IGNOU OPENNET 2027 is the entrance test Indira Gandhi National Open University holds for its Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing programme in distance mode, January 2027 session. It is open to in-service GNM nurses registered as RN and RM. Dates are not out yet; the 2026 test was held on 29 March 2026, so March 2027 is expected.
IGNOU OPENNET 2027
Dates, application steps, fees, eligibility, exam pattern and seat allotment for the IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing entrance, January 2027 session.
| Full name | IGNOU Entrance Test for Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing (OPENNET), January 2027 session |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi |
| Exam level | National |
| Courses / Purpose | Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing in open and distance learning mode, 3 to 6 years |
| Exam date | Expected March 2027, not yet notified (29 March in 2026) |
| Application | Expected February to March 2027, online only (6 February to 10 March in 2026) |
| Application fee | Rs 1,000, paid online (2026) |
| Eligibility | In-service RN and RM with GNM: 10+2 and 2 years' experience, or Class 10 and 5 years |
| Mode | Offline, pen and paper with OMR sheet |
| Questions and marks | 120 MCQs, 120 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Negative marking | None (2025 question paper instructions) |
| Official website | ignou.ac.in |
IGNOU OPENNET 2027 Important Dates
IGNOU has not announced the January 2027 dates yet, so the table shows expected months based on the 2026 cycle, when forms opened on 6 February and the test was held on 29 March.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Admission announcement | January 2027 Expected |
| Online application | February 2027 Expected |
| Hall ticket | March 2027 Expected |
| Entrance test | March 2027 Expected |
| Answer key | March 2027 Expected |
| Result | June 2027 Expected |
| Regional Centre merit lists | July 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for IGNOU OPENNET 2027
You apply online on the IGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing admission portal (ignounursing.samarth.edu.in) once IGNOU announces the January 2027 session. There is no offline form, and at this stage you pay only the Rs 1,000 entrance test fee.
Apply Online for IGNOU OPENNET 2027
Applications for IGNOU OPENNET 2027 are expected in February 2027.
- Open the admission portal and click New Registration in the applicant login area.
- Choose a username and an alphanumeric password, each 8 to 16 characters. The username is sent to you by email and SMS.
- Log in and fill in your personal details, GNM marks, RN and RM registration and work experience exactly as in your certificates.
- Pick your first-choice Programme Study Centre (PSC), two more PSCs as 2nd and 3rd choice, and the exam centre code you want.
- Upload a scanned photo and signature, each under 100 KB.
- Pay the Rs 1,000 fee by credit card, debit card or net banking, then print the submitted form. You need it at counselling.
| Fee | Amount | When you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance test fee | Rs 1,000 (2026) | Online, with the application |
| Programme fee | Rs 23,000 per year (2026 prospectus) | By demand draft, only after an offer of admission |
| Registration and development fee | As notified by IGNOU | With the programme fee |
Do not pay the programme fee with the entrance form. The Regional Centre tells candidates on its merit list how and when to pay.
Who can apply for IGNOU OPENNET 2027?
Only in-service nurses registered as Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife (RN and RM) with a 3-year GNM diploma can apply. You need one of these two combinations:
- 10+2 and GNM, with at least 2 years of experience after RN and RM registration.
- Class 10 (matriculation) and GNM, with at least 5 years of experience after RN and RM registration.
- Male nurses who did not study midwifery in GNM need an INC-prescribed nursing certificate course of 6 to 9 months in its place.
- Experience is counted from RN and RM registration up to the last date of the application form.
- There is no upper age limit.
IGNOU rejects forms that do not meet the experience rule, so do not apply if you are short of 2 years (10+2 route) or 5 years (Class 10 route).
What is the IGNOU OPENNET 2027 exam pattern?
OPENNET is a 120-question multiple-choice test on OMR sheet, based on the GNM syllabus of the Indian Nursing Council. The pattern below is from the 2026 prospectus and the 2025 question paper.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline, pen and paper (OMR sheet, blue or black ball point pen) |
| Questions | 120 multiple-choice questions in sections A to H |
| Marks | 1 mark per question, 120 in all |
| Negative marking | None |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Syllabus | Subjects taught in the GNM diploma (INC syllabus) |
| Language of paper | English (2025 paper) |
See the subject list and preparation tips on the IGNOU OPENNET 2027 syllabus page.
How are seats allotted after IGNOU OPENNET 2027?
Seats are filled region by region. IGNOU’s Student Evaluation Division makes a merit list for each Regional Centre, and that Regional Centre holds counselling for the PSC you chose first.
- The 2026 prospectus lists 350 seats in 13 PSCs approved by the Indian Nursing Council, with Government of India reservation rules.
- You get a seat only in the region of your first-choice PSC. You cannot claim a seat on a national merit list.
- Ties are broken by length of experience, then overall GNM marks, then date of birth (older first), then draw of lots.
- A PSC once allotted is not changed for the whole programme.
- You need leave of about 48, 58 and 62 days in years 1, 2 and 3 for compulsory theory and practical sessions, with 75% (theory) and 90% (practical) attendance.
IGNOU OPENNET 2027 Official Notices and Downloads
- LINKIGNOU Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing Student Handbook and Prospectus 2026 (latest)Official site · drive.google.comOpen
- LINKPost Basic B.Sc. Nursing Admission Announcement, January 2026 session (latest) (6 February 2026)Official site · drive.google.comOpen
- LINKPost Basic B.Sc. Nursing admission portal: ignounursing.samarth.edu.inOfficial site · ignounursing.samarth.edu.inOpen
- LINKOfficial website: ignou.ac.inOfficial site · ignou.ac.inOpen