Popular Nursing Exams
Prepare confidently for NORCET, AIIMS, ESIC, state nursing officer, and government nursing examinations.
NORCET Exam (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test)
The NORCET (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test) is a national-level recruitment examination conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi for the recruitment of Nursing Officers in AIIMS hospitals and other participating central government healthcare institutions.
Eligibility
You can apply if you have:B.Sc. Nursing / B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing / Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing from a recognized institution and are registered with the State/Indian Nursing Council.ORGNM (General Nursing & Midwifery) with the required post-qualification experience in a qualifying hospital, along with Nurse & Midwife registration.
Age Limit
Generally 18–30 years. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories as per Government of India rules.
Selection Process
The exam has two stages:Stage I (Preliminary CBT) – Qualifying in nature.Stage II (Main CBT) – Merit is prepared based on this stage for final selection.Exam PatternStage I (Prelims): 100 multiple-choice questions Duration: 90 minutes 80 Nursing questions 20 General Knowledge & Aptitude questionsNegative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each incorrect answer.Stage II (Mains): 160 multiple-choice questions Duration: 180 minutes Questions are based mainly on nursing subjects. Negative marking applies.
Syllabus
Nursing topics include: Fundamentals of Nursing Medical-Surgical Nursing Community Health Nursing Child Health Nursing Mental Health Nursing Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing Pharmacology Anatomy & Physiology Nutrition Nursing Research and related subjectsGeneral section: General Knowledge Current Affairs Reasoning English Basic Mathematics/Aptitude
Salary
Selected candidates are appointed as Nursing Officers (Group B) in Pay Level 7 under the 7th CPC, with a basic pay starting around ₹44,900, plus applicable allowances.
RRB: NURSING SUPERINTENDENT
The railway recruitment is officially for the post of Nursing Superintendent under the RRB Paramedical Categories recruitment. It is one of the major government nursing exams and is a very good target alongside NORCET.
1. Post & Salary
In the latest RRB Paramedical notification CEN 03/2025, the post is:Nursing SuperintendentPay Level: 7Initial basic pay: ₹44,900Age: 20–40 years in CEN 03/2025, subject to the notification's applicable relaxationsMedical standard: C1So the basic pay is comparable to NORCET's Nursing Officer Level 7.
2. Educational Qualification
You need either:B.Sc Nursing, ORRegistered Nurse & Midwife + 3-year General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM) course from a recognized institution.The latest notification specifically lists these qualifications for Nursing Superintendent.
3. Exam Pattern
The RRB Paramedical CBT is generally a 100-question objective examination with a 90-minute duration.For Nursing Superintendent, the paper focuses heavily on the professional nursing syllabus, along with general sections as prescribed in the recruitment notification.The important areas to prepare are:Nursing Fundamentals of Nursing Medical-Surgical Nursing Community Health Nursing Child Health Nursing Mental Health Nursing Obstetric & Gynecological Nursing Anatomy & Physiology Pharmacology Nutrition Nursing Research Nursing Education Microbiology Psychology SociologyGeneral General Awareness General Science Mathematics General Intelligence & Reasoning
4. Negative Marking
This is important for your test series.The RRB recruitment CBT has negative marking for wrong answers; the exact marking scheme should be taken from the particular CEN because recruitment notifications can change.For your website, therefore, I would not simply copy the NORCET pattern into an RRB test series.
5. Selection Process
The recruitment generally involves:CBT → Document Verification → Medical Examination → Appointment
There isn't a separate nursing interview in the normal recruitment process.
Military Nursing Service (MNS)
The Military Nursing Service (MNS) is the nursing service of the Indian Armed Forces. It offers nursing careers in military hospitals and healthcare establishments under the Armed Forces.
One important point: MNS recruitment is different from NORCET and RRB Nursing Superintendent recruitment. The eligibility, selection process and recruitment frequency can differ significantly by notification.
MNS has two major career routes:
1. MNS B.Sc Nursing — Entry after Class 12This is the traditional B.Sc Nursing admission route through Armed Forces nursing institutions.Typically, candidates need: 10+2 with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) + English Required minimum marks as specified in the year's notification Eligibility conditions such as nationality and age as prescribed Selection through the recruitment process specified for that year's intake.This route is primarily for candidates who want to join the military nursing profession by entering B.Sc Nursing training.
2. MNS Short Service Commission (SSC) — Nursing Officer routeThis is the route relevant to already-qualified nurses.Recruitment is conducted through specific notifications, and eligibility can include:B.Sc Nursing / Post Basic B.Sc Nursing / M.Sc Nursing or other qualifications specified in the notification Registration with the applicable Nursing Council Age and other service-specific conditionsSelection can include written examination and/or interview/assessment, depending on the particular recruitment notification.
Where do MNS nurses work? ~ MNS personnel can serve in Armed Forces hospitals, including hospitals associated with: Indian Army Military medical establishments Command and military hospitals Other Armed Forces healthcare facilitiesThe job combines professional nursing with the discipline, structure and service conditions of the Armed Forces.
Salary
For commissioned MNS officers, compensation is governed by the Armed Forces pay structure, rather than the ordinary state Staff Nurse pay scale. In addition to basic pay, applicable military/service allowances and benefits may be available depending on rank, posting and conditions of service.