NEST registration 2026: The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) has extended its registration window deadline from April 6 to 8, 2026. Interested and eligible candidates can visit the official website, nestexam.in to apply for the posts. The examination, a crucial entry point for students seeking a five-year Integrated MSc in basic sciences, will be conducted on June 6, 2026, between 2 pm and 5 pm. With around 140 centres across the country, the test continues to attract some of the brightest Class 12 graduates aiming to pursue careers in research and academia.A total of just 261 seats are available this year, 202 at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and 59 at the University of Mumbai’s Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-CEBS). The programmes span key disciplines, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
NEST registration 2026: Steps to apply
Candidates can follow the steps elucidated here to apply for the NEST registration 2026:
- Go to the official website nestexam.in
- On the homepage, click on “NEST Registration 2026”
- You can register using basic details to create login credentials
- Log in and fill the application form
- Upload required documents in prescribed format
- Pay the application fee online
- Review details and submit the form
- Download and save the confirmation page
Alternatively, candidates can click on the link provided here to apply for the NEST registration 2026.
NEST registration 2026: Application fees
Candidates from the Unreserved (UR) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories are required to pay Rs 1,400. Meanwhile, applicants from UR-EWS, SC, ST, Divyangjan categories, and all female candidates benefit from a reduced fee of Rs 700.Candidates are advised to stay tuned to the official website to get the complete details of the NEST registration process 2026.