AIIMS PG 2026: Result Out, Counselling, Eligibility, Syllabus and Cutoff

AIIMS PG 2026, officially conducted as INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test), is a national-level postgraduate medical entrance exam held twice a year by AIIMS New Delhi for admission to MD, MS, MCh (6-year), DM (6-year), MDS, and MHA programs at 23 Institutes of National Importance. The INI-CET July 2026 result was declared on May 23, 2026, with 51,563 candidates qualifying for the July session. Counselling is expected in June 2026 and candidates can download their scorecards from aiimsexams.ac.in.

• Scorecard Download: The INI-CET July 2026 scorecard showing each candidate’s percentile score and overall rank is available at aiimsexams.ac.in. Log in with your registration credentials to download it now.
• Counselling: INI-CET July 2026 counselling is expected to begin in June 2026. Based on the January 2026 session pattern, the first round of seat allotment is announced about 3 weeks after the result — a similar timeline is expected now.
• Total Seats (July 2026): Around 1,593 seats are available across MD, MS, MCh (6-year), DM (6-year), and MDS programs at 23 participating institutes. AIIMS New Delhi leads with 192 seats, followed by PGIMER Chandigarh (134 seats) and JIPMER Puducherry (~123 seats).
• Next Session — January 2027: If you are planning to appear in the next INI-CET, registration for the January 2027 session is expected to open in August–September 2026, with the exam likely in November 2026 based on previous year patterns.

What is AIIMS PG / INI-CET 2026?

AIIMS PG 2026 is the common name for INI-CET — Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test — conducted by AIIMS New Delhi. It is one of the most competitive postgraduate medical entrance exams in India, giving successful candidates admission to MD, MS, MCh (6-year integrated), DM (6-year integrated), MDS, and MHA programs at the country’s most prestigious medical institutions.

INI-CET replaced the older standalone AIIMS PG exam from 2021 onward. The exam now covers not just all 19 AIIMS institutes but also PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum — making it a single gateway to 23 Institutes of National Importance. The exam is held twice every year: the May exam fills seats for the July session, and the November exam fills seats for the January session.

More than 50,000 candidates qualify in each INI-CET session, competing for around 1,500–1,600 PG seats. This makes the competition ratio roughly 33 candidates per available seat, which is extremely tough. The exam tests clinical application and reasoning, not just rote learning — which sets it apart from other PG medical entrance exams like NEET PG.

AIIMS PG INI-CET 2026 Important Dates

INI-CET is conducted in two sessions each year. The July 2026 session exam has been completed and results are out. Upcoming key events include counselling for the July 2026 session and registration for the next January 2027 session.

INI-CET July 2026 Session — Key Dates

INI-CET January 2027 Session — Expected Dates

Source: aiimsexams.ac.in

Expected dates for the January 2027 session are based on previous year patterns and subject to official confirmation by AIIMS New Delhi.

Eligibility Criteria for INI-CET 2026

You must meet all INI-CET eligibility requirements before applying. The key conditions cover academic qualification, internship completion, medical registration, and nationality. There is no age restriction and no cap on attempts for INI-CET.

Academic Qualification

• For MD/MS/DM/MCh programs: You must have an MBBS degree from an NMC (National Medical Commission) recognized medical college.
• For MDS program: You must have a BDS degree from a DCI (Dental Council of India) recognized dental college.
• Minimum Marks: 55% aggregate in MBBS or BDS for General/OBC/EWS candidates; 50% aggregate for SC/ST candidates.

Internship Completion

• You must complete a 12-month compulsory rotatory internship before joining the program — by July 1 for the July session and by January 1 for the January session.
• Candidates who have not yet completed internship at the time of the exam can still apply and appear. Admission is confirmed only after submitting the internship completion certificate by the joining date.

Medical Registration

• You must have a valid registration from any State Medical/Dental Council or the National Medical Commission.
• Candidates who have completed MBBS/BDS but are yet to receive permanent registration can submit provisional registration when applying.

Nationality and Category

• Indian Nationals: Directly eligible to apply under their respective category (UR/EWS/OBC/SC/ST).
• OCI (Overseas Citizen of India): Eligible under the UR category and treated the same as Indian nationals for merit calculation.
• Foreign Nationals: Eligible with an NOC from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Separate seats are available at some INIs.

Age Limit and Number of Attempts

INI-CET has no age limit — neither minimum nor maximum. There is also no cap on the number of attempts. You can appear in INI-CET as many times as you want across both sessions every year.

Always check the official prospectus at aiimsexams.ac.in before applying. The internship cutoff date and minimum marks criteria can vary slightly between sessions.

AIIMS PG INI-CET 2026 Application Process and Fee

The INI-CET July 2026 application process closed on April 25, 2026, with a correction window until May 2, 2026. The next registration window for the January 2027 session is expected to open in August–September 2026. The entire process is done online at aiimsexams.ac.in.

How to Apply for INI-CET — Step by Step

• Step 1 — New Registration: Visit aiimsexams.ac.in and create a new account when applications open. Enter your name, email ID, and mobile number. Save your login credentials securely.
• Step 2 — Fill the Application Form: Log in and fill in personal details, educational qualifications (MBBS/BDS marks, year of passing), internship status, and category information carefully.
• Step 3 — Upload Documents: Upload a recent passport-size photograph (white background), scanned signature, and required certificates as per the prescribed format and file size in the prospectus.
• Step 4 — Pay the Application Fee: Pay online using debit card, credit card, or net banking. PwBD candidates are exempt. The fee is non-refundable.
• Step 5 — Final Submission: Review all details before submitting. After successful submission, download and print the confirmation page for your records.

INI-CET 2026 Application Fee

The application fee is non-refundable once paid, except in case of accidental duplicate payment. Confirm the fee from the official prospectus released for each session.

Documents Required at the Time of Application

• Passport-size photograph (white background, recent, as per specification)
• Scanned signature on white paper
• MBBS or BDS degree / provisional pass certificate
• Internship completion certificate (or undertaking if still in progress)
• State Medical / Dental Council registration certificate
• Category certificate for SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates (issued by a competent authority)
• PwBD certificate from a recognized Disability Assessment Board (if applicable)

Double-check your photograph and signature upload before submitting. A mismatch between the uploaded photo and your ID proof at the exam centre can result in entry refusal.

INI-CET 2026 Syllabus: Subject-wise Breakdown

The INI-CET syllabus covers the complete MBBS curriculum divided into three groups — Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, and Clinical. AIIMS does not publish a separate topic list — the entire MBBS course is in scope. Certain high-yield topics appear repeatedly across sessions.

Pre-Clinical Subjects (Section 1)

• Anatomy: Gross anatomy (limbs, thorax, abdomen, head and neck), histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, surface anatomy, genetics
• Biochemistry: Biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids), metabolic pathways (Krebs cycle, glycolysis, lipid metabolism), cancer biology, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry
• Physiology: Cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, motor and sensory systems, sleep physiology, applied physiology

Para-Clinical Subjects (Section 2)

• Pathology: General pathology (cell injury, inflammation, neoplasia), systemic pathology, haematology, immunopathology, cytopathology
• Pharmacology: General pharmacology, autonomic drugs, CNS drugs, cardiovascular drugs, antimicrobials, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions
• Microbiology: Bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, immunology, hospital-acquired infections, serology
• Forensic Medicine: Medico-legal cases, thanatology, forensic toxicology, sexual offences, medical jurisprudence
• Community Medicine (PSM): Epidemiology, biostatistics, national health programmes, nutrition, occupational health, environmental health

Clinical Subjects (Sections 3 and 4)

• General Medicine: Cardiology, neurology, nephrology, endocrinology, haematology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology — highest weightage in the paper
• Psychiatry: Psychiatric disorders, ICD classification, psychopharmacology, psychiatric emergencies
• Dermatology: Common skin diseases, sexually transmitted infections
• General Surgery: GI surgery, oncological surgery, vascular surgery, wound management, trauma
• Orthopaedics: Fractures, joint disorders, spinal conditions, paediatric orthopaedics
• Ophthalmology: Eye anatomy, refractive errors, glaucoma, surgical ophthalmology
• ENT: Ear, nose, throat diseases and surgical conditions
• Anaesthesiology: Anaesthesia principles, pain management, pre-operative assessment, critical care basics
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG): Normal and complicated obstetrics, labour and delivery, gynaecological disorders, family planning
• Paediatrics: Neonatology, paediatric nutrition, infectious diseases in children, growth and development

For MDS candidates, the INI-CET syllabus covers the complete BDS curriculum including Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Pedodontics, Periodontics, Oral Pathology, and Community Dentistry.

AIIMS PG INI-CET 2026 Admit Card

The INI-CET July 2026 admit card was released on May 9, 2026 — exactly one week before the May 16 exam. Candidates downloaded their hall tickets from aiimsexams.ac.in using their registration credentials. For the upcoming January 2027 session, the admit card is expected about 7–10 days before the exam date.

How to Download INI-CET Admit Card

• Visit aiimsexams.ac.in
• Click on the active INI-CET session link in the notifications panel
• Log in with your Registration ID and date of birth or password
• Click Download Admit Card and print on A4 paper
• Keep at least 2 printed copies — one for the exam and one for your records

What to Carry on INI-CET Exam Day

• Printed INI-CET admit card — mandatory; no candidate is allowed entry without it
• Original photo ID (Aadhaar card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence)
• Recent passport-size photograph (same as uploaded during registration)

What is Not Allowed Inside the Exam Hall

• Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, or any electronic device
• Books, notes, or written material of any kind
• Bags, pouches, wallets, or any unauthorised items

Arrive at the exam centre at least 60 minutes before the reporting time. Candidates who arrive after gate closure are not permitted to enter under any circumstances.

Top Colleges Accepting INI-CET Score 2026

INI-CET score is accepted by 23 Institutes of National Importance (INIs). These are the best government postgraduate medical institutes in India. Below is the complete list with approximate seat counts for the July 2026 session.

AIIMS Institutes Participating in INI-CET 2026

Other Participating Institutes (Non-AIIMS INIs)

Source: aiimsexams.ac.in

Seat numbers are approximate. The final seat matrix for the July 2026 session will be published by AIIMS New Delhi before counselling begins. Newer AIIMS campuses may offer fewer specialties and seats compared to the older ones.

Preparation Tips for INI-CET 2026

INI-CET is among the toughest PG medical entrance exams because it combines deep clinical knowledge with a strict sectional time limit. More than 50,000 candidates compete for around 1,600 seats. Here is a practical preparation guide for the upcoming January 2027 session and beyond.

Build a Subject-wise Strategy

• Clinical sections carry the highest marks: Sections 3 and 4 together have 100 marks. Focus heavily on General Medicine, Surgery, OBG, and Paediatrics. Strong clinical preparation can significantly improve your rank.
• Do not skip pre-clinical subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry (Section 1) carry 50 marks. Many candidates neglect these and lose easy marks. Prepare short revision notes for high-yield topics.
• Para-clinical subjects are the differentiator: In Pharmacology, focus on drug mechanisms and adverse effects. In Pathology, focus on systemic pathology. In Microbiology, focus on high-frequency organisms and their diseases.

Master the Sectional Time Limit

• Practise each section separately under a strict 45-minute timer to build speed and accuracy for each subject group.
• In your first pass through any section, spend no more than 60 seconds per question. Flag difficult questions and return if time allows.
• Take at least 2–3 full-length 200-question mock tests every week in the last 6 weeks before the exam.

Recommended Study Resources

• Standard MBBS textbooks: Harrison’s Principles (Medicine), Gray’s Anatomy, Robbins Pathology, Katzung Pharmacology, Guyton Physiology
• Concise PG entrance-focused revision books for each subject
• Previous year INI-CET and AIIMS PG question papers (minimum last 10 years)
• Online mock test series modelled specifically on INI-CET’s sectional pattern

Handle Negative Marking Smartly

With -1/3 negative marking for wrong answers, accuracy matters more than maximum attempts. If you can eliminate 2 of 4 options confidently, attempt the question. If you cannot eliminate any option, skip it. Random guessing will lower your score.

Final Month Revision Plan

• Target at least 3 complete revisions of all subjects before exam day.
• Prepare one-page summary notes per subject for last-minute revision in the final week.
• Focus extra revision time on your weakest sections based on mock test performance data.