INI CET Counselling 2026: Registration, Choice Filling and Round-Wise Seat Allotment

INI CET July 2026 Counselling is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for admission to MD, MS, MDS, DM, and MCh programs at Institutes of National Importance including all AIIMS campuses, JIPMER, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram. Round 1 choice filling and locking is open from June 16–17, 2026 at aiimsexams.ac.in, with the seat allotment result expected on June 24, 2026 and reporting deadline of June 30, 2026.

• Counselling is centralized and conducted entirely online by AIIMS New Delhi on behalf of all participating Institutes of National Importance.
• The full counselling cycle has four rounds: Mock Round (completed June 15), Round 1 (active now), Round 2 (allotment July 10), and Open Round (dates TBA).
• A key INI CET-specific rule: Round 2 uses the identical choice list you locked in Round 1 — no modifications to your preference order are allowed between rounds.
• Students who do not join after accepting a seat under Option 2 face a non-joining penalty of Rs. 3 lakh.
• At the time of reporting, you must produce original documents as security or pay Rs. 3 lakh as a monetary security deposit in lieu of originals.
• Registering for counselling is mandatory — your INI CET rank alone does not guarantee a seat.

Reservation of Quotas for INI CET Counselling 2026

All seats at Institutes of National Importance are filled on an All India merit basis following Central Government reservation norms. There is no state domicile quota — students from any state compete equally for seats at any participating institute across India.

OBC-NCL students must ensure their caste certificate is in the Central Government format — State Government OBC certificates are not accepted for Central Government institute admissions. Students belonging to the creamy layer of OBC are treated as General category and compete in the open merit pool.

How to Apply for INI CET Counselling 2026?

INI CET Counselling registration is done entirely online at aiimsexams.ac.in. You log in using the same credentials — Registration ID, Exam Unique Code (EUC), and password — created during your INI CET examination registration. There is no separate sign-up account for counselling. Follow the five steps below for each active round.

Step 1: Login to the Counselling Portal

Visit aiimsexams.ac.in and click on the "INI CET July 2026 Counselling" link. Enter your INI CET Registration ID, Exam Unique Code (EUC), and password to access your counselling dashboard. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" option to reset it via your registered email — do this before the choice filling window closes on June 17, 2026.

Step 2: Fill Personal and Academic Details

First-time users entering the counselling system must verify and complete their profile. This includes personal information, MBBS / BDS academic record (university, year of passing, aggregate marks), internship completion details, and your NMC / SMC / DCI registration number. Every detail you enter must match your official documents exactly — discrepancies discovered at reporting can delay or cancel your admission.

Step 3: Choice Filling and Locking

Navigate to "Choice Filling and Locking" on your dashboard. Browse all available institute-course combinations and arrange them in your preferred order. You may add, remove, and reorder choices freely until the deadline. Fill at least 15–20 choices to maximise your chances across all rounds. Once satisfied, click "Lock Choices." Your locked list is final — it is used for Round 1 allotment and automatically carried forward unchanged to Round 2. There is no facility to modify preferences before Round 2.

Step 4: Seat Allotment and Acceptance

Log in on June 24, 2026 to check your Round 1 allotment. If a seat has been assigned, you will see the institute, course, and category. You must respond by June 30, 2026 by choosing Option 1 (Accept and Freeze), Option 2 (Accept with Upgrade), or Withdraw. Students choosing Option 2 should note that a Rs. 3 lakh non-joining penalty applies if they receive an upgraded seat in Round 2 but ultimately fail to join that institute.

Step 5: Document Verification and Reporting

Students who accept a seat under Option 1 must physically report to the allotted institute between June 25–30, 2026. At reporting, present all original documents for verification. You must either surrender original documents as security to the institute or pay Rs. 3 lakh as a monetary security deposit in lieu of originals. If you fail to report within the deadline, your allotted seat will be cancelled and amounts paid may be forfeited.

How to Lock Choices for INI CET Counselling 2026

Choice locking is the single most consequential step in INI CET Counselling. Your locked preference list determines allotments in both Round 1 and Round 2 — making it vital to build the most comprehensive, correctly ordered list possible during the June 16–17, 2026 window.

Step 1: Log In to the Portal

• Go to aiimsexams.ac.in and click on "INI CET July 2026 Counselling."
• Enter your Registration ID, Exam Unique Code (EUC), and password.
• Click "Login" to reach your counselling dashboard.

Step 2: Open the Choice Filling Interface

• From the dashboard, click on "Choice Filling and Locking."
• The interface shows all available institute-course combinations with category-wise seat counts.

Step 3: Build and Arrange Your Preference List

• Use the search and filter options to browse by institute, course, or specialization.
• Click "Add" to include a combination in your preference list.
• Drag and reorder entries so your most preferred combination sits at rank 1.
• Add, remove, and reorder choices as many times as needed before the deadline.
• Plan carefully — this same list applies to Round 2 automatically; there is no later opportunity to revise it.

Step 4: Preview and Lock Your Choices

• Click "Preview" to carefully review your final preference order before committing.
• When satisfied, click "Lock Choices."
• A confirmation pop-up asks you to reconfirm — read it before clicking Yes.
• After confirmation, your choices are permanently locked and cannot be edited for any round.

Step 5: Save Your Confirmation

• Download the locked choice list PDF from the portal immediately after locking.
• You will receive an email and SMS confirmation summarizing your locked preferences.
• Retain both the PDF and the confirmation messages — you will need them for subsequent rounds and for reporting.

Once confirmed, your choices are locked and cannot be changed for any subsequent round.

INI CET Counselling Documents Required 2026

You must carry originals and at least three self-attested photocopies of every document listed below when reporting to the allotted institute. Documents are cross-checked against your online application. Incomplete documentation at reporting may result in denial of admission at the institute level.

• INI CET July 2026 Allotment Letter — downloaded from the AIIMS counselling portal after seat allotment
• INI CET July 2026 Offer Letter / Joining Letter — generated after online seat acceptance
• INI CET July 2026 Admit Card — original printed copy
• MBBS / BDS Degree Certificate or Provisional Degree Certificate from the university
• MBBS / BDS Mark Sheets — all professional examinations (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Final Year, including all parts)
• Internship Completion Certificate — issued by the Dean or Principal of your medical / dental college
• NMC / DCI Permanent Registration Certificate — or a bonafide letter from the Medical / Dental Council if permanent registration is pending
• Date of Birth Proof — Class X Passing Certificate, Aadhaar Card, or Passport
• Category Certificate (if applicable):
  • OBC-NCL: Certificate in Central Government format, issued within the current financial year (2025–26)
  • SC / ST: Certificate from the competent authority as per Central Government norms
  • EWS: Income and Asset Certificate from Tehsildar or above, valid for financial year 2025–26
• PwD Certificate (if applicable) — from a Government Medical Board; original required for re-verification by the institute’s medical board at the time of reporting
• Sponsored / In-Service Letter (if applicable) — on official letterhead from the appropriate government authority
• Passport-Size Photographs — minimum 6 recent, identical, colour photographs
• Photo Identity Proof — Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence
• Migration / Transfer Certificate — from the last institution attended
• Anti-Ragging Undertaking — signed by student and parent / guardian, as required by the allotted institute

Note: At reporting you must either submit original documents to the institute as security or pay Rs. 3 lakh as a monetary security deposit in lieu of originals. Arriving without originals and without the security deposit will result in admission being withheld at the institute level.

How Much Money is Needed for INI CET Counselling 2026?

INI CET Counselling 2026 involves two main financial commitments: a counselling registration fee (if applicable) paid when entering the process, and a large security deposit required at the time of reporting. Students who choose Option 2 face an additional financial risk — a non-joining penalty if they are upgraded in the next round but then fail to join that allotted institute. Plan your finances well before the Round 1 reporting deadline of June 30, 2026.

Non-Refundable Registration Fee

A counselling registration or processing fee, if applicable, is charged at the time of participating in choice filling. This fee is non-refundable regardless of whether you receive a seat or choose to withdraw later. The exact amount payable for INI CET July 2026 Counselling should be confirmed from the official AIIMS counselling notification at aiimsexams.ac.in before the Round 1 window closes on June 17, 2026.

Security Deposit and Non-Joining Penalty

The security deposit is the dominant financial commitment in INI CET Counselling. At reporting, you surrender original documents as security or pay Rs. 3 lakh as a monetary deposit in lieu of originals; this deposit is refunded when you submit originals later or complete the course. The non-joining penalty is an entirely separate, non-refundable amount charged only to Option 2 students who fail to join after upgradation — it is not the same as the security deposit, though both are Rs. 3 lakh.

Note: These amounts are sourced from the official AIIMS INI CET counselling notification and may be subject to revision. Always verify the final figures from aiimsexams.ac.in before reporting or making any payment.

INI CET Round-Wise Seat Allotment 2026

INI CET July 2026 Counselling allocates seats across four rounds. Allotment in each round is computed by the AIIMS algorithm based on your rank, locked preference order, available category-wise vacancies, and reservation criteria. Students who opt for upgradation after Round 1 are automatically considered in Round 2 using their same locked list — no additional registration or choice submission is needed from them.

The table below lists all institutes participating in INI CET July 2026 Counselling. Exact seat counts per institute, course, and category are published in the official seat matrix on aiimsexams.ac.in when each round opens.

Note: Not all AIIMS campuses offer all PG courses in every session. Newer campuses may have limited specialties. Check the official seat matrix at aiimsexams.ac.in for the exact course-wise, category-wise vacancies for INI CET July 2026 Counselling.

Option 1 vs Option 2 vs Withdraw: Making the Right Decision

After Round 1 seat allotment on June 24, 2026, every student who receives an allotment must respond by June 30, 2026. INI CET uses a two-option acceptance framework — distinct from the freeze/float/slide terminology used in JoSAA or MCC NEET PG counselling.

If you choose Option 2 in Round 1: AIIMS applies your locked list to Round 2. If a seat ranked higher on your list is available in Round 2, it is allotted to you and your Round 1 seat is cancelled simultaneously. If no better option is found, your Round 1 allotment is retained. You must then freeze and report to the institute holding your allotment by the Round 2 reporting deadline of July 16, 2026.

If you choose Option 1 in Round 1: Report to the allotted institute between June 25–30, 2026 with all original documents or Rs. 3 lakh security deposit. Your INI CET July 2026 Counselling participation ends after reporting; you are not considered for Round 2 or the Open Round.

If you withdraw after accepting a seat, the seat acceptance fee is not fully refunded — confirm the exact forfeiture rules in the AIIMS INI CET July 2026 Counselling Notification before making this decision.

As a practical rule: students whose Round 1 allotment falls well below their top preferences (choice 6 or lower) typically benefit from Option 2. Students allotted their 1st or 2nd preference are generally better served by Option 1 — freezing the seat eliminates the Rs. 3 lakh penalty risk with nothing meaningful to gain from upgrading.