INI-CETInstitutes of National Importance Combined Entrance Test
About INI-CET
INI-CET is a separate, highly competitive entrance examination conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for postgraduate admission to the Institutes of National Importance. It is held twice a year, aligned to the January and July academic sessions, and is prized because it leads to seats at the country's most sought-after institutions.
The computer-based test comprises 200 questions for 200 marks in four time-bound blocks, using single-best-response and higher-order formats such as assertion-reason and extended-matching questions. Its marking scheme differs from NEET-PG: +1 for a correct answer and a one-third-mark penalty for a wrong answer, which rewards careful, well-reasoned attempts.
Candidates typically prepare for INI-CET alongside NEET-PG, since both draw on the same MBBS syllabus but reward slightly different skills. As with NEET-PG, the legislated National Exit Test is intended to eventually subsume INI-CET, but that has not yet taken effect.
Accepted by: MD/MS/MDS and select super-specialty seats at Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru and SGPGI Lucknow
Official websiteINI-CET eligibility
An MBBS/BDS degree recognised under the NMC/DCI with a completed internship and valid registration; the exam selects for PG (MD/MS/MDS) and, in some rounds, super-specialty seats at the participating institutes.
INI-CET exam pattern
Sections
- Four time-bound blocks of 50 questions each covering pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects
Marking scheme: +1 for a correct answer, -1/3 for a wrong answer, 0 for unattempted
INI-CET syllabus outline
- Pre-clinical subjects — Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
- Para-clinical subjects — Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine
- Clinical subjects — the full range of medical (and dental, for MDS candidates) clinical disciplines
Find colleges that accept INI-CET
Compare medical colleges across India — fees, placements, accreditation, and courses — and shortlist the right fit for your score.