**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 2301 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 13, 2026, regarding issues of nurses and nursing faculties. The answer references proceedings in the High Court of Kerala and actions taken by the Indian Nursing Council (INC) regarding the payment of salaries to teachers in private nursing colleges. It also details the government's efforts to improve working conditions and pay for nurses in the private sector, including the forwarding of recommendations from a Committee of Experts to all States/Union Territories.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **High Court of Kerala & INC:**
* The issue of salaries to teachers in private nursing colleges in Kerala has arisen in the High Court of Kerala.
* The matter pertains to the implementation of Regulation 5D of the INC's B.Sc. Nursing Programme Regulations, 2020.
* The INC has made the relevant court order available on its website for necessary action by nursing institutions.
* **Role of State Governments:**
* State Governments are responsible for taking action against non-compliant private nursing colleges.
* They must forward findings and recommendations to the INC for further consideration.
* Show-cause notices issued by the Kerala government have been challenged in court.
* **Working Conditions & Pay of Nurses:**
* The working conditions of nurses are governed by various Acts and Government orders.
* A Committee of Experts was formed to examine the working conditions and pay of nurses in private hospitals and nursing homes.
* The Committee's recommendations have been forwarded to all States/Union Territories.
* **Committee of Experts Recommendations:**
* Salaries for nurses in private hospitals should be benchmarked against State Government nurse salaries based on hospital size:
* \>200 bedded hospitals: At par with State Government nurses.
* \>100 bedded hospitals: No more than 10% less than State Government nurses.
* 50-100 bedded hospitals: No more than 25% less than State Government nurses.
* <50 bedded hospitals: Not less than Rs. 20,000/- per month.
* Working conditions (leaves, working hours, medical facilities, transportation, accommodation) should be at par with State Government nurses.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Private Nursing Colleges in Kerala**
* **Impact:** They are subject to legal proceedings regarding the implementation of Regulation 5D of the INC's B.Sc. Nursing Programme Regulations, 2020, and potential actions by the State Government based on compliance.
* **Action Required:** Review and comply with the INC regulations and court orders, take necessary action to comply with State regulations, and consider legal challenges as necessary.
**Stakeholder: Nursing Teachers in Private Nursing Colleges in Kerala**
* **Impact:** Entitled to receive salaries in accordance with the UGC pay scale, as directed by the High Court of Kerala, impacting their compensation and financial stability.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the implementation of the court order and advocate for their rights regarding salary scales.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Expected to implement the recommendations regarding nurse salaries and working conditions in private hospitals, which affects healthcare regulations and labor standards.
* **Action Required:** Review the Committee of Experts' recommendations and take appropriate action to ensure compliance within their respective jurisdictions.
**Stakeholder: Nurses Working in Private Hospitals/Nursing Homes**
* **Impact:** Could see improvements in pay and working conditions based on the recommendations forwarded to States/Union Territories.
* **Action Required:** Monitor implementation of new regulations, and advocate for their rights to fair compensation and working conditions.
**Stakeholder: Indian Nursing Council (INC)**
* **Impact:** The INC is directed to ensure salary standards in nursing colleges, as per court judgments, and plays a crucial role in overseeing regulatory compliance.
* **Action Required:** Disseminate relevant court orders and regulations, review findings from State Governments, and take appropriate regulatory actions.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Nursing Council: Statutory body regulating nursing education and practice in India; plays a role in setting standards for nursing institutions and curriculum.
High Court of Kerala: The specific High Court case that prompted the issues regarding nurse's salaries in private nursing colleges in the state of Kerala.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The ministry responsible for addressing the issues raised in the Lok Sabha question regarding nurses' working conditions and pay.
Lok Sabha: The house of the Indian Parliament where the question regarding the issues of nurses and nursing faculties was raised.
Committee of Experts: Committee constituted to look into the working conditions and pay of nurses working in private hospitals and nursing homes in India.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2301
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13thFEBRUARY, 2026
ISSUESOFNURSES AND NURSING FACULTIES
2301:ADV.ADOORPRAKASH
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has noted the judgement of the High Court of Kerala which has
directed the State Government and the Indian Nursing Council to ensure the salary of
teachersinprivate nursing colleges asperthe University Grants Commission(UGC) payscale;
(b) whether the Government has examined the judgement and has given any direction to the
IndianNursing Council,if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that the nurses working in the private sector are
underpaidandoverworked despite many directivesof Courts andthe Government; and
(d) whether the Government is likely to take proactive measures for the betterment of
working conditions including regularisation of pay of nurses in private sector in the country
andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH
AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) & (b) The issue relating to the payment of salaries to teachers in private nursing colleges
inthe Stateof Kerala hasarisen inproceedingsbefore the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala.The
matter pertains to the implementation of Note (iv) of Regulation 5D of the Indian Nursing
Council (Revised Regulations and Curriculum for B.Sc. Nursing Programme) Regulations,
2020.
The relevant court order has been made available by the Indian Nursing Council (INC) on its
website for information and necessary actionby allnursing institutions. As perthe regulatory
framework, the role of the State Government includes taking action, as deemed appropriate,
against non-compliant private nursing colleges and forwarding its findings and
recommendationstothe INCfor further considerationunderthe extantregulations.
The show-cause notices issued by the State Government of Kerala to certain private nursing
colleges inthis regard have beenchallenged before the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala inWritPetition No. 33548 of 2025 (Private Nursing College Management Association of Kerala vs.
Union of India & Others) wherein interim ordershave beenpassed.
(c) & (d) The working conditions of nurses, including pay and service-related matters, are
governed by various Acts and Government orders which are framed to provide a conducive
working environment to health professionals in order to enhance patient care and contribute
substantially tothe overall healthcareoutcomes.
As per the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court, a Committee of Experts was constituted
under the Chairpersonship of Director General of Health Services to look into the working
conditionsandpayof nurses working inprivate hospitals andnursing homes. Based oninputs
received from States/Union Territories and other stakeholders, the Committee submitted its
recommendations (Annexure), which have been forwarded to all the States/Union Territories
bythe Central government.
****Annexure
Annexure referred to inreply to parts (c)& (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q.No. 2301 for
13.02.2026
Ministry has written to States/Union Territories forwarding the following
recommendations of theCommittee.
I. In case of >200 beddedhospitals, salary giventoprivate nurses should be at parwith
the salary of State Govt. nurses given in the concerned State/ UT for the similar
corresponding grade.
II. In case of >100 bedded hospitals, salary given to private nurses should not be more
than 10% less in comparison of the salary of State Govt. nurses given in the
concernedState/ UTsfor the similar corresponding grade.
III. Incaseof50-100beddedhospitals,salarygiventoprivatenursesshouldnotbemore
than 25% less in comparison of the salary of State Govt. nurses given in the
concernedState/UTs for the similar corresponding grade.
IV. SalarygiventoprivatenursesshouldnotbelessthanRs.20000/-pminanycaseeven
for <50beddedhospitals.
V. Working conditions viz. leaves, working hours, medical facilities, transportation,
accommodation etc.given to nurses should be at par with the benefits grantedto State
Govt. nurses working inthe concernedState/UTs.
****