The INI CET July 2026 qualifying cutoff for ST category is the 45th percentile; based on July 2025 and January 2026 session data, the final round closing rank for ST students is expected between 28,000 and 33,000.
INI CET July 2026 results were declared on May 23, 2026, with 51,184 students qualifying across all categories. ST category students require a minimum 45th percentile to be eligible for seat allotment at AIIMS campuses, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, and SCTIMST. The final round of counselling for July 2026 is scheduled around June 27, 2026, after which official closing marks will be published on the AIIMS Exams portal.
- INI CET July 2026 total qualifying students: 51,184 across all categories
- ST category qualifying percentile: 45th percentile (45.29% in July 2026)
- INI CET July 2025 final round ST closing rank: 31,313
- INI CET January 2026 Round 1 ST closing rank: 27,569
- Expected July 2026 final round ST closing rank: 28,000–33,000 (based on 2025 trends)
- Total marks in INI CET: 200 marks (200 MCQs, +1/?0.33 marking)
| Direct Link to INI CET 2026 Official Website (ACTIVE) |
INI CET July 2026 ST Category Qualifying Cutoff
The minimum qualifying percentile for ST category students in INI CET is the 45th percentile. In the July 2026 session, the actual qualifying cutoff for ST was 45.29%. Students who scored below this threshold are not eligible for counselling or seat allotment regardless of their rank.
The qualifying percentile varies by category. Here is the comparison for INI CET July 2026:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile (INI CET July 2026) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th percentile |
| OBC | 45th percentile |
| SC | 45th percentile |
| ST | 45th percentile (45.29% in July 2026) |
| PwBD | 45th percentile |
Qualifying the percentile threshold only makes you eligible. The actual seat allotment cutoff is determined by the closing rank in each counselling round at every institute.
Previous Year ST Category Closing Ranks in INI CET
INI CET is held twice a year — the January session and the July session. The table below shows ST category closing ranks from recent sessions, which serve as the benchmark for estimating the July 2026 final round cutoff.
| Session | Round | ST Category Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| INI CET July 2025 | Final Round | 31,313 |
| INI CET January 2026 | Round 1 | 27,569 |
| INI CET July 2026 | Final Round (Expected) | 28,000–33,000 |
The final round typically records a higher (less competitive) closing rank than Round 1 because students surrender earlier-round seats to upgrade their allotment. ST students who did not secure a seat in the first round should participate actively in the final round to maximise their chances.
Expected Final Round Closing Marks for ST Category in INI CET July 2026
Based on July 2025 and January 2026 session trends, the expected INI CET July 2026 final round closing rank for ST category is 28,000–33,000. This is an estimate; official closing marks will be released on the AIIMS Exams portal after the final round concludes.
INI CET is scored out of 200 marks (200 MCQs, +1 for correct, ?1/3 for incorrect). The ST qualifying percentile of 45.29% in July 2026 corresponds to approximately 88–98 marks out of 200, though the exact equivalent varies each session based on paper difficulty and the performance distribution of test-takers.
| Cutoff Type | ST Category — INI CET July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Qualifying percentile | 45th percentile (45.29%) |
| Approximate qualifying marks (out of 200) | ~88–98 marks (varies with difficulty norms) |
| Expected final round closing rank | 28,000–33,000 (based on 2025 trends) |
| Expected final round closing percentile | ~45–50th percentile |
Expected Institute-wise ST Category Cutoff — INI CET July 2026 Final Round
ST category seats are available at all AIIMS campuses, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, and SCTIMST. Competition is highest at AIIMS New Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh even within the ST category. The table below shows expected final round closing ranks for ST students at key institutes, based on 2025 session trends.
| Institute | Expected ST Final Round Closing Rank (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 8,000–12,000 |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | 14,000–20,000 |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | 18,000–24,000 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 20,000–26,000 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 22,000–28,000 |
| SCTIMST Trivandrum | 22,000–28,000 |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 24,000–30,000 |
| Other AIIMS campuses | 26,000–33,000 |
These figures are estimates based on 2025 session trends. Actual cutoffs depend on the number of ST seats available at each institute, total ST participants in the final round, and individual choice preferences submitted during counselling.
Factors Affecting INI CET ST Category Cutoff
Several factors determine where the final round closing marks for ST category settle each session:
- Total ST seats across all INIs: A higher number of ST-reserved seats means more students can be accommodated, which pushes the closing rank higher and lowers the effective marks cutoff.
- Number of qualified ST students: A larger pool of eligible ST students increases competition and tightens the closing rank at every institute.
- Institute and specialty preference: ST students targeting premium institutes like AIIMS New Delhi or PGIMER face tighter closing ranks; less-preferred campuses tend to have more open seats in the final round.
- Seat surrenders between rounds: When students vacate Round 1 seats to upgrade in the final round, those seats re-enter the pool and benefit ST students with lower ranks.
- Paper difficulty in July 2026: A tougher paper reduces raw scores across all students, which can relax the effective marks cutoff even if the percentile threshold stays at 45.
INI CET July 2026 ST Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum qualifying percentile for ST category in INI CET July 2026?
Ans. The minimum qualifying percentile for ST category in INI CET July 2026 is the 45th percentile. The actual qualifying cutoff in the July 2026 session was 45.29%, which is the minimum an ST student must score to be eligible for counselling and seat allotment.
Ques. What is the expected final round closing rank for ST in INI CET July 2026?
Ans. Based on July 2025 and January 2026 session trends, the expected final round closing rank for ST category in INI CET July 2026 is approximately 28,000–33,000. This is an estimate; official data will be published on the AIIMS Exams portal after the final round concludes around June 27, 2026.
Ques. What was the ST category closing rank in INI CET July 2025?
Ans. The ST category final round closing rank in INI CET July 2025 was 31,313.
Ques. Is the INI CET final round cutoff lower than Round 1 for ST category?
Ans. Yes, the final round typically has a higher closing rank (meaning lower marks are needed) compared to Round 1. This happens because students who secured seats in earlier rounds may surrender them to upgrade, and those vacated seats re-enter the pool in the final round. ST students with ranks beyond the Round 1 cutoff should actively participate in the final round to improve their chances.
Ques. How many marks out of 200 are needed for ST category to qualify INI CET July 2026?
Ans. INI CET is scored out of 200 marks. The ST qualifying percentile of 45.29% in July 2026 corresponds to approximately 88–98 marks out of 200; however, the exact cut-off mark changes each session based on the difficulty level and overall performance of test-takers.
Ques. Which institutes have the lowest cutoff for ST category in INI CET?
Ans. Based on 2025 session trends, newer AIIMS campuses tend to have the lowest competition for ST students, with expected final round closing ranks around 26,000–33,000. AIIMS New Delhi remains the most competitive for ST students, with an expected closing rank of 8,000–12,000 even for ST category seats.
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