The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 (Open Nursing Entrance Test – XIV) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for admission to its 3-year Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode for the January 2026 session. The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 entrance exam was successfully conducted on 29 March 2026 (Sunday). The provisional answer key was released on 20 April 2026 at ignou.ac.in and the IGNOU OPENNET Result 2026 is now expected in May / June 2026 at the official admission portal ignounursing.samarth.edu.in. Qualified candidates will participate in counselling at allocated Programme Study Centres located in Indian Nursing Council (INC)-approved colleges of nursing across India. The IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme is INC-recognised with a total fee of approximately Rs. 69,000 (Rs. 23,000 per year for 3 years).
Latest: – IGNOU OPENNET 2026 entrance exam was successfully conducted on 29 March 2026. Provisional answer key released on 20 April 2026. Result expected May / June 2026 at ignou.ac.in.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026
What is IGNOU OPENNET 2026?
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 (Open Nursing Entrance Test, XIV edition) is a university-level entrance examination conducted annually by Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, for admission to its prestigious Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme. The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 is specifically designed for in-service Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRMs) who wish to upgrade their qualification through Open and Distance Learning. Successful candidates of IGNOU OPENNET 2026 secure admission to one of IGNOU’s Programme Study Centres located in INC-approved colleges of nursing across India. The Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme is a 3-year UG degree (extendable up to 6 years) and is widely recognised by the Indian Nursing Council, UGC, and is valid for both government and private nursing positions.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Direct Link – Candidates can check IGNOU OPENNET 2026 result, admit card, and answer key at the official admission portal ignounursing.samarth.edu.in and main website ignou.ac.in.
Quick Links
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Notification Release | 06 February 2026 |
| Online Application Form Start | 06 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (Extended) | 10 March 2026 |
| IGNOU OPENNET Admit Card 2026 | 23 March 2026 |
| IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Exam Date | 29 March 2026 (Sunday) |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | 20 April 2026 |
| Objection Window | Late April 2026 |
| Final Answer Key Release | Awaited (May 2026) |
| IGNOU OPENNET Result 2026 | May / June 2026 (Tentative) |
| Counselling & Document Verification | After Result Declaration |
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for IGNOU OPENNET 2026 (Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing) must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:
- Option 1: In-service Nurses i.e. Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM) with 10+2 + 3-year Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) + minimum 2 years of professional experience after registration as RNRM.
- Option 2: In-service Nurses (RNRM) with 10th class (Matriculation) or equivalent + 3-year Diploma in GNM + minimum 5 years of professional experience after registration as RNRM.
- Male Nurses: Those who have not completed midwifery in their GNM programme should hold a certificate in any nursing course of 6-9 months duration prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council in lieu of midwifery.
- Age Limit: No upper age limit for admission to the IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme.
- Nationality: Indian citizens.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Application Form
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 online application window was open from 06 February 2026 to 10 March 2026 (extended deadline) on the dedicated admission portal ignounursing.samarth.edu.in. The application fee was Rs. 1,000, payable online via Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI.
How to Apply for IGNOU OPENNET 2026
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 application process (closed on 10 March 2026) followed these steps:
- Visit the official IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing admission portal at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in.
- Click on “New Registration” and create an account using name, email ID, and mobile number.
- Verify your email ID and mobile number via OTP and create login credentials.
- Log in to the portal and fill in personal, academic, and professional experience details.
- Select your Programme Study Centre (PSC) preferences (1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices).
- Upload scanned documents in the prescribed format: Photograph, Signature, 10th / 12th Certificate, GNM Diploma, RNRM Certificate, and Experience Certificate.
- Pay the IGNOU OPENNET 2026 entrance examination fee of Rs. 1,000 online.
- Submit the application and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Exam Pattern
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 entrance exam pattern is as follows:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | OPENNET-XIV (Open Nursing Entrance Test – 14th edition) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-paper-based) |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 120 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | As per official notification |
| Medium | English |
| Syllabus Source | GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) syllabus |
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Syllabus
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 question paper is drawn from the GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) diploma-level syllabus. The major subject areas covered in the IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Syllabus include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Maternal and Child Health Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- First Aid and Bandaging
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Personal Hygiene
- Professional Trends and Adjustment
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Admit Card
The IGNOU OPENNET Admit Card 2026 was released around 23 March 2026 at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in. Candidates downloaded the hall ticket by logging in with their Control Number / Enrollment Number, Date of Birth, and Mobile Number. The admit card was mandatory along with a valid government photo ID for entry into the exam centre on 29 March 2026.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Answer Key
IGNOU released the provisional IGNOU OPENNET Answer Key 2026 on 20 April 2026 at ignou.ac.in. Candidates can match their responses with the official answer key and calculate their probable scores. The final answer key will be released after evaluating all candidate objections.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Result & Counselling
The IGNOU OPENNET Result 2026 is expected to be declared in May / June 2026 at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in. The result will be released as a Regional Centre-wise merit list based on entrance test scores. Qualified candidates (typically those who score at least 50% in the entrance test) will be called for counselling at their allocated Regional Centre. Seats are fixed for Programme Study Centres located in INC-approved colleges of nursing across India.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application / Entrance Fee | Rs. 1,000 |
| Programme Fee (Per Year) | Rs. 23,000 |
| Total Programme Fee (3 years) | Rs. 69,000 (approx.) |
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 FAQs
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 (OPENNET-XIV) entrance exam was successfully conducted on 29 March 2026 (Sunday) across India in offline pen-paper-based mode for admission to the Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme (January 2026 session).
The IGNOU OPENNET Result 2026 is expected to be declared in May / June 2026 at the official admission portal ignounursing.samarth.edu.in. The provisional answer key was released on 20 April 2026, and the final answer key is awaited.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 (OPENNET-XIV) is an offline pen-paper-based exam consisting of 120 MCQs to be attempted in 2 hours 30 minutes for 120 marks. Each correct answer carries +1 mark. The questions are drawn from the GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) syllabus.
Candidates must be in-service Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM) with either: (a) 10+2 + 3-year GNM Diploma + 2 years experience after RNRM registration; OR (b) 10th class + 3-year GNM Diploma + 5 years experience after RNRM registration. Male nurses without midwifery in GNM need an INC-prescribed 6-9 month nursing course certificate. There is no upper age limit.
The IGNOU OPENNET 2026 application fee is Rs. 1,000, payable online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The application window was open from 06 February to 10 March 2026 at ignounursing.samarth.edu.in.
The IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum duration of 6 years. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 69,000 (Rs. 23,000 per year for 3 years), payable in yearly instalments after admission confirmation.
Yes, the IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme is approved by the Indian Nursing Council (INC) and recognised by UGC. The degree is valid for government and private nursing positions across India and is offered in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.
IGNOU OPENNET 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IGNOU OPENNET 2026 (Open Nursing Entrance Test – XIV) |
| Conducting Body | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) |
| Programme | Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing (January 2026 Session) |
| Programme Duration | 3 years (min) / 6 years (max) – ODL Mode |
| Approval | Indian Nursing Council (INC), UGC |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-paper-based) |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Total Questions / Marks | 120 / 120 |
| Application Period | 06 February – 10 March 2026 |
| Application Fee | Rs. 1,000 |
| Exam Date | 29 March 2026 (Sunday) |
| Provisional Answer Key | 20 April 2026 |
| Result Declaration (Expected) | May / June 2026 |
| Programme Fee | Rs. 69,000 (approx., for 3 years) |
| Official Website | ignou.ac.in |
| Admission Portal | ignounursing.samarth.edu.in |
If you have any questions about IGNOU OPENNET 2026, please ask in the comments below. And if you found this page useful, please share!
