uploaded.
The photograph and signature files must not be more than 80 KB each and must be in .JPG or .JPEG format only.

NEST 2026 Application Correction Window

Candidates must be aware of the registration date for the NEST Exam, along with the application correction window opening and closing dates to make any corrections, as per the official notification on the official site. The online correction window is scheduled from April 13, 2026, to April 14, 2026. Students have the liberty to correct or update the information on the NEST 2026 Application form. The process is given below.

Visit the official website of NEST 2026
Log in using the Application or User ID and Password
In the application account, update the details
Click on the Submit button and save the updated information
No separate fee is needed.

FAQs on NEST 2026 Application Form

Check the NEST Application Form 2026 FAQs here.

Q: What should I do if I am unable to upload my passport-size photograph while filling out the application form for NEST?

While filling the NEST online form, candidates must ensure that they uploaded the photograph in the format prescribed by exam authorities. The digital photograph uploaded by candidates need to be in JPEG format and should not have exceeded 80 KB.

If all the image specifications are correct then also applicants need to check their internet failing which their registration process can be cancelled.

Q: What is the procedure to allot NEST Exam Centres?

The test centres of NEST exam are allotted based on the number of applicants opting for a particular test. It is to be noted that NEST committee reserves the right to cancel or add any of the test cities without prior notice to applicants.

The final allocation of NEST Test Centres will be mentioned on the admit card, Applicants can not make any request to change the address or venue in it once it is decided.

Q: When will NEST 2026 application process start?

The NEST 2026 application process is being conducted from January 5 to April 6, 2026. The application fee has to be paid by April 12, 2026. The National Entrance Screening Test or NEST 2026 application form date has been announced on December 15, 2025. The NEST application process will be online. The fee has to be paid through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI.