INI CET January 2027 eligibility requires an MBBS degree from an NMC-recognised institution with a completed one-year internship (CRRI) by 31 December 2026; no minimum MBBS aggregate percentage and no upper attempt limit apply.

INI CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for postgraduate admissions to MD, MS, MDS, DM, M.Ch. and MPH programmes across Institutes of National Importance, including AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Jodhpur, AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Raipur, AIIMS Rishikesh, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS and SCTIMST. Knowing the exact eligibility rules for the January 2027 session helps you confirm your candidature before registration closes.

  • Minimum qualification: MBBS degree from an NMC-recognised medical college.
  • Internship deadline: One-year CRRI must be completed by 31 December 2026.
  • MBBS percentage: No minimum aggregate percentage — passing MBBS is sufficient.
  • Attempt limit: No restriction on the number of INI CET attempts.
  • Age relaxation: No upper age limit; SC/ST get 5 years relaxation and PwBD get 10 years relaxation where applicable.

INI CET January 2027 Eligibility Overview

The table below summarises all key eligibility parameters for INI CET January 2027 based on the official notification and previous session requirements.

Parameter Requirement
Conducting Body AIIMS New Delhi
Minimum Qualification MBBS from an NMC-recognised institution
Minimum MBBS Percentage No minimum prescribed; passing MBBS is sufficient
Internship (CRRI) Must be completed by 31 December 2026
Attempt Limit No restriction
Upper Age Limit No upper age limit prescribed
Nationality Indian citizens, NRIs and OCI card holders
Programmes Offered MD, MS, MDS, DM, M.Ch., MPH

MBBS Qualification and Percentage Requirement

INI CET January 2027 does not prescribe a minimum MBBS aggregate percentage for any category. A common concern among students is whether low MBBS marks will make them ineligible — the answer is no. The only academic requirement is that you have passed MBBS from a college recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Your MBBS aggregate does not factor into the INI CET merit list. The exam score alone determines your rank. This differs from several state PG medical entrance tests that combine MBBS marks into the final merit score.

Category Minimum MBBS Marks Required Institution Recognised By
General / EWS / OBC-NCL Must have passed MBBS (no minimum %) National Medical Commission (NMC)
SC / ST / PwBD Must have passed MBBS (no minimum %) National Medical Commission (NMC)
Foreign MBBS Degree Holders Must have passed FMGE / NExT; degree must be NMC-equivalent NMC-equivalent foreign institution

Students with a foreign MBBS degree are eligible provided their degree is recognised as NMC-equivalent and they have cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) or the National Exit Test (NExT), where applicable. They must also complete the one-year internship requirement by the stipulated deadline.


Internship (CRRI) Completion Deadline

Your one-year Compulsory Rotating Residential Internship (CRRI) must be completed by 31 December 2026 to be eligible for INI CET January 2027. Students who have their MBBS degree but are still serving internship at the time of registration can apply, provided they will finish by the deadline.

If your internship ends after 31 December 2026, you are not eligible for the January 2027 session and should instead target the INI CET July 2027 session.

Session Internship Completion Deadline
INI CET January 2027 31 December 2026
INI CET July 2027 30 June 2027 (expected, based on previous session patterns)
  • Carry your MBBS degree certificate or a valid provisional certificate at the time of document verification.
  • A bonafide letter from your medical institution confirming the internship completion date is mandatory at registration.
  • Internship completed as part of an NMC-equivalent foreign MBBS programme is also accepted.

Attempt Limit for INI CET

There is no upper limit on the number of times you can appear for INI CET. Unlike some entrance exams that cap attempts at three or five, INI CET allows students to attempt the exam across multiple sessions without any restriction.

Each INI CET attempt is independent. Previous session scores do not carry forward or influence your result in the current session. You may appear in both the January and July sessions in the same academic year.

  • No cap on the number of INI CET attempts per student.
  • Students can appear in both the January 2027 and July 2027 sessions.
  • Each session requires a fresh application and payment of the application fee.
  • Only the current session score is used for merit ranking; past scores are not considered.

Age Limit and Age Relaxation

INI CET January 2027 does not prescribe an upper age limit for general category students. Earlier editions of the exam carried an age ceiling, but this was relaxed following regulatory updates and court directions concerning medical PG admission norms across India.

Category Age Relaxation
General / EWS / OBC-NCL No upper age limit prescribed
Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) 5 years relaxation (where any age limit applies)
Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) 10 years relaxation (where any age limit applies)
In-service / Defence personnel As per Government of India norms

Students should verify the current age relaxation details in the official INI CET January 2027 information brochure released by AIIMS New Delhi, as norms may be updated with each notification cycle.


Category-wise Eligibility and Reservation

INI CET follows the Government of India’s reservation policy for seat distribution across all participating Institutes of National Importance.

Category Reservation
Unreserved (General) 50%
OBC — Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) 27%
Scheduled Caste (SC) 15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST) 7.5%
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) 10% (horizontal reservation)
Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) 5% (horizontal, within each vertical category)

For OBC-NCL reservation, the central government’s OBC list applies. Your non-creamy layer certificate must be current and issued by a competent government authority. SC/ST certificates must be in the prescribed format issued by the respective state government.

INI CET January 2027 Eligibility FAQs

Ques. Is there a minimum MBBS percentage required for INI CET January 2027?

Ans. No. INI CET does not prescribe a minimum MBBS aggregate percentage for any category. You only need to have passed MBBS from an NMC-recognised institution. Your INI CET exam score alone determines merit rank.

Ques. How many attempts are allowed for INI CET?

Ans. There is no attempt limit for INI CET. You can appear in as many sessions as you wish. Each session requires a fresh application and fee payment.

Ques. What is the last date to complete internship for INI CET January 2027?

Ans. You must complete your CRRI by 31 December 2026 to be eligible for the January 2027 session. If your internship ends after this date, you can apply for the INI CET July 2027 session.

Ques. Is there an upper age limit for INI CET January 2027?

Ans. INI CET 2027 does not prescribe an upper age limit for general category students. SC/ST students receive a 5-year relaxation and PwBD students receive a 10-year relaxation where any age norm is specified.

Ques. Can I apply for INI CET January 2027 if I am still completing my internship?

Ans. Yes. You can apply even if your internship is ongoing at the time of registration, provided you will complete it by 31 December 2026. Submit a bonafide certificate from your institution confirming the internship end date.

Ques. Are students with a foreign MBBS degree eligible for INI CET January 2027?

Ans. Yes. Students with a foreign MBBS degree are eligible if their degree is NMC-equivalent and they have cleared FMGE or NExT as applicable. They must also have completed the one-year internship by the deadline.