AIIMS BSc Nursing Applications Rise From 16,485 In 2021 To 1.91 Lakh In 2026: RTI Data

A total of 16,485 candidates applied for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) BSc (Hons) Nursing entrance examination in 2021. The number increased substantially in 2026, when 1.91 lakh candidates applied for the medical entrance examination during the August session.

Applications for AIIMS BSc Allied and Healthcare courses also witnessed a significant rise during the same period. While 6,878 candidates applied in 2021, the figure crossed 1.17 lakh in 2026.

The increase in applications for these programmes points to growing interest in undergraduate healthcare courses beyond MBBS. It also highlights the range of career options available to students within the healthcare sector. Around 22 lakh candidates appear for the NEET UG examination every year for admission to MBBS and BDS programmes, while the number of available seats remains around 1.3 lakh to 1.4 lakh.

The data was obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by 30-year-old Vipul Sharma, who works at a healthcare laboratory at Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Sharma said many students remain unaware of healthcare professions that can involve lower education costs while providing opportunities to build careers in specialised areas.

“Not everyone knows about the multiple professions that cost less to study and can offer good career opportunities. These professions were earlier broadly referred to as paramedical professions, but are now recognised as allied healthcare,” Sharma said.

Allied healthcare includes a number of specialised undergraduate fields, including medical laboratory technology, ophthalmic sciences, radiotherapy and perfusion technology. Professionals in these areas contribute to various stages of healthcare delivery, including diagnostic, therapeutic and specialised patient-care services.

Sharma also noted that nursing continues to receive greater attention from students, partly because of the established recruitment opportunities in the government sector. Examinations such as the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET), along with structured government pay scales, have helped make nursing a more familiar career option.

AIIMS, PGIMER Offer Allied Healthcare Courses At Lower Fees

The cost of education is another factor that may influence students when selecting allied healthcare programmes. Several government medical colleges and Institutes of National Importance, including AIIMS, PGIMER and JIPMER, offer selected allied healthcare courses at comparatively lower fees.

At some central government institutions, fees for these programmes can range from around Rs 1,500 to Rs 15,000 for the course. In state-run medical colleges, annual fees for similar programmes may range from around Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000.

Private universities and deemed-to-be universities generally have higher fee structures. Undergraduate programmes such as physiotherapy, medical imaging technology and cardiac technology may cost between Rs 80,000 and Rs 3 lakh per year, depending on the institution and course.

Short-term vocational programmes and diploma courses offered through state paramedical boards can provide another option for students. Such courses generally have annual fees of around Rs 20,000 to Rs 70,000, although the actual cost varies depending on the programme, institution and state.

Sharma said students should look at allied healthcare as a group of specialised career options rather than considering these programmes only as an alternative after NEET. According to him, these courses can lead to specialised roles across different areas of healthcare and offer career pathways beyond the conventional MBBS route.

BSc (Hons) Nursing Entrance Exam Applications: Last Five Years Data

BSc Allied and Healthcare Courses Entrance Exam: Applications Received In Last 5 Years