INI CET July 2026 expected cutoff is anticipated to range between 90 and 152 marks out of 200, varying by institute and specialty, based on closing score trends from the January 2025 and July 2024 sessions.
The Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) July 2026 determines admissions to MD, MS, MCh, DM, and MDS programmes at AIIMS campuses, JIPMER Puducherry, PGI Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bangalore, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram. Knowing the expected cutoff by institute and specialty helps you set a realistic score target and sharpen your preparation strategy before the result is declared.
- INI CET July 2026 is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for postgraduate medical admissions at all Institutes of National Importance.
- The exam carries 200 marks (200 MCQs, 1 mark each, with 1/3 negative marking).
- AIIMS New Delhi consistently records the highest closing scores among all participating institutes.
- General and EWS students must cross the 50th percentile to qualify; OBC/SC/ST/PwD students must cross the 40th percentile.
- Expected closing scores for top specialties at AIIMS New Delhi range between 135 and 152 marks for General category students.
- Newer AIIMS campuses typically show closing scores 30–50 marks lower than AIIMS New Delhi for the same specialty.
| Direct Link to INI CET Official Website (Official) |
| https://www.aiimsexams.ac.in/ |
INI CET July 2026 Cutoff Overview
INI CET cutoff refers to the minimum score a student must secure to appear on the merit list and participate in the seat allotment process. The cutoff operates at two levels: a minimum qualifying percentile fixed by AIIMS New Delhi and an institute- and specialty-specific closing score shaped by seat availability and the number of applicants competing for each seat.
All expected figures in this article are based on closing score trends from the INI CET January 2025 and July 2024 sessions. Official INI CET July 2026 cutoffs will be published by AIIMS New Delhi on the official portal after the result declaration.
INI CET July 2026 Minimum Qualifying Marks
AIIMS New Delhi enforces a minimum qualifying percentile for each category. Students who score below this threshold are not considered for any participating institute, regardless of seat availability in that session.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentile | Expected Qualifying Marks (out of 200) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th Percentile | 100–110 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 40th Percentile | 90–100 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 80–90 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 80–90 |
| PwD | 40th Percentile | 75–85 |
INI CET July 2026 Expected Cutoff – Institute-Wise
Closing scores differ sharply across institutes. AIIMS New Delhi remains the most competitive institute, while newer AIIMS campuses record lower closing scores because of higher seat availability and relatively lower demand for certain specialties. The figures below show expected closing scores for General category students, derived from INI CET July 2024 and January 2025 trends.
| Institute | Expected Closing Score – General (out of 200) | Trend vs Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 135–152 | Stable to slight increase |
| PGI Chandigarh | 125–142 | Stable |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 115–132 | Marginal increase |
| NIMHANS Bangalore | 112–126 | Stable |
| SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram | 108–122 | Stable |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 105–120 | Marginal increase |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 104–118 | Stable |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 103–117 | Stable |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 102–116 | Stable |
| AIIMS Patna | 100–115 | Stable |
| AIIMS Raipur | 100–114 | Stable |
| AIIMS Nagpur | 98–112 | Slight increase |
| AIIMS Mangalagiri | 96–110 | Stable |
| AIIMS Gorakhpur / Bathinda / Kalyani | 92–108 | Stable |
| AIIMS Bibinagar / Deoghar / Rajkot | 90–106 | Stable |
INI CET July 2026 Expected Cutoff – Specialty-Wise
Clinical specialties at AIIMS New Delhi attract the strongest competition and carry the highest closing scores. MD Internal Medicine, MS General Surgery, and MD Radiology are consistently among the most sought-after programmes each session. Basic science departments and lower-demand specialties typically close at markedly lower scores, even at premier institutes.
| Specialty | Competitiveness | Expected Closing Score – General, AIIMS New Delhi (out of 200) |
|---|---|---|
| MD Internal Medicine | Very High | 140–152 |
| MS General Surgery | Very High | 138–150 |
| MD Radiology | Very High | 136–148 |
| MD Dermatology and Venereology | Very High | 135–148 |
| MD Pediatrics | High | 132–145 |
| MS Orthopedics | High | 130–143 |
| MS Ophthalmology | High | 128–140 |
| MD Anesthesiology | Moderate-High | 120–135 |
| MD Psychiatry | Moderate | 115–128 |
| MS ENT (Otorhinolaryngology) | Moderate | 112–126 |
| MD Pathology | Low-Moderate | 105–118 |
| MD Microbiology | Low | 98–112 |
| MD Anatomy / Physiology / Biochemistry | Low | 92–108 |
For the same specialty, closing scores at PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER, and other institutes are typically 10–20 marks lower than at AIIMS New Delhi, based on previous year trends.
INI CET July 2026 Category-Wise Expected Cutoff
AIIMS New Delhi maintains separate merit lists for each reservation category. The table below presents expected closing scores for MD Internal Medicine at AIIMS New Delhi across categories, as this specialty reflects the widest competition and serves as a reliable benchmark for year-on-year comparison.
| Category | Expected Closing Score – MD Internal Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 140–152 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 125–138 |
| SC | 112–125 |
| ST | 105–118 |
| PwD (Any Category) | 98–112 |
For other institutes and specialties, OBC, SC, and ST closing scores are generally 15–30 marks lower than the corresponding General category closing score for the same seat, based on INI CET January 2025 and July 2024 data.
Factors Affecting INI CET July 2026 Cutoff
Several variables determine how much the final cutoff moves each year. Understanding these helps you read the expected figures correctly and plan your preparation in context.
- Exam difficulty level: A harder paper lowers the overall score distribution and can reduce closing scores across institutes compared to an easier session.
- Total applicant volume: A larger applicant pool raises competition for limited seats, pushing closing scores higher at premier institutes.
- Seat availability per institute: AIIMS New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh offer a limited number of PG seats, keeping their cutoffs consistently high. Newer AIIMS campuses with more seats show lower closing scores.
- Specialty preference trends: Growing interest in Radiology, Dermatology, and Surgery has steadily raised closing scores for these disciplines over recent sessions.
- Tie-breaking rules: AIIMS applies a defined tie-breaking formula when students score equally, which can shift the effective closing score at the margin.
- Subsequent allotment rounds: Seats vacated after the first round of allotment can reduce closing scores slightly in later rounds of the counselling process.
INI CET July 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected minimum qualifying score for General category students in INI CET July 2026?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, General and EWS category students are expected to need approximately 100–110 marks out of 200 (50th percentile) to clear the minimum qualifying threshold for INI CET July 2026.
Ques. Which institute records the highest cutoff in INI CET?
Ans. AIIMS New Delhi consistently records the highest closing scores in INI CET. For top clinical specialties under the General category, closing scores at AIIMS New Delhi are expected to range between 135 and 152 marks out of 200 for July 2026.
Ques. Which specialties have the highest expected cutoff in INI CET July 2026?
Ans. MD Internal Medicine, MS General Surgery, MD Radiology, and MD Dermatology and Venereology are expected to carry the highest closing scores at AIIMS New Delhi, ranging from approximately 135 to 152 marks for General category students.
Ques. How much lower is the OBC cutoff compared to the General category in INI CET?
Ans. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) closing scores in INI CET are typically 15–25 marks lower than the General category for the same institute and specialty, based on INI CET January 2025 and July 2024 closing score trends.
Ques. When will the official INI CET July 2026 cutoff be released?
Ans. The official INI CET July 2026 cutoff is published by AIIMS New Delhi on aiimsexams.ac.in after the result declaration. The exact release date depends on the INI CET July 2026 examination and result schedule.
Ques. Do closing scores at newer AIIMS campuses differ significantly from AIIMS New Delhi?
Ans. Yes. Newer AIIMS campuses such as AIIMS Nagpur, AIIMS Gorakhpur, AIIMS Bibinagar, AIIMS Deoghar, and AIIMS Rajkot typically show closing scores 30–50 marks lower than AIIMS New Delhi for the same specialty and category, owing to greater seat availability and comparatively lower demand.
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