NEST 2026 Exam Dates (Out): Application (Jan 5-April 6), Exam Date (June 6), Admit Card & Other Dates

NEST is an undergraduate-level entrance exam for Science stream students for admission to the five-year Integrated MSc course offered at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS. NEST 2026 will be conducted in a computer-based mode in around 140 cities across India. Check out this table to know important details related to the NEST 2026 exam.

The total duration of the NEST 2026 exam is three hours. The exam timing is 2 to 5 PM. There will be no breaks in between. Test takers will also not be allowed to leave the NEST centre before the exam ends. As per the Government of India guidelines, PWD candidates will be given a compensatory 20 minutes per hour. 

Candidates can check the schedule of the NEST Exam from the below table.

According to the NEST 2026 information bulletin, test-takers will not be allowed to enter the exam hall after 3 PM, which is an hour after the test begins. On the other hand, they will not be allowed to leave the centre before 4 PM, unless it becomes necessary on medical grounds. 

The exact schedule and instructions regarding the NEST 2026 exam day timing will be announced on the admit card, which must be followed by test-takers to avoid inconveniences on the exam day. Students must take their designated seats at the exam hall within the said time. They should leave the centre only after the invigilator permits them. They should take bio breaks before the exam starts to avoid leaving during the exam. 

The NEST 2026 application dates are scheduled from January 5 to April 6, 2026. Even though the application form is yet to be released, it is likely that the process will begin on the slated date. The last date to pay the application fee is April 12, 2026. The registration and application process will be completely online. Candidates planning to apply for NEST 2026 have to follow the process given below. 

• Visit the official website - nestexam.in
• Click on the tab Register Now 
• Fill up the mandatory fields
• Generate Username and Password
• Log in with the registration details
• Fill the form and upload documents 
• Pay the application fee through Credit or Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI 
• Download and print the confirmation page.

The application fee for NEST 2026 is given below. 

The NEST 2026 application will be considered successful after the payment of the fee. The fee has remained the same as last year. The NEST application fee is non-refundable.

The important dates and events for NEST 2026 are explained here in the order of occurrence.

NEST 2026 Application Form: The NEST 2026 application form will be released on January 5. Students have to visit the exam portal to register and fill up the form after logging in. The application fee has to be paid in online mode, through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI, by April 12, 2026. 

NEST 2026 Application Correction: Candidates completing the registration process will be provided a correction window from April 13 to April 14, 2026. They will be able to make necessary changes in the selected fields of the form. 

NEST 2026 Admit Card: The admit card of NEST 2026 will be released on May 15. It will carry information about exam date and time, centre name and address, candidate details and instructions for the exam day. It is a must-carry document for the centre, along with a valid photo identity card.

NEST 2026 Mock Test: The exam authorities will release the NEST mock test tentatively in the first week of May 2026. It will help students to be familiar with the actual exam interface and navigation. 

NEST 2026 Exam Day: The NEST 2026 exam will be held on June 6. The computer-based test will have 80 objective type multiple choice questions from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. Candidates have to attempt at least three sections. Each question will have four answer options. Out of this, candidates can select only one. Marks per question is four. One mark will be deducted for a wrong answer.

NEST 2026 Answer Key: The provisional NEST 2026 answer keys will be available on the exam portal by the second week of June. In case of discrepancies, students have to submit objections by paying the requisite fee and process within the said date. Based on objections, the final NEST answer keys will be announced. 

NEST 2026 Result: The result of NEST 2026 will be declared by the fourth week of June. It will be released in the form of a scorecard on the exam portal. The NEST 2026 scorecard should be saved till the admission process is completed. A merit list will be released separately, carrying the names of qualified candidates by securing the NEST Cutoff.

NEST 2026 Counselling: Qualifying candidates will be eligible to participate in the NEST counselling process. Both the participating institutes will conduct the process separately. The total duration of the counselling is likely to be three to four months. The number of rounds will depend on the number of unoccupied seats.