NEST Syllabus 2026: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics & Biology Syllabus PDF Download

National Entrance Screening Test 2026 ( NEST )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 5 Jan '26 - 6 Apr '26

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma
Updated on Jan 8, 2026 23:24 IST

By Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

The NEST 2026 syllabus is available now. UM-DAE CEBS and NISER have released the NEST exam syllabus pdf on the website, nestexam.in. The syllabus of NEST is based on the CBSE curriculum (2025-26) and the NCERT textbook of Class 11 & 12. Students can check the exam syllabus to know what the important topics are in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Aspirants must follow the NEST exam 2026 syllabus to plan their preparation, as the questions asked will test the candidates' domain-specific knowledge.

Students must check out the NEST 2026 Exam Pattern as well to thoroughly prepare for the exam. The NEST 2026 question paper consists of questions that come from all four sections - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. It is suggested that students must be well-versed with the exam syllabus to qualify for the NEST 2026 Exam. Most of the topics asked in the National Entrance Screening Test come from the Class 11 and 12 NCERT/CBSE books.

Table of contents
  • NEST Syllabus 2026
  • NEST Syllabus 2026 PDF Link
  • NEST Syllabus 2026 for Biology
  • NEST Syllabus 2026 for Chemistry
  • NEST Syllabus 2026 for Physics
  • NEST Syllabus 2026 for Mathematics
  • NEST 2026 FAQs
View More
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NEST Syllabus 2026

Applicants who want to prepare for the National Entrance Screening Test must know the syllabus of NEST 2026 mentioned in the official notification. By knowing and preparing the NEST exam syllabus 2026 applicants can increase their chances of qualifying for the exam with flying colors. 

The level of questions of NEST 2026 will be similar to that of Class 11-12. Hence, NCERT books will be useful to an extent to cover the NEST 2026 syllabus. However, to get a high score, candidates may refer to other NEST preparation books along with the NCERT books.

The NEST syllabus is further divided into four subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. The detailed description of sub-topics for all these four sections is mentioned below. 

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NEST Syllabus 2026 PDF Link

The syllabus of the NEST exam is important for applicants to prepare for the exam. The authorities have released the NEST 2026 syllabus in a PDF file online. Candidates must go through the NEST syllabus pdf link mentioned in the table below.

NEST Subject Wise Syllabus PDF 2026

Subject PDF File
Physics Download Here
Chemistry Download Here
Mathematics Download Here
Biology Download Here
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NEST Syllabus 2026 for Biology

Candidates can go through important topics that they should consider studying to score well in the NEST Biology paper, as mentioned in the table below:

NEST 2026 Important Topics for Biology

Title Topics
Diversity of Living Organisms 
  • The Living World
  • Biological Classification
  • Plant Kingdom 
  • Animal Kingdom 
Structural Organization in Plants and Animals
  • Morphology of Flowering Plants 
  • Anatomy of Flowering Plants
  • Structural Organisation in Animals 
Structure and Function
  • Cell-The Unit of Life
  • Biomolecules 
  • Cell Cycle and Cell Division 
Plant Physiology
  • Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
  • Respiration in Plants
  • Plant - Growth and Development 
Human Physiology 
  • Breathing and Exchange of Gases
  • Body Fluids and Circulation
  • Digestion and Absorption
  • Excretory Products and their Elimination
  • Locomotion and Movement
  • Neural Control and Coordination
  • Chemical Coordination and Integration 
Reproduction 
  • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
  • Human Reproduction 
  • Reproductive Health 
Genetics and Evolution
  • Principles of Inheritance and Variation
  • Molecular Basis of Inheritance 
  • Evolution 
Biology and Human Welfare
  • Human Health and Diseases
  • Microbes in Human Welfare 
Biotechnology and its Applications 
  • Biotechnology - Principles and Processes
  • Biotechnology and its Applications
Ecology and Environment
  • Organisms and Populations
  • Ecosystem 
  • Biodiversity and its Conservation

These are topics of the Biology section of the NEST 2026 syllabus from which questions will be asked in the exam. The detailed description of the topics can be checked in the NEST syllabus PDF mentioned above. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is there any negative marking in NEST?
A: 

Yes, according to the NEST exam pattern, there will be negative marking. For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted. The marks per question are three. Full marks in the exam are 240. 

Q:   Is Biology compulsory for NEST exam?
A: 

For entrance exam since marks from three section are considered hence it can be said that it not compulsory. In the NEST exam your marks will be considered from any of 3 subjects out of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. but if you know basics it will help you to secure marks and for further study during campus classes.

In first year after joining NISER you would be taught basic biology. In fact many students who did not have biology in class 12 and did fairly well in the biology exams during first year.

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NEST Syllabus 2026 for Chemistry

The NEST Chemistry syllabus is further divided into four sections which are Physical, Surface, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry. The description of the topics is mentioned below. Candidates can go through important topics that they should consider studying to score well in the NEST Chemistry paper as mentioned in the table below:

  • Important For Physical Chemistry: Measurements in chemistry,  Mole concept, Gaseous and liquid states,  Atomic structure and chemical bonding, Thermodynamics, Chemical equilibrium, Solid state, Solutions
    Electrochemistry, Chemical kinetics.
  • Important Topics for Surface Chemistry: Absorption, Colloidal state.
  • Important Topics for Inorganic Chemistry: Classification of elements and periodicity in properties, S-Block elements, P-Block elements, Coordination compounds, D-Block elements, F-Block elements, Metals and metallurgy.
  • Important Topics for Organic Chemistry: Basic concepts, Nomenclature, Reactive intermediates, Aromatic compounds, Alkenes and Alkynes, Phenols, Haloalkanes (Alkyl halides), Aldehydes and Ketones, Ethers, Carbohydrate, Amines, Polymers, Amino acids and proteins, Isomerism, Alkenes, Carboxylic acids. 
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NEST Syllabus 2026 for Physics

Candidates can go through important topics that they should consider to study to score well in the NEST Physics paper. The details of the NEST Physics syllabus topics are mentioned below:

NEST Physics Syllabus - Class XI topics

  • Units and Measurements
  • Motion in a Straight Line
  • Motion in a Plane
  • Laws of Motion
  • Work, Energy and Power 
  • Rigid System of Particles and Rotational Motion
  • Gravitation 
  • Mechanical Properties of Solids
  • Mechanical Properties of Fluids 
  • Thermal Properties of Matter
  • Thermodynamics
  • Kinetic Theory of gases
  • Oscillations

NEST Physics Syllabus - Class XII topics

  • Electric Charges and Fields 
  • Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
  • Current Electricity 
  • Moving Charges and Magnetism
  • Magnetism and Matter 
  • Electromagnetic Induction 
  • Alternating Current 
  • Electromagnetic Waves
  • Ray Optics 
  • Wave Optics
  • Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
  • Atoms
  • Nuclei 
  • Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits 
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NEST Syllabus 2026 for Mathematics

Candidates can go through important topics that they should consider studying to score well in the Mathematics subject of the NEST Exam. The description is mentioned below:

NEST 2026 Maths Syllabus

Class XI Topics Class XII Topics
Sets and Functions Relations and Functions
Algebra Algebra
Coordinate Geometry Calculus
Calculus Vectors and Three - Dimensional Geometry
Statistics and Probability Linear Programming
- Probability
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NEST 2026 FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about NEST 2026 Exam

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can a PCB student give a NEST Exam?
A: 

Yes, PCB students can give the NEST exam. The National Entrance Screening Test is designed for both BiPC and MPC students. The question papers are based on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology of Class 11 & 12. The NEST syllabus is based on the CBSE curriculum (2025-26).

Q:   NEST exam is for what purpose?
A: 

NISER and UM-DAE CEBS conduct the NEST exam for admission to the integrated MSc programme offered in the institutes. The NEST exam is conducted as a computer-based test. The questions are based on the CBSE curriculum and the NCERT syllabus for Class 11 & 12.

Q:   is there any sectional weightage to any section in NEST exam?
A: 

There is equal weightage for each section of the NEST exam. There are four sections, each carrying 60 marks. There is negative marking of one mark for wrong answers.

Q:   Where can I find NEST syllabus?
A: 

Applicants who want to appear in NEST exam must check the syllabus as well as the exam pattern before appearing in the exam. The NEST exam syllabus 2026 has been released by the exam conducting authorities along with the release of the official notification on December 15. Applicants are advised to check the NEST previous year syllabus to get an idea about the syllabus. It has remained the same as last year.

Q:   What are the subjects in NEST exam?
A: 

The NEST exam syllabus comprises mainly four subjects. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. The questions in the NEST exam will be asked from all these four sections hence applicants are advised to complete the syllabus from all four subjects. 

Each section will have 17 questions in the exam and collectively there will be 68 questions for which the maximum marks allocation will be 200.  Applicants are advised to prepare for all four subjects to qualify for the exam. 

The merit list is prepared by considering the maximum score from any of the top 3 subjects in the exam.

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Answered 6 days ago

The authority releases the NEST answer key online. The answer key is released in pdf formation. The process to download the answer key for NEST 2026 is mentioned below.

  • Visit NEST website, nestexam.in.
  • Click on the Answer key link
  • NEST answer key pdf will appear

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

NEST question paper comprises 4 sections. Each section has 20 multiple-choice questions. The questions are based on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Each question will comprise 3 marks. Negative marking is done for wrong answers.

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

Based on exam analysis, NEST is of a moderate difficulty level. Students whose conceptual knowledge is good can easily crack the exam. To prepare for the test candidates must follow the exam syllabus.

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

All the candidates who qualify in LPU NEST entrance exam can participate in the counselling. In order to appear for the entrance, candidates must fulfil the eligibility criteria. Candidates must check the eligibility criteria before appearing for the exam.

A

Aishwarya Garg

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 6 days ago

Candidates need not register for LPU NEST counselling. All the LPU NEST qualified candidates can participate in the counselling process. Candidates must fill the course preference during counselling. The results will be announced based on the seat preference selected by the candidates. 

S

Shikha Hazarika

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a week ago

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-

...Read more

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

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.

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

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.

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

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. 

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Candidates can appear three times in a consecutive year for NEST. If you passed Class 12 in 2024, you are eligible to appear for NEST in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10

3 Institutes accepting NEST

Visva Bharati University

West Bengal - Other • Public

Visva Bhar
  • â‚ı 7,500
  • 5 years
  • |
  • Full Time
  • â‚ı 60,000
  • 5 years
  • |
  • Full Time
  • â‚ı 20,000
  • 5 years
  • |
  • Full Time

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