HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme 2026 – Latest CBT Structure, Qualifying Marks & Preparation Strategy

If you are preparing for the HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam 2026, understanding the latest exam pattern and marking scheme is the first step toward smart preparation. The Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog (HPRCA) conducts a Computer-Based Test (CBT) to recruit Assistant Staff Nurses for government medical institutions.

In this blog, you’ll get the updated HPRCA Staff Nurse CBT exam pattern, section-wise weightage, marking scheme, qualifying marks, and subject distribution – all in one place.

Explore Upcoming Nursing Exams 2026-27

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HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam Pattern 2026 – Overview

The exam is an objective-type screening test designed to assess both nursing knowledge and general aptitude.

Parameter	Details
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT) / Written Screening
Total Questions	120
Total Marks	120
Duration	90 Minutes
Question Type	MCQs
Sections	Nursing Subjects + GK & Aptitude

The selection process includes: Written Exam → Document Verification → Medical Examination

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HPRCA Staff Nurse Marking Scheme 2026

One of the biggest advantages of this exam is the no negative marking, which allows candidates to attempt more questions with confidence.

• 1 mark for each correct answer
• No negative marking
• All questions carry equal weightage

This makes accuracy + maximum attempts the best scoring strategy.

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Section-Wise Weightage – HPRCA Staff Nurse CBT 2026

Nursing Subjects (Core Technical Section)

• Questions: 85
• Level: GNM / B.Sc Nursing
• Weightage: Highest scoring section

Key subjects include:

• Nursing Foundations
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Maternal & Child Health
• Community Health Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Basic Sciences

This section tests your clinical concepts and patient-care knowledge, so it decides your merit rank.

HPRCA Staff Nurse Syllabus 2026

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General Knowledge & Aptitude

• Questions: 35

Topics include:

• Himachal Pradesh GK
• Current Affairs
• General Science
• Logical Reasoning
• English & Hindi (Matric level)
• Social Science

HP GK is especially important for state merit.

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HPRCA Staff Nurse Qualifying Marks 2026

To clear the written exam:

• General Category: 45%
• Reserved Categories: 40%

Cut-offs may vary depending on difficulty and vacancies.

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HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam Duration & Time Management

You get 90 minutes for 120 questions, which means:

45 seconds per question

Smart time strategy:

• Nursing section first (high scoring)
• GK & aptitude later
• Attempt all questions (no negative marking benefit)

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HPRCA Staff Nurse 2026 – Why Exam Pattern Matters for Preparation

Knowing the pattern helps you:

• Focus more on the 85-question nursing section
• Prepare HP GK separately
• Practice MCQ-based speed tests
• Plan a high-attempt strategy

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Best Preparation Strategy Based on Latest Exam Pattern

1. Target Nursing for Maximum Score Your selection depends mainly on this section.

2. Prepare Himachal Pradesh GK Daily Static + current affairs both are important.

3. Practice Full-Length CBT Mock Tests Improve speed for the 90-minute paper.

4. Use No-Negative-Marking to Your Advantage Attempt all 120 questions.

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Quick Revision – HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam Pattern 2026

• Total Questions: 120
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Nursing Questions: 85
• GK & Aptitude: 35
• Marking Scheme: +1 mark, No negative marking
• Qualifying Marks: 45% (Gen), 40% (Reserved)

Read NPrep Faculty Curated Last 30 Day Revision plan for HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam [Link to Internal Blog: HPRCA Staff Nurse 2026 Last 30 Days Revision Plan – Start Now Before the Exam Date Drops]

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Why choose NPrep for your preparation?

• Syllabus-focused preparation – Complete coverage of the latest HPRCA Staff Nurse syllabus
• High-yield nursing MCQs – Practice questions designed as per the real CBT exam pattern
• Concept-based video lectures – Learn faster with exam-oriented explanations
• Previous year paper discussions – Understand important and repeated topics
• Full-length mock tests – Improve speed, accuracy, and time management
• Performance analytics & rank prediction – Track your progress and stay ahead
• Quick revision notes – Perfect for last-day rapid revision

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the exam pattern of HPRCA Staff Nurse 2026? The HPRCA Staff Nurse Exam 2026 will be conducted in CBT mode with 120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks. The total duration is 90 minutes, and the paper includes 85 nursing subject questions and 35 questions from General Knowledge and aptitude.

2. What is the marking scheme for HPRCA Staff Nurse CBT? As per the latest HPRCA Staff Nurse marking scheme:

• +1 mark for each correct answer
• No negative marking
• All questions carry equal marks

This allows candidates to attempt all questions without the risk of score reduction.

3. Is there negative marking in the HPRCA Staff Nurse exam 2026? No, there is no negative marking in HPRCA Staff Nurse CBT, which makes a high-attempt strategy beneficial for scoring better.

4. How many questions are asked from nursing subjects in HPRCA Staff Nurse exam? A total of 85 questions are asked from core nursing subjects such as:

• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing
• Child Health Nursing
• Midwifery
• Nursing Foundations

This section carries the maximum weightage in the exam.

5. How many questions come from General Knowledge in HPRCA Staff Nurse CBT? The GK and aptitude section contains 35 questions, including:

• Himachal Pradesh GK
• Current Affairs
• General Science
• English & Hindi
• Logical Reasoning

HP GK plays an important role in merit ranking.