AIIMS nursing and allied health entrance exams draw over three lakh applications

Nearly two lakh candidates applied for the BSc Honours Nursing entrance test conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the August 2026 session. Official figures show that 1,90,740 applications were received for the nursing exam, while 1,17,033 students applied for BSc Allied and Healthcare Courses. The data came to light through an RTI application filed by Vipul Sharma, a 30-year-old allied healthcare professional working at Lady Hardinge Medical College. Sharma noted that these courses provide an alternative career path for students who aim to become doctors but miss out on an MBBS seat. Around 22 lakh candidates write the NEET-UG exam every year, while total MBBS seats remain slightly above one lakh. The data tables for AIIMS entrance trends also show a massive rise in applicant numbers over recent years. Total applications grew from 16,485 in 2021 to 1,80,117 by 2025 for certain categories, reflecting surging interest. Studying these programmes is also less expensive than private medical education. Central institutions like AIIMS, PGIMER and JIPMER charge low fees ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 15,000 for the full programme. State-run medical colleges cost about Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000 a year, whereas private universities can charge between Rs 80,000 and Rs 3 lakh annually for courses like physiotherapy, medical imaging and cardiac technology. Sharma pointed out that nursing enjoys higher visibility due to clear government recruitment pathways like the NORCET exam and fixed pay structures. However, he stressed that allied healthcare fields such as medical laboratory technology, ophthalmic sciences, radiotherapy and perfusion technology should be viewed as specialised professions on their own rather than just a backup plan after NEET.