**Bhubaneswar: ** In yet another achievement by Odisha students at National level entrance test, Ashutosh Samal and Amartya Prusty from the state have secured 19th and 20th rank respectively in the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST), which were declared on Friday.
NEST is conducted for admission into National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER).
C Rahul of Andhra Pradesh is the all-India topper.
More than 54,000 students had appeared in the test conducted at 102 centres across the country including 14 in Odisha.
Around 900 aspirants, who have cleared the test, will appear for the first phase counselling scheduled to be held on July 12.
The test, held on May 29, is mandatory for admission into National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), an autonomous institution under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Successful students will be enrolled in the five-year integrated M Sc programme of the institute in four disciplines – Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
