INI CET July 2026 final round (open round) cutoff is expected to reflect tighter closing ranks at AIIMS New Delhi — with General category seats in top specialties projected to close between rank 10 and 50 — based on Round 1 trends and a comparison with INI CET July 2025 final round closing ranks.
With INI CET July 2026 Round 1 seat allotment declared and students required to confirm their seat choice by June 30, 2026, the stage is set for Round 2 in July and the final open round in August 2026. Comparing previous year’s final round closing ranks with the current cycle’s Round 1 data reveals a consistent pattern: competition has intensified slightly at AIIMS New Delhi and JIPMER Puducherry while remaining stable at other participating institutes. This analysis helps you gauge where closing ranks are likely to land when the open round concludes.
- INI CET July 2026 Round 1 seat allotment is declared; students must confirm their seat option by June 30, 2026 at aiimsexams.ac.in.
- The final (open) round for INI CET July 2026 is expected in August 2026, after Round 2 concludes in July 2026.
- AIIMS New Delhi General category closing ranks in top MD and MS specialties fell within rank 10 to 50 in the INI CET July 2025 final round.
- The INI CET July 2024 final round saw General category closing ranks spread from rank 17 to 7,880 across all institutes and specialties.
- JIPMER Puducherry and PGIMER Chandigarh remain the second-most competitive institutes after AIIMS Delhi, with final round closing ranks in the 150 to 250 range for popular MD programs.
- SC and ST category closing ranks at non-Delhi AIIMS show a 5 to 8% variation cycle to cycle, with no sharp shifts expected in July 2026.
| Direct Link — INI CET July 2026 Round 1 Seat Allotment (OUT) | aiimsexams.ac.in |
INI CET July 2026 Final Round: What to Expect
INI CET counselling for the July 2026 session follows a three-round structure: Round 1, Round 2, and the Open Round (also called the final round or mop-up round). Round 1 results for the July 2026 session are already declared, and the open round is expected in August 2026 after Round 2 concludes in July 2026.
The final round fills seats that became available because students upgraded to better options, withdrew from counselling, or did not report after earlier rounds. Historically, the open round at AIIMS New Delhi sees limited seat availability in top specialties — most MD Internal Medicine and MS General Surgery seats close in Rounds 1 or 2. The open round brings in seats in less-competed specialties and at newer AIIMS campuses.
For INI CET July 2025, the open round was conducted in late July 2025. Closing ranks across that final round ranged from rank 12 to over 7,000 in the General category across all participating institutes and specialties — a range the July 2026 cycle is expected to mirror, with a slight upward pull in competition at the top end.
Final Round Closing Ranks: 2026 Expected vs 2025 Actual
The table below presents INI CET July 2025 final round closing ranks alongside expected closing ranks for the INI CET July 2026 final round. The 2026 projections are based on Round 1 trends from the current cycle and year-on-year patterns from 2024 to 2025. All 2026 figures are expected and subject to change once the official open round seat allotment is released.
| Institute | Specialty | July 2025 Final Round Closing Rank (General) | Expected July 2026 Final Round Closing Rank (General) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Radiodiagnosis | 12 | 9–14 | Tightening |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Internal Medicine | 19 | 15–21 | Tightening |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MS General Surgery | 28 | 24–30 | Slightly tighter |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Paediatrics | 46 | 41–49 | Slightly tighter |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Anaesthesiology | 94 | 88–98 | Stable |
| JIPMER Puducherry | MD Internal Medicine | 160 | 148–165 | Stable |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | MD Internal Medicine | 198 | 185–205 | Stable |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | MD Psychiatry | 270 | 258–278 | Stable |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | MD Internal Medicine | 828 | 790–845 | Slightly tighter |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | MD Internal Medicine | 1,058 | 1,012–1,075 | Stable |
| AIIMS Bhopal | MD Paediatrics | 1,645 | 1,580–1,660 | Stable |
| SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram | MCh Cardiovascular Surgery | 342 | 318–352 | Stable |
Category-Wise Closing Rank Comparison
Closing ranks vary significantly across reservation categories. The table below compares INI CET July 2025 final round category-wise closing ranks for AIIMS New Delhi (MD Internal Medicine) with expected figures for the July 2026 final round. All 2026 data is projected based on current cycle trends and is subject to revision once official results are declared.
| Category | July 2025 Final Round Closing Rank (AIIMS Delhi, MD Internal Medicine) | Expected July 2026 Final Round Closing Rank | Year-on-Year Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 19 | 15–21 | Tighter by 3–5 ranks |
| EWS | 48 | 43–50 | Marginally tighter |
| OBC-NCL | 85 | 78–88 | Stable |
| SC | 198 | 188–205 | Stable |
| ST | 452 | 422–460 | Stable to marginal relaxation |
At non-Delhi AIIMS campuses, OBC-NCL final round closing ranks for MD Internal Medicine ranged from 1,900 to 3,600 in July 2025. SC category closing ranks at these campuses extended to 5,800, while ST closing ranks went as high as 9,200 in some specialty-institute combinations.
Institute-Wise Rank Shift Analysis
The direction and magnitude of rank shifts differ across participating institutes. The table below summarises trends observed from INI CET July 2024 to July 2025 and what those movements imply for the July 2026 final round.
| Institute | Multi-Year Trend | Key Observation for 2026 (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | Consistently tightening (General category) | Top clinical specialties expected to close within rank 50; surgical branches within rank 30 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | Stable (plus or minus 15 to 20 ranks per cycle) | MD Medicine and MS Surgery expected to close in the 145 to 180 range |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | Stable with marginal tightening | Final round expected around ranks 185 to 215 for General in MD programs |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | Stable | MD Psychiatry closing ranks likely to stay near rank 260 to 278 for General |
| AIIMS Rishikesh and Jodhpur | Slight tightening from 2024 to 2025 | Improved infrastructure drives demand; expected final round ranks around 790 to 1,075 for General |
| AIIMS Bhopal, Patna and Raipur | Stable | Final round closing ranks expected between 1,500 and 2,200 for General MD programs |
| AIIMS Nagpur and Mangalagiri | Slightly relaxed (newer campuses) | Higher closing ranks expected as seat capacity grows; General final round likely above 2,500 |
| SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram | Stable | Super-specialty programs attract a niche applicant pool; ranks stable at 300 to 400 for General |
Factors Driving the Closing Rank Shift
Several structural and cycle-specific factors explain why INI CET final round closing ranks shift from year to year:
- Total students appearing: A larger pool of students appearing for INI CET July 2026 compresses the merit list, pushing closing ranks lower at high-demand institutes. More competition means even high-ranked students contend for the same limited AIIMS Delhi seats.
- Seat matrix changes: AIIMS Nagpur and AIIMS Mangalagiri have added seats in recent cycles. New seats at newer campuses absorb demand that previously concentrated at mid-tier AIIMS, easing pressure there while leaving top-institute ranks unaffected.
- Withdrawal pattern after Round 1: Students who secured seats in other PG medical entrance exams may withdraw from INI CET counselling between rounds. Higher withdrawals release more seats into Round 2 and the final round, potentially relaxing ranks in some specialties.
- Specialty preference concentration: MD Radiodiagnosis, MD Internal Medicine, MD Dermatology, and MS General Surgery consistently attract the highest-ranked students. These programs close early and remain tight across all rounds. Programs like MD Physical Medicine, MD Nuclear Medicine, and MCh programs at newer AIIMS see final round ranks pushed significantly higher.
- Freeze choice in Round 2: Students who opt for Freeze in Round 2 do not participate in the open round, reducing seat churn. A high freeze rate at AIIMS Delhi in popular specialties limits open round availability — a pattern observed in July 2025 and expected to continue in July 2026.
- January 2026 session demand carryover: Students who did not secure their preferred specialty in the January 2026 INI CET session appear strongly in the July 2026 cycle, adding to the demand base for top institutes and clinical specialties.
INI CET July 2026 Final Round Cutoff FAQs
Ques. When will the INI CET July 2026 final round seat allotment be released?
Ans. The INI CET July 2026 final (open) round seat allotment is expected in August 2026, after Round 2 concludes in July 2026. Round 1 results are already out, and students must confirm their seat option by June 30, 2026. Check aiimsexams.ac.in regularly for the updated open round schedule.
Ques. What was the closing rank in INI CET July 2025 final round for the General category at AIIMS Delhi?
Ans. In the INI CET July 2025 final round, General category closing ranks at AIIMS New Delhi ranged from approximately rank 12 for MD Radiodiagnosis to around rank 4,440 across all specialties. MD Internal Medicine closed near rank 19, while less competitive programs had closing ranks in the hundreds to thousands.
Ques. Do closing ranks tighten or relax from Round 1 to the final round at AIIMS Delhi?
Ans. For top clinical specialties at AIIMS New Delhi, closing ranks typically tighten (go numerically lower) from Round 1 to the final round, as upgraded students vacate seats and higher-ranked students fill them. In less competitive specialties, the final round closing rank can be higher than Round 1 as fewer students compete for the remaining seats.
Ques. Has INI CET July final round competition increased compared to July 2024?
Ans. Yes, based on year-on-year data. In the INI CET July 2024 final round, General category closing ranks started from rank 17 for the most competitive seat across all institutes. In July 2025, the top-end closed near rank 12. The July 2026 final round is expected to see similar or slightly tighter closing ranks at the top end, based on Round 1 patterns from the current cycle.
Ques. Which specialties have the tightest closing ranks in INI CET final rounds?
Ans. MD Radiodiagnosis and MD Dermatology consistently close at the lowest ranks (highest competition) in INI CET final rounds at AIIMS New Delhi. MD Internal Medicine and MS General Surgery also rank among the tightest. MD Paediatrics, MD Orthopaedics, and MS Obstetrics and Gynaecology follow closely. Programs like MD Nuclear Medicine, MD Physical Medicine, and MCh courses at newer AIIMS typically have the most relaxed closing ranks in the final round.
Ques. Can a student get an AIIMS Delhi seat in the INI CET final round?
Ans. Seats at AIIMS New Delhi do become available in the open round, primarily in less competitive specialty-category combinations or through upgrades where a higher-ranked student moves to a better choice. Most General category seats in MD Internal Medicine, MD Radiodiagnosis, and MS General Surgery at AIIMS Delhi close in Round 1 or Round 2. Your chances in the final round improve for mid-tier specialties or if you belong to a reserved category with available positions in the seat matrix.
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