Bhubaneswar, Dec. 16: The National Entrance Screening Test (Nest) will be held on May 30, 2015, at 50 centres across the country.
Nest is a compulsory test for admission to the five-year integrated MSc programme in basic sciences — biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics — at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (Niser) in Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai — department of atomic energy centre for excellence in basic sciences (UM-DAE-CBS). Both have been set up by the Centre’s department of atomic energy in 2007.
Coordinator of the Nest, Pranay Swain, said that students could visit the website www.nestexam.in for detailed information and also check question papers of previous years.
Students can apply both online and offline. While the online applications can be filled on the Nest-2015 website, those applying offline must send a request letter to Niser with their postal address and a demand draft of the requisite amount.
All students admitted to Niser and UM-DAE-CBS are eligible for Inspire scholarship (instituted by the department of science and technology) of Rs 60,000 each year and additionally up to Rs 20,000 each year for summer/winter internship.
Niser established by the department of atomic energy, has emerged as a citadel for basic sciences and allied subjects in terms of teaching and research. While it functions from the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar, the facility institute will start functioning from its own campus at Jatni from 2015.
The Homi Bhabha National Institute — a deemed-to-be university — within the department of atomic energy, awards degrees at Niser.
“There are 100 Plus Two seats in 2015-16 session, including reserved seats for SC/ST/OBC/PD candidates and two seats for candidates from Jammu and Kashmir, according to government norms,” Swain said.
Important dates
Access to online/offline application forms for Nest-2015: Jan 5
Last date for receiving request for offline application forms: Feb 19
Online/offline application process closes on: March 7
Download /dispatch of admit card begins: April 7
Nest-2015 exam on: May 30 from 9.30am — 1pm
Announcement of results on Nest website: June 19
