NORCET (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test) is a national-level Computer Based Test conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, to recruit Nursing Officers at Group B level across all AIIMS institutions in India. Candidates need a B.Sc. Nursing or GNM qualification, clear a CBT and pass document verification to secure a permanent central government nursing post at Pay Level 7.
NORCET stands for Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test. AIIMS, New Delhi, runs the NORCET exam on behalf of all AIIMS institutions spread across the country. The exam was introduced to create a single, standardised gateway for nursing officer recruitment instead of each AIIMS running separate tests, which had made the process inconsistent and opaque.
The NORCET exam targets candidates who want a permanent government nursing post, specifically Nursing Officer at Group B level. It is not affiliated with UPSC, SSC, or NTA, so do not confuse it with those pipelines. AIIMS manages the entire process, from notification to final posting.
To sit the NORCET exam, you need a B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing or B.Sc. Nursing degree from a recognised university, or a Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) with two years of experience. You must also be registered with the Indian Nursing Council or a State Nursing Council. The upper age limit is generally 30 years for the unreserved category, with standard relaxations for OBC, SC, ST and PwBD candidates as per government norms.
The NORCET exam selection process has two main stages: a Computer Based Test (CBT) followed by document verification. The CBT covers Nursing subjects, General Knowledge, Aptitude and English. Each NORCET edition may carry 100 to 200 questions depending on the notification, and the exam is typically 2 hours long.
There is negative marking in the NORCET exam, so guessing recklessly will cost you. AIIMS releases a merit list based on CBT scores, and shortlisted candidates are called for document verification. There is no interview stage. Final posting depends on vacancy availability across participating AIIMS institutions.
Clearing the NORCET exam and completing document verification gets you appointed as a Nursing Officer at one of the AIIMS institutions. This is a Group B, Gazetted post. Under the 7th Pay Commission, the pay is at Level 7, which starts at approximately Rs. 44,900 per month before allowances. With HRA, DA and other Central Government perks factored in, the gross package is considerably higher, especially in metro postings.
According to AIIMS New Delhi’s official recruitment notification for NORCET 5 (2023), over 3,000 nursing officer vacancies were advertised across AIIMS institutions, making it one of the largest nursing recruitment drives in central government health services. If you are mapping your career options broadly, it is worth reading about the highest-paid professions in India to see where nursing officer roles sit in the national salary picture.
| Exam Feature | NORCET Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | AIIMS, New Delhi |
| Post | Nursing Officer (Group B, Gazetted) |
| Pay Level | Level 7 (Rs. 44,900 starting basic pay) |
| Minimum Qualification | B.Sc. Nursing / GNM with 2 years experience |
| Selection Stages | CBT + Document Verification |
| Negative Marking | Yes |
| Age Limit (General) | Up to 30 years |
| Exam Frequency | As per AIIMS notification (typically annual) |
| Application Fee (General) | Rs. 3,000 (as per NORCET 5 notification) |
AIBE stands for All India Bar Examination. The Bar Council of India (BCI) conducts it, and it is the final licensing step for any law graduate who wants to practise as an advocate in India. You cannot appear in court professionally without a valid Certificate of Practice, and AIBE is the only route to get one.
The exam was introduced following the Advocates Act, 1961, and BCI started conducting it from 2010. As of AIBE XVIII (2024), over 5 lakh candidates have appeared across all editions, according to Bar Council of India records. That number tells you how seriously the legal profession treats this licensing gate.
You must have an LL.B. degree (3-year or 5-year integrated) from a BCI-recognised university. You also need to be enrolled as an advocate with your respective State Bar Council before you apply. The exam has no upper age limit, and there is no restriction on the number of attempts. If you fail, you can re-appear in the next edition.
AIBE is an open-book exam. You are allowed to bring bare acts and study material into the exam hall. That sounds easy until you realise the paper covers 100 multiple-choice questions across 19 law subjects including Constitutional Law, CPC, IPC, Evidence Act and Professional Ethics. You need to score at least 45% (general category) to pass, with slight relaxation for SC/ST candidates.
There is no negative marking. The exam duration is 3.5 hours. Unlike UPSC or SSC exams, AIBE does not rank you against other candidates. It is purely pass or fail, and passing means you get your Certificate of Practice from BCI. That certificate is what makes you a legally practising advocate in India.
According to Bar Council of India data published in its annual reports, AIBE passage rates in early editions hovered around 40-50%, though recent editions have seen improved rates as candidates prepare more systematically. The exam is not trivial despite being open-book.
| Feature | AIBE | NORCET |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Bar Council of India | AIIMS, New Delhi |
| Purpose | Certificate of Practice for advocates | Nursing Officer recruitment |
| Exam Type | Open-book, pass/fail | Competitive CBT with merit list |
| Negative Marking | No | Yes |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited | As per notification |
| Exam Fee | Rs. 3,500 (general category, AIBE XVIII) | Rs. 3,000 (general category, NORCET 5) |
| Outcome | Certificate of Practice | Government nursing job |
| Affiliated With | Advocates Act, 1961 | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
India’s professional licensing system has several tiers. Some professions require a university degree plus a regulatory exam before you can legally practise. Medicine has NEET-PG and the NMC licensing framework. Law has AIBE through BCI. Chartered Accountancy has ICAI’s multi-stage exams. Nursing officer recruitment at the central government level runs through the NORCET exam.
This is different from competitive exams like those run by UPSC, SSC, IBPS, or RRB, where the exam itself is the recruitment mechanism. AIBE is not about getting a job; it is about earning the legal right to practise. NORCET is recruitment, but it is sector-specific and limited to nursing cadre posts across AIIMS.
According to the National Health Profile 2022 published by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), India has roughly 3.07 nurses per 10,000 population, far below the WHO-recommended ratio of 30 per 10,000. That gap means nursing officer vacancies through the NORCET exam are likely to remain substantial for the foreseeable future.
If you are a student still deciding between career paths, our career planning guide for Class 12th and college students walks through how to map your academic choices to actual career outcomes, including government-licensed professions. You can also explore the full breakdown of best career paths after 12th grade to see how licensed professions compare with technology and business tracks.
Students considering technology-based careers alongside healthcare or law should look at how skills like cybersecurity and AI are opening up new hiring pipelines. Companies hiring fresh cybersecurity graduates now include government bodies, PSUs and health-tech firms that need both domain expertise and digital security knowledge. If you want to understand entry requirements, the cybersecurity course eligibility guide is a practical starting point.
For certifications that do not require a full degree programme, ISRO’s free online courses with certificates are worth bookmarking if you are building a portfolio alongside your core professional qualification. Browse the full 3.0 University courses catalogue for programmes in Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, AI, Blockchain and Web3.
NORCET is the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test. AIIMS, New Delhi, conducts the NORCET exam on behalf of all AIIMS institutions across India. It is a Computer Based Test designed to recruit candidates for Nursing Officer posts at Group B level. It is not affiliated with UPSC, NTA, SSC, or any other central recruitment body.
AIBE is the All India Bar Examination, conducted by the Bar Council of India. It is a licensing exam, not a job recruitment test. Law graduates who pass AIBE receive a Certificate of Practice, which is legally required to appear in Indian courts as a practising advocate. Without it, you cannot practise law professionally in India.
Candidates with a B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing, or GNM diploma with two years of experience are eligible for the NORCET exam. You must also hold a valid registration with the Indian Nursing Council or a State Nursing Council. The general age limit is 30 years, with standard government relaxations for reserved category candidates.
NORCET exam selection has two stages: a Computer Based Test covering nursing subjects, aptitude, GK and English, followed by document verification. There is no interview. AIIMS prepares a merit list from CBT scores, and candidates are posted to AIIMS institutions based on vacancies and merit rank. Negative marking applies in the CBT stage.
NORCET is not held on a fixed annual schedule. AIIMS, New Delhi, releases notifications based on vacancy requirements across AIIMS institutions. NORCET 5 was held in 2023. Candidates should monitor the official AIIMS New Delhi recruitment portal for the latest NORCET exam notification and schedule.
Yes. AIBE has no limit on the number of attempts. If you fail one edition, you can register for the next. The exam is open-book, covers 100 MCQs across 19 law subjects, and requires a minimum score of 45% for general category candidates. There is no negative marking, and it is purely a pass-or-fail assessment.
Last updated: June 2025. Reviewed by the 3University editorial team.
We create, review, and maintain educational content covering Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Web3, and emerging technologies.
The Government of India has launched YUVA AI for ALL a 100% free AI certificate course under the IndiaAI Mission (MeitY). This 4.5-hour, self-paced online
Quick answer: The highest paid profession in India is medicine senior surgeons and anaesthesiologists can earn ₹1–3 crore a year. CEOs, investment bankers, AI/ML engineers
Quick answer: There is no rigid eligibility for cyber security course admission in most online programs. If you have completed 10+2 (any stream) or hold
Cybersecurity has become one of the fastest-growing career fields in India and across the world. As cyber threats continue to increase, organizations are actively hiring
Choosing between the OSCP and the CEH is one of the biggest decisions in any ethical hacker career. Both are respected, both open doors but
A penetration test is only as valuable as the report that follows it. While identifying vulnerabilities is a critical part of the assessment process, the
Not a member yet? Register now
Are you a member? Login now
Not a member yet? Register now
Are you a member? Login now
