For medical and dental graduates in India, cracking the INI CET is the pathway to India's most prestigious postgraduate medical education — the AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum. Conducted by AIIMS New Delhi, the INI CET is the single common entrance test for all 23 Institutes of National Importance in India.
This guide covers both 2026 INI CET sessions — the July 2026 session (exam: May 16, 2026) and the January 2027 session (exam: November 1, 2026 expected) — with all details drawn from official AIIMS documents and the aiimsexams.ac.in portal.
AIIMS New Delhi — Examination Section · 1st Floor, Convergence Block, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi – 110029 · Official website: aiimsexams.ac.in · OTR Portal: aiimsexams.ac.in/otr · All queries via “Raise a query” on MyPage after login. Correspondence only through official online portal.
What Is INI CET?
INI CET stands for Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test. It is the single national-level entrance test for admission to postgraduate medical and dental courses at all Institutes of National Importance (INIs) in India. Prior to 2021, each INI held separate entrance tests (AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG, PGIMER PG, NIMHANS PG) — all of these were merged into a single exam from 2021 onwards.
- ✓Courses offered: MD, MS, DM (6 years), MCh (6 years), MDS, MD (Hospital Administration)
- ✓Conducted by: AIIMS New Delhi — on behalf of all participating INIs
- ✓Twice a year: January session (exam in November of previous year) and July session (exam in May)
- ✓23 INIs participate including all 19 AIIMS campuses + JIPMER + NIMHANS + PGIMER + SCTIMST
- ✓~1,300–1,400 PG seats across participating institutes
- ✓No age limit, no attempt limit — as long as eligibility criteria are met each year
“The Combined Entrance Test (CET) for admission into postgraduate courses [MD, MS, DM (6 yrs), MCh (6 yrs) and MDS & MD (Hospital Administration)] at Institutes of National Importance will be held in the month of May/November. INI-CET is administered by the Examination Section, AIIMS New Delhi in consultation with nodal officers from all INIs.”
— AIIMS Official INI-CET Prospectus Part-A · aiimsexams.ac.inINI CET 2026 — Exam Dates (Both Sessions)
| Session | Admission Year | Exam Date | Registration | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | January 2026 | November 9, 2025 ✅ | Sept–Oct 2025 | ₹4,000 / ₹3,200 |
| July 2026 | July 2026 | May 16, 2026 📍 | March 28 – April 25, 2026 | ₹4,000 / ₹3,200 |
| January 2027 (Expected) | January 2027 | November 1, 2026 🔴 Expected | September 2026 (Expected) | TBC by AIIMS |
INI CET dates are announced by AIIMS officially on aiimsexams.ac.in. The November 2026 exam date (for January 2027 session) is tentative based on historical patterns. Official dates are published in the AIIMS academic calendar. Subscribe to official updates on MyPage and aiimsexams.ac.in.
23 Participating Institutes
As of the INI CET July 2026 session, 23 Institutes of National Importance participate in the INI CET. These are the most prestigious medical institutions in India.
INI CET Exam Pattern — Official Format
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) — online at designated exam centres |
| Total Questions | 200 MCQs — divided into 4 sections of 50 questions each |
| Question Types | Single Correct Choice AND Multiple Correct Choice questions |
| Total Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) — 45 minutes per section |
| Correct Answer | +1 mark |
| Wrong Answer | −⅓ mark (negative marking) |
| Unattempted | 0 marks |
| Language | English only |
| Section Navigation | 4 sequential non-returnable sections — cannot go back to previous section |
| Total Marks | 200 marks (200 × 1) |
| Result Format | Percentile score — not raw marks; published as PDF on aiimsexams.ac.in |
The 4 sections in INI CET are sequential and non-returnable. Once you move to the next section (or the 45-minute timer ends), you cannot return to the previous section. This is unique to INI CET compared to NEET PG. Practise completing 50 questions in exactly 45 minutes consistently. Do not spend more than 50–55 seconds per question in any section.
Unlike NEET PG (which has only Single Correct Answer MCQs), the INI CET includes Multiple Correct Choice questions where more than one answer option may be correct. These require a higher level of conceptual understanding and are harder to guess. For Multiple Correct Choice questions, all correct options must be selected for full marks. Familiarise yourself with this format during mock test practice.
INI CET Eligibility Criteria — Official (From Prospectus Part-A)
For Indian Nationals — MD/MS/DM/MCh Courses
- ✓Must hold an MBBS degree from a university recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC) / MCI as notified by Government of India
- ✓Minimum aggregate marks in all MBBS professional examinations: 55% for General/OBC/EWS; 50% for SC/ST (PwBD: as per the category they belong to)
- ✓Completed 12 months compulsory rotating internship on or before July 31 of the admission year — officially confirmed in the Prospectus
For Indian Nationals — MDS Courses
- ✓Must hold a BDS degree from a university recognised by the Dental Council of India (DCI)
- ✓Same minimum marks criteria: 55% General/OBC/EWS; 50% SC/ST
- ✓12-month compulsory internship completed by July 31 (as per DCI Revised BDS Course Regulations)
Foreign Nationals & OCIs/PIOs
- ✓Foreign Nationals: Must obtain NOC from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; qualifying percentile = 50th
- ✓OCI/PIO: Apply as per Government of India rules
- ✓Note: No candidate can be eligible for seats under both Indian National and Foreign National categories
Age & Attempt Policy
- ✓No upper age limit for INI CET
- ✓No limit on number of attempts — candidates can appear as many times as they meet eligibility each session
AIIMS is very specific: minimum marks must be calculated as the aggregate of ALL professional MBBS/BDS examinations — not just the final year or a single professional exam. Incorrectly entering the marks of only one professional examination instead of the aggregate is one of the most common errors candidates make in the application form. Double-check your aggregate calculation before submitting.
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / Sponsored / Foreign National / OCI | ₹4,000 |
| SC / ST / EWS | ₹3,200 |
| PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) | Exempt (₹0) |
How to Apply — INI CET 3-Stage Application Process
Sponsored and Foreign National candidates have specific quotas within each INI and must submit relevant sponsorship certificates or NOCs within specified deadlines. Sponsored/Foreign National candidates are not eligible for General category seats (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) and vice versa. Check institution-specific details in Prospectus Part-B of each participating INI.
INI CET Syllabus — Complete Subject-Wise Guide
AIIMS does NOT release an independent official INI CET syllabus PDF. The syllabus is the complete MBBS/BDS curriculum as per NMC/DCI regulations. The exam tests Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, and Clinical subjects with a strong emphasis on clinical application and conceptual reasoning — not just factual recall.
- ▶ Anatomy (Neuroanatomy, Embryology, Histology, Gross Anatomy, Surface Anatomy, Imaging Anatomy)
- ▶ Physiology (Cardiovascular, Renal, Neurophysiology, Endocrinology, Respiratory, Reproductive)
- ▶ Biochemistry (Molecular Biology, Enzymes, Metabolism, Vitamins, Immunology, Cancer Biology)
- ▶ Pathology (General + Systemic)
- ▶ Microbiology (Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Mycology)
- ▶ Pharmacology (Clinical, Toxicology, Drug Interactions)
- ▶ Forensic Medicine (Thanatology, Toxicology, Legal aspects)
- ▶ Community Medicine (Epidemiology, Biostatistics, National Health Programmes)
- ▶ Medicine & Allied (Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Dermatology)
- ▶ Surgery & Allied (General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology)
- ▶ Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- ▶ Paediatrics
- ▶ Ophthalmology
- ▶ ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)
- ▶ Radiology / Imaging
- ▶ Dental subjects (for MDS — Dental Anatomy, Dental Materials, Oral Pathology, Orthodontics, Conservative, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Pedodontics, Oral Surgery)
Based on past exam analysis: Medicine (Internal Medicine) ʷ Surgery ʷ Pathology ʷ Pharmacology ʷ Obstetrics & Gynaecology are the highest-yield subjects accounting for the majority of questions. Clinical subjects dominate (65–70% of questions) — focus on clinical scenario-based MCQs. INI CET questions are notably more application-based and conceptual than NEET PG, with less emphasis on pure factual recall.
Qualifying Percentile & Tie-Breaking
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OCI / Foreign Nationals | 50th percentile |
| OBC / SC / ST / PwBD | 45th percentile |
| Bhutanese Nationals (PGIMER Chandigarh only) | 45th percentile |
Meeting the qualifying percentile makes you eligible for counselling — it does not guarantee a seat. Actual seat allocation depends on your percentile rank, category, speciality, college preferences, and seat availability. Highly competitive specialities (Radiodiagnosis, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, General Medicine, Surgery) at AIIMS New Delhi require very high percentile ranks.
Tie-Breaking Rule (Official)
- ✓In tie cases: candidate with fewer wrong answers (lower incorrect answer ratio) gets higher rank
- ✓If tie still exists: candidate older by age is awarded higher rank
INI CET Seat Allocation & Counselling
Seat allocation is administered by AIIMS New Delhi. The process has 4 phases after result declaration:
- ✓Mock Round: Candidates fill and lock institute/speciality choices; provisional allotment shown; no actual joining. Helps candidates understand likely allotment based on rank
- ✓Round 1 (1st Round): Actual seat allotment — candidates must accept/reject and join
- ✓Round 2 (2nd Round): For unfilled seats and candidates who did not join in Round 1
- ✓Open Round: Final round for remaining vacant seats — choice filling based on available seats
Each participating INI has its own additional eligibility criteria for individual specialities (details in Prospectus Part-B of each institute). A candidate may be eligible for all INIs or only some specific INIs depending on their qualification and the institute-specific rules. Seat choices and preference order will be allowed provisionally based on applicable eligibility. Always read Part B of the Prospectus of each INI you plan to choose before filling choices.
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Frequently Asked Questions — INI CET 2026
Key Takeaways — INI CET 2026
- ✓Conducted by AIIMS New Delhi — aiimsexams.ac.in; twice yearly (January and July sessions)
- ✓July 2026 session exam: May 16, 2026 — registration March 28 – April 25, 2026
- ✓November 2026 exam (for Jan 2027 session): Expected November 1, 2026
- ✓200 MCQs, 3 hours, 4 sections (50 Qs × 45 min each) — non-returnable sections
- ✓Marking: +1/-⅓ — includes Multiple Correct Choice questions
- ✓23 INIs including 19 AIIMS + JIPMER + NIMHANS + PGIMER + SCTIMST
- ✓Eligibility: MBBS/BDS + 55%/50% aggregate + 12-month internship by July 31
- ✓No age limit, no attempt limit
- ✓Application fee: ₹4,000 (General/OBC) · ₹3,200 (SC/ST/EWS) · Free (PwBD)
- ✓Qualifying percentile: 50th (General/EWS) · 45th (OBC/SC/ST/PwBD)
- ✓Syllabus: Complete MBBS/BDS curriculum; clinical subjects dominate (65–70%)
Sources: AIIMS New Delhi — aiimsexams.ac.in · INI-CET Official Prospectus Part-A (July 2025 Session, updated April 2, 2025) — docs.aiimsexams.ac.in · INI-CET July 2026 session official notification · INI-CET January 2026 admit card notice (November 2025). Content is for informational purposes only — always verify current dates, eligibility, and application details from aiimsexams.ac.in once the official notification is released for each session.
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