INI CET July 2026 final round cutoff for ST category is expected to range between 60 and 120 marks out of 200, based on closing trends observed in the July 2025 session.
The final round of INI CET July 2026 counselling is the last opportunity for ST category students to secure a postgraduate medical seat at Institutes of National Importance. This round covers all AIIMS campuses, JIPMER Puducherry, PGI Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru and SCTIMST Trivandrum. Cutoffs in this round are the lowest across all rounds because unfilled reserved seats are redistributed. AIIMS New Delhi conducts INI CET counselling on behalf of all participating institutes, and the final round for July 2026 is expected in the last week of June 2026.
- ST category students must secure at least the 30th percentile in INI CET July 2026 to be eligible for counselling.
- INI CET is scored out of 200 marks with +1 for each correct answer and ?1/3 for each wrong answer.
- Final round ST category cutoffs are typically 25–35 marks lower than general category closing marks in the same specialty.
- Newer AIIMS campuses carry lower ST cutoffs due to more available seats relative to ST applicants per seat.
- Based on July 2025 trends, ST category final round closing marks ranged from approximately 62 to 118 marks across institutes and specialties.
| Direct Link to INI CET July 2026 Counselling Schedule and Cutoffs (Expected Soon) |
| aiimsexams.ac.in |
What is the INI CET Final Round?
INI CET counselling runs across multiple rounds — typically Round 1, Round 2 and the Final (Mop-Up) Round. The final round fills all seats left vacant after earlier rounds due to withdrawals, non-reporting or upgrade-linked vacancies. For ST category students this round is especially important because cutoffs reach their lowest point as institutes must fill all reserved seats before the academic session begins.
The INI CET July 2026 final round is expected in late June 2026, ahead of the July session start. All students holding a valid INI CET July 2026 rank card and eligible under ST reservation norms can participate. Seat allocation in the final round is binding — students who accept a seat must report to the institute or lose eligibility for that session.
Previous Year INI CET ST Category Final Round Cutoffs
The table below shows approximate closing marks for ST category in the INI CET July 2025 final round. These serve as the primary benchmark for projecting July 2026 cutoffs.
| Institute | Specialty Type | ST Category Closing Marks (out of 200) — July 2025 Final Round (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Clinical (General Medicine, Paediatrics) | 108–115 |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MS (Surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology) | 110–118 |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Pre-Clinical (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry) | 78–88 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | MD / MS Clinical | 96–108 |
| PGI Chandigarh | MD / MS Clinical | 100–112 |
| AIIMS Bhopal, Jodhpur, Patna | MD / MS Clinical | 82–96 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Rishikesh | MD / MS Clinical | 78–92 |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | MD Psychiatry / Neurology | 88–102 |
| SCTIMST Trivandrum | MCh / DM Specialties | 85–98 |
| All Institutes | MHA (Hospital Administration) | 62–78 |
Figures above are approximate and based on published July 2025 counselling trends. Actual marks varied by specific specialty and seat availability at each institute.
Expected INI CET July 2026 ST Category Final Round Cutoff
The table below gives expected closing marks for the INI CET July 2026 final round — ST category, projected from July 2025 and January 2026 session data. These figures are indicative and not official.
| Institute / Group | Specialty Type | Expected ST Closing Marks (out of 200) — July 2026 Final Round |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Clinical / MS | 106–120 |
| AIIMS New Delhi | MD Pre-Clinical / Paraclinical | 76–90 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | MD / MS Clinical | 94–110 |
| PGI Chandigarh | MD / MS Clinical | 98–114 |
| AIIMS — Newer Campuses (6) | MD / MS Clinical | 80–98 |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | MD Psychiatry / Neurosciences | 86–104 |
| SCTIMST Trivandrum | MCh / DM | 82–100 |
| All Institutes | MHA | 60–78 |
All projected cutoffs above are based on July 2025 trends. Official July 2026 final round cutoffs will be published by AIIMS on aiimsexams.ac.in after the round concludes.
Institute-wise ST Category Seat Trends
The number of ST reserved seats at each institute directly shapes how competitive the final round becomes. More seats with fewer ST applicants per seat generally means lower closing marks.
| Institute | Approx. Total PG Seats | Approx. ST Reserved Seats | ST Cutoff Trend (Recent Sessions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 250+ | 18–20 | Marginal upward trend |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 140+ | 10–12 | Stable |
| PGI Chandigarh | 160+ | 12–14 | Stable |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 60–80 | 5–6 | Slight decrease (seat additions) |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 60–80 | 5–6 | Stable |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 60–80 | 5–6 | Slight decrease |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | 50+ | 4–5 | Stable |
| SCTIMST Trivandrum | 40+ | 3–4 | Stable |
Key trend: Several newer AIIMS campuses added PG seats in the last two sessions. This has modestly eased competition for ST category students at those campuses and brought final round closing marks slightly lower compared to earlier years.
Factors Affecting INI CET ST Category Final Round Cutoff
INI CET July 2026 final round ST cutoffs will be shaped by multiple variables. Understanding these helps you build realistic expectations and a smarter choice list:
- Total ST applicants versus available seats: More qualified ST students competing for a fixed number of reserved seats pushes closing marks higher.
- Seat matrix updates for July 2026: New seats approved by institutes before the final round directly ease ST category cutoffs by increasing supply.
- Withdrawals and non-reporting after earlier rounds: Students who accepted seats in Round 1 or Round 2 but did not report create vacancies that enter the final round at lower closing marks.
- Specialty demand: High-demand branches such as General Medicine, Paediatrics and Surgery at AIIMS New Delhi carry the highest ST closing marks even in the final round. Pre-clinical subjects and MHA carry significantly lower marks.
- Paper difficulty of INI CET July 2026: A harder paper produces lower raw scores across all categories, which can pull final round cutoffs down by a few marks.
- Carry-forward seats from Round 2: A larger number of unfilled seats entering the final round increases overall supply and typically lowers closing marks for ST category students across institutes.
INI CET July 2026 ST Category Final Round Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected INI CET July 2026 final round cutoff for ST category?
Ans. Based on July 2025 trends, the expected final round ST category cutoff for INI CET July 2026 ranges from approximately 60 to 120 marks out of 200. Clinical branches at AIIMS New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh are expected to close higher, while pre-clinical branches and MHA at newer AIIMS campuses are expected to close lower.
Ques. What qualifying percentile does an ST student need in INI CET July 2026?
Ans. ST category students must secure at least the 30th percentile in INI CET July 2026 to qualify for counselling. This threshold is set by AIIMS in the official notification; always verify on aiimsexams.ac.in before applying.
Ques. Is INI CET scored out of 200 marks?
Ans. Yes. INI CET comprises 200 multiple-choice questions, each worth 1 mark, with a penalty of ?1/3 for every wrong answer. The maximum possible score is 200 marks.
Ques. Can an ST student join the INI CET July 2026 final round without attending earlier rounds?
Ans. Eligibility for the final round depends on the rules AIIMS publishes for that specific session. In most sessions, students who withdrew or were absent from earlier rounds face restrictions on final round participation. Check the official final round notification on aiimsexams.ac.in for July 2026 rules.
Ques. Which institute has the lowest ST category cutoff in INI CET final rounds?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, newer AIIMS campuses such as AIIMS Bhubaneswar, AIIMS Raipur and AIIMS Rishikesh, along with pre-clinical and MHA specialties across all institutes, tend to have the lowest ST final round cutoffs — sometimes as low as 60–78 marks out of 200.
Ques. When will the INI CET July 2026 final round schedule be released?
Ans. AIIMS typically releases the INI CET final round schedule a few weeks after Round 2 concludes. For the July 2026 session, the schedule is expected in late June 2026. Check aiimsexams.ac.in for official dates, seat matrix and registration instructions.








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