NEST Eligibility Criteria 2026, Age Limit, Qualification, Percentage, Seats, Courses

NEST Eligibility Criteria 2026

There are two important factors on which the eligibility criteria of NEST 2026 depend. First is the educational qualification, and the other is the age limit.

• Educational Qualification-

1. Students should complete their 10+2 education from any recognized institution.

2. They must have completed their 12th in the science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.

• NEST Age Limit- There is no upper age limit to appear for the NEST 2026 exam.

• Minimum Marks Required- The minimum mark required for NEST is 60% in the class 12 or its equivalent examination. There is a relaxation of 5% for the candidates belonging reserved category.

Who Is Eligible For the NEST Entrance Exam?

Candidates who fulfill the eligibility requirements for the NEST exam 2026 are eligible to appear in the entrance exam. Only such candidates can able to take the entrance examination. The non-eligible candidates will not be allowed to take admission in the participating institutions even/they qualify the exam. Students must pass class 12 with a minimum of marks to be eligible for the NEST 2026 exam.

NEST Reservation Criteria 2026

Seats will be reserved for categories like OBC-NCL, SC/ ST, PwD, and Supernumerary Quota seats for candidates who are from Jammu and Kashmir. The percentage for seat reservation differs from one another.

Other Backward Class- Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL)

• 27% seats are reserved for this category.

• It is to be noted that students belonging to Other Backward Class (OBC) are not considered under any reservation category. They are grouped under the General category of students.

• Only the OBC NCL students are considered eligible for the reservation, as stated by the state government.

Schedule Caste (SC)/ Schedule Tribe (ST)

• 15% of the total seats are reserved for candidates of the SC category.

• 7.5% of seats will be reserved for candidates of the ST category.

Person with Disabilities (PWD)

• 5% of the total seats are reserved for candidates of the PWD category.

Supernumerary Quota seats for students from Jammu and Kashmir

• Two seats at both NISER Bhubaneswar and UMDAE-CBS will be reserved for these candidates.

• Students should complete their 12th from the State Board of Jammu and Kashmir or from CBSE-affiliated schools that are located in Jammu and Kashmir.

NOTE: Students must present their category certificate during the final NEST admission to avail these benefits.

NEST Courses 2026

There are a total of 6 courses offered at different schools of NISAR and UMDAE-CBS. Here is the list of courses.