PGIMER PhD Exam Pattern 2026: 80 Marks, Marking Scheme, Sections and Duration

The PGIMER PhD Entrance Exam 2026 is a 90-minute computer-based test (CBT) conducted by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. The exam carries 80 marks across two parts and uses negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. The July 2026 session CBT was held on May 31, 2026 in a single morning shift.

• PGIMER PhD 2026 is a 90-minute computer-based test with 80 questions to attempt for 80 marks.
• The exam has two parts: a compulsory Aptitude Test (Part I) and a Stream-Specific Test (Part II).
• A correct answer earns +1 mark, while a wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks.
• In Part I, all 40 questions are compulsory; in Part II, you attempt 40 out of 100 questions.
• The qualifying mark is 40 for General/OBC and 36 for SC/ST students.
• The exam was held in a single morning shift on May 31, 2026 across Chandigarh and Delhi centres.

PGIMER PhD Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

The PGIMER PhD exam pattern 2026 sets a single online paper split into two parts. You answer 80 questions in 90 minutes for a total of 80 marks. The test is objective, English-medium, and uses negative marking.

PGIMER PhD 2026 is a 90-minute computer-based test with 80 questions for 80 marks.

PGIMER PhD Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

The table below lists the key PGIMER PhD July 2026 session dates. The CBT was conducted on May 31, 2026, and the result is expected on June 8, 2026. Upcoming events appear first.

The PGIMER PhD 2026 result has not been declared yet and is expected on June 8, 2026. You should check the official website for the official notification.

PGIMER PhD 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

The PGIMER PhD 2026 detailed exam pattern divides the paper into Part I and Part II. Part I is fully compulsory, while Part II lets you choose 40 out of 100 stream-specific questions. Both parts share the single 90-minute window.

Note: In Part II, you must attempt only 40 out of 100 questions from your chosen discipline; extra attempts are not counted.

Students who appeared on May 31, 2026 reported a single morning shift from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, with the aptitude questions appearing first and stream-specific questions grouped by discipline.

PGIMER PhD Marking Scheme 2026

The PGIMER PhD 2026 marking scheme awards +1 mark for each correct answer. A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so guessing blindly can pull down your score. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.

Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to every wrong answer in PGIMER PhD 2026 — avoid random guessing.

The qualifying mark is 40 for General, OBC, Sponsored, and Foreign National students, and 36 for SC/ST students.

PGIMER PhD Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

The PGIMER PhD subject-wise pattern splits into the common Aptitude Test and your discipline-specific paper. Part I tests broad research readiness, while Part II tests depth in your chosen subject.

Part I: Aptitude Test

This compulsory section carries 40 marks and checks your general research aptitude across four broad areas.

Part II: Stream-Specific Test

This section offers 100 questions from your research discipline, of which you attempt 40 for 40 marks. Streams broadly fall under Non-Medical Sciences or Social and Behavioural Sciences.

PGIMER PhD Question Types 2026

The PGIMER PhD 2026 question types are entirely objective. Every item is a single-correct multiple-choice question with four options. There are no numerical-entry or descriptive questions.

• MCQ (Single Correct): All questions in Part I and Part II follow this format with one correct option.
• Aptitude-based questions: Reasoning, English, and biostatistics items that test research readiness.
• Concept-based questions: Stream-specific items that test core knowledge of your discipline.

There is no descriptive or numerical-entry component in PGIMER PhD 2026 — the paper is fully MCQ-based.

PGIMER PhD Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

The PGIMER PhD exam pattern stayed stable in 2026. The mode, duration, marking scheme, and two-part structure match the previous session, so your old preparation strategy still holds.

There is no change in the PGIMER PhD pattern in 2026 — the exam remains a 90-minute, two-part CBT.

How to Prepare Based on PGIMER PhD Exam Pattern

Your PGIMER PhD preparation should mirror the two-part structure and the negative-marking rule. Use these pattern-based tips to plan smartly.

1. Because Part I is fully compulsory, build strong basics in biostatistics, research methodology, and reasoning first.
2. Since Part II lets you pick 40 out of 100 questions, master the high-confidence topics in your stream and skip weak areas.
3. Practise with a 0.25 negative-marking mindset — attempt only when reasonably sure to protect your score.
4. Train for the 90-minute window with timed mocks so you split time evenly across both parts.
5. Strengthen English comprehension and vocabulary, as these aptitude marks are easy to secure.
6. Revise research design and data interpretation, which recur across the aptitude section.
7. Take full-length CBT mocks to get used to the on-screen, single-shift exam format.