If your phone has been buzzing non-stop in nursing WhatsApp groups since Friday, you already know why. AIIMS New Delhi has finally dropped the notification everyone was waiting for - AIIMS NORCET 11 Recruitment 2026 - and this time the vacancy count is genuinely huge. Notice No. 103/2026, dated 24th July 2026, throws open 2218 tentative Nursing Officer posts across AIIMS New Delhi and other participating institutes. If you've been prepping for a Group B government nursing job, this is probably the notification you've been refreshing your browser for.
The Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test, popularly known as NORCET, is the single window through which AIIMS New Delhi and other participating AIIMS institutes recruit Nursing Officers. For many candidates, clearing NORCET is the fastest route to a stable Group B post with Level-7 pay and the prestige of working in an AIIMS hospital.
In this detailed post I have covered everything you need – eligibility, application fee, exam dates, selection process, step-by-step application process and answers to the most common doubts. Whether you are appearing for the first time or have attempted earlier cycles, this guide will help you prepare your application without missing any important point.
AIIMS NORCET 11 Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview
| Organisation | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi |
| Exam Name | Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) - 11 |
| Post | Nursing Officer (Group B) |
| Total Vacancies | 2218 (tentative, subject to revision) |
| Notice No. | 103/2026 dated 24.07.2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Dates | 24 July 2026 to 13 August 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Official Website | aiimsexams.ac.in | Official Notification Link |
Quick heads-up before we go further - if you're new to this exam cycle altogether, it might help to first skim our complete beginner's guide to NORCET exams, which explains how the whole prelims-mains structure works for first-time applicants.
AIIMS NORCET 11 Eligibility Criteria
This is the section most people jump to first, and fair enough - no point building a whole prep strategy if you don't qualify on paper. Here's what the notification actually asks for.
Educational Qualification
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing or B.Sc. Nursing from an institute recognised by the Indian Nursing Council / State Nursing Council, or
- Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing, or
- Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), provided you're registered as a Nurse and Midwife and have at least 2 years of experience in a hospital with a minimum of 50 beds.
M.Sc. Nursing candidates are also eligible, which is good news for those who've gone on to pursue higher qualifications after their basic nursing degree.
Age Limit
You need to be between 18 and 30 years as on the closing date of the application (13 August 2026). Reserved category candidates get age relaxation as per Government of India rules - the usual 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and additional relaxation for PwBD and ex-servicemen categories. If you're unsure how the relaxation applies to your category, it's worth double-checking the exact clause in the notification PDF rather than assuming.
Not sure how your qualification and experience stack up against these NORCET eligibility norms? We've covered this in more depth in our post on NORCET eligibility criteria explained year by year, which compares changes across recent cycles.
NORCET Application Fee for NORCET 11
The fee structure hasn't changed much from earlier cycles, so if you've applied for NORCET 9 or 10 before, this will look familiar.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / UR | ₹3000 |
| SC / ST / EWS | ₹2400 |
| PwBD (Persons with Disabilities) | Exempted (Nil) |
One detail that trips people up every year - SC/ST candidates who actually appear for the exam get their fee refunded later, after their category certificates are verified. So don't skip applying just because the fee feels steep; if you're eligible and you sit for the test, you get that amount back. Payment has to be made online through the AIIMS portal - net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI, depending on what's active at the time you fill the form.
NORCET Exam Dates 2026: The Full Timeline
Here's the schedule as released along with the notification. A couple of these dates are tentative and will be firmed up once admit cards are issued, so keep checking the official site closer to the date.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 24 July 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 24 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 13 August 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| NORCET Prelims (Stage I) | 12 September 2026 (tentative) |
| Stage I Result | Around 18 September 2026 (tentative) |
| NORCET Mains (Stage II) | 30 September 2026 (tentative) |
| Final Result | Around 10 October 2026 (tentative) |
Both stages are conducted as computer-based tests (CBT), which means you'll be allotted a test centre and slot rather than a fixed city-wide timing. If this is your first CBT-format government exam, our step-by-step NORCET preparation timetable walks through how to plan the roughly six weeks between application closing and the prelims.
AIIMS NORCET Selection Process
Selection isn't a single exam - it's a two-stage funnel followed by paperwork and a medical check. Here's how it plays out, stage by stage.
Stage I – NORCET Preliminary
- 100 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes duration.
- This stage is qualifying only - your Stage I score doesn't carry forward into the final merit.
- Negative marking of 1/3 mark for every wrong answer applies.
- Qualifying percentile: 50 for UR/EWS, 45 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST, with an additional 5 percentile relaxation for PwBD candidates.
- Roughly 5 times the number of seats per category are shortlisted for Stage II.
Stage II – NORCET Mains
- 160 case-scenario-based MCQs, 180 minutes duration, testing actual clinical and nursing competency rather than rote memorization.
- Same 1/3 negative marking rule applies here too.
- Qualifying percentage: 50% (UR/EWS), 45% (OBC), 40% (SC/ST), plus 5% relaxation for PwBD.
- Final merit is based entirely on Stage II marks - so treat the Mains as the exam that actually decides your fate.
Document Verification, Institute Allotment & Medical Exam
Candidates who clear Stage II on merit are called for document verification, followed by institute allotment (based on your preference and rank) and a medical fitness examination before the final appointment letter is issued.
If you're someone who learns better by seeing how previous attempts panned out, our detailed breakdown of the NORCET 10 result and cut-off analysis gives a realistic sense of what merit scores looked like last cycle — useful for setting your own target while you prepare.
Salary and Pay Scale After Selection
Selected candidates are appointed as Nursing Officers under Pay Level 7 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (pre-revised Pay Band-2 of ₹9,300–34,800 with Grade Pay ₹4,600). In hand, this typically works out to a basic pay around ₹44,900, with gross monthly salary - after allowances like DA, HRA and NPA- comfortably crossing ₹55,000 in most participating cities. Not a bad outcome at all for a central government healthcare posting.
Online Application for AIIMS NORCET 11: How to Apply
The process itself is fairly straightforward once you have your documents scanned and ready. Here's the drill:
- Visit the official AIIMS exam portal at aiimsexams.ac.in.
- Look for the "NORCET-11" recruitment link on the homepage or notifications section.
- Register with a valid mobile number and email ID to generate your login credentials.
- Log back in and fill out the detailed application form - personal details, educational qualification, nursing council registration number, and experience (if applying under the GNM category).
- Upload scanned photograph, signature, and category/disability certificates as applicable, in the specified format and size.
- Pay the application fee online as per your category.
- Choose your preferred exam centres from the list provided.
- Review everything carefully, submit, and download/print a copy of the final confirmation page for your records.
A small but important tip: don't leave this for the last two days. Servers slow down badly close to the deadline every single cycle, and a missed submission because of a payment gateway timeout is a heartbreak nobody needs. Apply the moment your documents are ready.
NORCET 11 FAQs
Q1. What is the last date to apply for AIIMS NORCET 11?
13th August 2026, up to 5:00 PM. There's usually no extension, so plan accordingly.
Q2. How many vacancies are there in NORCET 11?
2218 tentative Nursing Officer posts across 27 participating AIIMS institutes and allied hospitals, though the number could be revised as institutes confirm their final vacancy counts.
Q3. What is the NORCET application fee?
₹3000 for General/OBC, ₹2400 for SC/ST/EWS, and no fee at all for PwBD candidates.
Q4. Is GNM diploma valid for NORCET 11?
Yes, provided you're registered as a Nurse and Midwife with the State or Indian Nursing Council and have at least 2 years of work experience in a hospital with 50+ beds.
Q5. Will there be a correction window after submitting the form?
AIIMS typically opens a short correction window a few days after the application closes, similar to previous NORCET cycles. Keep an eye on the official website for the exact dates once announced.
Q6. Does Stage I score count toward the final merit?
No. Stage I (Prelims) is only qualifying in nature. Final selection depends solely on your Stage II (Mains) performance.
Final Word
NORCET 11 is easily one of the biggest nursing recruitment drives this year, and with over two thousand posts on offer, the odds are genuinely better than they've been in a while. But "more vacancies" doesn't mean "less competition"- thousands of nursing graduates across the country will be applying, so the difference will come down to how seriously you take your Mains preparation over the next couple of months. Go through the eligibility section once more, keep your documents ready, and don't wait till the last week to submit your form. If you found this useful, do check out our other guides linked above and if you have questions specific to your category or qualification, drop them in the comments; we try to reply to every genuine query.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available in the official AIIMS NORCET 11 notification official PDF. Some exam dates are tentative and may be revised by AIIMS. Candidates are strongly advised to cross-check all details on the official website, aiimsexams.ac.in, before making any decisions.
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