NEST Merit List 2026 Out: Counselling Dates and Latest Updates
The NEST 2026 result and merit ranks are available for candidates seeking admission to the five-year Integrated MSc programmes at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS), Mumbai. Candidates can check their merit rank through the official NEST result portal using their application details.
Update: Counselling dates are no longer simply “expected soon.” The institute-level admission process has been underway for months. NEST says admission merit lists are published by the respective institutes. CEBS’s admission page lists 25 merit lists, with the latest dated September 17, 2026. Candidates should check the relevant institute’s current notice for any remaining steps or updates.
NEST 2026 result and admission overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Examination | National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026 |
| Result announcement | June 24, 2026 |
| Participating institutes | NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai |
| Programme | Five-year Integrated MSc in basic sciences |
| Merit-list process | Published by the respective institutes |
| Latest CEBS merit list shown | 25th list, dated September 17, 2026 |
How to check your NEST merit rank
- Open the official NEST 2026 result portal.
- Enter your application number and date of birth as requested.
- Complete the verification step to view your merit rank.
- Log in to the application portal to check marks or download the scorecard, if available.
- Then visit the admission page of NISER or CEBS and follow that institute’s merit-list and admission instructions.
Merit rank does not complete admission
A candidate’s NEST rank is one part of the admission process. The NEST 2026 eligibility criteria also require a qualifying Class 12 aggregate: at least 60%, or 55% for SC, ST and Divyangjan candidates, alongside the other stated conditions. Meeting eligibility criteria or appearing on a merit list does not by itself confirm admission; candidates must follow the institute’s instructions and complete required steps within the applicable deadlines.
Admission procedures may differ between NISER and CEBS. For example, CEBS maintains its own admission page and has published successive institute merit lists. Candidates should not assume that a notice or response submitted to one institute automatically applies to the other.
NEST 2026 admission timeline
- June 6, 2026: NEST examination held.
- June 24, 2026: Result and merit rank announced.
- June 30, 2026: Scorecard download facility scheduled to open.
- July 17, 2026: CEBS first merit list published.
- September 17, 2026: CEBS page lists its 25th merit list.
Candidates should check the official NEST portal for their rank and the institute admission pages for current instructions. Since the admission cycle has progressed beyond its initial rounds, rely on the latest institute notices rather than an older estimate that counselling dates are still forthcoming.
