The College of Nursing, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, founded in 1972, is the pioneer institute for nursing education in Kerala and one of the earliest in South East Asia. It comes under the Directorate of Medical Education, Government of Kerala and is affiliated to the University of Kerala and the Kerala University of Health Sciences. History It started as a school of nursing in the 1943,offering diploma courses to students. It was in the year 1963,that it was elevated into a college with bachelor programs, first of its kind in Kerala. Since its establishment, it remained as a department under the Government Medical College Trivandrum. It was only recently that it began to function as a separate autonomous entity under the DME. Courses offered The school has been offering post-graduate programmes in nursing since 1987. The college has four areas of PG specialty training: (medical-surgical nursing) 'paediatric nursing, obstetrical and gynaecological nursing and community health nursing. It is the only center in Kerala offering doctoral studies in nursing. Originally, the number of male students permitted to enroll in the school was restructured to 12.5% of applicants. Presently, the college admits male students with no restriction as to numbers. Previously, students were admitted based on the ranks secured in the All Kerala Medical Entrance Examination, but now the entries are based on marks of the Higher Secondary School Certificates. The capacity of the undergraduate program was increased from 60 to 75 in 2008. Timeline 1943- Govt. College of Nursing began functioning as school of nursing attached to General Hospital, Thiruvanthapuram. 1954-The School of Nursing was shifted to Medical College campus. 1960-Diploma programme in Teaching and Administration started with an annual intake of 10 students. 1963- School of Nursing was upgraded to College of Nursing with the starting of Post Basic B.Sc (N) for diploma Nurses which was the first of its kind in South East Asia. 1972- Four year degree programme in Nursing (B.Sc Nursing) was started with an annual intake of 25 students. The present college building was inaugurated on 12 April 1972 by Dr.K.Balaraman Nair, the then Director of Health Services. 1987-Started Post graduate course in nursing (M.Sc Nursing) in Medical and Surgical specialties with an annual intake of four students. 1992- BSc Nursing seats were increased from 25 to 50 with 6 seats reserved for boys. 1996- Three new M Sc Nursing Specialities (Child Health Nursing, Obstetrics & Gynecological