Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal offers the Master of Surgery [MS] in Ophthalmology, a 3-year full-time postgraduate medical degree programme affiliated to Manipur University. The course has an approved intake of 4 seats per academic session, with 2 seats available through state-level counselling in 2026-27. It is offered in full-time on-campus mode. The total tuition fee for the entire 3-year programme is Rs. 1,00,000, making it one of the most affordable government PG medical programmes in India. Admission is based on NEET PG scores, followed by Manipur State Level Medical PG Counselling. MS Ophthalmology is a highly sought-after surgical specialty with excellent career prospects in government hospitals, private eye care practice, and academic medicine.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session have been completed through multiple rounds of state-level counselling (Round 1: December 2026, Round 2: December 2026, Round 3: February 2027, Stray Vacancy Round: February 2027). Admissions for the 2027-28 session are expected to commence after NEET PG 2027 results, tentatively from November-December 2027, based on the previous year's schedule.

Key Points

JNIMS is a Government of Manipur institution offering PG medical courses at highly subsidised fees.
MS Ophthalmology at JNIMS has 4 approved seats per academic session; 2 seats were available for state-level counselling in 2026-27.
Admission is through Manipur State Level Medical PG Counselling based on NEET PG merit.
Three categories of seats are available: In-Service, Direct, and Institutional Preference (JNIMS graduates).
PG students (Direct and Institutional Preference categories) receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000 (1st year), Rs. 55,000 (2nd year), and Rs. 60,000 (3rd year).
Hostel accommodation is available on campus subject to vacancy; hostel is not mandatory.
Counselling is conducted in hybrid mode (online + offline).
MS Ophthalmology is a popular branch with strong demand in the Northeast, given the limited number of eye specialists in the region.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

JNIMS Latest Updates and News

13 May, 2026 NEET PG 2026 Exam is scheduled for August 30, 2026. The registrations are expected to begin soon @nbe.edu.in.

JNIMS MS Ophthalmology Fees

JNIMS offers the MS Ophthalmology programme at a highly subsidised fee structure as it is a government institution under the Government of Manipur. The total tuition fee for the entire 3-year course is Rs. 1,00,000, payable in annual instalments. There are no additional tuition components beyond the annual fee. Hostel accommodation is available separately at a nominal charge.

Tuition Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Total
Tuition Fee	Rs. 50,000	Rs. 25,000	Rs. 25,000	Rs. 1,00,000
Counselling Fee (one-time, non-refundable)	Rs. 1,300	-	-	Rs. 1,300
Total Fees (excluding hostel)	Rs. 51,300	Rs. 25,000	Rs. 25,000	Rs. 1,01,300

Hostel Fees

Component	Amount
Hostel Fee (per year)	Rs. 7,000
Mess Fee (per month)	Rs. 2,300
Hostel Fee for 3 years	Rs. 21,000
Mess Fee for 3 years (approx.)	Rs. 82,800

Tuition fee is payable annually: Rs. 50,000 in Year 1, Rs. 25,000 in Year 2, and Rs. 25,000 in Year 3.
The counselling fee of Rs. 1,300 is non-refundable and is paid at the time of application.
Hostel accommodation is subject to availability and is not mandatory.
Mess is student-managed; mess fee of Rs. 2,300 per month covers three meals a day.
PG students (Direct and Institutional Preference categories) receive a monthly stipend (Rs. 50,000 in Year 1, Rs. 55,000 in Year 2, Rs. 60,000 in Year 3), which effectively offsets the fee burden significantly.
In-Service candidates do not receive a stipend.
Candidates who leave the course before completing 1 year must pay a penalty of Rs. 3,00,000; those leaving after 1 year must pay Rs. 7,00,000. Direct and Institutional Preference candidates must also return the cumulated stipend received.

JNIMS MS Ophthalmology Admission 2026

Admission to MS Ophthalmology at JNIMS is based on NEET PG scores, followed by Manipur State Level Medical PG Counselling. The 2026-27 session counselling has been completed. For the 2027-28 session, admissions are expected to follow a similar timeline, commencing after NEET PG 2027 results are declared (tentatively from November-December 2027). Candidates must apply through the JNIMS Academic Section and participate in the state-level counselling process.

JNIMS Admission Dates

Event	Date
Application Form Submission (Round 1)	24 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026 (12:00 Noon)
1st Round State Level PG Counselling	01 Dec 2026
2nd Round State Level PG Counselling	17 Dec 2026
Application Form Submission (Round 3)	16 Jan 2027 to 23 Jan 2027 (12:00 Noon)
3rd Round State Level PG Counselling	05 Feb 2027
Stray Vacancy Round Counselling	23 Feb 2027
Stray Vacancy Round Result	27 Feb 2027

NEET PG Exam Dates

Event	Date
Application Start Date	Apr 7, 2027
Application End Date	May 7, 2027
Admit Card Release	Jun 11, 2027
Exam Date	Jun 15, 2027
Result Date	Jul 15, 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidate must hold an MBBS degree from a university/institution recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India.
Candidate must have completed 12 months of compulsory rotating internship and obtained permanent registration from NMC or a State Medical Council.
Candidate must be NEET PG qualified (NEET PG 2027 for the 2027-28 session).

Admission Process

Qualify NEET PG conducted by NBE.
Obtain application form from JNIMS Academic Section (or submit online via email: academic.jnims24@gmail.com) and pay the non-refundable counselling fee of Rs. 1,300.
Submit the filled application form to the Dean (Academics), JNIMS, Imphal within the stipulated deadline.
Participate in the Manipur State Level Medical PG Counselling (conducted in hybrid mode).
Seat allotment is strictly based on NEET PG merit as per the Manipur Medical Postgraduate Seat Allotment Scheme.
Selected candidates must report for admission by the notified date, submit original documents, and pay the first-year fee of Rs. 50,000.
Three seat categories: In-Service (for Manipur Health Services employees), Direct (open to all eligible MBBS graduates), and Institutional Preference (for JNIMS MBBS graduates).

JNIMS MS Ophthalmology Scholarships 2026

PG students at JNIMS are primarily supported through a monthly stipend rather than traditional scholarships. The stipend is a significant financial benefit for Direct and Institutional Preference category students. Additionally, students may be eligible for state and central government scholarship schemes.

Stipend and Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Financial Support	Amount	Eligibility
Monthly Stipend - Year 1 (Direct/Institutional Preference)	Rs. 50,000/month	Direct and Institutional Preference category PG students
Monthly Stipend - Year 2 (Direct/Institutional Preference)	Rs. 55,000/month	Direct and Institutional Preference category PG students
Monthly Stipend - Year 3 (Direct/Institutional Preference)	Rs. 60,000/month	Direct and Institutional Preference category PG students
Manipur State Scholarship (Post-Matric)	Rs. 150-350/month + Rs. 750-1,000 book grant	Manipur domicile students from SC/ST/OBC categories; apply via NSP portal
Central Government Scholarships (NSP)	Varies	As per eligibility under National Scholarship Portal schemes

In-Service candidates are not entitled to the monthly stipend.
The stipend is subject to return if a Direct or Institutional Preference candidate leaves the course midway.
State and central scholarship applications are typically made through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to revision by the respective government authorities.

JNIMS MS Ophthalmology FAQs

Ques. How many seats are available for MS Ophthalmology at JNIMS Imphal, and how competitive is the admission?

Ans. JNIMS Imphal has 4 approved seats for MS Ophthalmology per academic session. For the 2026-27 session, 2 seats were available through state-level counselling. MS Ophthalmology is a competitive branch at JNIMS. Candidates with a NEET PG rank within the top 10,000-20,000 (general category) typically stand a chance at government colleges, though the actual cutoff at JNIMS varies each year based on the number of applicants and seat availability.

Ques. Is the MS Ophthalmology programme at JNIMS affiliated to Manipur University? What are the thesis requirements?

Ans. Yes, the MS Ophthalmology programme at JNIMS is affiliated to Manipur University. The degree is awarded by Manipur University upon successful completion of the 3-year programme. Students must maintain at least 80% attendance of working days to be eligible to appear in the university examinations. A thesis protocol must be submitted within 3 months of enrolment, and the thesis is a mandatory component of the MS degree.

Ques. Do MS Ophthalmology students at JNIMS receive a stipend?

Ans. Yes, PG students admitted under the Direct and Institutional Preference categories receive a monthly stipend: Rs. 50,000 in the 1st year, Rs. 55,000 in the 2nd year, and Rs. 60,000 in the 3rd year. In-Service candidates do not receive a stipend from JNIMS. If a Direct or Institutional Preference candidate leaves the course midway, they are required to return the cumulated stipend along with the applicable penalty.

Ques. What sub-specialties or fellowships can I pursue after MS Ophthalmology from JNIMS?

Ans. After completing MS Ophthalmology from JNIMS, graduates can pursue fellowships in various sub-specialties such as Vitreoretinal Surgery, Cornea and Anterior Segment, Glaucoma, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Oculoplasty, and Neuro-Ophthalmology. These fellowships are offered by premier institutions like LV Prasad Eye Institute, Sankara Nethralaya, Aravind Eye Hospital, and AIIMS. Graduates can also appear for the DNB Ophthalmology examination to enhance their credentials.

Ques. What is the penalty for leaving the MS Ophthalmology course midway at JNIMS?

Ans. Candidates who leave the MS Ophthalmology course before completing 1 year are liable to pay Rs. 3,00,000 as a penalty. Those who leave after 1 year of joining must pay Rs. 7,00,000. Additionally, Direct and Institutional Preference category candidates must also return the entire cumulated stipend received from JNIMS. Original certificates are retained by the institute and returned only after payment of the applicable penalty.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing MS Ophthalmology from JNIMS Imphal?

Ans. MS Ophthalmology graduates have excellent career prospects. They can work as ophthalmologists in government hospitals, private eye hospitals, or set up independent eye care clinics. There is a significant shortage of ophthalmologists in the Northeast India region, making JNIMS graduates particularly valuable for state health services. Graduates are also eligible for Manipur Health Services recruitment. With growing awareness of eye health and increasing prevalence of conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, the demand for qualified ophthalmologists continues to rise across India.