Nursing Exams in India (National & State-Wise) – Complete Guide

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing and most respected professions in India. With the rise in healthcare demand, expansion of medical colleges, and continuous strengthening of public health infrastructure, the need for skilled Nursing Officers and Staff Nurses is higher than ever. Every year, thousands of vacancies are released across central government hospitals, AIIMS institutions, ESIC hospitals, railway medical units, state health departments, and teaching hospitals-making nursing one of the most stable government career options today.

However, the biggest challenge for most students and working nurses is not the preparation, but understanding which exams exist, which ones offer the highest vacancies, how often they are conducted, and what competition they attract. Many aspirants only know about AIIMS NORCET, but India actually conducts over 30+ major nursing recruitment exams, including dozens of state-wise Staff Nurse exams that offer thousands of opportunities every year.

This blog gives you a complete, state-wise and national-level list of all major Nursing Exams in India. Whether you're a B.Sc Nursing student, a GNM graduate, or an experienced staff nurse looking for a government job, this guide will help you clearly understand the entire nursing exam landscape and choose the best opportunities for your career.

Let’s explore the full list.

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National-Level Nursing Exams

Exam	Conducting Body
AIIMS NORCET	All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
UPSC ESIC Nursing Officer	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
JIPMER Nursing Officer	JIPMER, Puducherry
RRB Paramedical/Staff Nurse	Railway Recruitment Board
PGIMER Nursing Officer Exam	PGIMER Chandigarh
NHM / CHO Exams (Not purely nursing but relevant)	National Health Mission

Suggested Link: List of Nursing Exams in 2026

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State-Wise Nursing Exams (Staff Nurse/Nursing Officer)

Most states conduct annual or periodic Staff Nurse recruitments through their Public Service Commissions, Health Departments, or Medical Institutions.

Below is the state-wise list with recent vacancies if available:

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North India

State / Exam	Conducting Body
Uttar Pradesh – UPPSC Staff Nurse	UPPSC
Uttar Pradesh – RMLIMS Nursing Officer	RMLIMS
Bihar – BTSC/SHSB Staff Nurse	BTSC / SHSB
Rajasthan – RSMSSB Staff Nurse	RSMSSB
Delhi – DSSSB Nursing Officer	DSSSB
Haryana – HSSC Staff Nurse	HSSC
Punjab – BFUHS Staff Nurse	BFUHS

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West India

State / Exam	Conducting Body
Maharashtra – DMER Staff Nurse	DMER / Public Health Dept
Gujarat – GPSSB Staff Nurse	GPSSB / Health Dept
Goa Staff Nurse	Goa PSC

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South India

State / Exam	Conducting Body
Karnataka – NHM Staff Nurse	NHM Karnataka
Tamil Nadu – TN MRB Staff Nurse	TN MRB
Kerala – PSC Staff Nurse Grade II	Kerala PSC
Andhra Pradesh – AP Health Dept Staff Nurse	Health Dept
Telangana – TSPSC Staff Nurse	TSPSC / Health Dept

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East India

State / Exam	Conducting Body
West Bengal – WBHRB Staff Nurse	WBHRB
Odisha – OSSSC Staff Nurse	OSSSC
Jharkhand – JSSC/RIMS Staff Nurse	JSSC / Health Dept
Assam – DHS Staff Nurse	DHS Assam
NE States (Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur)	State Health Depts

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Central India

State / Exam	Conducting Body
Madhya Pradesh – MP ESB/NHM Staff Nurse	MP ESB / NHM
Chhattisgarh – CG Vyapam Staff Nurse	CG Vyapam

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Eligibility Criteria for Nursing Exams (General Overview)

While each exam has its own notification, most nursing recruitments in India follow common eligibility rules.

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Educational Eligibility

1. GNM Diploma (General Nursing & Midwifery)

Eligible for:

• State Staff Nurse exams
• NORCET (as per updated AIIMS guidelines – varies per notification)
• NHM Staff Nurse jobs
• RRB Staff Nurse

2. B.Sc Nursing (4-year degree)

Eligible for:

• All national-level exams
• All state-level Staff Nurse/Nursing Officer posts
• ESIC UPSC Nursing Officer
• JIPMER Nursing Officer

3. Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing

Eligible for:

• All major Nursing Officer posts
• Preference in certain state recruitments

4. M.Sc Nursing

Eligible for:

• Tutor / Lecturer posts
• Senior Nursing Officer posts (when advertised)

Struggling with Academics and Foundational Nursing Studies? Check out NPrep’s Targeted Year wise preparation Courses for students in enrolled in B.Sc Nursing and GNM

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Registration Requirement

Almost all exams require:

• Valid registration with State Nursing Council or Indian Nursing Council (INC)
• Registration proof must be uploaded during application or at document verification

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Age Limit (Common Range Across Exams)

• 18 to 30 years - Central exams like NORCET
• 18 to 40 years - Many state PSC exams

Relaxations:

• OBC: +3 years
• SC/ST: +5 years
• PWD: +10 years

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Who Are These Nursing Exams For? (NPrep’s Recommendations)

1. Nursing Students (Final-Year Students)

Many students in their final year of B.Sc Nursing or GNM start preparing early for:

• AIIMS NORCET
• ESIC UPSC
• State PSC Staff Nurse exams

Ideal For: Students who want to secure a government job right after graduation. Requirement: Final mark sheet + nursing council registration (before document verification).

Suggested Read: ESIC Nursing Officer vs AIIMS NORCET: Which offers best career path?

2. Recently Graduated Nurses (Freshers)

Fresh graduates can apply for:

• AIIMS NORCET
• ESIC Nursing Officer
• State Staff Nurse (UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, TN, WB)
• JIPMER Nursing Officer

Ideal For: Freshers wanting competitive exams immediately after internship. Experience Required: None for most central/state exams.

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3. Experienced GNM/B.Sc/Post-Basic Nurses

Suitable roles:

• State medical college recruitments
• District health society (DHS) jobs
• NHM/CHO roles
• Senior positions in ESIC/JIPMER (based on notification)

Ideal For: Nurses seeking promotions or switching from private to government. Experience Required: Often 1–2 years preferred.

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4. Nurses Looking for Central Government Jobs

Target exams:

• AIIMS NORCET
• ESIC Nursing Officer
• RRB Staff Nurse
• PGIMER Nursing Officer
• Central hospital recruitments

Ideal For: Nurses seeking central salary, transfers, pension, and national-level postings.

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Your Roadmap to Cracking Nursing Exams

India offers strong career opportunities for nursing students and working nurses through both national and state-level recruitment exams. Whether you aim for AIIMS, ESIC, RRB, or state Staff Nurse jobs, vacancies are abundant - but competition is equally high.

Start early, stay consistent, and apply to multiple exams to improve your chances.

Ready to start your Nursing Officer journey?

Join NPrep – India’s fastest-growing nursing exam learning platform – and unlock:

• Full-length NORCET, ESIC & State Staff Nurse mock tests
• Topic-wise quizzes & previous year questions
• Smart dashboards to track your progress
• Expert guidance, study plans & exam strategies
• Real exam-like practice designed for high scores

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Chapter-wise quizzes Access to the NPrep learning dashboard

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FAQs

1. Which is the best nursing exam in India?

AIIMS NORCET - due to high vacancies, central salary, and national-level postings.

2. How many vacancies are released every year?

More than 25,000+ Nursing Officer/Staff Nurse posts across India annually.

3. Which state has the highest Staff Nurse vacancies?

Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan.

4. Can GNM nurses apply for these exams?

Yes, many exams accept GNM nurses based on recruitment rules.

5. What is the age limit for nursing exams?

Typically 18–40 years, depending on exam and category relaxations.

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