AIIMS NORCET Syllabus 2026–2027: Complete Subject-Wise Guide
AIIMS does not publish a standalone syllabus PDF — the official brochure defines the scope as "B.Sc. Nursing / GNM curriculum level," meaning the entire undergraduate nursing curriculum is fair game. This guide breaks down the real subject-wise weightage based on analysis of NORCET 1–10 papers and maps the exact high-yield micro-topics you must master.
Subject Weightage Heatmap & Topic Explorer
Medical-Surgical Nursing (MSN)
Dominant (Clinical Scenario Shift)22% – 35%
High-Frequency Topics in NORCET
- 1Cardiovascular (MI MONA, Heart Failure, Shock, ECG Rhythms)
- 2Respiratory (COPD, ARDS, ROME ABG Interpretation, PEEP/FiO2)
- 3Neurology (Glasgow Coma Scale, Increased ICP Cushing Triad, Stroke FAST)
- 4Renal & Electrolytes (Hyperkalemia Calcium Gluconate, AV Fistula Thrill/Bruit)
- 5Endocrine (DKA Kussmaul vs HHS, Insulin Sliding Scale, Thyroid Crisis)
Guaranteed Repeat Pearls
- MONA Protocol for STEMI
- Rule of Nines & Parkland Formula for Burns
- Electrolyte ECG Manifestations (Peaked T in Hyperkalemia)
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Practice Medical-Surgical MCQs1Subject-Wise Weightage from PYQ Analysis (NORCET 1–10)
AIIMS does not publish an official weightage breakdown. The following ranges are derived from crowd-sourced memory-based paper analysis across NORCET 1–10 by Careers360, NPrep, and NursingAllRounder:

| Subject | Weightage Range | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Medical-Surgical Nursing (MSN) | 22%–35% | Stable-dominant, shifting to clinical scenarios |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 11%–18% | Stable-high |
| Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing | 13%–18% | 📈 Increasing sharply since NORCET 7 |
| Pediatric Nursing | 9%–18% | Stable |
| Community Health Nursing | 3%–10% | Stable, focus on National Health Programs |
| Fundamentals of Nursing | 4%–6% | Increasing (infection control, patient safety) |
| GK & Aptitude (Prelims only) | 20 questions | Fixed — the tiebreaker at 93%+ cutoffs |
⚠️ Critical Shift
40%–50% of the NORCET paper now consists of clinical scenario questions — NOT one-liner factual recall. Learn how this format is scored in our NORCET Exam Pattern & Marking Guide, or practice actual scenarios in the Nursing MCQ Practice Section.
2Medical-Surgical Nursing — High-Yield Micro-Topics
MSN accounts for the highest weightage (22-35%) and the most complex clinical scenarios in both Stage I and Stage II:
- Cardiovascular: MI management (MONA protocol — Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin), Heart Failure (left vs right signs — pulmonary edema vs JVD/peripheral edema), Arrhythmias, Hypertension staging (JNC 8), Shock classification (Hypovolemic vs Cardiogenic vs Septic — nursing priorities differ for each)
- Respiratory: COPD vs Asthma (pursed lip breathing vs tripod position), ARDS (prone positioning rationale), ABG interpretation using ROME mnemonic (see our Full ABG & Electrolyte Tables), Ventilator monitoring (FiO₂, PEEP, tidal volume)
- Neurological: Glasgow Coma Scale (E4V5M6 = 15), Stroke assessment (FAST protocol), Increased ICP — Cushing's triad (hypertension + bradycardia + irregular respirations), Seizure precautions
- Renal: AV fistula assessment (thrill and bruit), Hyperkalemia signs (peaked T waves, widened QRS → priority: Calcium Gluconate IV)
- Endocrine: DKA vs HHS (DKA = Kussmaul breathing + fruity odor; HHS = severe dehydration + altered sensorium), Insulin sliding scale
3Obstetrics, Pediatrics & Psychiatric Nursing
OBG (11-18%):
- Fetal Heart Rate monitoring — Normal: 110-160 bpm. Early deceleration (head compression = normal). Late deceleration (uteroplacental insufficiency = emergency). Variable deceleration (cord compression).
- Pre-eclampsia vs Eclampsia — BP ≥140/90 + proteinuria; eclampsia adds seizures. Treatment: MgSO₄. Antidote for MgSO₄ toxicity: Calcium Gluconate (find all 13 verified antidotes in our Emergency Drug Antidotes Chart).
- Postpartum hemorrhage assessment — >500ml vaginal delivery, >1000ml C-section.
Pediatrics (9-18%):
- Growth milestones: Social smile (2 months), Sits without support (6 months), Walks alone (12 months), First word (12 months)
- Pediatric dosage: Clark's Rule = (Weight in lbs / 150) × Adult dose; Young's Rule = (Age / Age+12) × Adult dose
Psychiatric Nursing (13-18% — rising trend):
- Therapeutic communication — reflection, clarification, restating. Non-therapeutic: "Don't worry," false reassurance, changing the subject
- Antipsychotic side effects — EPS, Tardive dyskinesia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (hyperthermia + rigidity + altered sensorium = emergency)
4Community Health Nursing — National Health Programs
CHN questions focus heavily on India's National Health Programs and their nursing implications:
- NTEP (National TB Elimination Programme): DOTS protocol, TB-Mukt Bharat targets, MDR-TB management
- NACP (National AIDS Control Programme): HIV prevention strategies, decentralized care model
- RMNCH+A: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health — continuum of care approach
- Mission Indradhanush: Intensified immunization coverage for unreached children (cross-check with our National Immunization Schedule Chart)
- NPCDCS: Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD & Stroke at community level
- RBSK: Screening for 4Ds — Defects, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental Delays
- JSY & JSSK: Janani Suraksha Yojana (institutional delivery incentives) & Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (free care)
5General Knowledge & Aptitude — The 20-Mark Tiebreaker
The GK & Aptitude section (20 questions) appears ONLY in Stage I Prelims. Most nursing students ignore it — but at a 93.59% qualifying cutoff, these 20 marks decide who crosses the line and who doesn't.
- Current Affairs: National and international events, government schemes (latest budget highlights, Ayushman Bharat updates)
- Logical Reasoning: Coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, series completion
- Numerical Ability: Percentage, ratio-proportion, time-speed-distance, simple/compound interest
Don't let 20 marks cost you your AIIMS seat.
Practice GK & Aptitude alongside clinical nursing in our NORCET Full-Length Mock Tests.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AIIMS release a separate NORCET syllabus PDF?
Which subject has the highest weightage in NORCET?
Is the GK section only in Prelims?
How many questions come from Pharmacology?
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