Nursing diplomas
GNM and ANM nursing admission 2026
Nursing diplomas without NEET: who is eligible, how long they take and where GNM stands in 2026.
Checked 28 October 2026 against official notices; rows taken from news reports are labelled.
GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife) are nursing diplomas. They do not need NEET, and unlike B.Sc Nursing they accept Arts students. For the degree, see our B.Sc Nursing guide.
| GNM | ANM | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years | 2 years |
| Stream | Any stream with English, 40% (science preferred) | Arts or Science with English |
| Age | 17 to 35 | 17 to 35 |
| Institutions (INC, 31 Mar 2025) | 3,183 · 1,39,010 seats | 1,941 · 60,562 seats |
Eligibility (Indian Nursing Council)
- INC requires 10+2 with English and at least 40% in the qualifying exam and in English; science is preferred but not compulsory, and NIOS or state open school candidates are eligible.
- INC also accepts 10+2 vocational ANM or Health Care Science with 40%, or a registered ANM, for GNM.
- For GNM the minimum age is 17 by 31 December of the admission year and the upper limit is 35, with no age bar for ANM/LHV candidates.
- INC allows a 5% relaxation for SC/ST candidates and a 3% reservation for 40-50% locomotor disability of the lower extremity in GNM.
- INC allows 10+2 in Arts or Science (or Health Care Science vocational) with English for ANM, minimum age 17 by 31 December and maximum age 35.
Is GNM being phased out?
INC's Notification No. 19 of 2026 (24 Sep 2026) extended the 2026-27 admission deadline for ANM, GNM and other nursing programmes from 30 Sep to 31 Oct 2026, so GNM admissions are still running in 2026-27. In a 2022 Karnataka High Court case, the Karnataka State Nursing Council said INC had decided to phase out the GNM course; no INC notice closing GNM was found on INC's site. (news report) Nagaland's Health Department stopped running GNM from 2025-26 and moved three nursing schools to B.Sc Nursing. (news report)
Seats
INC's institution distribution report (as on 31 Mar 2025) lists 1,941 ANM institutions with 60,562 seats and 3,183 GNM institutions with 1,39,010 seats. The same INC report lists 2,538 B.Sc Nursing institutions with 1,38,321 seats, so GNM seats still slightly exceed B.Sc Nursing seats.
How admission works in some states
In the states we checked, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat admit on Class 12 merit and West Bengal holds an entrance test; other states differ, so ask us about yours.
Fees
All-inclusive per-year fee excluding hostel, transport and mess; government college students pay only mess and other fees and receive a stipend.
Official: tnmedicalselection.net
Tamil Nadu government GNM students get a monthly stipend of Rs 600, Rs 700 and Rs 800 in years one to three and Rs 800 during internship.
Tamil Nadu's 2026-27 DGNM prospectus describes the course as three years including six months of internship.
After GNM
- Post Basic B.Sc Nursing requires a GNM certificate and registration as RNRM with a State Nurses Registration Council; INC lists it as two years regular or three years distance.
Going abroad? See nursing jobs in Germany.
More courses after NEET
BDS admission
Counselling, fees, cut-offs
Read →BAMS admission
Ayurveda: AACCC and state rounds
Read →BHMS admission
Homoeopathy: AACCC and state rounds
Read →BVSc (veterinary)
VCI 15% quota and state routes
Read →B.Pharm, D.Pharm, Pharm.D
Pharmacy admission by state
Read →GNM and ANM
Nursing diplomas
Read →BPT (physiotherapy)
2026 rules, NEET from 2027-28
Read →Sources
- ANM duration: Indiannursingcouncil.org
- GNM status 2026: indiannursingcouncil.org
- GNM phase-out talk: livelaw.in
- State discontinuation: easternmirrornagaland.com
- GNM eligibility: indiannursingcouncil.org
- Institutions and seats: indiannursingcouncil.org
- Tamil Nadu GNM duration: tnmedicalselection.net
- West Bengal: collegedunia.com
- Gujarat: medadmgujarat.org
Common questions
Is NEET required for GNM or ANM?
No. Neither diploma needs NEET. In the states we checked, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat admit on Class 12 merit and West Bengal holds its own entrance test.
Can Arts students do GNM?
Yes. INC requires Class 12 with English and 40%; science is preferred but not compulsory. ANM is also open to Arts students.
Is GNM closed from 2026?
No. INC's Notification 19 of 2026 extended the 2026-27 GNM and ANM admission deadline to 31 October 2026. INC says no further extension will be granted. Nagaland has stopped GNM in its state schools.
What is the age limit for GNM?
17 to 35 years, with no upper limit for registered ANM/LHV candidates.
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