The Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) is conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi to recruit Nursing Officers in Group B at AIIMS institutes and participating central government hospitals across India. It is the single largest nursing recruitment examination in the country, and a strong NORCET score is the only route into an AIIMS Nursing Officer post.
This guide covers the full NORCET syllabus, the two-stage exam pattern, the marking scheme including negative marking, and a realistic preparation approach. AIIMS has released the NORCET 11 notification under Notice No. 103/2026, with applications open until 13 August 2026, the Preliminary Examination on 12 September 2026 and the Mains Examination on 30 September 2026.
NORCET Exam Pattern at a Glance
NORCET is conducted in two computer-based stages. Clearing Stage-I is only a gateway — the final merit is built on Stage-II performance, followed by document verification and a medical examination.
| Feature | Stage-I (Prelims) | Stage-II (Mains) |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test | Computer Based Test |
| Total Questions | 100 | 100 |
| Duration | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice | Multiple Choice |
| Nursing Questions | 80 | 100 |
| Non-Nursing Questions | 20 | Nil |
| Negative Marking | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Screening for Stage-II | Counts towards final merit |
The most important structural point candidates miss: Stage-I includes 20 non-nursing questions, Stage-II does not. Those 20 marks come from General Knowledge, Aptitude and Current Affairs, and they are frequently the difference between clearing the cut-off and missing it — because almost every candidate prepares the nursing portion and almost none prepare the general portion.
NORCET Marking Scheme and Negative Marking
Each correct answer carries one mark. Each incorrect answer attracts a deduction of one-third of a mark. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
This matters more than it looks. With 100 questions in 90 minutes, you have roughly 54 seconds per question. Blind guessing across 30 uncertain questions costs you around 10 marks in deductions. In an exam where cut-offs cluster tightly, that alone can end a candidature. Attempt what you know, make educated eliminations where you can rule out two options, and leave the rest.
NORCET Syllabus — Nursing Subjects
The nursing portion draws from the standard B.Sc. Nursing and GNM curriculum. The following subjects appear consistently across NORCET cycles.
Fundamentals of Nursing
Nursing process and documentation, vital signs, infection control and asepsis, patient hygiene and comfort, administration of medication, oxygen therapy, wound care and dressing, catheterisation, intravenous therapy, nutrition and feeding, and patient safety.
Medical-Surgical Nursing
This is the heaviest-weighted area. Cardiovascular disorders, respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions, renal and urinary disorders, endocrine disorders including diabetes management, neurological conditions, oncology nursing, musculoskeletal disorders, burns, shock, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and perioperative nursing.
Child Health Nursing
Growth and development milestones, neonatal care and neonatal resuscitation, low birth weight and preterm care, immunisation schedule under the Universal Immunisation Programme, common paediatric disorders, congenital anomalies, Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness, and paediatric drug dosage calculation.
Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing
Antenatal, intranatal and postnatal care, normal and abnormal labour, obstetric emergencies including postpartum haemorrhage and eclampsia, high-risk pregnancy, family planning methods, infertility, menstrual disorders, and gynaecological conditions.
Community Health Nursing
National health programmes, primary health care and the health care delivery system in India, epidemiology and disease surveillance, communicable and non-communicable disease control, maternal and child health services, environmental sanitation, nutrition and health education, and vital health statistics.
Mental Health Nursing
Classification of mental disorders, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety and stress-related disorders, substance abuse, psychiatric emergencies, psychotropic drugs and their side effects, therapeutic communication, and the Mental Healthcare Act.
Nursing Management and Education
Principles of administration, staffing and duty rota, ward management, nursing audit and quality assurance, supervision and delegation, budgeting, and the teaching-learning process.
Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology
Body systems and their functions, drug classifications and mechanisms, dosage calculation, drug interactions and adverse effects, sterilisation and disinfection, immunity, and hospital-acquired infections.
NORCET Syllabus — Non-Nursing Section (Stage-I Only)
Twenty questions in Stage-I fall outside nursing. Broadly, they cover:
- General Knowledge: Indian history, geography, polity, economy and general science
- Current Affairs: national and international events, health-sector news, government health schemes and appointments
- Aptitude and Reasoning: basic arithmetic, percentages, ratio, data interpretation, series, coding-decoding and analytical reasoning
You do not need deep preparation here. Twenty to thirty minutes daily on a current affairs digest, with particular attention to health ministry announcements and national health programmes, is proportionate to the weightage.
NORCET Selection Process
- Stage-I Preliminary Examination — screening round, computer based
- Stage-II Mains Examination — purely nursing, determines merit
- Document Verification — original certificates, nursing council registration and experience proof
- Medical Examination — fitness as per AIIMS standards
- Final Merit List and Appointment
Note that Stage-I marks do not carry forward into the final merit. Stage-I only decides who sits Stage-II.
How to Prepare for NORCET
Build from the standard curriculum, not from shortcuts. NORCET questions are drawn from mainstream nursing textbooks. Candidates who rely only on one-liner compilations tend to clear Stage-I and fail Stage-II, because Stage-II asks applied clinical questions that reward conceptual understanding.
Prioritise by weightage. Medical-Surgical Nursing consistently carries the largest share, followed by Community Health Nursing and Fundamentals. Allocate study time in that proportion rather than evenly across subjects.
Practise under the clock. Ninety minutes for 100 questions is tight. Sit full-length mock tests in exam conditions and track not just your score but your attempt rate and accuracy separately. If your accuracy is below 80 percent, you are guessing too much and negative marking will hurt you.
Do not neglect the 20 non-nursing marks. They are the cheapest marks in Stage-I relative to preparation time.
Revise the immunisation schedule, national health programmes, drug dosages and normal lab values repeatedly. These are high-frequency, high-certainty question areas across every NORCET cycle.
NORCET Salary and Career Path
Nursing Officers are appointed at Level 07 of the Pay Matrix, corresponding to the pre-revised Pay Band-2 of ₹9,300 to ₹34,800 with Grade Pay of ₹4,600. Basic pay is ₹44,900 per month, with Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and other Central Government allowances on top. Promotion pathways lead to Senior Nursing Officer, Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Nursing Superintendent and Chief Nursing Officer.
Important Note on the Official Syllabus
AIIMS does not publish an exhaustive topic-by-topic syllabus document for NORCET. The subject coverage above reflects the consistent pattern across previous NORCET cycles and the standard nursing curriculum. Always read the official notification on the AIIMS examination portal for the authoritative exam pattern, marking scheme and any changes announced for your cycle.
For the current cycle, full eligibility, fee, dates and application details are available on our AIIMS NORCET 11 Recruitment 2026 page.
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