AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 pass percentage is expected to be between 60 and 68 percent overall, based on previous year trends, with SC and OBC-NCL students benefiting from lower qualifying thresholds set by AIIMS.
AIIMS New Delhi conducts the MSc Nursing entrance exam for admission to postgraduate nursing programs at AIIMS institutions across India. The pass percentage reflects the share of students who score at or above the minimum qualifying marks. With the 2026 exam scheduled for June 21, 2026, reviewing historical pass rates and category-wise data helps you gauge where your preparation stands.
- The minimum qualifying mark for General and EWS students is 50 out of 100.
- OBC-NCL students need 45 marks and SC/ST students need 40 marks to qualify.
- Based on previous year trends, approximately 60 to 68 percent of test takers qualify at the minimum threshold.
- The exam consists of 100 MCQs worth 100 marks with a -1/3 penalty for wrong answers.
- Results and merit lists are published on aiimsexams.ac.in.
AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 Overall Pass Percentage
The overall pass percentage for AIIMS MSc Nursing represents the fraction of students who score at or above the minimum qualifying marks set by AIIMS. Based on previous year trends, approximately 60 to 68 percent of students who appear for the exam score at or above the qualifying threshold. However, qualifying alone does not guarantee a seat — actual seat allotment depends on your merit rank and the number of seats available across all participating AIIMS institutions.
The exam is intensely competitive. With an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 students appearing annually and fewer than 250 seats across all AIIMS, the effective selection rate stays well below 2 percent. Students in the General category should target 65 to 75 marks out of 100 to be competitive for seat allotment, based on previous year merit list data.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct, -1/3 for incorrect |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes |
| Expected Overall Pass % (qualifying) | 60–68% (based on previous year trends) |
| Effective Selection Rate (for seats) | Less than 2% |
AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 Category-Wise Pass Percentage
AIIMS sets different minimum qualifying marks for each reservation category. A lower threshold means a higher proportion of students from that category cross the qualifying bar. The table below shows expected category-wise pass percentages based on 2024 and 2025 exam trends.
| Category | Qualifying Marks (out of 100) | Expected Pass % (based on previous trends) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50 | 55–62% |
| EWS | 50 | 57–64% |
| OBC-NCL | 45 | 65–72% |
| SC | 40 | 68–75% |
| ST | 40 | 63–70% |
| PwBD (OPH) | 45 | 60–68% |
General and EWS students face the highest qualifying threshold at 50 marks. SC and ST students qualify at 40 marks, while OBC-NCL and PwBD students need 45 marks. These thresholds are part of AIIMS reservation policy and remain consistent across exam cycles. Reserved category students also have dedicated seats, which further improves their effective selection rate beyond the qualifying pass percentage alone.
AIIMS MSc Nursing Qualifying Marks by Category
The minimum qualifying marks define the floor score below which a student is not placed on the merit list regardless of total applicants. Scoring at the qualifying minimum only makes you eligible for ranking — it does not mean you will receive a seat. The actual seat-allotment cutoff is always considerably higher than the qualifying floor.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks | Qualifying Percentage | Recommended Target Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / UR | 50 / 100 | 50% | 65–75 |
| EWS | 50 / 100 | 50% | 63–72 |
| OBC-NCL | 45 / 100 | 45% | 58–68 |
| SC | 40 / 100 | 40% | 50–62 |
| ST | 40 / 100 | 40% | 50–60 |
| PwBD / OPH | 45 / 100 | 45% | 55–65 |
The recommended target scores in the table above are based on previous year merit list trends and are expected figures — the actual selection cutoff varies with paper difficulty and the number of students qualifying each year. Aim to score at least 10 to 15 marks above the qualifying threshold to have a realistic chance at seat allotment.
AIIMS MSc Nursing Year-Wise Pass Percentage Trends
Reviewing year-wise trends helps you understand how competition and difficulty levels have shifted. The overall qualifying pass percentage has stayed in a relatively stable band of 59 to 65 percent, with dips in tougher years. The table below reflects data from previous exam cycles.
| Year | Approx. Applicants | Overall Pass % (qualifying) | Reported Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ~13,500 | ~63% | Moderate |
| 2024 | ~12,800 | ~61% | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2023 | ~11,900 | ~65% | Moderate |
| 2022 | ~11,200 | ~59% | Difficult |
The 2026 pass percentage is expected to remain in the 60 to 68 percent range based on these trends. A tougher paper typically reduces the qualifying rate by 3 to 5 percentage points compared to moderate-difficulty years. The gradual rise in applicant numbers each year points to growing competition for the same pool of seats.
Factors Affecting AIIMS MSc Nursing Pass Percentage
Several factors shape how many students qualify in a given year. Understanding them helps you set a realistic score target.
- Exam difficulty: A harder paper lowers average scores across all students, reducing the share who cross the qualifying threshold — especially for General and EWS categories with a 50-mark floor.
- Negative marking: The -1/3 penalty discourages random guessing. Students who over-attempt uncertain questions frequently score below their actual knowledge level, pulling down the effective pass rate.
- Applicant volume: A larger pool of students does not directly change the qualifying pass percentage since the cutoff marks are fixed. However, more applicants compete for the same seats, making the selection rate even tighter.
- Category-wise thresholds: Lower qualifying marks for SC, ST, and OBC-NCL students result in a higher proportion of those students meeting the minimum bar, which is reflected in higher category-wise pass percentages.
- Subject preparation depth: AIIMS MSc Nursing tests clinical nursing, medical-surgical nursing, community health nursing, and allied subjects. Students who complete post-basic nursing with strong clinical exposure consistently score higher.
- Time management in the exam: The 90-minute window for 100 questions means roughly 54 seconds per question. Students who manage time poorly tend to rush or leave questions unattempted, lowering their effective score.
AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 Pass Percentage FAQs
Ques. What is the expected overall pass percentage for AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, the expected overall pass percentage for AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 is between 60 and 68 percent of all students who appear for the exam. This figure reflects students who score at or above the minimum qualifying marks set by AIIMS.
Ques. What are the minimum qualifying marks for General category students in AIIMS MSc Nursing?
Ans. General and EWS category students must score at least 50 out of 100 marks (50%) to qualify in AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026. Scoring at this minimum makes you eligible for merit ranking but does not guarantee a seat.
Ques. What is the qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students in AIIMS MSc Nursing?
Ans. SC and ST students need to score a minimum of 40 out of 100 marks (40%) to qualify. This lower threshold results in a higher proportion of SC and ST students clearing the qualifying bar compared to General category students.
Ques. Does qualifying in AIIMS MSc Nursing guarantee admission?
Ans. No. Qualifying means you meet the minimum marks and are placed on the merit list. Actual seat allotment depends entirely on your merit rank and the number of available seats. With thousands of students qualifying and fewer than 250 seats across all AIIMS, the effective selection rate is well below 2 percent.
Ques. What score should General category students target to improve their chances of a seat?
Ans. Based on previous year merit lists, General category students should aim for 65 to 75 marks out of 100 to be competitive for seat allotment. The exact cutoff varies each year based on paper difficulty and the total number of students who qualify.
Ques. Where can I check AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 results and merit list?
Ans. AIIMS MSc Nursing 2026 results and merit lists are published on the official portal at aiimsexams.ac.in. You can log in with your registration credentials to view your score, rank, and merit list status after results are declared.
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