indian nursing council

What indian nursing council does

The Indian Nursing Council (INC) is a statutory autonomous body under the Government of India's Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, constituted under section 3(1) of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947. Its mandate is to establish uniform standards of training for nurses, midwives, and health visitors across India, recognize nursing qualifications, and approve and monitor nursing educational institutions. INC operates through an 85-member general body, an Executive Committee, and a network of 28 State Nursing Councils that act as intermediaries for state-level registration and coordination.

INC's core digital product is the Nurses Registration & Tracking System (NRTS), launched in 2019 as a live national registry that has enrolled 31.78 lakh of India's 46.02 lakh registered nursing personnel as of August 2026 and is recognized in the WHO State of World Nursing 2025 Report. The platform is complemented by an Online Application System for institutions seeking recognition or renewal under INC Act sections 13 and 14, an E-Learning portal integrated with the Sphere/Aastrika learning platforms, and the National Consortium Ph.D Program Portal operated with RGUHS and WHO. INC also runs continuing nursing education (CNE), simulation training, and a growing portfolio of Nurse Practitioner specialty residency programs plus a pilot Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) introduced in 2025.

INC's funding is primarily a Government of India budget allocation — Rs. 24.6 crores Budget Estimate for FY 2025-26 (Rs. 1.30 crores of which is earmarked for NRTS) — supplemented by small regulatory fees such as a Rs. 5,000 foreign-qualification equivalency fee and institutional recognition fees. The Council is governed by President Dr. T. Dileep Kumar, Vice President Dr. Jogendra Sharma, and Secretary Col (Dr) Sarvjeet Kaur, and maintains strategic relationships with the International Council of Nurses (ICN), WHO, the Singapore Nursing Board (Mutual Recognition Agreement under CECA), University of Houston College of Nursing, NSDC International, and UNFPA.

Name

indian nursing council

Legal name

Indian Nursing Council

Website

https://indiannursingcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Indian Nursing Council is a statutory autonomous body under India's Ministry of Health & Family Welfare that sets uniform standards for nursing education, recognizes qualifications, approves institutions, and maintains the national NRTS digital registry of India's ~46 lakh registered nurses across 28 State Nursing Councils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Core funding from Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Budget allocation for 2025-26 is Rs. 24.6 crores with Rs. 1.30 crores designated for NRTS project implementation.
2. Equivalency Evaluation Fees: Fee of Rs. 5000 for Indian citizens with foreign nursing qualifications seeking equivalency assessment for registration in India.
3. Institutional Recognition and Renewal Fees: Fees collected from nursing institutions for recognition, renewal of suitability, enhancement applications, and inspection processes under INC Act.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Indian Nursing Council regulates nursing education and the nursing workforce in India by establishing uniform training standards, recognizing nursing qualifications, accrediting nursing institutions (ANM, GNM, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D and specialty programs), and maintaining the Nurses Registration & Tracking System (NRTS) as the national digital registry. It operates digital portals for institutional recognition and renewal, an e-learning platform for continuing nursing education, and administers the National Florence Nightingale Awards and Ph.D National Consortium program.

Product overview

Indian Nursing Council operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem for nursing education governance and professional development in India. The core platform comprises the Nurses Registration & Tracking System (NRTS) for national nurse registry and credentialing, supported by an E-Learning Portal integrated with Sphere Learning Platform for continuing education. Institutions interact with INC through an Online Application System for renewals, inspections, and verifications. The portfolio includes academic programs spanning ANM, GNM, B.Sc Nursing, M.Sc Nursing through doctoral level (Ph.D and new DNP program), plus specialty Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs in Critical Care, Midwifery, and multiple clinical specialties. Recognition and development programs include National Florence Nightingale Awards and Simulation Training initiatives. The Council regulates nursing education standards across thousands of institutions nationwide through its regulatory framework and gazette notifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS): Digital platform functioning as a live national registry of nurses in India
• National Florence Nightingale Awards
• National Consortium for Ph.D. in Nursing

Products and services

• Nurses Registration & Tracking System (NRTS) A digital platform serving as a live national registry for nurses, enabling enrollment, registration tracking, credential verification, and service detail updates for India's nursing workforce. Referenced in WHO's State of World Nursing 2025 Report.
• Online Application System for Institutions Digital platform for nursing institutions to submit online applications for renewal of suitability, re-inspection, seat enhancement, new proposals, and institutional verification under INC Act sections 13 and 14.
• E-Learning Portal Online learning management system providing continuing nursing education (CNE) courses for faculty, clinical nurses, midwives, and students, integrated with external platforms including Sphere Learning Platform and Aastrika.
• Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Advanced clinical doctoral program launched on pilot basis, designed to prepare nurses for high-level practice roles in healthcare settings, representing a new tier in nursing education in India.
• Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs Advanced specialty post-graduate residency programs including Critical Care, Midwifery, Emergency and Trauma Care, Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing, and various Post Basic Diplomas in specialties such as Oncology, Neonatal, Orthopaedic, Cardiothoracic, Palliative Care, and Transplant Nursing.
• Nurse Practitioner in Family Health (NPFH) Post Graduate Residency Program Post Graduate Residency Program for advanced family health nursing practice under the 2024 INC regulations.
• Post Basic Diploma in Geriatric Specialty Nursing Residency Program Standards-based residency program for geriatric specialty nursing training under the 2026 INC regulations.
• ANM to GNM Two-Year Bridge Program Bridge program enabling ANM certificate holders to upgrade to GNM qualification under the 2024 INC regulations.
• National Consortium for Ph.D in Nursing Doctoral education program in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and WHO, operating through six study centres with video conferencing facilities for part-time Ph.D research in nursing.
• Simulation Training Program Hands-on simulation training for Master Trainers and midwifery faculty conducted at National Skills and Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant centers including NRSC Bagalkote and Gurugram, with CNE hours awarded.
• Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Ongoing professional development through INC-accredited courses, workshops, webinars, and online modules with CNE hours for nurses, including specialized courses on Care for the Elderly and INC-UNFPA Virtual Training programs.
• Recognized Nursing Programs Portfolio Comprehensive portfolio of recognized nursing education programs including ANM, GNM, B.Sc Nursing, Post Basic B.Sc Nursing, M.Sc Nursing, and various diploma and certificate programs, with standards for admission, curriculum, and examination regulated by INC.
• National Florence Nightingale Awards Annual recognition ceremony honoring exceptional nurses, held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Awards conferred by the President of India to nursing personnel for distinguished service.
• Foreign Qualification Equivalency Assessment Assessment service for Indian citizens with foreign nursing qualifications seeking equivalency for registration in India, with a fee of Rs. 5,000 in favour of Secretary, INC, New Delhi.

Quantifiable outcome

• NRTS enrolled 31.78 lakh (69%) of India's 46.02 lakh registered nursing personnel as of August 2026

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• NSDC International LimitedstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Memorandum of understanding for skill development and international placement of Indian nurses, supporting global mobility of nursing professionals.
• International Council of Nurses (ICN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2023INC is a member of ICN, the global body representing nursing profession. Dr. T. Dileep Kumar, President INC was elected as Board Member of ICN for South East Asian Region (SEARO). INC participates in ICN Congress and follows ICN guidelines and resolutions.
• Singapore Nursing BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Mutual Recognition Agreement on Nursing Services between India and Singapore under Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), enabling mobility of nurses between the two countries.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO and INC collaborate on nursing workforce data through State of World Nursing Reports. MOU signed for National Consortium Ph.D program. INC follows WHO guidelines on nursing education and midwifery services.
• University of Houston College of Nursing (UHCON)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for Graduate Nursing program enabling academic collaboration, faculty exchange, and research cooperation between INC and University of Houston College of Nursing.
• Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINC collaborates with RGUHS for Ph.D Nursing National Consortium program, with study centers at INE Mumbai, R.A.K. College of Nursing New Delhi, CMC Vellore, CMC Ludhiana, Govt. College of Nursing Thiruvananthapuram, and Govt. College of Nursing Hyderabad.
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Virtual Training programs (INC-UNFPA VT Certificates) on midwifery and nursing education. Multiple batches of virtual training conducted for nursing faculty.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• National Board of Accreditation: Indian autonomous body for accreditation of technical and professional education programs. Comparable as a domestic accreditation authority for higher education, partially overlapping with INC's institutional recognition scope in nursing.
• National Assessment and Accreditation Council: Indian body assessing and accrediting higher education institutions, including nursing colleges. Comparable as a parallel accreditation authority whose institutional quality frameworks intersect with INC's nursing-specific standards.

Regional players

• Maharashtra Nursing Council: State-level nursing council for Maharashtra, one of the largest state nursing councils in India. Comparable to INC at state level for nurse registration and institution monitoring within Maharashtra jurisdiction.
• Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council: State-level nursing council for Tamil Nadu, India, coordinating with INC for state registration. Comparable as a sub-national peer of INC operating under its accreditation framework within a specific Indian state.
• Karnataka State Nursing Council: State-level nursing council for Karnataka, India, recognized by INC for state registration and compliance monitoring. Comparable as a sub-national peer operating under INC's accreditation and regulatory framework.

Direct peers

• Singapore Nursing Board: Statutory board regulating nursing practice and education in Singapore. Directly comparable to INC as a national nursing regulator with mutual recognition agreements and similar scope of authority.
• UK Nursing and Midwifery Council: UK's statutory regulator for nursing and midwifery professions, maintaining a national register and setting education standards. Closely mirrors INC's mandate of accreditation, registration, and fitness to practice oversight.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing: US organization representing state nursing regulatory bodies, administering the NCLEX licensure exam and Nursys national database. Comparable as the federal-level coordinator of state nursing councils, similar to INC's relationship with 28 State Nursing Councils.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency: National agency regulating 16 health professions in Australia including nursing and midwifery. Comparable as a multi-profession health regulator with similar scope of accreditation and registration authority, though broader than INC's nursing-only mandate.
• International Council of Nurses: Federation of 130+ national nursing associations globally, of which INC is a member. Comparable as the global counterpart setting nursing policy, with INC's president elected to ICN's SEARO board reflecting their alignment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1Wlg3eN0pyyHCR0UNoH05A/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indian-nursing-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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