Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 is the state-level entrance examination conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for admission to M.Sc Nursing programmes at participating colleges in Karnataka. Furthermore, KEA releases the application form, admit card, and result on the official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Subsequently, qualified candidates participate in centralised counselling for seat allotment across government, aided, and private nursing colleges in Karnataka. Therefore, this page covers all key details including exam dates, application process, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, and counselling. Moreover, candidates can download previous year question papers from aglasem.com for preparation. Additionally, the exam is held in offline OMR mode across centres in Karnataka.
Latest: KEA will release the Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 official notification on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Subsequently, the application form will open as per the schedule announced by KEA.
Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 — Overview
What is Karnataka M.Sc Nursing? It is the centralised entrance examination for admission to Master of Science in Nursing (M.Sc Nursing) programmes in Karnataka. Furthermore, B.Sc Nursing graduates seeking specialisation in nursing apply through KEA. Subsequently, KEA conducts the test annually for candidates seeking postgraduate nursing admission. Therefore, both government and private nursing colleges in Karnataka admit students through this exam. Additionally, the test is offline (OMR-based) and held across centres in Karnataka. Moreover, the seat allotment is done through online counselling by KEA based on rank.
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Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 Exam Dates
KEA releases the complete exam calendar along with the official notification. Furthermore, candidates should bookmark cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ for instant updates. Therefore, the tentative dates below are based on past cycle trends. Subsequently, the actual schedule will appear once KEA releases the official brochure. Additionally, the application portal usually opens for around 30-40 days.
| Exam Event | Event Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | As per KEA |
| Application Form Start | Expected mid-2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | Expected mid-2026 |
| Application Form Correction Window | As per KEA |
| Admit Card Release | Few days before exam |
| Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 Exam Date | Expected mid-2026 |
| Answer Key Release | Within a week of exam |
| Result Declaration | As per KEA |
| Counselling Schedule | As per KEA |
Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 Application Direct Link – Candidates can apply online as per its release by KEA at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Furthermore, the direct application link becomes active once KEA releases the official notification.
Specialisations Offered Through Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026
KEA conducts the entrance test for admission to multiple M.Sc Nursing specialisations. Furthermore, candidates can select their preferred specialisation during counselling. Subsequently, seat allotment depends on rank, category, and course preferences. Therefore, candidates should review the specialisation list carefully.
- Medical Surgical Nursing with sub-specialities
- Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing
- Child Health (Paediatric) Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nursing
- Other specialisations as notified by KEA
Application Form and How to Apply
KEA releases the application form online once the official notification is published. Furthermore, eligible candidates can apply by following the steps below. Subsequently, they should keep digital copies of photo, signature, B.Sc Nursing mark sheets, passing certificate, registration certificate, category certificate (if applicable), and Karnataka domicile/study certificate ready before starting. Therefore, smooth completion of the form requires advance preparation. Additionally, candidates should retain the application number and password for all future logins.
- Visit the official portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
- Click on the “Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 Online Application” link on the homepage.
- Register with name, email, mobile, and create a password.
- Login with the credentials received via email/SMS.
- Fill personal, academic, work experience, and category details accurately.
- Upload scanned photograph, signature, and supporting documents in the prescribed format.
- Pay the application fee online via the available payment gateway.
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page for records.
Eligibility Criteria
KEA sets specific eligibility criteria for M.Sc Nursing admission. Furthermore, candidates must meet every criterion to be considered for admission. Subsequently, the authority verifies eligibility during counselling. Therefore, applicants should review the conditions carefully before applying.
- Educational Qualification: B.Sc Nursing / Post Basic B.Sc Nursing passed from an institution recognised by the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
- Minimum Marks: 55% aggregate in B.Sc Nursing for General category (50% for SC/ST/OBC as per KEA norms).
- Work Experience: Minimum one year of work experience after registration as a Registered Nurse (RN) with the State Nursing Council, as per INC norms.
- Nationality: Indian citizen.
- Domicile: Karnataka domicile candidates qualify for state quota seats; others compete for management/CET seats as per KEA norms.
- Reservation: As per Karnataka Government reservation policy for SC, ST, OBC, Cat-I, Cat-IIA, Cat-IIB, Cat-IIIA, Cat-IIIB, EWS, and PwD candidates.
Exam Pattern
KEA conducts the entrance test in offline OMR-based pen-and-paper mode. Furthermore, the question paper covers core nursing subjects from the B.Sc Nursing curriculum. Therefore, candidates should plan their preparation accordingly. Subsequently, each correct answer earns marks as per the KEA marking scheme. Additionally, the duration varies as per KEA notification.
| Mode | Offline (OMR-based pen-and-paper) |
| Duration | As per KEA notification |
| Question Type | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | As per KEA notification |
| Subjects | Core nursing subjects from B.Sc Nursing curriculum |
| Language | English |
Syllabus and Preparation
The syllabus draws from the B.Sc Nursing curriculum. Furthermore, candidates should revise core nursing subjects thoroughly. Subsequently, mock tests and previous year papers help identify weak areas. Therefore, candidates can refer to the detailed syllabus page for topic-wise breakdown. Additionally, daily revision and timed practice are essential for success.
Admit Card, Answer Key, Result
KEA releases the admit card a few days before the exam. Furthermore, the answer key appears within a few days after the test, followed by an objection window. Subsequently, the result is declared based on the final answer key. Therefore, qualified candidates participate in centralised counselling. Additionally, tie-breaking rules apply when candidates have equal scores.
Counselling and Admission
KEA conducts online counselling for qualified candidates after the result is declared. Furthermore, the process involves separate counselling registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and document verification at the allotted college. Subsequently, multiple counselling rounds may take place to fill vacant seats. Therefore, candidates should keep their original certificates including B.Sc Nursing mark sheets, passing certificate, RN registration certificate, work experience certificate, KEA admit card, scorecard, photo ID, category certificate, and Karnataka domicile/study certificate ready for verification. Additionally, admissions are offered across government, aided, and private nursing colleges in Karnataka.
Quick Overview Table
| Name of Exam | Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Level of Exam | State Level |
| Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Question Type | MCQs |
| Courses | M.Sc Nursing (multiple specialisations) |
| Eligibility | B.Sc Nursing from INC-recognised institution + 1 year work experience |
| Language | English |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
| Region | Karnataka |
| Type of Exam | Nursing Entrance Exams |
Frequently Asked Questions
Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026 is the state-level entrance examination conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for admission to Master of Science in Nursing programmes in Karnataka. Furthermore, the test is open to B.Sc Nursing graduates from INC-recognised institutions. Subsequently, KEA conducts the exam annually and publishes all updates on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
M.Sc Nursing covers specialisations including Medical Surgical Nursing, Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, Child Health (Paediatric) Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nursing. Furthermore, candidates choose their specialisation during counselling based on rank and availability. Therefore, candidates should check the official brochure for the complete specialisation list and seat matrix.
Candidates must have passed B.Sc Nursing or Post Basic B.Sc Nursing from an institution recognised by the Indian Nursing Council with at least 55% aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC). Furthermore, candidates need minimum one year of post-registration work experience as a Registered Nurse. Subsequently, applicants must be Indian citizens. Additionally, Karnataka domicile candidates qualify for state quota seats.
Yes, minimum one year of work experience after registration as a Registered Nurse is required as per Indian Nursing Council norms. Furthermore, the experience certificate must be from a recognised hospital or healthcare institution. Therefore, candidates should obtain a valid experience certificate before applying. Subsequently, KEA verifies the certificate during counselling.
Candidates can apply online at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ once KEA releases the application form. Furthermore, the process involves registration, filling personal, academic, work experience, and category details, uploading photo, signature, and supporting documents, paying the application fee, and submitting the form. Subsequently, an edit window is provided for corrections. Therefore, applicants should save the application number and password for future use.
Karnataka M.Sc Nursing scores are accepted for admission at government, aided, and private nursing colleges across Karnataka. Furthermore, KEA conducts centralised counselling for seat allotment. Therefore, candidates should check the participating college list in the official brochure. Subsequently, seat allotment is based on rank, category, specialisation preference, and college preferences.
Karnataka domicile is not strictly mandatory for application, but Karnataka domicile candidates qualify for state quota seats. Furthermore, KEA accepts applications from candidates across India who satisfy the nursing eligibility, although seat allotment for non-Karnataka candidates is under different categories. Therefore, candidates should review the official brochure for category-wise eligibility. Subsequently, the domicile rule applies during counselling.
Previous year question papers for Karnataka M.Sc Nursing are available for free download at aglasem.com. Furthermore, candidates can practice with these papers to understand the question style and difficulty level. Therefore, mock practice with previous year papers builds speed and accuracy. Subsequently, candidates should solve them under timed conditions for best results.
If you have any questions about this entrance exam, then please ask in the comments below. And if you found this page to be useful, please share!
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