ESIC Nursing Officer is one of the most respected Group-B nursing posts under the Central Government, offering Level-7 pay and postings in ESIC hospitals across India. Kindly note that ESIC now fills these posts through the AIIMS Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) instead of a separate exam. As of July 2026, the previous window (NORCET-10, through which ESIC offered 224 posts) has closed, and the next opportunity — NORCET-11, with Prelims announced for 12 September 2026 — is just around the corner.
ESIC Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 — Overview
| Recruiting Body | Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Ministry of Labour & Employment |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Nursing Officer (Group B, Non-Gazetted) |
| Category | Medical Jobs / Nursing Jobs |
| Total Vacancies | To be announced; 224 in the previous cycle (NORCET-10, Feb 2026) |
| Job Location | ESIC Hospitals and Medical Institutions across India |
| Application Mode | Online only, through AIIMS NORCET (www.aiimsexams.ac.in) |
| Official Website | www.esic.gov.in |
Important Dates
AIIMS has announced the NORCET-11 exam dates; the detailed notification and ESIC vacancy annexure are awaited.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NORCET-11 Detailed Notification | July–August 2026 (Expected) |
| Application Start | Shortly after notification (Expected) |
| Last Date to Apply | As per official notification (Expected August 2026) |
| NORCET-11 Stage I (Prelims) | 12 September 2026 (Announced) |
| NORCET-11 Stage II (Mains) | 30 September 2026 (Announced) |
| Admit Card | Around 3–7 days before the exam (Expected) |
For reference, NORCET-10 registration ran from 24 February to 16 March 2026, Prelims on 11 April, Mains on 30 April, and the Mains result on 12 May 2026 with 13,963 candidates qualifying nationally.
Vacancy Details
The exact vacancy count for the NORCET-11 window will be confirmed only in the official annexure. In the previous cycle — NORCET-10, Notice No. 17/2026 dated 24.02.2026 — ESIC reported 224 vacancies: 219 regular posts (UR 92, OBC 57, SC 32, EWS 23, ST 15) plus 5 reserved horizontally for PwBD candidates. ESIC follows an 80:20 female-to-male bifurcation — 176 posts for female and 43 for male candidates last time. Vacancies may increase or decrease as per actual requirement, so treat these figures as indicative only.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
As per the last official ESIC notice, either of two routes qualifies:
- Route A: B.Sc (Hons) Nursing / regular B.Sc Nursing / Post Basic B.Sc Nursing from a recognised university or institute, and registration as Nurse or Nurse & Midwife with the State Nursing Council.
- Route B: GNM diploma from a recognised board, State Nursing Council registration, and one year of experience in a minimum fifty-bedded hospital after acquiring the qualification.
Age Limit
The upper age limit is 30 years, counted as on the last date of application. Relaxations apply as per rules: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (NCL), 10–15 years for PwBD categories, up to 5 years for regular ESIC employees and Central Government servants, and service length plus 3 years for Ex-Servicemen.
Application Fee
In the previous cycle, the fee was Rs 3,000 for General/OBC and Rs 2,400 for SC/ST/EWS candidates, while PwBD candidates were fully exempted; payment is accepted online. The fee of SC/ST candidates appearing in the exam is refunded after results. The exact fee for NORCET-11 will be confirmed in the official notification.
Salary / Pay Scale
ESIC Nursing Officers are appointed in Level-7 of the Pay Matrix (pre-revised PB-2, Rs 9,300–34,800 with Grade Pay of Rs 4,600), i.e. a starting basic pay of Rs 44,900. Adding Dearness Allowance, HRA, Nursing Allowance and other admissible benefits, the initial in-hand salary works out to roughly Rs 70,000–80,000 per month depending on the city of posting — an estimate, as allowances vary by station. Perks include NPS, medical facilities and steady promotional avenues.
Selection Process
Selection is entirely merit-based, with no interview:
- NORCET Stage I (Prelims) — qualifying CBT shortlisting about 5 times the seats per category.
- NORCET Stage II (Mains) — the merit-deciding CBT.
- Choice filling and seat allocation — qualified candidates fill preferences for participating institutes, including ESIC.
- Document verification by ESIC, followed by medical examination and appointment.
Exam Pattern & Syllabus Highlights
The Prelims paper carries 100 MCQs of 100 marks in 90 minutes — 80 questions from the nursing syllabus and 20 from General Knowledge & Aptitude. The paper runs in five timed sections of 20 questions (18 minutes each); once a section closes you cannot return to it. Every wrong answer attracts negative marking of one-third mark. Qualifying cut-offs in Prelims are the 50th percentile for UR/EWS, 45th for OBC and 40th for SC/ST, and the final merit list is prepared solely from Stage-II Mains performance.
Syllabus highlights: Medical-Surgical Nursing, Fundamentals of Nursing, Anatomy & Physiology, Pharmacology, Obstetrics & Midwifery, Paediatric Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Microbiology and Nutrition, plus current affairs and basic aptitude.
How to Apply Online
- Once registration opens, visit the AIIMS examination portal (www.aiimsexams.ac.in) and complete One Time Registration (OTR); existing OTR holders must use the same ID.
- Fill the NORCET-11 application form carefully — category, gender and other particulars cannot be changed later.
- Upload your photograph, signature and thumb impression in the prescribed format.
- Candidates working in Government/PSU/autonomous bodies must upload the NOC by the stipulated date, failing which candidature is cancelled.
- Pay the fee online and download the registration slip for your records.
- Keep tracking the ESIC vacancy annexure and updates on the official website — www.esic.gov.in.
Admit Card & Result
Admit cards are uploaded on the AIIMS examination portal a few days before each stage — last cycle it came on 8 April for the 11 April Prelims; nothing is sent by post. Results are published stage-wise as a PDF of qualifying roll numbers, with scorecards on the candidate’s MyPage login. After the Mains result, ESIC separately notifies the document verification schedule.
Preparation Tips & Document Checklist
With Prelims announced for 12 September 2026, aspirants have a compact runway — use it wisely:
- Practise sectional-timing mocks — train yourself to clear 20 questions within each 18-minute window.
- Give maximum weightage to Medical-Surgical Nursing, Fundamentals and OBG — these dominate the nursing portion.
- Solve previous NORCET papers to master the image-based and scenario-based questions AIIMS is known for.
- Revise daily current affairs for the 20-mark GK & Aptitude section — many candidates lose the merit race here.
Documents to keep ready now: B.Sc/GNM degree with mark sheets, valid State Nursing Council registration, experience certificate mentioning bed strength (GNM route), date of birth proof, caste/EWS certificate in the current DoPT format with correct financial-year validity, PwBD certificate if applicable, NOC from present employer, and photograph/signature/thumb-impression scans.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the ESIC Nursing Officer notification come?
AIIMS has announced NORCET-11 exam dates — Prelims on 12 September and Mains on 30 September 2026. The detailed notification is expected in July–August 2026, with ESIC’s vacancy position confirmed in its annexure. Keep checking www.esic.gov.in.
How many vacancies are expected for ESIC this time?
The official count is awaited. ESIC offered 224 posts in the previous cycle (NORCET-10), so a similar order may reasonably be expected, subject to official confirmation.
Can GNM diploma holders apply?
Yes, provided they hold State Nursing Council registration and one year of post-qualification experience in a hospital with at least fifty beds.
Is there any interview in the selection process?
No. Selection is purely on CBT merit (NORCET Mains), followed by choice filling, seat allocation and document verification.
Can I apply directly on the ESIC website?
No. Applications are submitted only through the AIIMS examination portal; ESIC’s website hosts the official notice, vacancy details and document-verification updates.
Important Links
Official Website / Apply Online
Disclaimer: The details above are compiled from the official ESIC NORCET-10 notice and NORCET-11 announcements available as of July 2026. Figures marked “expected” are based on the previous cycle and may change. Candidates are strongly advised to verify every detail from the official notification on www.esic.gov.in before applying.