NEST After 12th: 5-Year Integrated M.Sc. in Basic Sciences

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is the joint entrance exam for the 5-year Integrated M.Sc. programs at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai, both under the Department of Atomic Energy.

Eligibility

Cleared or appearing in Class XII (any board), with at least 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST/Divyangjan). No upper age limit.

Exam Pattern

Computer-based, 3 hours 30 minutes, 180 total marks — 20 questions (60 marks) each in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Only your best 3 sections count toward the final score.

Response	Marks
Correct	+3
Wrong	−1
Unanswered	0

The Percentile Cutoff System

NEST uses a percentile-based Merit Admission Percentile (MAP) — General category students must rank in the top 5%, OBC in the top 10%, and SC/ST/PwD in the top 25% of all candidates, in addition to a minimum subject-wise cutoff (SMAS).

Fees & Stipend

Very affordable — around ₹53,000/year at NISER for General/OBC students. Scholarships include the DST-INSPIRE (₹5,000/month, top 60 students) and DAE-DISHA (₹60,000/year) at NISER, plus stipends of ₹5,000–7,000/month at UM-DAE CEBS.

Information compiled for general guidance. Always verify exam dates, fees, and eligibility on the official website before applying.