NEST Subject-wise Syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics; Download PDFs

The NEST 2026 subject-wise syllabus has been released by the exam authorities. The NEST syllabus includes the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. The syllabus of NEST 2026 is the same as Class 11 and 12 curriculum, and in-line with the NCERT subject and topics.

NEST Subject-wise Syllabus

The NEST 2026 subject-wise syllabus has been released by the exam authorities. The national-level entrance exam for admission to the Integrated MSc programme tests candidates’ knowledge on the core subjects of Science stream. The NEST syllabus includes the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. The syllabus of NEST 2026 is the same as Class 11 and 12 curriculum, and in-line with the NCERT subject and topics.

Candidates planning to take NEST 2026 must note that out of the four subjects, candidates can either attempt all four sections, or three sections, where either Biology or Mathematics has to be attempted. They have to fill the subject preference during the NEST application process. This article of Shiksha brings the NEST 2026 subject-wise syllabus.

NEST 2026 Overview

The NEST 2026 exam will be conducted in a computer-based mode for three hours. The details of the NEST exam pattern are provided in the table.

NEST 2026 Sectional Structure

The section-wise structure of the NEST 2026 exam is given below.

Candidates appearing for the exam for three sections will get two hours duration for the exam. Candidates belonging to the PwD category will get a compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour as per the Government of India guidelines.

NEST 2026 Syllabus for Physics

The syllabus of the NEST exam for the Physics section is given below.

• 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
• 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 

NEST 2026 Syllabus for Chemistry

The NEST Chemistry syllabus includes chapters and topics from Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry. The syllabus for NEST 2026 Chemistry section is given 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. 

NEST 2026 Syllabus for Biology

The Biology subject is bifurcated to Botany and Zoology. The units or chapters of the NEST Biology syllabus are given below.

• Diversity of Living Organisms
• Structural Organization in Plants and Animals
• Cell: Structure and Function
• Plant Physiology
• Human Physiology
• Reproduction
• Genetics and Evolution
• Biology and Human Welfare
• Biotechnology and Its Applications
• Ecology and Environment

NEST 2026 Syllabus for Mathematics

The NEST syllabus for Mathematics is given below.

• Sets and Functions
• Algebra
• Coordinate Geometry
• Calculus
• Statistics and Probability
• Relations and Functions
• Algebra
• Calculus
• Vectors and Three-Dimensional Geometry
• Linear Programming
• Probability

NEST 2026 Subject-wise Syllabus PDF

The table below brings the subject-wise NEST syllabus PDFs.

The NEST 2026 exam will be conducted on June 6, 2026, across India. The scores of the exam will be accepted by  National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the second institution is Mumbai University - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS).

Read More:

NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria Explained

IISER Vs NEST Vs JEE Advanced: Which Exam is Best for Research Careers?