INI CET 2026 admit card for the July session was released by AIIMS New Delhi on May 9, 2026 at aiimsexams.ac.in. INI CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) was held on May 16, 2026 in computer-based mode for admission to MD, MS, DM, MCh, and MDS programmes across 23 participating institutes, including 19 AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum. A single INI CET rank is valid across all 23 institutes, so one exam replaces what used to be several separate entrance tests. This page covers the admit card dates, download steps, the mandatory surrender rule, documents needed, and the correction process.
INI CET is unusual among Indian entrance exams because candidates must physically hand back one printed copy of the admit card at the exam centre after the test is over. This makes carrying just a single printout risky, since a candidate would be left with no copy at all once the exam concludes.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) 2026, July Session |
| Conducting Body | AIIMS New Delhi |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Courses Offered | MD, MS, DM (6 years), MCh (6 years), MDS, MD (Hospital Administration) |
| Participating Institutes | 23 (19 AIIMS campuses, PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS, SCTIMST) |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 200 MCQs across 4 sections |
| Negative Marking | Yes, -1/3 mark for each incorrect answer |
| Admit Card Portal | aiimsexams.ac.in |
| Login Credentials | Application number and password |
| Admit Card Surrender Rule | One printed copy must be handed back at the exam centre after the test |
| Official Website | aiimsexams.ac.in |
INI CET 2026 July session followed a compact timeline from notification to result. The admit card was released about a week before the exam, which is shorter than the gap seen in many other national-level entrance exams.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Prospectus and application form released | March 28, 2026 |
| Correction window | April 30 to May 2, 2026 |
| Admit card released | May 9, 2026 |
| Exam date | May 16, 2026 (single shift, 9 AM to 12 noon) |
| Result declared | May 23, 2026 |
| Counselling registration | June 2026 |
| Seat allotment | June to July 2026 |
INI CET 2026 admit card was available only through the candidate login at aiimsexams.ac.in. AIIMS confirmed the hall ticket would not be sent by post, and candidates who could not access the main portal were told to try the AERA app as a backup download route.
Step 1: Visit the official AIIMS exam portal, aiimsexams.ac.in.
Step 2: Click on the 'INI CET Admit Card' link on the homepage.
Step 3: Log in using the application number and password.
Step 4: The admit card will appear on screen with exam centre and timing details.
Step 5: Download the PDF and take at least two clear printouts, since one copy must be surrendered at the centre.
Step 6: Verify the name, photograph, exam centre, and reporting time before the exam day.
Unlike most entrance exams where the admit card stays with the candidate permanently, INI CET requires one printed copy to be handed over to the invigilator at the exam centre once the test is complete. AIIMS has repeatedly flagged this as a detail candidates overlook, since it means printing only one copy leaves a candidate with no admit card at all after the exam.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of printouts needed | At least two |
| What happens to one copy | Surrendered to the invigilator at the exam centre after the test |
| What the candidate keeps | One copy, which should be preserved for the counselling process |
| Consequence of printing only one copy | No admit card remains with the candidate after the exam |
INI CET admit card does not require a photograph to be pasted, unlike some older-style hall tickets. However, AIIMS sets specific technical requirements for the photograph uploaded during registration, and candidates are advised to carry backup printed photographs in case the one on the admit card does not display clearly.
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Candidate name and photograph | As uploaded during registration |
| Application number and roll number | Unique identifiers generated during registration |
| Exam centre name and address | Full address of the allotted CBT centre |
| Reporting time and exam date | Candidates must be seated by 8:55 AM for the 9 AM start |
| Exam day instructions | Reporting rules, surrender rule, and items banned |
Photograph specifications for backup copies: minimum 600 dpi resolution, maximum size 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, white or light background, full frontal view with neutral expression, no caps or goggles, face and head occupying at least 75% of the frame.
INI CET 2026 exam centres required the printed admit card copies and one original photo ID. Candidates whose admit card photograph appeared unclear were advised to bring two recent passport-size photographs matching the specifications, since AIIMS enforces strict identity verification before allowing entry.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Printed admit card | At least two copies. One must be surrendered after the exam. |
| Original photo ID (any one) | Aadhaar card, passport, Voter ID, driving license, or PAN card |
| Two passport-size photographs | Recommended backup if the admit card photo is unclear or missing |
| MBBS/BDS related documents | May be required during later stages, though not typically checked at the exam centre itself |
Items banned inside the INI CET exam centre
Mobile phones, calculators, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, and any electronic gadgets. Candidates are allotted a separate computer system with an individual login ID and are allowed to log in five minutes before the exam starts.
INI CET question paper is split into four sequential sections of 50 questions each, with exactly 45 minutes allotted per section. This is different from exams that allow free movement across the entire paper, since once a section's time ends or is submitted, it locks permanently and cannot be revisited.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of sections | 4, arranged sequentially |
| Questions per section | 50 |
| Time per section | 45 minutes |
| Moving between sections | Not allowed. A submitted or timed-out section is locked. |
| Total exam duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Question types | Single best answer and multiple correct answer formats |
AIIMS provided a correction window from April 30 to May 2, 2026, before the admit cards were generated, allowing candidates to fix errors in rejected images or incorrect registration details. Once the admit card was issued, no further self-correction was possible online, and candidates had to contact AIIMS directly.
AIIMS contact details:
Toll-free number: 1800117898
Email: aiims.inicet@gmail.com
Address: Assistant Controller of Examinations, AIIMS, New Delhi-110029
A few facts about INI CET 2026 admit card and the exam process fall outside the sections above but still matter for candidates going through the AIIMS PG admission cycle.
INI CET does not release an official question paper or answer key at any stage. The result is published directly as a PDF merit list, with no objection window like most other entrance exams provide.
A single INI CET rank is valid across all 23 participating institutes. Candidates fill institute and course preferences during counselling rather than appearing separately for each institution.
There is no upper age limit and no cap on the number of attempts for INI CET. Candidates can appear across as many January and July sessions as needed.
The one-year rotating internship must be completed by the deadline set for each session. For the July 2026 session, this deadline was July 31, 2026, with no exceptions.
AIIMS conducts a one-time basic registration that carries forward across sessions, separate from the session-specific final registration completed fresh for each exam cycle.
AIIMS New Delhi conducts INI CET on behalf of all participating Institutes of National Importance, replacing what used to be a fragmented system of separate entrance exams for each institute. AIIMS Jammu joined as the newest participating institute for the 2026 cycle.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting authority | AIIMS New Delhi |
| Total participating institutes (2026) | 23 |
| AIIMS campuses included | 19, including the newly added AIIMS Jammu |
| Other institutes included | PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru, SCTIMST Trivandrum |
| Approximate seats offered (July 2026) | 1,631 across MD, MS, DM, MCh, MDS, and MD Hospital Administration |
| Official website | aiimsexams.ac.in |
INI CET uses a fractional negative marking scheme rather than a whole-number deduction, which is uncommon among Indian medical entrance exams. The paper also includes multiple correct answer questions, where more than one option may technically be correct, but candidates must select the single response that best represents the full correct combination.
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +1 mark |
| Incorrect answer | -1/3 mark (one-third deduction) |
| Unattempted question | 0 marks |
| Total questions | 200 MCQs (50 per section, 4 sections) |
| Question formats | Single best answer, multiple correct answer, assertion-reasoning, clinical vignettes |
INI CET registration works differently from a typical one-time application. Candidates complete a basic registration only once, which then carries forward across every future INI CET session they apply for. A separate, session-specific final registration and Eligibility Unique Code (EUC) generation must be completed fresh for each cycle, including the admit card download.
| Registration Stage | When Completed | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic registration | Once, before the first INI CET attempt | Core candidate profile, carried forward to future sessions |
| EUC generation | Each session | Eligibility Unique Code confirming qualification for that specific cycle |
| Final registration | Each session | Course preferences, fee payment, and document upload for that session |
| Admit card | Each session | Generated only after that session's final registration is complete |
INI CET 2026 admit card remains the single most important document for entry into the exam hall, but candidates must also plan for the surrender rule that hands one copy back to AIIMS at the end of the test. Printing at least two copies, checking every detail carefully, and preserving the remaining copy through result and counselling stages will help avoid last-minute problems. Future INI CET sessions are expected to follow the same admit card process through aiimsexams.ac.in.
| Relevant Links | |
|---|---|
| INI CET Previous Year Papers | INI CET Question Paper 2025 |
| INI CET Question Paper 2024 | INI CET Question Paper 2023 |
Ques: Why does INI CET require candidates to surrender their admit card after the exam?
Ans: AIIMS collects one printed copy of the admit card at the exam centre as part of its post-exam record-keeping process. This is why candidates are told to print at least two copies beforehand, so they still have one for the counselling process afterward.
Ques: Does one INI CET rank allow admission at any of the 23 participating institutes?
Ans: Yes. A single INI CET exam and rank is valid across all 23 institutes, including 19 AIIMS campuses, PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS, and SCTIMST. Candidates rank their preferred institutes and courses during the counselling stage rather than appearing for separate exams.
Ques: Can a candidate go back to an earlier section during the INI CET exam if time remains?
Ans: No. INI CET follows a block-wise format with four sequential sections of 50 questions each and 45 minutes per section. Once a section is submitted or its time runs out, it locks permanently, and candidates cannot return to it even if time remains in a later section.
Ques: Does AIIMS release an official INI CET answer key for candidates to check their score before results?
Ans: No. INI CET does not have a published question paper or answer key stage. The result is released directly as a PDF merit list showing rank and percentile, without any objection or challenge window.
Ques: What happens if a candidate loses their INI CET admit card before document verification?
Ans: Candidates who have preserved their surrendered copy's duplicate should use it for reference. If both printed copies are lost, candidates should immediately contact AIIMS through the toll-free number or email with their application number for guidance before the counselling stage.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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