NEST 2026: Download final answer keys and question paper now

In short

The NEST 2026 Official Question Paper and Final Answer Keys are now available on nestexam.in.
The NEST 2026 exam was conducted on June 6, 2026, for admission to 5-year Integrated MSc courses.
The final answer keys were revised after the closure of objections, with correct answers predominantly option A.
The overall difficulty level of NEST 2026 was assessed as moderate to difficult, with Mathematics being the most challenging section.
Candidates can download the official question paper, provisional answer key, final answer key, and response sheet for review.

The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai – The Department of Atomic Energy, Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS), Mumbai, have released the official question paper and final answer keys for the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2026. These resources, available on nestexam.in, allow candidates to evaluate their performance and provide future aspirants with insight into the exam pattern.

nestexam.in homepage — Official website: nestexam.in

The NEST 2026 exam, held on June 6, 2026, is an undergraduate-level entrance test for admission to 5-year Integrated MSc programmes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. The release of the final answer keys follows the initial provisional release on June 8, 2026, and subsequent revisions after the objection period.

NEST 2026 Question Paper and Answer Key Details

The NEST 2026 Official Question Paper and provisional exam answer key were initially released on June 8, 2026. Following the closure of objections raised by candidates, the NEST 2026 Final Answer Keys were revised and subsequently published. According to the released keys, option A is the correct answer for all questions, with the exception of Mathematics Question 12. the sequence of questions and options varied across different examinations.

The NEST exam is conducted once a year in an online, computer-based test mode, with English as the medium of examination. The question paper comprised 80 multiple-choice questions, distributed across Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics, with 20 questions from each subject. Each correct answer carried 3 marks, while an incorrect answer resulted in a deduction of 1 mark, bringing the total marks for the exam to 240.

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)
Exam Conducting Body	National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar University of Mumbai – The Department of Atomic Energy, Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai
Exam Level	Undergraduate Level
Courses Offered	5-year Integrated MSc in Physics 5-year Integrated MSc in Chemistry 5-year Integrated MSc in Biology 5-year Integrated MSc in Mathematics
Exam Mode	Online (Computer-Based Test)
Exam Language (Medium)	English
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Type of Question	Multiple-Choice Question (80 questions)
Total Marks	240 marks
Marking Scheme	+3 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each incorrect answer

Difficulty Level and Sectional Analysis

Student feedback collected from various test centres across India indicated that the overall difficulty level of the NEST 2026 exam ranged from moderate to difficult. The Physics section was generally perceived as moderately difficult by a significant number of candidates. Opinions regarding the Biology and Chemistry sections were mixed, with some finding them relatively easy while others considered them moderately challenging.

The Mathematics section of NEST 2026 emerged as the most demanding for many students who appeared for the examination. This sectional difficulty analysis provides valuable insights for future aspirants to tailor their preparation strategies. Preparation resources, including ’50 Most Important Questions’, ‘Rescue Series’, and ‘Maha Revision/Marathon sessions’, were provided by SciAstra for NEST 2026.

Section/Subject	Difficulty Level
Physics	Moderate to Difficult
Chemistry	Easy to Moderate
Biology	Easy to Moderate
Mathematics	Difficult

Accessing Official Documents

The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai – The Department of Atomic Energy, Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS), Mumbai, have made the official PDF of the NEST 2026 question paper, the provisional answer key, the final answer key, and individual response sheets available for candidates. These resources can be downloaded from the official portal, nestexam.in. The provisional exam answer key was initially released on June 8, 2026, following the NEST 2026 exam held on June 6, 2026.

The final answer keys for NEST 2026 were revised and published after the closure of objections raised by candidates. Per the released keys, option A is the correct answer for all questions, other than Mathematics Question 12. The availability of these documents aims to assist candidates in evaluating their performance and to provide future aspirants with insights into the exam structure, question types, and marking scheme for effective preparation.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →