NEST ( National Entrance Screening Test )

Content Writer Papri Dutta
Updated On Date: Oct 16, 2025

NEST 2026 Cut Offs

NEST Cut Offs 2026 

The NEST 2026 (National Entrance Screening Test) is conducted by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai – Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. The cut-offs for NEST 2026 are crucial benchmarks that determine the eligibility of candidates for admission to integrated M.Sc. programs in these prestigious institutes.

Understanding NEST 2026 Cut Offs

  • The NEST cut-off is the minimum qualifying marks or percentile that candidates must achieve to be considered eligible for admission.
  • Cut-offs vary based on category (General, OBC, SC, ST, PwD, J&K, etc.), and are influenced by factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and seat availability.

Two types of cut-offs are important in NEST

  • Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP):The overall percentile a candidate must exceed to qualify.
  • Section-wise Minimum Admissible Scores (SMAS):Minimum marks required in each subject section to ensure a balanced performance.

Expected Category-Wise Cut Off Marks (Based on Trends)

Category

Expected Cut Off Marks (Out of 180)

Expected Percentile Cut Off

General

75-85

90th Percentile

OBC

65-75

90th Percentile

SC

45-55

75th Percentile

ST

35-45

75th Percentile

J&K

30-40

-

Factors Affecting NEST Cut Offs

  • Number of Candidates:More participants can lead to more competitive cut-offs.
  • Exam Difficulty:A tougher exam may lower cut-off marks while an easy paper may increase it.
  • Reservation Policies:Category-wise relaxations impact the cut-offs.
  • Seat Availability:Limited seats contribute to higher cut-offs.

Interpretation of NEST 2026 Cut Offs

  • Candidates must score above both the MAP and the SMAS in order to qualify. The MAP ensures a minimum overall score, while SMAS avoids selection based only on a strong performance in a few subjects. Candidates with scores below these cut-offs do not qualify for admission.
  • Scoring above the cut-off places candidates in the merit list, making them eligible for counselling and seat allotment.
Click Here For NEST 2026 Preparation Tips

FAQs

What is the expected general category cut-off for NEST 2026?

Ans. The expected cut-off for the General category is between 75 to 85 marks out of 180, translating to the 90th percentile.

Q2. Are there separate cut-offs for different categories in NEST?

Ans. Yes, each category—General, OBC, SC, ST, and J&K—has its own cut-off marks and percentiles, with reserved categories having relatively lower cut-offs.

Q3. What is the Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) in NEST?

Ans. MAP is the qualifying overall percentile (typically 90th percentile for general and OBC) that candidates must exceed to be eligible for admission.

Q4. What is Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS)?

Ans. SMAS are minimum required marks in each subject section to ensure candidates have passed uniformly across all four subjects.

Q5. Can the cut-offs change every year?

Ans. Yes, NEST cut-offs depend on factors like number of test-takers, exam difficulty, and seat availability, so they vary each year.
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