The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has released the AIIMS Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026 along with the exam pattern for NORCET-11, vide Notice No.103/2026 dated 24.07.2026. AIIMS conducts the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) to fill Nursing Officer vacancies across AIIMS New Delhi and other participating AIIMS institutes. Since NORCET is held in two stages with different marks, duration and qualifying criteria, candidates need to understand the syllabus and exam pattern together to plan their preparation effectively. This article covers the official exam pattern, selection process, marking scheme and preparation tips for NORCET-11, based strictly on the official notification.
AIIMS Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026 - Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi |
| Exam Name | Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) - 11 |
| Notice Number | 103/2026 dated 24.07.2026 |
| Post | Nursing Officer |
| Number of Stages | Two - Stage I: NORCET Preliminary, Stage II: NORCET Main |
| Total Questions | Stage I: 100; Stage II: 160 |
| Total Marks | Stage I: 100; Stage II: 160 |
| Duration | Stage I: 90 minutes; Stage II: 180 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer in both stages |
| Mode of Exam | Online, Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Official Website | aiimsexams.ac.in |
AIIMS Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026 - Download Link
Download the AIIMS Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026 PDF and check the latest NORCET-11 exam pattern, marking scheme, selection process, and stage-wise syllabus released by AIIMS New Delhi. Get complete details of the Preliminary and Main exam, qualifying criteria, and preparation tips to boost your NORCET 2026 exam strategy.
Download AIIMS Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026
AIIMS Nursing Officer Exam Pattern 2026
The NORCET-11 exam pattern is different for the Preliminary and Main stages. Both stages are conducted in a sectional, timed format - once a section's time is over, candidates cannot go back to it.
Stage I: NORCET Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs (four alternatives each) |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Subject-wise Split | 20 questions - General Knowledge & Aptitude; 80 questions - Nursing courses at the essential qualification level |
| Sectional Pattern | 5 sections of 18 minutes each, 20 questions per section, released one at a time |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Nature of Exam | Qualifying only; not counted for final merit |
Qualifying criteria (Stage I, category-wise percentile):
- UR / EWS: 50 percentile
- OBC: 45 percentile
- SC / ST: 40 percentile
- PWBD (UR/EWS): 45 percentile
- PWBD (OBC): 40 percentile
- PWBD (SC/ST): 35 percentile
Stage II: NORCET Main Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Total Questions | 160 MCQs (four alternatives each) |
| Total Marks | 160 |
| Subject Coverage | Entire syllabus of Nursing courses at the essential qualification level, with a focus on case-scenario-based questions testing nursing skills and competency |
| Sectional Pattern | 4 sections of 45 minutes each, 40 questions per section, released one at a time |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Nature of Exam | Used to prepare the final merit list |
Qualifying criteria (Stage II, category-wise percentage):
- UR / EWS: 50%
- OBC: 45%
- SC / ST: 40%
- PWBD (UR/EWS): 45%
- PWBD (OBC): 40%
- PWBD (SC/ST): 35%
If Stage II CBT is conducted in multiple shifts, the applicable AIIMS normalisation procedure (as per Notice No. 35/2023 dated 20.01.2023) will apply to the scores.
AIIMS Nursing Officer Syllabus 2026
According to the official notification, "the syllabus will be in accordance with education qualification and experience as mentioned in the Eligibility Section/Advertisement." This means AIIMS has not released a separate, topic-wise NORCET syllabus PDF listing individual chapters or units for NORCET-11. A detailed subject-wise topic breakdown is not specified in the official notification. Based only on what is confirmed in the official notice, the syllabus structure is as follows:
1. General Knowledge & Aptitude (Stage I only)
- 20 out of 100 questions in Stage I: NORCET Preliminary
- Not applicable to Stage II: NORCET Main
- Specific topics within General Knowledge & Aptitude are not detailed in the official notification
2. Nursing Subject (Stage I and Stage II)
- Stage I: 80 out of 100 questions, drawn from the syllabus of Nursing courses taught at the essential qualification level (B.Sc Nursing / Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing / GNM, as applicable)
- Stage II: All 160 questions, covering the entire syllabus of Nursing courses at the essential qualification level, with an emphasis on case-scenario-based questions that test nursing skills competency (clinical reasoning and application, not just theory)
- Individual nursing subjects/units and their weightage are not listed in the official notification
Since the official NORCET-11 notification does not provide a topic-wise syllabus, candidates preparing for the exam should base their study on their B.Sc Nursing / GNM curriculum as prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council or their respective State Nursing Council, since Stage I and Stage II are explicitly tied to "the syllabus of Nursing courses being taught at the essential qualification level." Candidates should verify against the latest official notice or any syllabus annexure AIIMS may release closer to the exam date, as this can be revised or expanded by AIIMS at any time.
AIIMS Nursing Officer Selection Process 2026
As per the official notification, selection for the Nursing Officer post under NORCET-11 is based on the following stage-by-stage process:
- Stage I – NORCET Preliminary: This is a qualifying exam only. Marks scored in Stage I are not used for the final merit/rank.
- Shortlisting for Stage II: Candidates who qualify Stage I as per category-wise qualifying percentile, equal to 5 times the total seats in each category (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS), are called for Stage II. In addition, all qualifying PWBD candidates and all tie cases at the last position of the shortlist are also called for Stage II.
- Stage II – NORCET Main: This exam decides the final merit list. The merit list of qualified candidates is prepared based on performance in Stage II only, subject to category-wise qualifying marks.
- Choice-filling and Allocation: Qualified and eligible candidates are invited to fill choices/preferences of participating AIIMS institutes. Seat allocation is done strictly in order of merit against the choices filled – there is one round of allocation, and no waiting list is maintained since NORCET is conducted twice a year.
- Document Verification: Provisionally selected candidates must produce original certificates for verification, as notified by the respective participating AIIMS/Institute.
If Stage II results in a tie, it is resolved in this order: fewer wrong answers in Stage II, then higher marks in Stage I, then fewer wrong answers in Stage I, then older date of birth, and finally alphabetical order of the candidate's name.
How to Prepare for AIIMS Nursing Officer Exam 2026
- Start with your qualifying course syllabus: Since NORCET explicitly draws questions from "the syllabus of Nursing courses being taught at the essential qualification level," revise your B.Sc Nursing/GNM coursework systematically rather than searching for a separate NORCET syllabus PDF.
- Practise sectional, timed sets: Both stages are strictly sectional (5x18 minutes in Stage I, 4x45 minutes in Stage II) with no option to revisit a closed section, so practise solving fixed-time question sets to build speed within each section.
- Prioritise accuracy over guesswork: With 1/3 negative marking in both stages, avoid blind guessing on questions you are unsure of.
- Work on case-scenario questions for Stage II: Since Stage II is focused on case-scenario-based questions testing clinical competency, practise applying nursing concepts to patient-care situations rather than only memorising theory.
- Track category-wise qualifying marks: Know your applicable qualifying percentile (Stage I) or percentage (Stage II) based on your category, so you can set a realistic score target.
- Revise General Knowledge & Aptitude separately: This section applies only to Stage I (20 of 100 questions), so allocate proportionate time rather than over-investing in it.