Nurses Registration and Tracking System: INC-NIC Portal Explained
Why in the news
The Nurses Registration and Tracking System came into focus because its partial implementation is still leaving nurses facing long waits and parallel State-level procedures.
Key facts
- NRTS is an initiative of the Indian Nursing Council (INC), built together with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
- Goal: a real-time nationwide register of nurses.
- It offers one common online platform for several nursing registration services.
- Moving to a new employer means waiting months for a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
- Nurses seeking jobs abroad face slow credential verification.
| Service on NRTS | Availability |
|---|---|
| Primary registration | Online, common platform |
| Renewal | Online, common platform |
| Reciprocal (inter-State) registration | Online, common platform |
| Higher qualification registration | Online, common platform |
| Other related services | Online, common platform |
Concerns
The Indian Professional Nurses Association (IPNA) says many State Nursing Registration Councils still handle registration, renewal and reciprocal registration through their own systems. This duplication and delay undermines the idea of one central registry.
Exam angle
- Developed by: Indian Nursing Council with NIC.
- Key term: reciprocal (inter-State) registration.
- Association raising the issue: IPNA.
- Pain points: NOC waiting time and overseas credential checks.