INI CET July 2026 Examination — Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test

The Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) is a prestigious national-level medical entrance examination conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Held twice a year (January and July sessions), INI-CET is the sole gateway for postgraduate medical admission (MD, MS, M.Ch (6 years), DM (6 years), and MDS) into India's premier "Institutes of National Importance", officially replacing the individual AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG, PGIMER, and NIMHANS exams.

This guide outlines essential details for the INI-CET July 2026 Session, including tentative exam dates, registration steps, the exam pattern, and detailed eligibility criteria.

1. INI CET 2026 Overview

Parameter	Details
Exam Name	INI CET (July Session) 2026
Conducting Authority	AIIMS, New Delhi
Level	National Level Medical PG Entrance
Courses Offered	MD, MS, M.Ch (6 years), DM (6 years), MDS
Participating Institutes	All AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, SCTIMST
Official Portal	inicet.aiimsexams.ac.in

2. Important Dates (July 2026 Session)

Based on standard AIIMS examination cycles, the tentative schedule for the July 2026 session is as follows:

Event	Expected Date
Official Notification Release	1st Week of March 2026
Start of Basic Registration (OTR)	1st Week of March 2026
Generation of Exam Unique Code (EUC)	April 2026
Final Registration & Fee Payment	April 2026
Admit Card Release	May 10, 2026
INI CET July 2026 Exam Date	May 16, 2026
Declaration of Result	May 21 – May 25, 2026
Seat Allocation / Counselling	June 2026 onwards

(Note: The INI CET January 2026 session was typically conducted in early November 2025).

3. Eligibility Criteria

Aspirants must strictly meet the following pre-requisites:

Medical / Educational Qualification

• Candidates must hold an MBBS degree (for MD/MS/M.Ch/DM) or a BDS degree (for MDS) awarded by a University recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC/MCI) or Dental Council of India (DCI).
• Minimum Marks:
  • 55% aggregate marks in MBBS/BDS for General, OBC, and EWS categories.
  • 50% aggregate marks for SC, ST, and PwBD categories.

Internship Requirement

• Mandatory completion of the 12-month compulsory rotating internship/practical training on or before July 31, 2026 (or the exact cut-off date specified in the official prospectus).

Registration

• Must possess permanent/provisional registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC), Dental Council of India (DCI), or any State Medical/Dental Council.

4. INI CET Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

INI-CET is notorious for its tricky question formats, including extended matching items and multiple true-false questions, which test clinical application rather than just rote learning.

Feature	Description
Mode of Examination	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration of Exam	3 Hours (180 Minutes)
Total Questions	200 Questions
Type of Questions	Objective Type: Single Best Answer, Multiple True-False, Match the Following, Assertion-Reason, Sequential Arrangement
Total Marks	200 Marks
Language	English Only

Marking Scheme:

• Correct Answer: +1 Mark
• Incorrect Answer: -1/3 Mark (Negative marking applies across all question types)
• Unanswered: 0 Marks

5. Syllabus Distribution

The syllabus strictly follows the undergraduate curriculum prescribed by the NMC/DCI. It covers the following three main pillars of medical education:

Pre-Clinical Phase (20-25% Weightage)

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Biochemistry

Para-Clinical Phase (25-30% Weightage)

• Pathology (Heavy weightage, including systemic pathology)
• Pharmacology (Clinical pharmacology and drug interactions)
• Microbiology
• Forensic Medicine
• Community Medicine / PSM

Clinical Phase (45-50% Weightage)

• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG)
• Paediatrics
• Ophthalmology, ENT, Orthopaedics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Radiology, Anaesthesia.

Clinical subjects often feature image-based questions and integrated clinical scenarios.

6. How to Apply Online (PAAR Process)

AIIMS uses the Prospective Applicants Advanced Registration (PAAR) system, executing the application in three mandatory stages:

1. Stage 1: Basic Registration
   • Visit aiimsexams.ac.in.
   • Fill in basic personal details.
   • Upload Photograph, Signature, and Left Thumb Impression strictly per AIIMS guidelines. (Basic Registration is free and valid for future sessions).
2. Stage 2: Generation of Exam Unique Code (EUC)
   • Only candidates whose Basic Registration is accepted can generate an EUC for the specific July 2026 session.
3. Stage 3: Final Registration
   • Log in using the Registration ID and newly generated EUC.
   • Select the qualifying exam details.
   • Choose preferred Exam City Centers.
   • Pay the application fee (₹4000 for Gen/OBC; ₹3200 for SC/ST/EWS).

7. Participating Institutes (Institutes of National Importance)

Your INI-CET score makes you eligible for counselling at:

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) - New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bibinagar, Bathinda, Deoghar, Mangalagiri, Nagpur.
2. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry.
3. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
4. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
5. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum.