NORCET-11 2026 Notification: AIIMS Nursing Officer Common Eligibility Test

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has released Notice No. 103/2026 dated 24 July 2026, inviting online applications for the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET)-11, for the recruitment of Nursing Officer posts at Level-7 in the Pay Matrix (pre-revised Pay Band-2, Rs. 9,300-34,800 with Grade Pay Rs. 4,600), Group-B, across AIIMS New Delhi and other participating AIIMS/Institutes as per available vacancies.

NORCET is a common eligibility test — a single national-level exam whose qualified candidates are later allocated to actual vacancies reported by various participating AIIMS institutions across the country, based on merit and candidate choice/preference. This article covers the complete eligibility criteria, exam pattern, fee structure, and application process for NORCET-11.

NORCET-11 Notification 2026: Highlights

Important Note on Vacancies: As per the official notification, vacancies in each participating Institute/Hospital will be reported in due course of time, before the closing date of application (Annexure-V of the official notification). NORCET is conducted as a common qualifying examination; the exact number and location of vacancies is announced separately by AIIMS and may be withdrawn or revised at any stage of the recruitment process. Candidates should regularly check www.aiimsexams.ac.in for the latest vacancy details.

Who Can Apply

Essential Qualification (Category I)

• B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing / B.Sc. Nursing from an Indian Nursing Council/State Nursing Council recognized Institute or University, OR B.Sc. (Post-Certificate)/Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing from an Indian Nursing Council/State Nursing Council recognized Institute/University.
• Registered as a Nurse & Midwife with the State/Indian Nursing Council.

Essential Qualification (Category II)

• Diploma in General Nursing Midwifery from an Indian Nursing Council/State Nursing Council recognized Institute/Board or Council.
• Registered as a Nurse & Midwife with the State/Indian Nursing Council.
• Two years’ experience in a minimum 50-bedded hospital, acquired after obtaining the essential qualification (i.e., after completing the residency period, declaration of result, and registration with the State/Indian Nursing Council).

Age Limit

18 to 30 years, for all participating AIIMS. The crucial date for determining age is the closing date of online registration/application, i.e., 13 August 2026.

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Age Relaxation

PwBD reservation is identified for candidates with One Leg (OL), Acid Attack Victims (AAV), Dwarfism (Dw), and Leprosy Cured (LC-OL) categories of disability, with a benchmark disability of 40% or more.

Application Fee

Fee is payable through Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking. SC/ST candidates who appear in the examination will have their application fee refunded after declaration of results, following verification of their SC/ST certificate. The application fee, once remitted, is non-refundable for other categories under any circumstances.

Exam Pattern: Two-Stage Common Eligibility Test

Stage-I: NORCET Preliminary (Qualifying Only)

• Duration: 90 minutes, divided into 5 sections of 18 minutes each.
• 100 MCQs, 100 marks (20 questions on General Knowledge & Aptitude, 80 questions on the Nursing syllabus at the essential qualification level).
• Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer.
• Sections are timed individually and locked after their duration expires; candidates cannot revisit a completed section.
• Qualifying marks: 50 percentile for UR/EWS, 45 percentile for OBC, 40 percentile for SC/ST (with an additional 5 percentile relaxation for PwBD candidates in each category).
• Candidates qualifying in Stage-I, up to 5 times the total seats in each category, will be called for Stage-II. Stage-I marks are not used for the final merit list.

Stage-II: NORCET Main (Determines Merit)

• Duration: 180 minutes, divided into 4 sections of 45 minutes each (40 questions per section).
• 160 MCQs, 160 marks, covering the entire Nursing syllabus at the essential qualification level, with case-scenario based questions testing nursing skills competency.
• Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer.
• Qualifying marks: 50% for UR/EWS, 45% for OBC, 40% for SC/ST (with an additional 5% relaxation for PwBD candidates in each category).
• Normalisation will apply if the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, as per AIIMS Notice No. 35/2023.

Tie-Breaking Rule

In case of equal marks in Stage-II: first, by fewer wrong answers/negative marks in Stage-II; then by higher marks in Stage-I; then by fewer wrong answers in Stage-I; then by older date of birth; and finally by alphabetical order of the candidate’s name.

Syllabus

The syllabus is based on the educational qualification and experience prescribed in the Eligibility Section, i.e., the Nursing curriculum taught at the B.Sc. Nursing/GNM level, along with General Knowledge & Aptitude for Stage-I.

Selection Process

After Stage-II, a merit list is prepared, and qualified candidates are invited to exercise choices/preferences for participating AIIMS/Institutes based on vacancies reported by each institute. Candidates who fail to exercise their choice within the given duration, or who limit their choices to only a few organizations despite being eligible for more, will not be considered for organizations/posts for which no choice was filled. Final allocation is based on NORCET score, choices/preferences, and applicable Recruitment Rules, subject to verification by the respective participating AIIMS/Institute/Hospital.

Documents Required

• Nursing degree/diploma certificates and mark sheets (B.Sc. Nursing/GNM, as applicable)
• State/Indian Nursing Council registration certificate
• Experience certificate from the Head of Organization/Department (for Category II candidates), clearly mentioning bed strength, duration of employment, and nature of duties
• No Objection Certificate (NOC), mandatory for candidates working in Government/Semi or Quasi Government/PSUs/Autonomous Bodies or any Government-funded institution, to be uploaded by 18 August 2026, 5:00 PM
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD), as applicable, in the prescribed format
• Photo, signature, and thumb impression images as per the “Upload Image Instructions” on the AIIMS Exams website

Important Dates

No extension of dates will be provided; candidates are advised to apply well in advance of the last date.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website, www.aiimsexams.ac.in, or the respective participating Institute/Hospital website.
2. Complete the online application between 24 July 2026 and 13 August 2026, up to 5:00 PM. No physical/hard copy documents are required to be sent.
3. Applicants already registered under One Time Registration (OTR) in any previous AIIMS examination must mandatorily apply using their existing OTR/registration ID.
4. Pay the applicable application fee online via Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking.
5. Upload the required NOC (if applicable) by 18 August 2026, 5:00 PM, failing which candidature will be cancelled.
6. Keep a printed copy of the submitted application form and payment proof for your records.
7. Download the admit card once released (9 September 2026 onward) and appear for Stage-I on 12 September 2026 and, if qualified, Stage-II on 30 September 2026.

Why You Should Apply for This Post

NORCET is India’s premier common eligibility test for Nursing Officer recruitment across the AIIMS network, offering B.Sc./GNM Nursing graduates a single examination pathway to a Central Government Group-B Nursing Officer post at one of India’s most prestigious medical institutions. Qualifying in NORCET-11 opens the door to postings across multiple AIIMS institutes nationwide, based on merit and preference.

Preparation Tips

Since Stage-I is purely qualifying and does not count toward the final merit, while Stage-II (160 questions covering the complete Nursing syllabus with case-scenario based questions) determines the actual merit and allocation, candidates should treat Stage-I mainly as a hurdle to clear efficiently and dedicate the bulk of their preparation time to strengthening core Nursing subject knowledge and clinical case-based reasoning for Stage-II. Given the sectional timing format (where each section locks after its allotted time), candidates should also practice time management under similar simulated conditions.

General Instructions

• The eligibility of candidates remains provisional at all stages; candidature can be cancelled at any point, including after joining, if ineligibility is detected.
• Categories (SC/ST/OBC/UR/EWS) cannot be corrected once the registration fee is submitted.
• AIIMS does not authorize any agent, coaching centre, social media channel, or third-party website for recruitment, appointment, or payment other than the prescribed online fee; candidates should rely only on official notices on www.aiimsexams.ac.in.
• No request for change of allocated examination centre will be entertained.
• AIIMS reserves the right to amend, modify, withdraw, cancel, or not fill any post/vacancy at any stage.

Important Links

• Apply Online / Official Website
• Download Official Notification PDF
• Download NaukriPatra App
• Join NaukriPatra WhatsApp Channel
• Join NaukriPatra Telegram Channel

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is NORCET-11?

NORCET-11 (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test) is a common national-level examination conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for the recruitment of Nursing Officers at Level-7 across AIIMS New Delhi and other participating AIIMS/Institutes/Hospitals.

What is the last date to apply online?

The last date for online registration is 13 August 2026, 5:00 PM.

What is the qualification required for NORCET-11?

A B.Sc. (Hons.)/B.Sc. Nursing or Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing with State/Indian Nursing Council registration; or a Diploma in General Nursing Midwifery with registration and 2 years of experience in a minimum 50-bedded hospital.

What is the age limit for this recruitment?

18 to 30 years, as on the closing date of registration, 13 August 2026, with age relaxation applicable for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen and Central Government employees.

What is the exam pattern for NORCET-11?

Two stages: Stage-I (Preliminary), 100 MCQs/100 marks, qualifying only; Stage-II (Main), 160 MCQs/160 marks, which determines the final merit and seat allocation.

How many vacancies are there in NORCET-11?

The official notification states that vacancies will be reported by participating Institutes/Hospitals before the closing date of application; exact numbers were not specified at the time of notification release and should be tracked on www.aiimsexams.ac.in.

What is the application fee?

Rs. 3,000 for General/OBC candidates, Rs. 2,400 for SC/ST/EWS candidates, and exempted for Persons with Disabilities.

When will the NORCET-11 examination be held?

Stage-I (Preliminary) on 12 September 2026 (Saturday), and Stage-II (Main) on 30 September 2026 (Wednesday).

Where can I download the official notification?

The official notification PDF is linked in the Important Links section above.