- Can You Pursue Nursing After 12th?
- List of Top Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026
- Nursing Entrance Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
- Exam Pattern for List of Nursing Entrance Exams in India …
- Preparation Tips for Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026
- Nursing Entrance Exam Syllabus 2026
- Top Nursing Colleges in India
- Faqs

The list of Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026:
Some of the most sought-after nursing entrance exams in India 2026 include AIIMS BSc Nursing, JENPAS UG, Chhattisgarh B.Sc Nursing, WB JEPBN, and WB ANM & GNM. Additionally, scores from
NEET 2026
are also accepted for BSc Nursing admissions in several top nursing colleges across the country. These nursing entrance exams are designed to evaluate the aptitude, knowledge, and eligibility of candidates aspiring to pursue nursing courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
To apply for these exams, candidates must have passed their higher secondary (10+2) education from a recognized board, with at least 45 to 50% marks in the science stream. The official datesheets for all major nursing entrance exams in India 2026 have been released, and details are provided below. Read on to know more about the eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and latest updates for these exams.
Can You Pursue Nursing After 12th?
Yes, there are several Nursing courses that students can pursue after completing their Class 12th. These include degrees at both Diploma and Undergraduate levels. However, to seek admission into these courses, all students are required to qualify for the respective Nursing entrance exams in India 2026. Some of the renowned nursing institutions accepting Nursing entrance exam scores are AIIMS institutes, JIPMER Puducherry, etc. Moreover, interested students must also carefully review the list of eligibility criteria required for qualifying for these entrance exams before applying for them.
List of Top Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026
Check out the complete list of nursing entrance exams 2026 mentioned in the table below:
Entrance Exam | Exam Date |
|---|---|
AIIMS B.Sc Nursing | B.Sc Nursing (Post Basic) Exam: June 14, 2026 B.Sc (H) Nursing Exam: June 28, 2026 |
AIIMS BSc Paramedical | June 30, 2026 |
Online Admission Test (OAT) at Army College of Nursing (ACN) Jalandhar | June 2026 |
Entrance Exam for Army Institute of Nursing, Guwahati | June 2026 |
May 2026 | |
B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam at Banaras Hindu University | NEET Exam - May 4, 2026 |
2nd week of July 2026 (Tentative) | |
1st week of October 2026 (Tentative) | |
3rd week of June 2026 (Tentative) | |
JIPMER BSc Nursing Entrance Exam | 3rd week of September 2026 (Tentative) |
B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam at LHMC | NEET Exam - May 2026 |
KIMS University Nursing | NEET Exam - May 2026 |
MMU M.Sc Nursing | 1st week of July 2026 (Tentative) |
Municipal Corporation of Delhi Nursing | Last week of July 2026 (Tentative) |
3rd week of September 2026 (Tentative) | |
Punjab Para Medical Entrance Test (PPMET) | June 2026 |
PPBNET | July 14, 2026 |
PMNET | 1st week of July 2026 (Tentative) |
NEET Exam - May 2026 | |
1st week of June 2026 (Tentative) | |
Tripura Medical College B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam | 1st week of September 2026 (Tentative) |
PGIMER M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam | June 2026 |
2025 Exam: October 18, 2025
| |
2025 Exam: October 19, 2025
| |
July 2026 | |
2025 Exam: October 19, 2025
|
Nursing Entrance Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
The eligibility criteria for various Nursing entrance exams in India across various academic levels – Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), Diploma, and Ph.D. – are detailed below:
Exam Pattern for List of Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026
To apply for the list of nursing entrance exams in India 2026, all interested students must understand the core of the exam patterns for each of these exams individually. The exam pattern details are released officially by the respective exam conducting bodies on their official websites. They vary from one exam to another, however, they are mandatory to be followed in each case by all the participating students. To score good marks, applicants should have a thorough knowledge of the question paper pattern of the popular nursing entrance exams in India, as listed below. Refer to the table below to learn in detail about the exam patterns for the different nursing entrance exams in India 2026.
Preparation Tips for Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026
It is no secret that to qualify the list of nursing entrance exams in India 2026, one must be well-prepared with dynamic preparation strategies and tricks. The above-mentioned nursing exams are conducted at the national level, automatically ensuring a high level of competition. Therefore, to secure good marks in the entrance exam, students must take experts’ advice and topper recommendations into consideration for exam preparations. Apart from that, all students must refer to the previous years’ exam analysis and question papers to get an idea of what to expect this year. Refer to the table below to learn more details about the Preparation Tips for Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2026.
Nursing Entrance Exam Syllabus 2026
Check out the syllabus for different nursing entrance exams in India 2026 by visiting the links mentioned below:
Also Read: Short-Term Courses after B.Sc Nursing
Top Nursing Colleges in India
Here's a list of the top colleges in India offering Nursing courses along with the fee structure. Need assistance with Nursing Admissions in India? Fill out our Common Application Form , our experts will help you find the right Nursing college which matches your interest.
Nursing Colleges | Fee |
|---|---|
INR 50,000 Per Annum | |
Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University) - [MMDU] Mullana | INR 88,500 Per Annum |
INR 70,000 Per Annum | |
Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), Bhubaneswar | INR 80,000 Per Annum |
INR 42,000 Per Annum - INR 78,800 Per Annum | |
INR 95,000 Per Annum | |
INR 85,000 Per Annum - INR 1.01 Lakhs Per Annum | |
INR 34,000 Per Annum - INR 1.51 Lakhs Per Annum | |
INR 80,000 Per Annum - INR 1.5 Lakhs Per Annum | |
| The Kaavery Nursing College, Mecheri | INR 1,27,500 Per Annum |
Get started with which Nursing entrance exam you want to sit and then, acquire the required books and take practice exams of the previous years. These would give you an idea of how to prepare for the test.
Related Articles:
| M.Sc Nursing Courses Syllabus and Structure |
To conclude, the list of nursing entrance exams in India 2026 offers a gateway to students for admission to the top nursing colleges and universities across India. Some of the top Nursing colleges in India include AIIMS, JIPMER, Christian Medical College, and Madras Medical College. Along with these, all the recognized colleges demand that the applicants pass the entrance exams in India. For more information related to Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical, and Paramedical, follow CollegeDekho.
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FAQs
The datesheets and exam patterns for major nursing entrance exams in India 2026 are yet to be released. Candidates can check official notifications and CollegeDekho articles for the latest updates and detailed information.
Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board, with at least 45 to 50% marks in the science stream, to apply for most nursing entrance exams in India 2026.
Some of the most popular nursing entrance exams in 2026 include AIIMS BSc Nursing, JENPAS UG, Chhattisgarh B.Sc Nursing, WB JEPBN, and WB ANM & GNM. NEET 2026 scores are also accepted by several top colleges.
Yes, class 12 marks are considered during nursing course admission for most of the reputed medical colleges in India. However, the primary factor that is considered during medical course admission is entrance exam scores like KCET, NEET, CUET, AIIMS Paramedical, IPU CET, BVP CET, AIIMS Nursing, PGIMER Nursing, etc.
NEET or National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test is by far the best exam for Nursing since it is the most widely accepted medical entrance exam and it is a mandatory exam for aspirants who wish to pursue a career in Nursing at certain medical institutes in India. Candidates who qualify for NEET UG have several options when it comes medical colleges where they pursue nursing courses or even other medical courses after class 12th.
Yes, after earning a degree in nursing, it can often be possible to pursue an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree; however, the exact path to earning an MBBS will depend on the regulations of individual medical schools. Candidates must do their due research before making such a big shift in their career to avoid any issues in the future.
Some of top job roles in nursing include Chief Nursing Officer, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist, Critical Care Nurse, Critical Care Nurse, Paramedic Nurse, and others. Nursing professionals are demanded across various platforms and in a country like India, aspirants can build a very promising career in nursing if they are well-trained. Also, nursing professionals are well-paid depending on the job roles and also their level of experience.
Yes, nursing courses are challenging since nurses have to bear a lot of responsibility and aid patients more than doctors. There's no doubting the difficulty of nursing school. There's a lot of material to master, difficult exams, tedious schedules, and an endless supply of assignments. Aspirants may find it challenging to get by as a nursing student if all of these things are present. In addition to the challenging journey as a nursing student, the nursing sector is highly competitive.
There are more than 25 nursing entrance exams conducted in India. Some nursing exams are conducted at the national level while some are conducted at the state-level and there are also university/-institute-level nursing entrance exams in India. Aspirants must research which nursing courses they wish to pursue and find the relevant nursing entrance exam for the same to pursue a career in nursing.
The top nursing entrance exams in India include a variety of national, state, and university level exam conducted each year to allow aspirants to pursue nursing courses at various medical institutes in India. The top nursing entrance exams in India include:
- PGIMER Nursing
- JIPMER Nursing
- AIIMS Nursing
- Indian Army Nursing
- Jamia Hamdard Nursing
- BHU Nursing
- CMC Ludhiana BSc Nursing
- RUHS Nursing
- KGMU Nursing
The average fees for nursing courses in India depends on various factors like academic level, type of course, institute where the course is offered, etc. However, the average fee range for nursing courses in India is INR 20,000 to INR 3,00,000 per year. Candidates must check the official website of their preferred colleges to find the tuition fee for their choice of nursing courses.
A career in nursing has a wide range of opportunities and the scope of nursing in India is always growing. In addition to traditional areas like corporations, research institutes, and government agencies, nursing offers a wide range of options in non-traditional areas such as schools, community health centers, hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. In a country like India, the demand for nurses is always high.
Yes, NEET is mandatory for BSc Nursing admission to most major and reputed colleges offering the course. However, candidates may also appear for other entrance exams that are accepted by institutes offering BSc Nurisng courses. For instance, in order to get admitted to AIIMS for BSc Nursing, candidates may also take the AIIMS BSc Nursing entrance test.
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