IGNOU OPENNET Application Form 2027: Registration Expected January 2027, How to Apply and Eligibility

IGNOU OPENNET (Open Nursing Entrance Test) is conducted annually by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for admission to its 3-year Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme through Open Distance Learning (ODL). The IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application form is expected to be released at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in in January or February 2027 — only in-service Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM) are eligible to apply. The application fee is ₹1,000 (non-refundable), payable entirely online.

What is IGNOU OPENNET Application Form 2027?

The IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application form is the official registration form for IGNOU’s Open Nursing Entrance Test — the gateway to its 3-year Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing (PBBN) programme offered via Open Distance Learning. Indira Gandhi National Open University conducts OPENNET once every year, typically for the January admission session, and the 2027 edition will be the next cycle following OPENNET-XIV held in March 2026. The programme is designed exclusively for in-service Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM) who want to upgrade their GNM diploma qualification to a bachelor’s degree without leaving their jobs.

IGNOU is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme is approved by the Indian Nursing Council (INC). Admission is entirely merit-based, with the OPENNET score used to prepare a rank list. The application for 2027 will be accepted online at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in — there is no offline application route.

Note: The IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application window has not opened as of September 2026. Bookmark the official nursing portal at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in and check back in December 2026 or January 2027 for the official notification.

IGNOU OPENNET Registration Trends — Last 5 Years

Unlike national exams such as NEET or JEE where NTA publishes year-wise registration and appearance data, IGNOU does not publicly release candidate-wise statistical reports for OPENNET. The exam caters to a specialist cohort — practising Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives — and seat intake is limited by IGNOU’s regional centre capacity. Demand for the programme has grown year-on-year as more nurses seek a degree-level qualification through flexible distance education. Year-wise official figures will be updated here once IGNOU publishes them.

Source: IGNOU Nursing Admission Portal — ignounursing.samarth.edu.in

IGNOU OPENNET Application Form 2027: Important Dates

IGNOU has not yet released the official schedule for OPENNET 2027. The dates below are forward-looking estimates based on previous OPENNET cycles — in 2026, the application window opened on February 6, and in 2025, registration closed on February 21. Confirm all dates from the official notification at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in before applying.

IGNOU OPENNET 2027 Eligibility Criteria (Before You Apply)

IGNOU OPENNET is open exclusively to in-service Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM) registered with the Indian Nursing Council or a State Nursing Council. Verify your eligibility against the criteria below before the 2027 application window opens — IGNOU scrutinises documents after the exam and rejects ineligible applications without refunding the fee.

IGNOU OPENNET is not open to fresh GNM graduates without in-service experience. You must be currently employed as a registered nurse at the time of application.

Note: Only nurses registered with the State Nursing Council or the Indian Nursing Council are eligible. Applications from nurses with lapsed or unrenewed RNRM registration will be rejected during document scrutiny.

Source: IGNOU Nursing Admission Portal

How to Fill IGNOU OPENNET Application Form 2027

The IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application form will be available exclusively in online mode at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in. No offline application process exists. Complete the two-phase process below once the official window opens.

Phase 1: New Registration

1. Visit ignounursing.samarth.edu.in and click "New Registration".
2. Enter your full name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID — use details exactly as they appear on your GNM certificate and nursing council registration.
3. Verify your mobile number using the OTP sent via SMS. This links your registration to your phone number permanently.
4. Set a strong password and note your Application Number / User ID — you will need it for all future logins, including admit card and result.
5. Save your login credentials securely. You cannot recover your password without access to your registered mobile number.

Phase 2: Fill the Application Form

1. Log in using your Application Number and Password at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in.
2. Fill in personal details: full name, date of birth, gender, category, nationality, and correspondence address.
3. Fill in nursing qualification details: GNM institution, year of passing, roll number, and date of RNRM registration with the State Nursing Council.
4. Fill in employment details: current employer name and address, your designation, type of healthcare facility, and total years of experience as RNRM.
5. Select your preferred IGNOU Regional Centre and exam city.
6. Upload your passport-size photograph, signature, and other required documents in the specified format and file size.
7. Review all details carefully — cross-check your name, date of birth, category, RNRM registration number, and photograph before proceeding to payment.
8. Pay the application fee of ₹1,000 via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
9. Download and save your confirmation page — take a printout and keep it safe for admit card, exam entry, and counselling.

Note: Submit only one application form. Multiple applications from the same nurse will be rejected and the fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Download and keep your confirmation page safe — it is required for admit card download, exam entry, and counselling.

Check all details before submitting — once the correction window closes, no changes are accepted under any circumstances.

Documents Required for IGNOU OPENNET Application Form 2027

Keep scanned copies of the following documents ready before you start filling the IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application form. IGNOU requires specific documents that go beyond a standard exam application — employment proof and nursing council registration are mandatory.

Note: Upload a recent passport-size photograph taken after January 2026, with a white background and 80% of your face clearly visible. Do not upload edited, filtered, or studio-retouched photographs — these are rejected during scrutiny.

Note: Your RNRM Registration Certificate must be valid at the time of submitting the application. An expired nursing council registration will result in automatic rejection of your application, even if your experience meets the eligibility requirement.

IGNOU OPENNET Application Fee 2027

The IGNOU OPENNET application fee for 2027 is expected to be ₹1,000, based on the 2026 fee structure. IGNOU charges a uniform application fee for OPENNET — there is no category-wise fee waiver or concession for SC, ST, OBC, PwD, or female applicants for this entrance test. Pay the fee online at the time of form submission.

Payment accepted via: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI. No offline payment modes (cheque, demand draft, or cash) are accepted.

Note: The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances — even if your form is rejected during scrutiny, you are found ineligible, or you do not appear for the OPENNET exam.

Note: If your payment fails, do not pay again immediately — wait 48–72 hours for the amount to be auto-refunded to your account before making a fresh payment attempt.

The application fee is non-refundable — even if you withdraw your application or do not appear for the OPENNET exam.

If your payment fails, do not retry immediately — wait 48–72 hours for the auto-refund before making a fresh payment.

IGNOU OPENNET Application Form Correction 2027

IGNOU does not offer a dedicated form correction window for OPENNET applications in the way that NTA does for NEET or JEE. Once you submit the IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application form, most fields are locked. Review your confirmation page immediately after submission and contact IGNOU through the official nursing admission portal if a critical error requires correction. Any correction facility, if announced, will be notified at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in.

Check all details before submitting — once the correction window closes, no changes are accepted under any circumstances.

Note: Once the correction window closes, no changes are accepted under any circumstances — verify your name, date of birth, RNRM registration number, category, and photograph before final submission of the IGNOU OPENNET 2027 application form.