INI CET July 2026 closing rank for PGI Chandigarh in the General (UR) category ranges from approximately 30–45 for MD Radiodiagnosis — the most competitive specialty — to beyond 5,000 for basic science MD programmes, based on January 2026 confirmed Round 2 data and July 2025 trends.
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh is among the most sought-after institutes in the INI CET counselling pool. The INI CET July 2026 exam was held on May 16, 2026, and the merit list was declared on May 23, 2026 at aiimsexams.ac.in. With 51,563 candidates qualifying the percentile threshold, counselling rounds for MD and MS seats at PGIMER opened in June 2026. Students must compare their All India Rank (AIR) against specialty- and category-specific closing ranks to accurately gauge their prospects.
- INI CET July 2026 result was declared on May 23, 2026; counselling is in progress as of June 2026.
- 51,563 candidates qualified the INI CET July 2026 percentile cutoff across all categories.
- Confirmed January 2026 Round 2 UR closing rank: MD Radiodiagnosis 32–41; MS Orthopaedics 230–315 at PGIMER.
- Only MD and MS seats at PGIMER are filled through INI CET; DM and MCh admissions follow the separate INI SS process.
- All July 2026 figures are expected, based on January 2026 and July 2025 trends; official closing ranks are released after every counselling round on aiimsexams.ac.in.
| Direct Link to INI CET July 2026 Merit List and Counselling (OUT) — aiimsexams.ac.in |
What Is the INI CET Cutoff for PGI Chandigarh?
The INI CET cutoff for PGI Chandigarh is the last (closing) rank at which a seat was filled in a given specialty and category during the centralised counselling process. This rank is not fixed before counselling — it is determined dynamically based on seat availability, the number of students who accept allotted seats, and upgrade movements across rounds. PGIMER Chandigarh participates in INI CET counselling for MD and MS programmes only. DM and MCh (super-specialty) seats at PGIMER are filled through the INI SS examination conducted separately by AIIMS Delhi and are not part of INI CET counselling.
Students who cleared the qualifying percentile — 50th for UR, 45th for OBC and EWS, and 40th for SC, ST, and PwBD — are eligible to participate in INI CET July 2026 counselling. Qualifying the percentile is only the first barrier; the actual closing rank at PGIMER for a preferred specialty is what determines admission.
Expected Specialty-Wise Closing Ranks at PGI Chandigarh — UR Category
The table below lists expected INI CET July 2026 closing ranks for MD and MS specialties at PGIMER Chandigarh in the Unreserved (UR) category. January 2026 Round 2 confirmed values are highlighted; all July 2026 estimates are based on prevailing trends and the confirmed January 2026 range of UR closing ranks (MD: 28–5,075; MS: 206–3,775) at PGIMER.
| Specialty | Course | Jan 2026 R2 UR Closing Rank | Expected July 2026 UR Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiodiagnosis | MD | 32–41 (confirmed) | 30–45 |
| Dermatology and Venereology | MD | 45–85* | 40–90 |
| General Medicine | MD | 60–130* | 55–135 |
| Paediatrics | MD | 80–150* | 65–150 |
| General Surgery | MS | 145–200* | 140–195 |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | MD | 200–310* | 190–320 |
| Orthopaedics | MS | 230–315 (confirmed) | 220–320 |
| Anaesthesiology | MD | 350–540* | 330–550 |
| Ophthalmology | MS | 480–720* | 460–740 |
| Psychiatry | MD | 550–900* | 520–930 |
| ENT (Otolaryngology) | MS | 600–1,000* | 580–1,050 |
| Pathology | MD | 900–1,800* | 870–1,850 |
| Community Medicine | MD | 1,200–2,500* | 1,100–2,600 |
| Physiology / Biochemistry | MD | 2,600–5,075* | 2,400–5,000 |
*Estimated from the confirmed January 2026 overall UR range at PGIMER (MD: 28–5,075; MS: 206–3,775) and July 2025 data for MS General Surgery (R1: 145, R2: 175) and MD Paediatrics (R1: 87, R2: 67).
Category-Wise Closing Ranks at PGI Chandigarh — INI CET July 2026
PGIMER follows the government reservation matrix: 27% for OBC, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, and 10% for EWS. Closing ranks for reserved categories are numerically higher (less competitive) because reserved seats are fewer in absolute terms. The table below covers selected specialties and shows the expected range for July 2026 across categories, based on January 2026 trends. Overall OBC closing ranks at PGIMER extended up to 15,018 for MD programmes in the January 2026 session.
| Specialty | UR | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD Radiodiagnosis | 30–45 | 100–320 | 80–190 | 400–1,000 | 800–2,200 |
| MD Dermatology | 40–90 | 130–380 | 100–240 | 500–1,300 | 1,000–2,800 |
| MD General Medicine | 55–135 | 180–520 | 130–360 | 700–2,000 | 1,500–4,500 |
| MD Paediatrics | 65–150 | 220–620 | 160–420 | 900–2,500 | 1,800–5,500 |
| MS General Surgery | 140–195 | 400–820 | 280–560 | 1,200–3,200 | 2,500–6,500 |
| MS Orthopaedics | 220–320 | 600–1,250 | 420–820 | 1,800–4,200 | 3,500–8,500 |
| MD Anaesthesiology | 330–550 | 900–2,100 | 650–1,350 | 2,500–6,200 | 5,000–12,500 |
| MD Community Medicine | 1,100–2,600 | 3,000–8,000 | 1,800–4,800 | 7,000–15,018 | 10,000–22,000+ |
PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) students are covered under a 4% horizontal reservation across all categories. PGIMER publishes PwBD-specific closing ranks alongside main-category merit lists on the official INI CET counselling portal.
Previous Year Comparison: January 2026 vs July 2025 at PGI Chandigarh
Tracking round-wise closing ranks across recent sessions reveals a gradual tightening of competition at PGIMER. The data below includes confirmed January 2026 Round 2 figures alongside the available July 2025 round-wise data. Round 2 closing ranks are typically equal to or lower than Round 1 as upgraded seats are reabsorbed, though General Surgery in July 2025 was an exception — Round 2 rank was higher than Round 1, reflecting a late-round preference shift.
| Specialty | July 2025 R1 UR Rank | July 2025 R2 UR Rank | Jan 2026 R2 UR Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD Radiodiagnosis | ~40 | ~34 | 32–41 |
| MD Paediatrics | 87 | 67 | ~80–150 |
| MS General Surgery | 145 | 175 | ~145–200 |
| MS Orthopaedics | ~265 | ~245 | 230–315 |
| MD overall UR range | ~25–5,100 | ~23–4,900 | 28–5,075 |
| MS overall UR range | ~215–3,900 | ~206–3,700 | 206–3,775 |
Factors Affecting the INI CET Cutoff at PGIMER Chandigarh
Several variables determine whether the July 2026 closing ranks at PGIMER end up tighter or more relaxed than these estimates:
- Official seat matrix: Any increase or decrease in MD/MS seats at PGIMER for July 2026 directly shifts closing ranks. Always verify the current seat matrix on aiimsexams.ac.in before submitting preferences.
- Number of qualified students: With 51,563 qualifying for July 2026, the competitive pool is large. A larger pool at the top ranks compresses closing ranks for high-demand specialties.
- Exam difficulty in May 2026: A harder paper narrows score gaps near the rank boundary, making it harder to predict which rank secures a particular specialty.
- Specialty demand trends: Year-on-year shifts in student preference — such as growing demand for Psychiatry or Radiation Oncology — can push closing ranks lower for those programmes without a proportional seat increase.
- Upgrade and withdrawal patterns: Students upgrading to better specialties in Round 2 can free up Round 1 seats for students at lower ranks, sometimes moving closing ranks in unexpected directions as seen with MS General Surgery in July 2025.
INI CET July 2026 PGI Chandigarh Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected INI CET July 2026 closing rank for MD Radiodiagnosis at PGI Chandigarh in the UR category?
Ans. Based on the confirmed January 2026 Round 2 closing rank of 32–41 at PGIMER, the expected UR closing rank for MD Radiodiagnosis in the July 2026 session is approximately 30–45. Radiodiagnosis is consistently the most competitive MD specialty at PGIMER under INI CET.
Ques. When will the official INI CET July 2026 closing ranks for PGI Chandigarh be published?
Ans. Official round-wise closing ranks are published on aiimsexams.ac.in after each counselling round concludes. The final closing ranks for all MD and MS specialties and categories at PGIMER are typically available 6–8 weeks after the result declaration date of May 23, 2026.
Ques. Are DM and MCh seats at PGIMER Chandigarh part of INI CET counselling?
Ans. No. DM and MCh (super-specialty) seats at PGIMER are filled through the INI SS examination conducted separately by AIIMS Delhi. INI CET July 2026 counselling covers only MD and MS programmes at PGIMER Chandigarh.
Ques. How do OBC closing ranks compare to UR closing ranks at PGI Chandigarh?
Ans. OBC category closing ranks at PGIMER are typically 3–6 times the UR closing rank for the same specialty. For MD Radiodiagnosis, where the UR closing rank is around 30–45, the OBC closing rank is expected in the 100–320 range. For the least competitive specialties, OBC closing ranks can extend up to 15,000 based on January 2026 data.
Ques. Which MD specialty at PGI Chandigarh has the most accessible INI CET closing rank?
Ans. MD Physiology and MD Biochemistry at PGIMER have the highest (numerically largest) UR closing ranks under INI CET, with expected ranks up to 5,000 in the July 2026 session. These specialties allow students with moderate AIRs to secure a seat at a premier INI.
Ques. Did 51,563 candidates qualify for INI CET July 2026 counselling?
Ans. Yes. AIIMS declared the INI CET July 2026 merit list on May 23, 2026, confirming that 51,563 students qualified the percentile cutoff (50th percentile for UR, 45th for OBC/EWS, 40th for SC/ST/PwBD) and are eligible for counselling at participating INIs including PGIMER Chandigarh.
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