NEST 2025 Counselling Process: Registration, Dates, Fees, Seat Allotment Process
National Entrance Screening Test 2024 ( NEST )
Registration - 17 Feb '25 - 9 May '25
NEST 2025 Counselling Process will be conducted in an online mode for the selected candidates. In the counselling is conducted in offline mode candidates need to report to the campus as per the NEST Counselling schedule and the mentioned date and time. Once, the Merit list is out the NEST 2025 Counselling Dates will be out on the official site. Also, the NISER 2025 Counselling will be conducted in online mode, after releasing the result.
Those who wish to appear for the NEST 2025 Exam must know that they will only be eligible for the exam after submitting the NEST 2025 application form and then qualifying for the exam. UM CEBS Second Round Merit List will be out on the official website for students to directly download the NEST CEBS 2025 Merit list. NEST 2025 results for the candidates taking admissions to the integrated MSc programme offered at NISER and UM DAE will be out tentatively in the second week of July 2025 by the exam-conducting authorities online mode on the official website.
Applicants are suggested to check the scorecards of the NEST 2025 exam by entering the login credentials i.e. application number and roll number to check the NEST 2025 scores. Two separate NEST 2025 rank cards will be released for NISER and CEBS. The NEST 2025 scorecard will be prepared based on the NEST 2025 Final answer key or the changes made in the NEST provisional answer key 2025. Candidates need to register for the online counselling process and pay the NEST 2025 counselling fee for the same. Based on the registrations made and seat intake both the universities will be releasing their merit list separately. The NEST 2025 merit list for NISER and University of Mumbai, Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS) was prepared separately. Know all about NEST 2025 results, score evaluation and merit list preparation methods below on this page.
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Commonly asked questions
Q: What is the cut off percentile for NEST 2024 exam?
The Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) for admission for NEST 2024 exam is 95 percentile for the General category, 90 percentile for the OBC category and 75 percentile for SC/ ST/ Divyangjan (PwD).
A candidate scoring less than the MAP would not be allotted any merit rank and would not be deemed eligible for admission, even if he/she secures SMAS in all sections.
Upvote 
Q: What are the documents required for NEST 2024 counselling?
Candidates should carry the NEST 2024 application form, admit card, scorecard as well as academic qualification and reserved category documents.
Both original and photocopy of the documents should be carried to the counselling venue. Applicants should also carry at least four passport-size photographs with the documents while appearing in the NEST exam counselling.
If any additional document will be required then it will be mentioned in the NEST 2024 counselling schedule.
Upvote Q: When will the counselling notification of NEST 2024 be released?
NISER might release the NEST 2024 counselling notification in the second week of July, 2024 tentatively after the declaration of results.
The exact dates of counselling are not out in the official notication so far. The authorities will release the schedule in online mode on the official website. Hence applicants are advised to keep checking the official website or Shiksha page to be updated about the event of counselling schedule realted dates.
Upvote - NEST 2025 Counselling Dates
- NEST 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
- NEST 2025 Counselling Process
- NEST 2025 Merit List
- NEST 2025 Seat Intake
- NEST 2025 Counselling Reservation Criteria
- Documents required for NEST 2025 Counselling Process
- Frequently Asked Questions for NEST 2025 Counselling
NEST 2025 Counselling Dates
The counselling dates of NEST 2025 have been announced by NISER Bhubaneswar after the declaration of the NEST result 2025. The following table brings the tentative dates of NEST counselling.
| NEST 2024 Counselling |
Dates |
|---|---|
| Emails to qualified candidates for the first admission round |
July 17, 2024 |
| Last date to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) |
July 24, 2024 |
| Upload of admission queue |
July 25, 2024 |
| Institute Reporting for Document Verification |
August 6, 2024 (9:00 AM) |
| Classes to Start | August 19, 2024 |
These are the exact dates released on the official website.
Commonly asked questions
Q: What is mode for NEST exam counselling?
The NEST exam counselling will be done in online mode only. The exam conducting authority will release the dates of counselling in official notification after the conclusion of the exam.
Applicants are advised to check the NEST exam counselling schedule and visit the centre along with their academic as well as category releasted documents.
Upvote NEST 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NEST 2024 exam
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
Jul '25 | NEST 2025 Provisional Answer Key TENTATIVE |
Jul '25 | NEST 2024 Answer Key Objection Window TENTATIVE |
Jul '25 | NEST 2024 Exam Result TENTATIVE |
Jul '25 | NEST NISER 2024 1st Round Admission TENTATIVE |
Aug '25 | NEST CEBS 2024 2nd Merit List TENTATIVE |
Aug '25 | NEST NISER 2024 2nd Round Admission Online TENTATIVE |
Aug '25 | NEST CEBS 2024 Admission Portal Payment TENTATIVE |
NEST 2025 Counselling Process
The UG First Round of Counselling apart from BVSC and AH has been released on the official website, candidates can visit the website or directly download it from here.
UG (Apart from BVSC and AH) First Round of Counselling
All shortlisted candidates will be allotted seats in their respective courses at NISER and CEBS based on their respective merit lists. It may be noted that there is no joint counselling for the NEST exam. The process for NEST counselling is as mentioned below:
- All qualifying candidates first need to register on the online counselling portal of the exam/institutes. Thereafter, candidates have to download as well as print forms such as Student Personal Details Undertaking by the student and parent/guardian, Student Medical History and Format of Affidavit [anti-ragging] by Student and Parent/Guardian.
- The first round of counselling continues until all seats are filled or the modified merit list is exhausted, whichever is earlier.
- After NEST counselling round 1, each participating institute prepares a waiting list.
- Admission of candidates whose names appear on the waiting list is done through the second round of counselling.
- The second counselling is not joint counselling.
In the counselling session, the attendance of all candidates present at all the venues is taken into account. Based on the attendance of candidates and the original merit list declared earlier, a modified merit list is prepared. Seats are allotted to candidates at NISER and CBS strictly based on the modified list.
NEST 2025 Merit List
The last date for the NISER NEST 2025 First Round Seat Allotment list will be out in the fourth week of July 2025, which was released on the official website, tentatively.
| NISER Counselling Event Name | Merit List/ Seat Allotment Download |
|---|---|
| NISER Merit List | will be out soon |
| NISER Round 1 Seat Allotment List | will be out soon |
The NEST 2025 Merit List will be uploaded to the official NEST website for candidates who appeared for this exam must visit the official website. The final EoI list was uploaded on the official website in the fourth week of July 2025, tentatively. Also, students who cleared the merit list received an email from the admission queue that will include a link to fill in the details in the admission form for the 1st round of admission.
NEST 2025 Seat Intake
The NEST seat availability will be notified once it is out. The seats available at NISER and CEBS for the NEST 2023 exam for each category are mentioned below for reference.
| Category | Seat Intake at NISER | Seat Intake at CEBS |
|---|---|---|
| General | 101 | 23 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the General category | NA (to be confirmed at the time of admission process only) | 06 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) - Non-Creamy Layer | 54 | 15 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 30 | 09 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 15 | 04 |
| Divyangjan | 5% of seats in each category above | 5% of seats in each category |
| Total | 200 | 57 |
Commonly asked questions
Q: For how many seats NEST 2024 exam is being conducted?
This year NEST 2024 exam will be conducted for a total of 257 seats. Out of them 200 seats will be for NISER and 57 will be for CEBS.
Out of the total seats 101 seats will be for General categories and remaining for other categories in NISER while 23 seats will be for General category and remaining for other categories in CEBS.
Upvote 
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Integrated M.Sc. in Physics : NEST 2024 Last Round Closing Rank (General-All India)
| College | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai University | 14 |
| NISER - National Institute of Science Education and Research | 1852 |
NEST 2025 Counselling Reservation Criteria
The seat allotment process of NISER and CEBS will be based on the reservation criteria:
| Category | Reservation (in %) |
|---|---|
| OBC NCL | 27 |
| SC | 15 |
| ST | 7.5 |
| Divyangjan | 5 (each category) |
Candidates should note that the General - EWS category will have seat reservations at CEBS only. All the candidates claiming seats under the reserved category have to provide documents issued by the competent authority.
Commonly asked questions
Q: What is reservation criteria for different category in NEST counselling?
There is different reservation criteria for different category candidates. The detailed description of reservation is mentioned below:
| Category | Reservation (in %) |
|---|---|
| Divyangjan | 5 (each category) |
| ST | 7.5 |
| SC | 15 |
| OBC NCL | 27 |
Applicants can check and accordingly they can appear in the exam to avail the benefits of reservation if they fall in this category.
Upvote Documents required for NEST 2025 Counselling Process
After filling in all the required details asked in the forms, all qualifying candidates need to attend the NEST counselling round as per the prescribed date and time at the allotted venue. Documents that candidates need to carry at the counselling session are as mentioned below:
- NEST 2025 application form (a printout of the submitted form)
- Admit card
- Mark sheet of Class 10 & 12 board exam (original & photocopy)
- Disability certificate, if applicable (original & photocopy)
- Proof of Indian citizenship, if born outside India (original & photocopy)
- Birth certificate/ school leaving certificate (original & photocopy)
- Caste certificate, if applicable (original & photocopy)
- Four passport size coloured photographs
- Verification certificate, if applicable (original & photocopy)
- Demand draft in favour of NISER, payable at Bhubaneswar/ Demand draft in favour of CBS, payable at Mumbai, depending on where candidates are appearing for counselling
- In case a candidate has submitted original documents to another institute, he/ she must bring an official letter (undertaking) from that institute.
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Frequently Asked Questions for NEST 2025 Counselling
FAQs for NEST Exam Counselling
Commonly asked questions
Q: What will happen during NEST exam counselling if two students score same marks?
If two applicants score same marks in NEST exam, then they will get same provisional ranks when the result will be declared. But the tie breaker between them will be done during counselling/admission process by comparing the marks secured by applicants in class 12th exam.
Upvote Q: Is there any reservation for the OBC Creamy Layer category in NEST exam?
No, the reservation is available only for OBC non-creamy layer candidates only. For the creamy layer candidates of the OBC category, the admissions will be done under the General category.
hence there is no reservation is applicable to the candidates who are from creamy layer OBC category.
Upvote Q: Who releases NEST cutoff marks 2024?
The examination conducting body, NISER & UM-DAE CEBS will release NEST cut off marks for the applicants who want to take admission in participating institutes. The cut off marks will be released after the declaration of the result.
Applicants who secures the cut off marks of NEST 2024 will be eligible to participate for the counselling held by the authorities.
Applicants need to secure the passing marks both overall as well as individuall category.
Upvote Q: What can be NEST cutoff marks this for NISER for General category?
Applicants who want to take admission in NISER and are from General category need to secure the passing marks in their category.
Since general category cut off marks are higher than other categories hence applicants who belong to this category need to put more effort to take admission.
This year NEST cut off marks for general category for NISER are in between 80 to 90 marks. Though final marks will be decided after the conlusion of the exam.
Upvote Get prep tips, practice papers, exam details and important updates
NEST Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2025 application form date has been announced on February 17, 2025. The NEST application process end date is May 9, 2025.
NEST 2025 registration process will be completely online. Aspirants who will be appearing for the examination are advised to check th
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The test centres of NEST exam are allotted based on the number of applicants opting for a particular test. It is to be noted that NEST committee reserves the right to cancel or add any of the test cities without prior notice to applicants.
The final allocation of NEST Test Centres will be mentioned o
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The exact dates of NEST online correction will open between May 10, 2025, to May 14, 2025, as per the official notification. Candidates who will fill the NEST 2025 application form would get the opportunity to update or change the details which were earlier got filled incorrectly.
Candidates would
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Applicants must have the following document to upload while filling NEST application form:
- Class 10 mark sheet/ report card/ certificate
- Class 12 mark sheet/ report card/ certificate
- Digital copy of the photograph
- Scanned signature
The size of photograph and signature will be mentioned in official notifi
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
While filling the NEST online form, candidates must ensure that they uploaded the photograph in the format prescribed by exam authorities. The digital photograph uploaded by candidates need to be in JPEG format and should not have exceeded 80 KB.
If all the image specifications are correct then also
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Here is the application fee of the NEST Exam which is conducted once a year. NEST is a national-level exam and candidates who wish to appear for the exam can check out the category-wise application fee for the exam.
| Category | NEST Application Fee (in INR) |
|---|---|
| All Females and Divyangjan (specially-abled category) | INR 700 |
| General/ OBC (Only Males) | INR 1400 |
| SC/ ST/ PwD (Only Males) | INR 700 |
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Applicants are advised to fill the exam centres while filling the application form of NEST exam. There will be around 120 NEST exam centres mentioned in the official notification. Students who want to apply and participate in the NEST exam must fill the 5 exam centres of their preferred choice from
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The application form of NEST 2025 will start on February 17, 2025 by exam conducting authorities on the official website. Applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria before filling the form. The last date to fill in the application form and to submit the application fee is May 9, 2025.
S
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Mumbai University conducts NEST for admission to its Integrated M.Sc courses. However, it is not compulsory for selection. Aspirants with a required score in other accepted exams: JEE Main, MAH MCA CET, CUET PG etc. are also eligible to apply. Moreover, aspirants shall check out the eligibility requ
M
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 4 weeks ago
Eligibility criteria for admission:
Candidates must qualify these eligibility criteria listed below:
The candidates who have cleared the 12th Standard examination or equivalent in 2022, 2023 or those who will be appearing for the 12th Standard examination or equivalent in 2024, irrespective of categ
P
Beginner-Level 5
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