AIIMS Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 (NORCET 11): 2,218 Vacancies, Eligibility & Selection Process

📋 Details about AIIMS Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 (NORCET 11): 2,218 Vacancies, Eligibility & Selection Process

Nursing recruitment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is among the most sought-after opportunities in India's public healthcare sector, and the NORCET-11 notification for 2026 has once again drawn attention for its scale. With 2,218 tentative vacancies spread across 27 participating AIIMS institutes and allied central government hospitals, this recruitment matters for two reasons: it offers one of the largest single-cycle nursing hiring drives of the year, and it opens a stable, pensionable career path at a time when many Assam and Northeast India nursing graduates are actively weighing government versus private-sector options. This guide is relevant for B.Sc. Nursing graduates, GNM diploma holders with the required clinical experience, and working nurses considering a shift to a premier government institution.

Summary Table

Job Title and Recruitment Overview

This recruitment is conducted through the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test, now in its eleventh edition (NORCET-11), under Notice No. 103/2026 dated 24 July 2026. NORCET is AIIMS' standard, centralised mechanism for hiring nursing staff twice a year across its network, replacing separate recruitment drives by individual institutes.

Purpose of Recruitment

The purpose is to build a common, merit-ranked pool of qualified nurses that participating institutes can draw from according to their vacancy needs, ensuring uniform selection standards across AIIMS-run and AIIMS-linked healthcare facilities nationwide.

Sector and Department Relevance

This recruitment falls under the central government healthcare and public-sector medical education sector, directly relevant to India's tertiary care infrastructure, including AIIMS Guwahati's role in serving Northeast India.

About the Organization

AIIMS, New Delhi is India's premier public medical institution, established by an Act of Parliament and mandated to provide tertiary-level patient care, undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, and biomedical research. Since its founding, AIIMS has expanded into a network of institutes across the country, each operating with a shared administrative and examination framework while serving its own regional patient population — a structure that now includes AIIMS Guwahati, a key node for Northeast India's referral healthcare.

Nursing staff form the backbone of AIIMS' clinical operations, and the institution's nursing cadre is widely regarded as a benchmark for training and workplace standards in Indian public healthcare. A career as an AIIMS Nursing Officer typically brings exposure to advanced clinical environments, structured continuing education, and long-term postings that can later transfer across the AIIMS network.

Vacancy Details

A total of 2,218 tentative Nursing Officer posts have been notified across 27 participating institutes.

Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution

Institute-Wise Highlights

AIIMS Guwahati's 188 posts make it one of the larger contributors to this vacancy pool and a significant opportunity for Assam-based candidates specifically. Candidates should note that vacancy numbers are described as tentative in the official notification and may be revised before final allocation.

Pay Scale and Allowances

Selected candidates will be placed at Pay Level 7 of the pay matrix, corresponding to the pre-revised Pay Band-2 of Rs. 9,300–34,800 with Grade Pay of Rs. 4,600, as stated in the official notification. Reported figures place the basic pay at approximately Rs. 44,900, with gross monthly emoluments (including applicable allowances) exceeding Rs. 55,000. As with other Central Government posts at this pay level, compensation structures and pay progression are explained in more general terms in Assam247's guide on 7th Pay Commission pay levels, which breaks down how pay matrix levels translate into in-hand salary.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold either a B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing / B.Sc. Nursing, or a Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing, from an institute recognised by the Indian Nursing Council or a State Nursing Council, along with registration as a Nurse and Midwife with a State or the Indian Nursing Council. Alternatively, candidates with a Diploma in General Nursing Midwifery (GNM) from a recognised institute, registered as a Nurse and Midwife, must additionally have two years of experience in a hospital with a minimum of 50 beds, acquired after obtaining the qualification.

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years of age as on the last date of application submission.

Age Relaxation

Who Should Apply?

This recruitment suits both fresh B.Sc. Nursing graduates who meet the age criteria and experienced GNM diploma holders who have already completed the mandatory two years of clinical service. It is particularly relevant for candidates who value long-term postings, structured promotional avenues, and the professional recognition associated with the AIIMS name over purely private-hospital employment. Candidates should be prepared for a rigorous two-stage computer-based examination testing both general aptitude and in-depth nursing subject knowledge, so this opportunity is best suited to those willing to commit to structured, sustained exam preparation over the coming weeks rather than last-minute revision.

Selection Process

Selection is conducted in two computer-based stages followed by document verification.

Stage I: NORCET Preliminary

A 90-minute test with 100 MCQs (20 on General Knowledge and Aptitude, 80 on Nursing subjects), carrying a negative marking of one-third mark per wrong answer. This stage is qualifying only and is not used for final merit ranking.

Stage II: NORCET Mains

A 180-minute test with 160 MCQs focused on case-scenario-based nursing competency questions, also with one-third negative marking. Final merit is determined solely on Stage II performance among candidates who clear the qualifying percentage: 50% for UR/EWS, 45% for OBC, 40% for SC/ST, with an additional 5% relaxation for PWBD candidates in each category.

Document Verification

Shortlisted candidates undergo verification of certificates before final institute allocation, which is based strictly on merit rank and the candidate's stated institute preferences.

Preparation Resources

Aspirants preparing for the General Knowledge and Aptitude component can strengthen their preparation with free daily mock tests and MCQ practice with 3000+ questions to build speed and accuracy under exam conditions. For structured video-based revision, Assam247 also offers ADRE-focused video classes and Computer Basics video classes, both useful for the general aptitude section common to most competitive nursing and government exams. Candidates should also stay updated through the current affairs for APSC, ADRE and other government exams section, and explore the broader Knowledge Enhancement section for additional learning material relevant to the General Knowledge portion of Stage I.

Official Website and Notification Links

• Official Website: https://www.aiimsexams.ac.in
• Official Notification: Available on the AIIMS Examination Section portal under Notice No. 103/2026
• Application Link: Online Application Form accessible via the official AIIMS Recruitment Portal