The Big Picture: Major Upcoming Nursing Exams 2026-27
1. AIIMS NORCET 10 & 11 (7,000+ Posts)
2. Community Health Officer (CHO) - States (20,000+ Posts)
3. DSSSB Nursing Officer - Delhi (353 Posts)
4. SGPGI & KGMU Lucknow (1,900+ Posts)
5. RRB Nursing Superintendent (772+ Posts)
6. AIIMS, ESIC & Central Institutions
7. State Staff Nurse Mega Recruitments
NPrep Insider’s View: Why One Strategy Doesn’t Fit All
How to Prepare for Upcoming Nursing Officer Exams 2026-27
Never Miss an Exam Deadline - Add to Google Calendar
Final Word
Upcoming Nursing Vacancies & Exams 2026-27: Your Ultimate Guide to 40,000+ Government Nursing Vacancies
Get ready! The next 18 months are packed with golden opportunities. Here’s your complete calendar for major nursing recruitments across India.

"# Upcoming Nursing Vacancies & Exams 2026-27: Your Ultimate Guide to 40,000+ Government Nursing Vacancies
The next 12-18 months present a massive opportunity for nursing aspirants, with over 40,000+ government nursing vacancies expected across India in 2026-27. From central-level exams like AIIMS NORCET to large-scale recruitments by RRB, DSSSB, ESIC, and multiple state health departments, this period is set to become one of the biggest hiring cycles in recent years.
However, with so many upcoming nursing officer exams and notifications clustered together, it’s easy to feel confused about where to start and how to plan effectively. Each exam comes with its own pattern, timeline, and preparation strategy-making random preparation a risky approach.
This comprehensive guide brings everything together in one place-covering exam-wise vacancy breakdown, expected timelines, key opportunities, and a structured roadmap to help you stay ahead. Whether your goal is AIIMS NORCET, CHO, RRB, or state staff nurse recruitment, this guide will help you plan smartly, prioritise correctly, and convert opportunities into selection
Explore All Government Nursing Exams (Centre and State Wise) Here [Link to Internal Blog: Nursing Exams in India (National & State-Wise) - Complete Guide ]
The Big Picture: Major Upcoming Nursing Exams 2026-27
Below is the verified, exam-wise breakup based strictly on official vacancy information.
1. AIIMS NORCET 10 & 11 (7,000+ Posts)
The backbone of central government nursing recruitment, AIIMS NORCET continues to dominate 2026 hiring.
| NORCET Cycle | Posts | Key Dates |
|---|---|---|
| NORCET 10 | 4000+ | Notification: 15-20 March 2026 Pre-Exam: 11 April 2026 Mains: 30 April 2026 |
| NORCET 11 | 3000+ | Notification: August 2026 Pre-Exam: 11 April 2026 Mains: 30 April 2026 |
Age Limit: 18-30 years
2. Community Health Officer (CHO) - States (20,000+ Posts)
The largest recruitment volume in nursing across India.
- CHO (Other States): 10,000-12,000 posts
- MP CHO: 10,179 posts
- Rajasthan CHO: 1,500 posts
Expected Notifications: Jan-Feb / April 2026 (state-wise)
Age Limit: Up to 40-43 years (with relaxation)
3. DSSSB Nursing Officer - Delhi (353 Posts)
A confirmed Delhi government recruitment cycle.
- Posts: 353
- Expected Notification: Jan-Feb 2026
- Age Limit: 18-30 years
4. SGPGI & KGMU Lucknow (1,900+ Posts)
Major institutional recruitments from Uttar Pradesh.
| Institute | Posts | Application Dates | Expected Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGPGI Lucknow | 1200 | 18 June - 31 July 2025 | Mid Jan - Feb 2026 |
| KGMU Lucknow | 733 | From 7 May 2025 | Jan / Feb 2026 |
5. RRB Nursing Superintendent (772+ Posts)
Two consecutive Railway recruitment cycles.
- RRB Nursing Superintendent 2025: 272 posts
- Application Last Date: 18 Sept 2025
- Exam: Feb-March 2026
- RRB Nursing Superintendent 2026: 500+ posts
- Notification Expected: July 2026
Age Limit: 20-43 years
6. AIIMS, ESIC & Central Institutions
| Recruitment | Posts | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Rewari (Haryana) | 100-250 | Notification: Jan-Feb 2026 |
| NCI AIIMS Jhajjar | 300 | Notification: 15-20 March 2026 |
| ESIC Nursing Officer / Staff Nurse | 1500 | Notification: Feb 2026 |
| BSF Staff Nurse | 200-300 | Exam: April-May 2026 |
7. State Staff Nurse Mega Recruitments
| State | Posts | Expected Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan | 4500+ | April 2026 |
| Haryana | 501 | Feb-March 2026 |
| MP | 4423 | April 2026 |
| RML | 422 | March 2026 |
| PGIMER | 90 | April-May 2026 |
| Himachal Pradesh (Female) | 312 | April-May 2026 |
List of BSc Nursing Entrance Exams in India [link to Internal Blog: https://nprep.in/blogs/list-of-nursing-exams-in-india-2026]
NPrep Insider’s View: Why One Strategy Doesn’t Fit All
Many aspirants assume preparing for one exam prepares them for all. This is a costly mistake.
- NORCET: Concept-heavy, scenario-based, depth-oriented
- RRB: Speed, accuracy, and non-nursing dominance
- State Staff Nurse / CHO: Direct theory + public health focus
Smart aspirants adjust strategy exam-wise, not syllabus-wise.
How to Prepare for Upcoming Nursing Officer Exams 2026-27
- Fix a Primary Exam: NORCET / State Staff Nurse / CHO
- Align Syllabus Overlaps: Avoid duplicate effort
- Work Backwards From Exam Dates
- Mocks in Final 90 Days = Mandatory
Want to dive deeper into exam-specific strategies? Check out our detailed guides:
📌 [AIIMS NORCET 100-day Study Plan] 📌 [RRB Nursing Superintendent - 6 Month Strategy] 📌 [DSSSB Nursing Officer: A Complete Guide]
Never Miss an Exam Deadline - Add to Google Calendar
Click “Add to Google Calendar” to instantly block the exam or application window.
| Exam / Event | Date / Window | Add to Google Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS NORCET 10 Notification | 15-20 March 2026 | Add |
| AIIMS NORCET 10 Pre Exam | 11 April 2026 | Add |
| AIIMS NORCET 10 Mains | 30 April 2026 | Add |
| NORCET 11 Notification | August 2026 | Add |
| RRB Nursing Superintendent Exam | Feb-March 2026 | Add |
| DSSSB Nursing Officer Notification | Jan-Feb 2026 | Add |
| SGPGI Application Window | 18 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 | Add |
| KGMU Application Start | 7 May 2025 | Add |
| ESIC Nursing Officer Notification | Feb 2026 | Add |
| BSF Staff Nurse Exam Window | Apr-May 2026 | Add |
| CHO Recruitment Notification | Jan-Feb 2026 | Add |
| Rajasthan Staff Nurse Recruitment | April 2026 | Add |
Why This Calendar Matters
This is not just a list of exams.
It is a career execution roadmap.
With 40,000+ nursing vacancies in 2026, the opportunity is real-but only prepared candidates convert vacancies into jobs.
Final Word
The 2026-27 cycle is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for nursing aspirants.
Whether it’s AIIMS NORCET, RRB, CHO, or State Staff Nurse, the window is open-but it won’t stay open forever.
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
👉 [Click Here to Explore Our Exam-Specific Courses]
"
About the Author
D
Dr. Gourav Khurana
NPrep Expert
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