NEST Result 2026: Download Scorecard, Merit List, Rank Card & Percentile Score

The NEST 2026 result is expected to be out by the fourth week of June. The exact result date has not been announced with the notification. The exam will be conducted on June 6. Generally, NEST result is declared within a few weeks of the exam. Before that, answer keys will be released. Objections can be submitted within the given date. Based on objections received by test-takers, the NEST result will be prepared.

If two applicants will score the same percentile marks in the NEST exam, then authority will consider the marks of the class 12th exam for tie-breaking. In case of a tie between the marks of the class 12th exam, then the candidate who will be younger given preference over other who will be older. 

Though in most other exams, the older candidates get preference but in case of NEST exam, it is different. 

SMAS is used frequently in preparing the result of NEST exam. 

The full-form of SMAS is the Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score. It is the cut off marks which applicants need to secure for each section of NEST paper.

Since there are different category candidates who appear in the exam hence they have seperate SMAS.  

A good score in NEST is considered to be 150+ marks. However, NEST safe score varies for each categories. To secure admission to the top programs offered at NISER and UM-DAE CEBS candidates belonging to GEN category must obtain 150+ marks, while SC/ST need to obatin 90+ marks. 

Yes, candidates who have passed class 12 with PCM or BiPC can appear for NEST. They alos need to obtain 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/ Divyangjan) in aggregate.

The exam authority releases the NEST scorecard online. Students have to provide the application number and password to check the scorecard. The NEST scorecard contains total marks and merit rank. 

NEST 2026 result date will be announed on the official website. The result is expected to release in the last week of June 2026. NEST result link will be updated on online.

NEST exam is for admission to 5-year Integrated M.Sc. programme in Biological, Chemical, Mathematical and Physical sciences offered at National Institute of Science Education and Research  (NISER) and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS).

The MAP is the overall cut off percentile obtained by the candidates in the NEST exam. The highest MAP is 100th percentile. It is different for different categories. As 95 percentile for the General category, 90 percentile for OBC category and 75 percentile for SC/ ST/ Divyangjan category students. 

Applicants need to secure the cutoff marks from the category they belong to; otherwise, they won't be able to pass the exam. 

NEST marks vs rank helps students know what rank they may score based on their marks. The marks in NEST are converted into percentiles, and then a merit list is prepared. Students with a higher rank have a high chance of admission.

A candidate is required to score equal to or above a total Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) to get a merit rank. The minimum admissible percentile score varies for different category candidates. For general category applicants need to score 95 percentile marks in NEST exam. 

The category wise MAP is mentioned below:

Students who score less than the MAP would neither be allotted any merit rank nor be eligible for admission even though he/she secure SMAS in all sections. 

NISER and UM-DAE CEBS release the exam results within three weeks from the day of the exam. The links are activated on the NEST website. Students have to provide the required credentials to check the result.

The NEST Scoring system is based on the following factors.

• There are four sections of 60 marks each
• Each question carries three marks
• One mark will be removed for each wrong answer 
• Candidates have to attempt at least three sections
• Best of the three scores out of four sections will be considered.

Candidates seeking admission to NISER and UM–DAE CEBS for the Integrated MSc programme 2026–31 should be from the regular science stream in classes 11 and 12. All aspiring candidates must write the NEST 2026 examination. Candidates must have passed the Class 12 examination from any recognised Board in India in the years 2024 or 2025, or should be appearing for the same in 2026. Candidates who are appearing for the board examination in 2026 must pass it by the time of admission into the programme.

Merit list rank preparation or the final ranking of the candidates will be based on percentile scores calculated from the best three-section scores. The merit list will be published based on the following criteria: 

1. A candidate is required to score more than SMAS in at least three subject sections. Then we say that the candidate is SMAS-qualified. 

2. The total score of an SMAS-qualified candidate is the sum of the scores of her/his three best scores from the SMAS securing sections. 

3. A candidate is required to score equal to or above a total Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) to get a merit rank. 

4. If the percentiles of two or more candidates become equal (i.e., in the case of a tie), then the best scores in the sections of the two students would be compared. The student with the higher score would get a better rank.

5. If the tie persists, the students would be given the same provisional rank at the time of declaration of the result, and the tie would be broken by comparing class 12th marks during admission/counselling. 

6. If the tie still persists, then the younger student will get a higher rank.