In LPUNEST 2026, a score of 300 or above out of 400 places you in Category A, the highest scholarship bracket, with a fee waiver of up to 60% for Group 1 B.Tech programmes such as Computer Science Engineering and up to 70% for other programme groups.
LPUNEST (Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test) 2026 is a 400-mark merit-cum-scholarship test conducted by LPU, Jalandhar. The test maps your raw score to one of four scholarship categories — A, B, C and D — and the actual fee waiver you receive depends on your category, the programme group your chosen course falls under, and the admission phase in which you applied. LPU awards scholarships worth up to Rs. 8.40 lakh over the full programme duration through LPUNEST.
- LPUNEST 2026 total marks: 400 (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, and English — 100 marks each; 4 marks per question; no negative marking).
- Category A: 300 and above out of 400 — fee waiver up to 70% depending on programme group.
- Category B: 212 to 299 marks — fee waiver up to 60%.
- Category C: 150 to 211 marks — fee waiver up to 50%.
- Category D: 120 to 149 marks — fee waiver up to 40%.
- Scores below 120 out of 400 do not qualify for any LPUNEST scholarship.
- Separate scholarships are available for students based on Class 12 board marks, JEE Main and NEET percentile without sitting LPUNEST.
LPUNEST 2026 Scholarship Slabs: Category A to D Score Cutoffs
The LPUNEST result assigns every student a scholarship category based on their raw score out of 400. The cutoffs below are based on 2025 cycle data; official 2026 cutoffs will be confirmed alongside the LPUNEST 2026 result declaration.
| Scholarship Category | Score Range (out of 400) | Maximum Fee Waiver |
|---|---|---|
| Category A | 300 and above | Up to 70% |
| Category B | 212 to 299 | Up to 60% |
| Category C | 150 to 211 | Up to 50% |
| Category D | 120 to 149 | Up to 40% |
| No Scholarship | Below 120 | Nil |
Each question in LPUNEST carries 4 marks and there is no negative marking. Scoring 300 out of 400 requires answering at least 75 questions correctly out of 100. The minimum Category D cutoff of 120 marks needs just 30 correct answers. Students who score between 150 and 211 land in Category C — roughly 38 to 52 correct answers.
LPUNEST 2026 Scholarship Amount by Programme Group
Reaching a high category is only the first factor. The actual fee waiver percentage also depends on which programme group your chosen B.Tech course belongs to. LPU assigns all B.Tech programmes into four groups, and Group 1 covers high-demand specialisations such as Computer Science Engineering, Information Technology and their variants. The table below is based on Phase 1 and Phase 2 data from the 2025 cycle.
| Programme Group | Category A Waiver | Category B Waiver | Category C Waiver | Category D Waiver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (e.g., CSE, IT) | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% |
| Group 2 | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% |
| Group 3 | 35% | 30% | 25% | 20% |
| Group 4 | 25% | 20% | 15% | 10% |
Based on 2025 LPUNEST Phase 1 and Phase 2 data. Programme group assignments and percentages for 2026 are published on the official LPUNEST portal.
Even within the same category, two students can receive different waivers based on programme group. A Category A student in a Group 1 course such as B.Tech CSE receives 60% waiver, while a Category A student in a Group 2 course receives 50%. The programme group for every course is listed in the LPU admission brochure and on the official LPUNEST portal at lpu.in/nest.
LPU Scholarships Based on JEE Main, NEET and Board Scores
Students who have not appeared in LPUNEST can still access merit scholarships at LPU through their Class 12 board marks or competitive exam scores. These are separate from the LPUNEST category system and apply to students admitted through the direct admission route.
| Scholarship Basis | Score or Percentile | Fee Waiver |
|---|---|---|
| Class 12 Board Marks | 90% and above | 50% of programme fee |
| Class 12 Board Marks | 80% to 89.9% | 40% of programme fee |
| Class 12 Board Marks | 70% to 79.9% | 30% of programme fee |
| JEE Main Percentile | 90 and above | 50% of programme fee |
| JEE Main Percentile | 85 to 89.99 | 40% of programme fee |
| JEE Main Percentile | 80 to 84.99 | 30% of programme fee |
| GATE Percentile (M.Tech) | 95 and above | 60% of programme fee |
| GATE Percentile (M.Tech) | 90 to 94.99 | 40% of programme fee |
| GATE Percentile (M.Tech) | 80 to 89.99 | 30% of programme fee |
Where both an LPUNEST category scholarship and a board or competitive exam scholarship apply, students receive the higher of the two amounts. Scholarship renewal each year requires maintaining the minimum academic performance specified at the time of admission.
Phase-wise Scholarship Variation in LPUNEST 2026
Scholarship percentages are highest in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of LPUNEST and decrease in subsequent phases. In later admission phases, some programme groups may offer reduced waivers or no scholarship at all for a given category.
Two students with identical LPUNEST scores and the same programme group can receive different fee waivers depending solely on when they sat the exam. Registering early for LPUNEST gives a double advantage: you lock in the highest available scholarship percentage for your category and you access a wider selection of programme seats. The phase schedule for LPUNEST 2026 is published on the official portal at lpu.in/nest.
What Score Should You Target in LPUNEST 2026?
The recommended safe score adds a buffer of 10 to 20 marks above the historical cutoff to guard against any upward revision in the 2026 cycle. Category A cutoffs have been the most stable, consistently sitting at 300 marks; lower categories have shown minor variation of plus or minus 10 to 15 marks across phases and years.
| Scholarship Goal | Safe Target Score (out of 400) | Correct Answers Needed (out of 100) | Expected Waiver: Group 1 / Group 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category A — Maximum Aid | 310 to 320 | 78 to 80 | 60% / 50% |
| Category B | 222 to 240 | 56 to 60 | 50% / 40% |
| Category C | 162 to 178 | 41 to 45 | 40% / 30% |
| Category D — Minimum Aid | 130 to 145 | 33 to 37 | 30% / 20% |
Students targeting B.Tech in CSE or IT should aim for at least Category B (safe target: 222 to 240 marks) to offset the higher programme fees in Group 1. The maximum LPUNEST scholarship, as stated by LPU, is worth up to Rs. 8.40 lakh over the full programme duration for Category A students in early phases.
LPUNEST Scholarship Slabs 2026 FAQs
Ques. What is the total marks for the LPUNEST 2026 B.Tech exam?
Ans. The LPUNEST 2026 B.Tech exam is out of 400 marks total. There are four subjects — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, and English — each carrying 100 marks. Every correct answer carries 4 marks and there is no negative marking for wrong or unattempted questions.
Ques. What is the minimum LPUNEST 2026 score to qualify for a scholarship?
Ans. The minimum score to qualify for any LPUNEST scholarship is 120 out of 400 marks (Category D). Students in Category D receive a fee waiver of up to 30% for Group 1 programmes and up to 40% for other programme groups. Scores below 120 do not earn any scholarship through LPUNEST.
Ques. How many marks are needed for Category A in LPUNEST 2026?
Ans. Based on the 2025 cycle, Category A requires a minimum score of 300 out of 400 marks. Targeting 310 to 320 provides a safe buffer against any upward revision. Category A students in Group 1 B.Tech programmes such as CSE and IT receive a 60% fee waiver; those in Group 2 programmes receive 50%.
Ques. Does the same LPUNEST score give the same scholarship for all B.Tech branches?
Ans. No. The fee waiver percentage also depends on the programme group your chosen course belongs to. A Category A student (300 or above) in a Group 1 programme such as B.Tech CSE receives a 60% waiver, while the same score in a Group 2 programme earns 50%. Students should check the programme group of their chosen course on the official LPUNEST portal before applying.
Ques. Can I get an LPU scholarship without appearing in LPUNEST?
Ans. Yes. LPU offers merit scholarships based on Class 12 board marks (50% waiver for 90% and above) and JEE Main percentile (50% waiver for 90 percentile and above) for B.Tech direct admission. GATE qualifiers applying for M.Tech can receive up to 60% fee waiver with a GATE percentile of 95 or above.
Ques. Do later LPUNEST phases offer lower scholarships than earlier phases?
Ans. Yes. Scholarship percentages are highest in Phase 1 and Phase 2 and reduce in later phases. In the final admission phase, some programme groups may have reduced or no scholarship available even for high-scoring students. Applying and registering in an early phase maximises both the merit aid amount and the availability of your preferred programme.
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