BSc Nursing Admissions 2026–27: Indian Nursing Council Agrees to Relax CET Cutoff for Vacant Seats
Published 10 Nov 20263 min read
Students who took the BSc Nursing Common Entrance Test (CET) but fell below the usual qualifying percentile may now be considered for vacant seats. The Indian Nursing Council (INC) agreed to relax the entrance-test requirement for the 2026–27 session after several states requested the change.
Important: The announcement gives no revised numerical cutoff and no fresh application dates. Applicants should check the admission instructions from the state or university that conducted their CET.
What the INC Has Agreed To — and What It Has Not
Agreed: The INC has agreed to relax the CET requirement for 2026–27 so that candidates who appeared for the test but fell below the usual qualifying percentile can be considered for vacant seats.
Not announced: A revised numerical cutoff, a fresh application window, or a centralised schedule. The relaxation is a policy decision that states, and universities must implement through their own admission processes.
Who Can Be Considered Under the Relaxation
The relaxation covers candidates who appeared for the CET. It does not create a new universal cutoff — it allows consideration for vacant seats, subject to state/university adoption and the academic requirements below.
Existing Percentile Thresholds
The usual CET qualifying thresholds remain the reference point for regular admissions:
| Category | Usual Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
| General | 50th percentile |
| General-category candidates with disabilities | 45th percentile |
| SC, ST, OBC | 40th percentile |
Candidates below these thresholds may now be considered for vacant seats under the relaxation, provided their state or university is implementing it.
Academic and Age Requirements Still Apply
The relaxation applies only to the entrance-test requirement. All other admission conditions remain in force:
English: Must pass English in Class 12
PCB marks: Physics, Chemistry and Biology combined — 45% for general-category applicants and 40% for SC, ST and OBC applicants
Age: At least 17 years by 31 December of the admission year
What Candidates Should Check Before Applying
A candidate who missed the earlier CET threshold should verify two things:
Whether their state or university is accepting candidates under the relaxation — check the admission instructions issued by the authority that conducted your CET.
Whether they meet the academic requirements — English pass, PCB percentage, and age criteria.
What Happens Next
The INC decision enables states and universities to fill vacant BSc Nursing seats with candidates who appeared for the CET but fell below the qualifying percentile. Since no fresh application dates or revised cutoffs have been announced centrally, candidates should monitor their state CET authority or university admission portal for implementation notices.
Official Portals and Instructions
Candidates should check:
The admission instructions from their state CET authority or university — the source of implementation details
The Indian Nursing Council (INC) — for any official notification on the relaxation [VERIFY official URL]
State nursing admission portals — for vacant seat notices and application timelines
No revised cutoff number or new application dates have been announced in the INC decision.
