INI CET 2027: Exam on November 1, Eligibility, Syllabus and Counselling

INI CET 2027 (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi twice a year for admission to MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, and MDS courses at the top Institutes of National Importance across India — including all AIIMS campuses, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, and SCTIMST. The January 2027 session exam is on November 1, 2026, and admit cards have already been released on aiimsexams.ac.in. More than 40,000 MBBS graduates are expected to appear this session, competing for 800+ PG medical seats at some of India’s most prestigious institutions.

• Exam Date (January 2027 Session): INI CET January 2027 exam is on November 1, 2026 (Sunday), from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The gate closes at 8:30 AM, so reach your centre at least 45 minutes early. It is a CBT with 200 MCQs.
• Result: INI CET January 2027 result is expected around November 7, 2026 on aiimsexams.ac.in. In the previous year (January 2026 session), the result was declared within 5–6 days of the exam, which was held on November 9, 2025.
• Counselling: INI CET January 2027 counselling is expected to begin in December 2026. It covers 800+ MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, and MDS seats across 22+ INIs including AIIMS New Delhi (approx. 190 seats), JIPMER Puducherry (approx. 135 seats), and PGIMER Chandigarh (approx. 132 seats).
• July 2027 Session: The INI CET July 2027 notification is expected around March 2027, with the exam in May 2027. In the previous cycle, the July 2026 session notification was released in March 2026 and the exam was held in May 2026.

What is INI CET 2027?

INI CET stands for Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test. AIIMS New Delhi conducts this exam on behalf of all Institutes of National Importance (INIs) in the country. It is the only entrance test for PG medical admissions at these institutions — NEET PG scores are not valid here.

The exam is held twice a year:

• January Session: Exam in November of the previous year. Admissions begin in January of the following year.
• July Session: Exam in May of the same year. Admissions begin in July.

INI CET 2027 covers both the January 2027 session (exam November 1, 2026) and the July 2027 session (exam expected May 2027).

Courses available through INI CET:

• MD (Doctor of Medicine) — 3-year postgraduate program
• MS (Master of Surgery) — 3-year postgraduate program
• DM (Doctorate of Medicine, Super-specialty) — available as direct 6-year integrated entry
• M.Ch (Magister Chirurgiae / Master of Surgical Specialties) — available as direct 6-year integrated entry
• MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) — offered at AIIMS New Delhi only, in the July session

These seats are distributed across AIIMS New Delhi, all newer AIIMS campuses, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum. A seat at any of these institutes is among the most coveted in Indian medicine.

INI CET 2027 Important Dates

The table below covers both the January 2027 session and the expected July 2027 session schedule. Upcoming events appear first, followed by past events at the bottom.

Note: July 2027 session dates are expected based on previous-year trends and will be confirmed on aiimsexams.ac.in.

Source: AIIMS Exams Official Website — aiimsexams.ac.in

INI CET January 2027 Admit Card

The INI CET January 2027 admit card was released on October 26, 2026 on aiimsexams.ac.in. The exam is on November 1, 2026 — just a few days away. If you have not downloaded your admit card yet, do it immediately.

Admit cards are NOT mailed or emailed. You must download yours from MyPage on aiimsexams.ac.in before exam day.

How to download INI CET January 2027 admit card:

1. Go to aiimsexams.ac.in
2. Click on "MyPage" and log in with your Registration ID, Password, and Exam Unique Code
3. Navigate to the Admit Card tab
4. Download and print a clear copy of the admit card

What to carry on exam day (November 1, 2026):

• Printed copy of the INI CET January 2027 admit card (clear, legible print)
• One original valid government-issued photo ID — Aadhaar card, Passport, PAN card, Voter ID, or Driving Licence

Key exam day rules:

• Gate closes at 8:30 AM. Exam starts at 9:00 AM. Late entry is not allowed.
• No mobile phones, smart watches, digital watches, or electronic devices inside the exam hall
• No stationery required — pens, pencils, and paper are not allowed inside
• No metal accessories; follow the dress code printed on your admit card
• Name, photograph, or date of birth errors on the admit card must be raised through MyPage before exam day; test centres cannot resolve them

Candidates who do not carry a valid photo ID along with the admit card will not be allowed to enter the exam hall.

INI CET 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply for INI CET 2027, check that you meet all eligibility conditions. Ineligible candidates will be rejected even after clearing the exam.

Academic Qualification

• You must have an MBBS degree from a medical college recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC), India
• Foreign medical qualifications are also accepted if recognized by NMC
• Candidates with a foreign MBBS degree must have a valid screening certificate from the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) or the National Exit Test (NExT)

Internship

• You must have completed a compulsory one-year rotating internship
• For the January 2027 session: internship must be completed by December 31, 2026
• Internship must be in a recognized hospital as per NMC norms

Minimum Marks in MBBS

Age Limit

• No upper age limit for Indian nationals
• Foreign nationals and sponsored candidates: refer to the official notification for special conditions

Medical Registration

• You must have a valid registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or any State Medical Council of India

Sponsored candidates (government-sponsored) and foreign nationals are also eligible but must apply under a separate category with higher fees. Check the official notification for specific rules.

INI CET 2027 Registration and Application Process

INI CET registration is done online at aiimsexams.ac.in. For the January 2027 session, registration is closed (it closed on October 13, 2026). The steps below apply for the upcoming July 2027 session, which will open around March 2027.

For the January 2027 session: Registration is closed. The exam is on November 1, 2026.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

1. Create an account: Register on aiimsexams.ac.in with your email ID and mobile number. You will receive login credentials on your registered email.
2. Log in to MyPage: Use your credentials to access the candidate dashboard.
3. Fill the application form: Enter personal details, MBBS qualification details, internship dates, and exam city preference.
4. Upload documents: Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, MBBS marksheets, internship completion certificate, and category certificate (if applicable).
5. Pay the fee: Pay online using net banking, credit card, debit card, or UPI.
6. Submit and save: Submit the form and download the confirmation page for your records.

INI CET 2027 Application Fee

The application fee is non-refundable. Check all details carefully before submitting, as corrections are allowed only within a limited window.

Documents to Keep Ready

• Recent passport-size photograph (white background, clear face visibility)
• Signature on plain white paper
• MBBS marksheets (all professional years)
• MBBS degree or provisional degree certificate
• Internship completion certificate
• Category certificate (for SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwBD candidates) — issued by a competent authority
• Aadhaar card or other valid government photo ID
• NMC or State Medical Council registration certificate

INI CET 2027 Syllabus

INI CET 2027 does not have a fixed prescribed syllabus beyond the full MBBS curriculum. AIIMS tests candidates on everything taught in the MBBS course — from 1st MBBS to final MBBS. The syllabus is broadly divided into three groups.

Pre-Clinical Subjects

• Anatomy: General anatomy, Systemic anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Embryology, Histology, Imaging anatomy (X-rays, MRI, CT), Surface anatomy
• Physiology: General physiology, Nerve-muscle physiology, CVS physiology, Respiratory physiology, Renal physiology, Endocrine physiology, Reproductive physiology, Neurophysiology
• Biochemistry: Carbohydrate metabolism, Lipid metabolism, Protein and amino acid metabolism, Enzymes, Molecular biology and genetics, Vitamins and minerals, Clinical biochemistry

Para-Clinical Subjects

• Pathology: General pathology, Systemic pathology (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, CNS), Hematopathology, Tumour markers, Oncopathology, Cytopathology
• Microbiology: Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Mycology, Immunology and immunodeficiency, Hospital infection control, Sterilization and disinfection
• Pharmacology: General pharmacology, Autonomic nervous system drugs, CNS pharmacology, Cardiovascular drugs, Antimicrobials and antivirals, Endocrine pharmacology, Antineoplastic agents, Drug toxicity
• Forensic Medicine and Toxicology: Thanatology, Injuries and wound classification, Forensic toxicology, Medical jurisprudence, DNA profiling
• Community Medicine (Preventive and Social Medicine): Epidemiology, Biostatistics, National health programs and policies, Nutrition, Environmental health, Occupational health, Healthcare systems

Clinical Subjects

• Medicine and Allied Subjects: General medicine, Cardiology, Respiratory medicine, Neurology, Nephrology and dialysis, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Haematology, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Radiology and imaging, Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Surgery and Allied Subjects: General surgery, Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic surgery, Urology, Paediatric surgery, Ophthalmology, ENT (Ear Nose Throat), Anaesthesiology, Burns and plastic surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Obstetrics (normal and complicated pregnancy), Gynaecology, Family planning, Reproductive endocrinology
• Paediatrics: General paediatrics, Neonatology, Paediatric infectious diseases, Paediatric nutrition, Growth and development

Pharmacology, Pathology, Community Medicine, and Medicine collectively carry the highest weightage in INI CET across sessions. Focus on these subjects without neglecting others, as any topic from MBBS can appear.

INI CET 2027 Participating Institutes and Seats

INI CET 2027 covers 22+ Institutes of National Importance. The seat matrix is released fresh with each session’s official prospectus and may change between sessions. Below is an approximate institute-wise seat count based on the January 2026 session data.

AIIMS Campuses — Approximate Seat Count

Other Institutes of National Importance

Source: AIIMS Exams Official Website — aiimsexams.ac.in (session-wise prospectus)

Seat matrix is tentative and finalized only in the official session brochure released each cycle. MDS at AIIMS New Delhi is offered in the July session only. NIMHANS and SCTIMST have very limited seats and extremely high competition — factor this in when filling choices.

AIIMS New Delhi remains the most sought-after choice across all specialties. However, newer AIIMS campuses and JIPMER offer excellent faculty and infrastructure, making them strong choices — especially in specialties where AIIMS Delhi competition is extreme.

How to Prepare for INI CET 2027

For candidates planning to appear in the INI CET July 2027 session (exam expected May 2027), you have roughly 6–7 months from now. Here is a structured preparation approach:

1. Understand What the Exam Tests

INI CET tests your ability to apply basic science concepts to clinical scenarios — not just your ability to memorize. A Pharmacology question may ask why a drug is contraindicated in a specific clinical condition, not just the drug’s mechanism. Study with understanding.

2. Prioritize High-Yield Subjects

Across sessions, these subjects carry the highest question density:

• Pharmacology — highest-yield para-clinical subject; cover all drug classes systematically
• Pathology — systemic pathology, oncopathology, and hematopathology are frequently tested
• Community Medicine (PSM) — biostatistics and national health programs are straightforward marks
• Medicine — clinical medicine covers 15–20% of the paper; Harrison’s key chapters are essential
• Microbiology — immunology, clinical microbiology, and infection control are recurring areas

3. Use Standard Textbooks

4. Solve Previous AIIMS PG and INI CET Papers

Before INI CET was introduced in November 2021, AIIMS New Delhi conducted its own AIIMS PG exam. Those papers follow the same style, difficulty, and question types. Solve at least 4–5 years of AIIMS PG papers and all available INI CET session papers. This is the single most effective preparation activity.

5. Take Full-Length Mock Tests Under Timed Conditions

Start full-length mocks at least 3 months before the exam. Simulate the actual CBT environment — no breaks, strict 180-minute timing. Analyse every wrong answer before your next mock. Improvement comes from understanding errors, not from just attempting more tests.

6. Manage Negative Marking Strategically

With –1/3 marking, random guessing is expensive. For every 3 wrong answers, you lose 1 mark. Attempt a question only if you are at least 60–65% confident. Skip questions where you have no idea. In a competitive exam where rank 1 and rank 10 may differ by 4–5 marks, negative marking discipline is a real advantage.

7. Build a Consistent Revision Cycle

Make short subject-wise notes during your first reading. In the final 4–6 weeks before the exam, shift entirely to revision mode — no new topics, only revision and mock tests. Cover each subject at least twice before exam day.