AIIMS NORCET 10 Mains Important Topics 2026, High-Yield Topics & Subjects List

With the AIIMS NORCET 10 Mains exam scheduled for 30 April 2026, last-phase preparation must focus on the most scoring and frequently asked topics across all nursing subjects. This guide highlights high-yield areas from Community Health Nursing, Pharmacology, Psychiatric Nursing, Fundamentals, Surgery, Medicine, OBG, Pediatrics, research, and image-based questions to help candidates prioritise revision, strengthen weak areas, and maximise scores in this highly competitive exam.

Community Health Nursing (CHN)

This section highlights crucial Community Health Nursing topics for exam preparation.

• Immunization: Complete understanding of schedule, associated problems, and vaccinations.

• Disability Indicators: DALI (Daily Activities of Life), HALE (Health Adjusted Life Expectancy), QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year).

• Human Development Indicators (HDI): Human Development Index, Global Hunger Index, PQLI (Physical Quality of Life Index), Multidimensional Poverty Index.

• National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

• Current Schemes: Lakshya Scheme, Kayakalp, Swachh Swasth Sarvatra.

• Digital Health Platforms: Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, e-Hospital (**Mera Aspatal) for patient feedback and quality improvement, Tele-MANAS (National Mental Health Act Program).

• National Health Programs: National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), National AIDS Control Program (NACP), National Vector-Borne Disease Control Program, National Non-Communicable Disease Program.

• Maternal and Child Health (MCH) & Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programs: Anemia Mukt Bharat, MCH & RMNCH+A, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), and High-Risk Pregnancy management.

• Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

• Family Planning and Contraceptives.

• Demography and Census.

• Epidemiology: Epidemiological studies, relative risk, and odds ratio.

• Disaster Management.

• Occupational Hazards.

• Biomedical Waste Management (BMW).

• Learning Domains: Cognitive Domain, Psychomotor Domain, Affective Domain.

• Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Act: Focus on extra leave and child labor laws.

Pharmacology (Pharma)

This section outlines critical pharmacology topics, emphasizing drug classes and applications.

• Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Principles of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME).

• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Drugs: A Five-Star Topic; includes Cholinergic (e.g., Physostigmine for Organophosphate Poisoning), Anticholinergic (e.g., Atropine Sulfate), Adrenergic (e.g., Dopamine, Dobutamine, Noradrenaline, Adrenaline for Anaphylactic Shock, CPR), and Anti-Adrenergic drugs (e.g., Beta-blockers).

• NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs).

• Cardiovascular System Drugs: Antihypertensives, Antiarrhythmics, Dyslipidemia drugs, Digoxin.

• Diuretics.

• Antiepileptic Drugs: Study side effects, contraindications, and indications.

• Psychopharmacology: Drugs for Mania and Depression.

• Lithium for Bipolar Disorder: Know therapeutic ranges, administration, and side effects. (When starting lithium, blood samples are taken after 6 days. Subsequent samples are taken 12 hours after the last dose.)

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are very important in depression.

• Antipsychotics: Focus on side effects and nursing priorities.

• Drugs of Abuse: Alcohol, Opioids, etc.

• Anesthesia (General overview).

• Peptic Ulcer Disease Drugs.

• Anticancer Drugs: Focus on side effects.

• Anti-Tubercular Therapy (ATT): Including recent questions on Streptomycin and nerve damage.

• Asthma Drugs.

• Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets: Heparin, Warfarin, Antiplatelet drugs.

• Antidotes.

• Prostaglandins.

Psychiatric Nursing

Psychiatric Nursing is a high-yield exam topic.

• Hallucinations: Auditory and Visual hallucinations.

• Disorders of Activity.

• Delusions and Thought Disorders.

• Memory Disorders.

• Schizophrenia: Includes Positive and Negative Symptoms, Four A's (Bleuler's), First-Rank Symptoms, and Dopamine Pathway.

• Mood Disorders: Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder.

• Anxiety Disorders: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Conversion Disorder, Somatoform Disorders.

• Personality Disorders.

• Substance Abuse: Alcohol, Opioids, Cocaine.

• Child Psychiatry: ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).

• Mental Healthcare Act (Trending topic).

• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).

• Screening Questionnaires: MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), CAGE Questionnaire.

Fundamentals of Nursing (FON)

This section covers fundamental nursing procedures and concepts.

• Oxygen Administration: All types, including CPAP/BiPAP, Cannula, Oxygen Mask, Venturi Mask.

• Endotracheal Intubation: Complete understanding of procedure, calculating ETT size and length, Sellick's Maneuver.

• Suction Catheter: Calculating size and color codes.

• Foley's Catheter: Color codes, common sizes for male and female.

• Intercostal Drain (ICD) Tube: Full procedure for insertion and drainage system care.

• Drains and their care.

• Central Line: Care, ports, and what can be infused through each port.

• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) Administration.

• IV Cannula.

• Ethics and Legal Aspects in Nursing.

• Tracheostomy Care.

• Blood Transfusion.

• Stoma Care.

• Vital Sign Assessment.

• Blood Spill Management.

• Catheter Care.

• WHO Care Bundle.

• Enema Administration: Focus on patient positioning, insertion depth, volume.

• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): Includes Eye, Verbal, Motor response, and Pupillary response.

• Nursing Process.

• Signs of Inflammation.

• Thanatology: Post-mortem changes.

• Pre-Anesthesia Checkup (PAC): Drug discontinuation timelines, pre-operative care, fluid management, NPO status, PAC checklist.

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) Guidelines.

• Medical Gas Cylinders: Color coding.

• Scales: Pain Scales, Bed Sore Scales (e.g., Braden Scale).

• Nursing Theories: Focus on key points.

• ESIC Act.

Surgery

Surgery is increasingly emphasized in recent exams.

• Wound Types.

• Sutures and Knots.

• Surgical Instruments.

• Drains and Drainage Systems.

• Hemostatic Devices.

• Surgical Safety Checklist.

• Pre-operative and Post-operative Care: Including complications, post-operative fever, and patient assurance.

• SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) and SOFA Score (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment).

• Trauma Management: Triage, Primary Survey.

• Chest Trauma: Pneumothorax, Hemothorax.

• Shock.

• Burns.

• Catheters.

• Abdominal Trauma: E-FAST.

• Head Injury.

• Bariatric Surgery.

• Transplantation.

• Pancreatitis: Focus on signs.

• Vascular Diseases: Aortic Occlusion, Varicose Veins, DVT.

• Urolithiasis.

• Prostate: Including prostate cancer.

• Nephrotic vs. Nephritic Syndrome.

• Appendicitis.

• Hernia.

• Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleed.

• Esophagus (conditions affecting it).

• MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) and PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease).

• Skin Graft and Flap.

• Thyroid.

• Breast: Focus on screening.

• Stoma: Types, care, color, stoma wash.

• Urine Analysis: Especially urine sample collection.

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Medicine

This section covers high-yield medical topics.

• Endocrine System: Diabetes Mellitus, Cushing's Syndrome, Addison's Disease, Osteoporosis, Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism.

• Anemia.

• Bone Marrow Biopsy.

• Bleeding Disorders.

• Liver Cirrhosis.

• Diarrhea.

• Peptic Ulcer Disease.

• Fluid and Electrolyte Balance.

• Glomerulonephritis.

• Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

• Urine Analysis.

• Neurological Disorders: Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, Seizures, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Stroke.

• Hepatitis.

• Cirrhosis.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis.

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

• Respiratory System: Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), Pulmonary Hypertension, Bronchiectasis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Respiratory Failure, COPD, Asthma, Pleural Effusion, Pneumonia.

• Cardiology: This topic is all-encompassing and must not be missed. Covers All Cardiac Diseases, ECG interpretation, In-depth Cardiac Physiology, Investigations, and Screening.

Also Check: Safe Score for NORCET 10 Selection

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBG)

This section covers essential topics in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

• Female Pelvis Anatomy.

• Hormonal Changes (related to reproduction).

• Hysterosalpingography (HSG).

• Uterine Malformations: PCOS, Asherman's Syndrome, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Fibroids, Polyps, Adenomyosis.

• Vaginal/Cervical Infections: Vaginitis, Cervicitis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

• Infertility.

• Carcinomas: Endometrial Hyperplasia and Carcinoma, Cervical Carcinoma (focus on HPV vaccine).

• Reproductive Physiology: Fertilization, Implantation, Placenta, Amniotic Fluid.

• Antenatal Care (ANC): Normal Pregnancy Investigations and Screening, Triplet Test, Quadruplet Test, Non-Stress Test (NST), Fetal Non-Stress Test (FNST).

• Physiological Changes in Pregnancy: Know all signs.

• Diseases in Pregnancy: Anemia, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension/PIH, Rh-Negative Pregnancy.

• Complications of Pregnancy: Abortion, MTP Act, Ectopic Pregnancy, Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), Antepartum Hemorrhage (APH), Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH).

• Multiple Gestation.

• Labor: Complete understanding of all stages of labor, pre-labor, and post-labor. Includes Preterm and Post-term Labor, Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM), Induction of Labor, Episiotomy, Perineal Tear, Malpresentation, Puerperium, Cesarean Section, Active Management of Third Stage of Labor.

• Maneuvers: All obstetric maneuvers, especially Shoulder Dystocia Maneuvers and Leopold's Maneuvers.

Pediatrics

This section focuses on high-yield pediatric topics, especially neonatology.

• Neonatology: This is the most important section. Covers Neonatal Complications, Neonatal Resuscitation, Normal Newborn Findings, Head Swellings in Newborns, Target SpO2 after Birth, Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), Neonatal Sepsis, Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS), Respiratory Distress in Newborns, Neonatal Jaundice, Paget Disease, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD), Hypoglycemia, Hypothermia, Neonatal Reflexes, Neonatal Seizures, Birth Asphyxia, Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).

• Growth and Development.

• Breastfeeding and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC): Including WHO's Signs of Good Breastfeeding Attachment.

• Malnutrition and Rickets.

• Genetic Disorders.

• TORCH Infections.

• TEF (Tracheoesophageal Fistula) and Esophageal Atresia.

• Diarrhea and Dehydration Management (IMNCI guidelines).

• Pediatric Diseases: IHPS, Intussusception, Hirschsprung Disease, Foreign Body Obstruction, Croup, Pneumonia, Cystic Fibrosis, Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) (TOF is very important), Acute Rheumatic Fever, Hydrocephalus and Meningitis.

Other Important Topics (Across Disciplines)

These are additional crucial topics and skills.

• Image-Based Questions: Involving Devices (e.g., CPAP machine), Instruments (OBG, Surgical), ECG Interpretation, and X-rays (e.g., Pneumothorax, Hemothorax).

• ABG Analysis (Arterial Blood Gas): Expect one or two questions annually.

• Research: Sampling, Area Under the Curve, Normal Distribution Curve, P-value, Alpha and Beta Error, Parametric and Non-Parametric Tests, Confounding, Sensitivity and Specificity.

• Management: Inventory Control.

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