The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has opened registration for the Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) for the January 2027 session. The exam will allocate 815 postgraduate medical seats across MD, MS, MDS, and six-year DM and MCh programmes at AIIMS campuses, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS and other premier national institutes. For MBBS graduates seeking postgraduate admission, INI CET represents a direct pathway to some of India's most competitive and prestigious medical colleges, independent of the general NEET PG counselling system. Registration closes on October 13, 2026, and the computer-based examination is scheduled for November 1, 2026.
INI CET January 2027 registration is now live; MBBS doctors must apply by October 13, 2026 at 5 PM to compete for 815 PG seats at India's top medical institutes.
What is INI CET and why does it matter for NEET PG aspirants?
INI CET is a unified entrance examination conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for postgraduate medical admissions across a network of India's premier Institutes of National Importance. Unlike the general NEET PG exam, which feeds into a broader counselling pool managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), INI CET is a separate gateway that directly allocates seats at participating institutes. This means a qualifying rank in INI CET can secure your postgraduate seat without competing in the standard NEET PG counselling rounds.
The examination covers MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Surgery), MDS (Master of Dental Surgery), and six-year DM (Diploma of Medicine) and MCh (Master of Chirurgery) programmes. For an MBBS graduate, clearing INI CET can be a strategic advantage: it offers access to highly sought-after positions at AIIMS campuses and other national institutes, often with better seat availability and placement outcomes than general NEET PG counselling.
Which institutes are participating in INI CET January 2027?
INI CET January 2027 will allocate seats across 12 major medical institutes across India. These include all seven AIIMS campuses (New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, and Mangalagiri), as well as JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram. Each of these institutes is a government-funded, autonomous medical college with a strong reputation for clinical training and research.
The breadth of participating institutes means that candidates have geographic flexibility and access to diverse specialisation options. Whether you are interested in pursuing medicine, surgery, dentistry, or super-speciality training through DM or MCh, INI CET provides a single examination window to apply across all these institutes simultaneously.
- AIIMS New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Mangalagiri
- JIPMER Puducherry
- PGIMER Chandigarh
- NIMHANS Bengaluru
- SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram
INI CET January 2027 registration timeline: key dates you must know
Registration for INI CET January 2027 opened on September 16, 2026, and the basic registration window closes on October 13, 2026 at 5 PM. This is a hard deadline; applications submitted after this time will not be accepted. Candidates must complete both the online registration form and pay the prescribed application fee before this cutoff.
After the registration deadline, AIIMS will release a registration status window from October 17 to October 19, 2026, allowing candidates to verify their application details. The final registration status and admit card will be uploaded on October 26, 2026. The examination itself is scheduled for November 1, 2026, across multiple cities in India. This compressed timeline means you should begin your application process immediately to avoid last-minute technical or payment issues.
- Prospectus Part-A and Part-B upload: September 16, 2026
- Online registration begins: September 16, 2026
- Online registration closes: October 13, 2026 at 5 PM
- Registration status check window: October 17–19, 2026 at 5 PM
- Final registration status and admit card upload: October 26, 2026
- INI CET examination: November 1, 2026
How to register for INI CET January 2027: step-by-step process
Registration for INI CET is entirely online through the official AIIMS examinations portal at aiimsexams.ac.in. The process begins by reading the Prospectus Part-A and Part-B, which contain detailed eligibility criteria, course-specific requirements, and application instructions. These documents will be available on the portal from September 16, 2026 onwards, and you must review them carefully before starting your application.
To register, you will need a valid mobile number and email ID. The application form requires you to enter personal details, academic qualifications, internship information, and communication address. You will also need to upload a recent passport-sized photograph, your signature, and a left-hand thumb impression in the prescribed format. After completing the form, you must pay the application fee through the available online payment modes (typically credit card, debit card, or net banking). Once payment is confirmed, download and save your confirmation page for future reference.
- Visit aiimsexams.ac.in and log in or create a new account
- Read Prospectus Part-A and Part-B and verify your eligibility
- Complete the online registration form with personal and academic details
- Upload photograph, signature, and thumb impression in the required format
- Pay the application fee through online payment gateway
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page
- Keep the confirmation page and payment receipt for future reference
Eligibility criteria for INI CET January 2027: what you need to qualify
Eligibility for INI CET varies by programme. For MD and MS programmes, you must be an MBBS graduate with a valid medical registration and must have completed your internship. For six-year DM and MCh programmes, similar requirements apply, though some institutes may have additional criteria such as a minimum period of postgraduate study or clinical experience. For MDS programmes, you must hold a BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree and have completed the required internship.
The detailed eligibility criteria for each programme and institute will be published in the Prospectus Part-A and Part-B on September 16, 2026. It is essential that you read these documents thoroughly before applying, as eligibility requirements can vary between institutes and programmes. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, your application may be rejected even if you score well in the examination. Ensure you have all required documents—MBBS or BDS degree certificate, internship completion certificate, and category certificates (if applicable)—ready before you begin the registration process.
- MBBS graduates with valid medical registration for MD/MS/DM/MCh
- Completion of internship mandatory for all programmes
- BDS graduates with internship completion for MDS programmes
- Course-specific academic and clinical requirements as per prospectus
- Valid category certificate if applying under reserved category
Documents you need to prepare before applying for INI CET
Before you start your INI CET registration, gather all required documents in digital format. You will need a scanned copy of your MBBS or BDS degree certificate, your internship completion certificate, and any category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) if you are applying under a reserved category. You will also need to prepare a recent passport-sized photograph (typically 4×6 cm or as specified in the prospectus) and a clear scan of your signature.
Additionally, you will need to provide a left-hand thumb impression, which can be scanned or digitally captured. Ensure all documents are in the prescribed format (usually PDF or JPG) and meet the size and resolution requirements specified in the prospectus. Having these documents ready before you begin registration will speed up the process and reduce the risk of errors or delays. Do not wait until the last few days to gather documents; technical issues or file format problems can cause you to miss the deadline.
- MBBS or BDS degree certificate (scanned copy)
- Internship completion certificate
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Recent passport-sized photograph in prescribed format
- Scanned signature
- Left-hand thumb impression (scanned or digital)
- Valid email ID and mobile number for registration
Application fee and payment: what you need to know
The INI CET application requires payment of a prescribed fee, which must be completed online before the registration deadline of October 13, 2026 at 5 PM. The exact fee amount will be specified in the Prospectus Part-A and Part-B. Payment can typically be made through credit card, debit card, or net banking. It is critical that you complete the payment as part of your registration; applications for which the fee is not paid will be summarily rejected, regardless of the quality of your application.
Keep a record of your payment confirmation and transaction ID for future reference. If you encounter any payment issues, contact the AIIMS examinations helpdesk immediately rather than waiting until the last day. Technical glitches or payment gateway failures are common near deadlines, so plan to complete your payment at least 2–3 days before October 13, 2026.
- Application fee must be paid online before October 13, 2026 at 5 PM
- Payment modes: credit card, debit card, net banking
- Non-payment will result in automatic rejection of application
- Save payment confirmation and transaction ID
- Complete payment 2–3 days before deadline to avoid technical issues
How INI CET differs from NEET PG: which exam should you prioritise?
INI CET and NEET PG are two separate postgraduate medical entrance examinations in India, each with distinct advantages. NEET PG is a national-level exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and feeds into a centralised counselling system managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). It offers access to a much larger pool of postgraduate seats across government and private medical colleges nationwide. However, competition is intense, and seat allocation depends on your rank relative to thousands of other candidates.
INI CET, by contrast, is a smaller, more focused examination that directly allocates seats at 12 premier institutes. While the number of seats is smaller (815 in January 2027), the competition is also more limited, and the institutes are among India's most prestigious. For many MBBS graduates, appearing for both exams is a strategic choice: INI CET offers a direct pathway to top institutes, while NEET PG provides a broader safety net. If you are confident in your preparation and interested in the participating institutes, INI CET is worth attempting. If you are unsure, preparing for NEET PG alongside INI CET gives you more options.
- INI CET: 815 seats across 12 premier institutes; direct allocation
- NEET PG: larger seat pool; centralised MCC counselling; broader competition
- INI CET institutes are among India's top medical colleges
- Many candidates appear for both exams to maximise options
- INI CET may offer better seat security if you rank well
What happens after you submit your INI CET application?
After you submit your application and pay the fee, AIIMS will verify your registration details. From October 17 to October 19, 2026, you can check your registration status on the portal. This window allows you to confirm that your application has been received and processed correctly. If there are any discrepancies or missing information, you may be able to correct them during this period, though the prospectus will specify what can and cannot be changed.
On October 26, 2026, AIIMS will upload your final registration status and your admit card. Download your admit card immediately and verify all details—your name, roll number, examination centre, date, and time. The admit card is mandatory for entry into the examination hall. On November 1, 2026, you will appear for the computer-based examination at your assigned centre. After the exam, AIIMS will announce the results and merit list, following which seat allocation and counselling will take place at each participating institute.
- October 17–19: Check registration status on portal
- October 26: Download admit card from aiimsexams.ac.in
- Verify all details on admit card before exam day
- November 1: Appear for computer-based examination
- Post-exam: Result announcement and merit list release
- Seat allocation and counselling at participating institutes
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What is the last date to register for INI CET January 2027?
The last date to submit your INI CET application is October 13, 2026 at 5 PM. Registration opened on September 16, 2026. Both the application form and the prescribed fee must be completed before this deadline. Applications submitted after 5 PM on October 13 will not be accepted.
How many postgraduate seats are available in INI CET January 2027?
INI CET January 2027 will allocate 815 postgraduate medical seats across MD, MS, MDS, and six-year DM and MCh programmes. These seats are distributed among 12 participating institutes: AIIMS New Delhi, AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, AIIMS Jodhpur, AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Raipur, AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Mangalagiri, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.
When is the INI CET January 2027 examination scheduled?
The INI CET January 2027 examination is scheduled for November 1, 2026, and will be conducted as a computer-based test across multiple cities in India. Your admit card, which will be released on October 26, 2026, will specify your examination centre, date, and time.
Am I eligible to apply for INI CET if I am an MBBS graduate?
Yes, MBBS graduates are eligible to apply for INI CET for MD, MS, and six-year DM and MCh programmes, provided you have a valid medical registration and have completed your internship. The detailed eligibility criteria for each programme will be published in the Prospectus Part-A and Part-B on September 16, 2026. You must review these carefully to confirm your eligibility before applying.
What documents do I need to upload during INI CET registration?
You will need to upload a recent passport-sized photograph, your signature, and a left-hand thumb impression in the prescribed format. You will also need to provide scanned copies of your MBBS or BDS degree certificate, internship completion certificate, and category certificate (if applicable) during the registration process. Ensure all documents meet the size and format requirements specified in the prospectus.
Can I apply for INI CET if I have not completed my internship yet?
No, completion of internship is mandatory for eligibility in INI CET. You must have completed your MBBS or BDS internship and obtained the internship completion certificate before applying. If you have not completed your internship by the registration deadline, you will not be eligible to apply.
How is INI CET different from NEET PG?
INI CET is a separate entrance examination that directly allocates 815 seats across 12 premier institutes (AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, SCTIMST). NEET PG is a national-level exam that feeds into a larger centralised counselling system managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), offering access to thousands of seats across government and private colleges. INI CET offers a direct pathway to top institutes, while NEET PG provides broader options. Many candidates appear for both exams.
What is the registration process for INI CET January 2027?
Registration is entirely online at aiimsexams.ac.in. You must read the Prospectus Part-A and Part-B, complete the online registration form with your personal and academic details, upload the required documents and photograph, and pay the application fee through the online payment gateway. After submission, you can check your registration status from October 17–19, 2026, and download your admit card on October 26, 2026.
If you are an MBBS graduate interested in pursuing postgraduate medical training at India's premier institutes, INI CET January 2027 is a valuable opportunity. Begin your registration immediately at aiimsexams.ac.in, gather all required documents, and submit your application well before the October 13, 2026 deadline. Monitor the AIIMS portal regularly for updates on registration status, admit card release, and examination details.
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