Country edition: India
Student Journey Blueprint

How to become a Registered Nurse — your road, class by class

Class 8 to working life ·Last checked 25 Oct 2026

The one-line route: Class 12 Science with 45% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a pass in English → state nursing entrance or merit list → 4-year B.Sc Nursing → registration with your State Nursing Council. Or Class 12 with English and 40% → GNM diploma. [1] [2]

Pick your class and the road below starts where you stand.

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01 Your road, stage by stage

What to do from your class onward

  1. You are here Class 8 · Class 9

    Science, English and care

    • INC's model entrance test has five parts of 20 marks each: Aptitude for Nursing, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. You need 50% to qualify. [1]
    • Volunteer at a health camp or learn first aid — it tells you early whether patient care suits you.
  2. You are here Class 10

    Pick Science with Biology — or know the GNM door

    • B.Sc Nursing needs Class 12 Science with 45% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology taken together (40% for SC, ST and OBC) and a pass in English. [1]
    • GNM needs Class 12 with English and 40% in the qualifying exam and in English, from any recognised board — Science is preferred, not compulsory. SC / ST candidates get 5% relaxation. [2]
  3. You are here Class 11 · Class 12

    Entrance year

    • Minimum age 17 on 31 December of the admission year. Married candidates may apply; colour-blind candidates are eligible with corrective lenses; you must be medically fit. [1]
    • Admission is once a year: the semester starts on 1 August and no admission is allowed after 30 September. [1]
    • NIOS and State Open School students with Science and English are also eligible. [1]
  4. You are here In college · Graduated

    Inside the degree — and registration

    • B.Sc Nursing runs 8 semesters; the last semester is an internship of 22 weeks (1,056 hours). [1]
    • After the degree you register with your State Nurses and Midwives Registration Council as RN & RM; renewing that registration needs Continuing Nursing Education every 5 years. [1]

Your school board

Each state runs its own nursing entrance or merit list, but INC's minimum — 45% in PCB and a pass in English — applies everywhere. [1]

CBSE, CISCE and state-board certificates count the same for every national exam on this page. Notes for particular state boards are under State rules below.

02 Exam anatomy

The exam, stage by stage

State nursing entrance tests 2026 (INC rules) → state counselling · Indian Nursing Council rules · state universities and boards

INC test pattern
Aptitude for Nursing, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English — 20 marks each [1]
Qualify (INC)
50% in the entrance test [1]
Run by
A university or the state government [1]
Degree
4 years, 8 semesters, last semester internship [1]
State nursing entrance tests 2026 (INC rules) → state counselling stages
State test (2026)PatternMarkingQualify
UP — CNET (ABVMU), 6 Jun 2026120 MCQs: Nursing Aptitude, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English (20% each); English and Hindi1 mark each, no negative marking50th percentile General, 45th General-PwD, 40th SC / ST / OBC
Maharashtra — MH-Nursing-CET100 MCQs in 90 minutes: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Nursing Aptitude (20 each); English only1 mark each, no negative marking50 percentile Open / EWS, 40 reserved, 45 General-PwD
West Bengal — JENPAS(UG), 7 Jun 2026Paper I: 100 questions, 115 marks — Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Basic English, Health Aptitude1-mark questions −¼ if wrong; 2-mark questions no negative50th percentile General / EWS, 45th General-PwD, 40th SC / ST / OBC
Gujarat — no testAdmission committee merit list from board marks—Separate male merit for B.Sc Nursing and GNM

Stage table source [3] [4] [5] [6]

  • 2026 fees: UP CNET ₹3,000 (₹2,000 SC / ST / PwD); MH-Nursing-CET ₹1,300 (₹1,000 reserved, PwD, orphan and other gender); JENPAS(UG) ₹500 for one paper (₹400 SC / ST / OBC / EWS). [3] [4] [5]
  • NEET (UG) results are also used for B.Sc (Hons) Nursing at selected central institutes. [7]
  • These are the 2026 tests. Each state posts its 2027 bulletin early in 2027 — check the fee, date and pattern there.
Open the full exam guide
03 State rules

Rules for all of India — and your state

  • Reservation follows the central or state policy of the college. 5% of seats go to candidates with 40–50% locomotor disability of the lower limbs. [1]

State notes we have checked (4 states / UTs)

Gujarat3 notes
  • One Gujarat merit list covers B.Sc Nursing, GNM, ANM, BPT, BOT, BASLP, optometry and other allied courses; your merit report shows which of them you are eligible for. [6]
  • GSEB — Gujarat State Board: Gujarat's admission committee fills B.Sc Nursing and GNM seats from a merit list built on your board marks — the merit report shows your HSC PCB total, Class 12 total and English, and SSC marks. There is no entrance test, and boys get a separate male merit list for these two courses. [6]
  • CBSE — studying in Gujarat: The Gujarat nursing merit report records your board (GSEB, CBSE and others) with your Class 12 and Class 10 marks. Read the current year's rules on medadmgujarat.org for how CBSE marks are counted. [6]
Gujarat exam & career cockpit
Maharashtra2 notes
  • Maharashtra's GNM (Public Health Department) needs HSC Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and 45% aggregate — stricter than INC's 40%. NRIs may take only the 15% institute quota in unaided private colleges. [4]
  • MSBSHSE — Maharashtra State Board: MH-Nursing-CET needs SSC and HSC passed in Maharashtra (HSC with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and a Maharashtra domicile, apart from the brochure's listed exceptions. [4]
Maharashtra exam & career cockpit
Uttar Pradesh2 notes
  • UP's GNM entrance (UPGET 2026) asks for 10+2 with English and 40% (three core subjects, English excluded but passed), with 5% relaxation for SC / ST. Fee ₹3,000 (₹2,000 SC / ST / PwD). [8]
  • UPMSP — Uttar Pradesh Board: UP's CNET 2026 (by ABVMU) is the only door into B.Sc Nursing at ABVMU colleges, SGPGIMS, KGMU, RMLIMS, UPUMS Saifai and LLRM Meerut. Government colleges need UP domicile — or both High School and Intermediate passed in UP. [3]
Uttar Pradesh exam & career cockpit
West Bengal2 notes
  • JENPAS(UG) sets no upper age limit for Nursing. A reserved-category candidate without a domicile certificate may use the category certificate instead — but if that is rejected, the candidate becomes non-West Bengal. [5]
  • WBBSE / WBCHSE — West Bengal boards: JENPAS(UG) admits only West Bengal domiciles, to any seat. Government-college B.Sc Nursing seats are for female candidates only; a few private colleges take male candidates. [5]
West Bengal exam & career cockpit

Not in this list? The national route above applies — we found nothing in this career's official rules that changes in your state.

04 Career multiverse

Where this path can take you next

B.Sc Nursing

The 4-year degree route to Registered Nurse.

Explore →

GNM diploma

The diploma route, open to more streams.

Explore →

Nursing colleges

Find nursing colleges near you.

Explore →

AIIMS Nursing Officer

NORCET, the exam for nursing officer posts at AIIMS.

Explore →

Physiotherapy

Another clinical degree on the same merit lists in many states.

Explore →
05 Money help

Scholarships, stipends and fee help

Government schemes, professional-body scholarships and paid training on this path. Pick your class above and schemes you have already passed are hidden.

Scholarship Open to you now From Class 8

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS)

Ministry of Education, through your state

₹1,000 a month, Class 9 to 12 [9]

Who
Class 8 students of government schools who passed Class 7 with 55% (50% SC/ST, as in Nagaland's notice) and clear the state's NMMSS test. Family income limit: see the scheme rules on the National Scholarship Portal.
How
Your state's SCERT announces the test in Class 8; renewals are on scholarships.gov.in.
Scholarship Open to you now From Class 11

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships (PM-USP CSSS)

Ministry of Education

₹12,000 a year for the first 3 years of a degree; ₹20,000 a year in years 4–5 of a 5-year integrated course (and in PG) [10]

Who
Above the 80th percentile of your board's Class 12 pass-outs in your stream, in a regular degree course (not diploma or distance), family income up to ₹4.5 lakh, and not taking any other scholarship — including state schemes.
How
On the National Scholarship Portal after Class 12; renewal needs 50% marks and 75% attendance each year.
Scholarship Open to you now From Class 11

Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, through your state

Compulsory non-refundable fees (tuition included) plus a yearly academic allowance — the college cannot ask you to pay the fee first [11]

Who
SC students after Class 10 (ITI, diploma, degree and CA/CMA/CS courses count), family income up to ₹2.5 lakh. Separate post-matric schemes exist for ST, OBC and minority students on the same portal.
How
Your state scholarship portal or scholarships.gov.in. The printed guidelines cover 2020-21 to 2025-26; check the 2026-27 rules on the portal.
State scheme Open to you now From Class 10Gujarat only

Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY)

Government of Gujarat

Who
Gujarat students joining a diploma or degree course on merit: it pays part of the tuition fee and, in some cases, a hostel grant for students who must study away from home. [12]
How
mysy.guj.nic.in. We could not open the official portal on 24 Oct 2026, so we print no amounts or cut-offs — read them in the current year's resolution on the portal.
State scheme Open to you now From Class 10West Bengal only

West Bengal Student Credit Card (WBSCC)

Government of West Bengal

Loan up to ₹10 lakh at 4% simple interest a year; 1% interest concession if the interest is fully serviced during the study period [13] [14]

Who
Students from West Bengal aged 40 or under when applying — school (Class X onward), UG, PG, professional degree courses in India or abroad, and coaching for competitive exams such as Engineering, Medical, Law, IAS, IPS and WBCS. The state's scheme page asks for 10 years' residence in West Bengal and a co-borrower (usually a parent).
How
On wbscc.wb.gov.in. Repayment runs up to 15 years, including the moratorium (course duration + 1 year); no margin money up to ₹4 lakh.
06 Official sources & verification

Where these facts come from

Every number on this page comes from the official files below. Lines with no number are Margdarshan guidance. Rules change every year — open the current notice before you apply.

  1. Indian Nursing Council — Revised Regulations and Curriculum for B.Sc (Nursing) Program, Regulations 2020 (Gazette, 5 July 2021), copy hosted by thc.nic.in (opens in a new tab) age 17, 45% / 40% PCB + English, NIOS, medical fitness, entrance pattern and 50% qualifying, admission dates, reservation, 8 semesters and internship, SNRC registration and CNE renewal · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  2. Indian Nursing Council — Eligibility criteria (GNM and B.Sc Nursing) (opens in a new tab) GNM: 10+2 with English and 40%, science preferable, NIOS, 5% SC/ST relaxation · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  3. ABVMU Uttar Pradesh — Information Bulletin, Common Nursing Entrance Test (CNET) 2026, B.Sc Nursing (opens in a new tab) institutions covered, 6 June 2026 exam, ₹3,000 / ₹2,000 fee, 45% / 40% PCB, UP domicile for government colleges, 120 MCQs, no negative marking, qualifying percentiles · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  4. State CET Cell Maharashtra — MH-Nursing-CET 2026 Information Brochure (opens in a new tab) domicile and SSC/HSC-in-Maharashtra rules, NRI 15% institute quota, GNM 45% rule, percentile cut-offs, fees, 100 MCQs in 90 minutes, English medium · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  5. WBJEEB — Information Bulletin of JENPAS(UG)-2026 (opens in a new tab) 7 June 2026 exam, Paper I pattern and marking, fees, domicile rule, female-only government B.Sc Nursing seats, no upper age limit, INC percentiles; BPT among NCAHP courses with 50% / 40% PCB and English pass · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  6. Admission Committee for Gujarat Professional Nursing and Allied Medical Educational Courses — Merit list explanation 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) merit report fields (HSC PCB total, Class 12 total and English, SSC), separate male merit for B.Sc Nursing and GNM, eligible-course list · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  7. NTA — Press release: Result of NEET (UG) 2026 (16 July 2026) (opens in a new tab) result date, counselling bodies, B.Sc (Hons) Nursing through NEET · Last checked 14 Oct 2026
  8. ABVMU Uttar Pradesh — Information Bulletin, UP GNM Entrance Test (UPGET) 2026 (opens in a new tab) GNM eligibility 10+2 with English and 40%, 5% SC/ST relaxation, fee · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  9. SCERT Nagaland — NMMSS Examination 2027 advertisement (27 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) Class 8 eligibility, 55% / 50% Class 7 marks, ₹1,000 a month from Class 9 to 12 (one state's notice of the central scheme) · Last checked 24 Oct 2026
  10. Ministry of Education — PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships guidelines (2022-23 onwards), copy hosted by NIT Kurukshetra (opens in a new tab) 80th percentile, ₹4.5 lakh income, regular degree only, no other scholarship, ₹12,000 / ₹20,000 rates, renewal rules · Last checked 24 Oct 2026
  11. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment — Post Matric Scholarship for SC students, guidelines 2020-21 to 2025-26 (copy hosted by Goa Social Welfare) (opens in a new tab) ₹2.5 lakh income limit, fees + academic allowance, no pre-payment of fees, CA/ICWA/CS students covered · Last checked 24 Oct 2026
  12. Government of Gujarat — MYSY scholarship portal (opens in a new tab) scheme portal; could not be opened on 24 Oct 2026, so no amounts are printed here
  13. Government of West Bengal — West Bengal Student Credit Card portal (About) (opens in a new tab) ₹10 lakh at 4% simple interest, 1% concession, age 40, courses and competitive-exam coaching covered, 15-year repayment · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
  14. Government of West Bengal — Information Centre: West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme (opens in a new tab) 10 years' residence, co-borrower, moratorium course + 1 year, no margin money up to ₹4 lakh · Last checked 25 Oct 2026

Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and we will update it.