Medical

INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test)

Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test — INI-CET is the premier combined postgraduate medical entrance examination conducted by AIIMS New Delhi. It is the sole gateway to PG medical training in India's elite healthcare research institutions: all AIIMS campuses (including AIIMS New Delhi), JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.

Conducting Body
AIIMS New Delhi
Level & Scope
Postgraduate • National
Mode & Duration
Computer Based (3 Hours)
Exam Timeline
May & November
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New DelhiDates: Announced

Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.

INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) Examination Guide
MedicalPostgraduate

Official Overview & Examination Scope

Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact

INI-CET is the premier combined postgraduate medical entrance examination conducted by AIIMS New Delhi. It is the sole gateway to PG medical training in India's elite healthcare research institutions: all AIIMS campuses (including AIIMS New Delhi), JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.

Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications

MBBS degree from an NMC-recognized institution with minimum 55% aggregate (50% for SC/ST) and completion of 12-month internship.

Exam Pattern & Test Structure

Total: 200 Marks
Section / PaperQuestionsMarksDuration
Integrated Clinical & Pre-clinical Medicine200 Objective Questions (Single & Multiple Choice, Match the Following)200 Marks3 Hours (180 Minutes)
Marking Scheme & Negative Marking:

+1 mark for correct response, -1/3 mark for incorrect response in single-correct questions. Partial negative marking on multiple-correct items.

Negative Marking Rule: -1/3 mark penalty for wrong answers

Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy

Master high-yield clinical image-based questions and histopathology slides.
Practice clinical reasoning for emerging treatment guidelines and diagnostic algorithms.
Attempt 10+ full-length INI-CET pattern grand tests.

Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark

AIIMS New Delhi Internal Medicine and Radiodiagnosis typically close within the top 50-100 All India Ranks.

Participating Institutes / Career Pathways

AIIMS New Delhi
PGIMER Chandigarh
JIPMER Puducherry
NIMHANS Bengaluru
AIIMS Rishikesh
AIIMS Bhubaneswar
AIIMS Jodhpur

Frequently Asked Questions

Which institutes accept INI-CET scores?

INI-CET scores are accepted by AIIMS New Delhi and all other AIIMS, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.

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