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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

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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.

Apr 15, 2026

6 min Read

By Dr. Gourav Khurana

#Nursing Recruitment 2026
Upcoming Nursing Vacancies & Exams 2026-27: Your Ultimate Guide to 40,000+ Government Nursing Vacancies

"# 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 CyclePostsKey Dates
NORCET 104000+Notification: 15-20 March 2026
Pre-Exam: 11 April 2026
Mains: 30 April 2026
NORCET 113000+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.

InstitutePostsApplication DatesExpected Exam
SGPGI Lucknow120018 June - 31 July 2025Mid Jan - Feb 2026
KGMU Lucknow733From 7 May 2025Jan / 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

RecruitmentPostsKey Details
AIIMS Rewari (Haryana)100-250Notification: Jan-Feb 2026
NCI AIIMS Jhajjar300Notification: 15-20 March 2026
ESIC Nursing Officer / Staff Nurse1500Notification: Feb 2026
BSF Staff Nurse200-300Exam: April-May 2026

7. State Staff Nurse Mega Recruitments

StatePostsExpected Timeline
Rajasthan4500+April 2026
Haryana501Feb-March 2026
MP4423April 2026
RML422March 2026
PGIMER90April-May 2026
Himachal Pradesh (Female)312April-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

  1. Fix a Primary Exam: NORCET / State Staff Nurse / CHO
  2. Align Syllabus Overlaps: Avoid duplicate effort
  3. Work Backwards From Exam Dates
  4. 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 / EventDate / WindowAdd to Google Calendar
AIIMS NORCET 10 Notification15-20 March 2026Add
AIIMS NORCET 10 Pre Exam11 April 2026Add
AIIMS NORCET 10 Mains30 April 2026Add
NORCET 11 NotificationAugust 2026Add
RRB Nursing Superintendent ExamFeb-March 2026Add
DSSSB Nursing Officer NotificationJan-Feb 2026Add
SGPGI Application Window18 Jun - 31 Jul 2025Add
KGMU Application Start7 May 2025Add
ESIC Nursing Officer NotificationFeb 2026Add
BSF Staff Nurse Exam WindowApr-May 2026Add
CHO Recruitment NotificationJan-Feb 2026Add
Rajasthan Staff Nurse RecruitmentApril 2026Add

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]

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You can also access all nursing preparation material on your mobile.

Download NPrep App

Download on App StoreGet it on Google Play