The NEST 2026 Admit Card has been officially released on May 18, 2026, on the official examination portal at nestexam.in. All candidates who have successfully completed their registration for the National Entrance Screening Test 2026 can now log in to their registered accounts using their username and password to download the NEST 2026 Hall Ticket in PDF format. This admit card is a mandatory document, and no candidate will be permitted to enter the examination hall without it.
Candidates must also take note of an important update: the admit card download link was temporarily unavailable and candidates were unable to access it until May 23, 2026. However, the NEST 2026 admit card download link has been reactivated on May 24, 2026, on the official website nestexam.in.
What is NEST 2026?
The National Entrance Screening Test, commonly known as NEST, is a national-level computer-based entrance examination conducted jointly by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai – Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. The examination is held every year to offer admissions to the prestigious five-year Integrated MSc programme in subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.
NISER Bhubaneswar is an off-campus centre of the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), and along with UM-DAE CEBS, it is recognized as one of the premier science institutions in India. Both institutions are equipped with state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories, modern computational facilities, and outstanding libraries. Students residing on campus are provided with hostel facilities and a highly productive academic environment.
NEST 2026 Admit Card: Key Highlights
Before proceeding to the download steps, candidates should go through the important highlights of NEST 2026 listed below.
Exam Name: National Entrance Screening Test (NEST 2026)
Conducting Bodies: NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai
Admit Card Release Date: May 18, 2026
Admit Card Download Link Reactivation Date: May 24, 2026
Official Website: nestexam.in
NEST 2026 Exam Date: June 6, 2026
Exam Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test)
Exam Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hours)
Exam Timing: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Single Shift)
Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
NEST 2026 Admit Card: How to Download NEST Hall Ticket?
The NEST 2026 Hall Ticket is available only in online mode on the official website nestexam.in. No physical copy of the admit card will be dispatched to candidates by post. Follow the step-by-step process given below to download your NEST Admit Card 2026 without any difficulty.
Step 1: Open any web browser on your device and visit the official NEST examination website at nestexam.in.
Step 2: On the homepage, locate and click on the Login option to access your registered candidate account.
Step 3: Enter your registered application number or registered email address along with your password in the required fields.
Step 4: After entering the correct credentials, click on the Submit button to log in to your account.
Step 5: Your NEST 2026 Admit Card will appear on your screen. Review all the details mentioned on it carefully.
Step 6: Click on the download icon to save your hall ticket as a PDF file on your device.
Step 7: Take multiple printouts of the downloaded admit card and keep both colored and black-and-white copies safely. Also keep the soft copy saved on your device or email for future reference.
Details Mentioned on NEST 2026 Admit Card
The NEST Hall Ticket 2026 contains crucial information related to the candidate and the examination. After downloading, candidates must carefully verify each detail printed on the admit card. The following information is typically mentioned on the NEST 2026 Admit Card.
Name of the Candidate
Roll Number
Application Number
Exam Date and Time
Exam Centre Name and Address
Candidate’s Photograph and Signature
Reporting Time at the Exam Centre
Important Exam Day Instructions
If candidates notice any error or discrepancy in any of the above-mentioned details, they must immediately contact the NEST exam authority through the official helpdesk to get the issue resolved before the exam date.
NEST 2026 Exam Date and Schedule
The NEST 2026 examination will be conducted on June 6, 2026, in online Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode at various exam centres spread across the nation. The exam will be held in a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with a total exam duration of 180 minutes. Candidates are advised to report at their respective exam centres well before the reporting time mentioned on their admit card.
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern
Understanding the exam pattern before appearing for the NEST examination is very important for effective preparation. The NEST 2026 question paper will consist of four sections: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Each section will contain 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), and each question will carry 3 marks, making the total marks for each section 60.
An important feature of NEST 2026 merit list preparation is that only the best three subject scores out of all four sections will be considered. This gives candidates some flexibility to focus on their strongest subjects.
NEST 2026 Negative Marking Scheme
Unlike some other national-level entrance exams, NEST 2026 does have a negative marking scheme that candidates must keep in mind while attempting the question paper.
For every correct answer, candidates will be awarded 3 marks.
For every incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted.
For unanswered questions or questions marked for review, no marks will be awarded or deducted.
Candidates should attempt questions strategically, keeping the negative marking rule in mind.
NEST 2026 Syllabus
The NEST 2026 syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum of Science stream subjects from Class 11 and Class 12. The exam authority tests candidates’ domain knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Below is a brief subject-wise overview of the NEST 2026 syllabus.
For Biology, the syllabus covers topics such as Diversity in Living World, Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants, Cell Structure and Function, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology, Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology and Human Welfare, Biotechnology and Its Applications, and Ecology and Environment.
For Chemistry, the syllabus includes topics like Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Structure of Atom, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, States of Matter, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Organic Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Coordination Compounds, Biomolecules, Polymers, and Chemistry in Everyday Life, among others.
For Physics, the syllabus includes Physical World and Measurement, Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work Energy and Power, Gravitation, Thermodynamics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Electromagnetic Induction, Optics, Atoms and Nuclei, and Electronic Devices, among other important topics.
For Mathematics, the syllabus covers all major topics from Class 11 and 12 Mathematics as prescribed by NCERT.
NEST 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Only candidates who fulfill the NEST 2026 eligibility criteria are permitted to appear for the examination. Below are the key eligibility conditions that every aspirant must satisfy before applying.
Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed the Class 12 examination from any recognized Board in India in the year 2024 or 2025, or must be appearing in the same in 2026.
Minimum Percentage: Candidates from the unreserved category must have secured at least 60% marks in aggregate in their Class 12 board examination. For SC, ST, and Divyangjan candidates, this minimum requirement is 55%.
Subjects in Class 11 and 12: Candidates must have studied at least three out of the four basic science subjects, namely Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, in Classes 11 and 12.
Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for appearing in the NEST 2026 examination and for seeking admission to either NISER or UM-DAE CEBS.
NEST 2026 Admission Process: Step by Step
The NEST 2026 admission process involves multiple stages that candidates must complete successfully to secure a seat at NISER or UM-DAE CEBS. Here is a brief step-by-step overview of the entire process.
Step 1: Release of Notification by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai on the official exam portal.
Step 2: Online Registration by filling out the application form with personal, academic, and contact details on the official NEST website.
Step 3: Uploading of required documents including photograph and signature in the specified format and dimensions.
Step 4: Payment of the Application Fee through online modes such as debit or credit card, UPI, or net banking.
Step 5: Download of NEST 2026 Admit Card from the official website after successful registration.
Step 6: Appearing for the NEST 2026 Exam at the allotted Computer-Based Test centre on June 6, 2026.
Step 7: Release of Provisional Answer Key, with an option for candidates to raise objections if needed.
Step 8: Declaration of Result and scorecards on the official NEST portal.
Step 9: Merit List Preparation based on candidates’ performance in the best three subjects.
Step 10: Counselling Process for qualified candidates at NISER and UM-DAE CEBS.
Step 11: Seat Allotment and Admission confirmation through document verification and fee payment.
Conclusion
The NEST 2026 Admit Card is now available for download at nestexam.in, and all registered candidates must download and print their hall ticket as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute inconvenience. The exam is scheduled for June 6, 2026, and candidates must arrive at their respective exam centres on time with their admit card and a valid photo identity proof.