In this guide, you’ll get a clear picture of the expected INI CET November 2026 timeline, registration process, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and a preparation roadmap that actually works — based on how previous INI CET cycles have played out. Whether you’re just starting your prep or fine-tuning your final revision, this article is built to answer the questions you’re actually typing into Google.

Note: AIIMS typically releases the official notification for the November cycle only a few weeks before registration opens. Until then, the dates below are informed estimates based on the pattern of previous INI CET sessions (like November 2025 and May 2026). Always cross-check with aiimsexams.ac.in closer to the date.

Table of Contents

1. What Is INI CET and Why It Matters
2. INI CET November 2026: Expected Key Dates
3. Eligibility Criteria
4. Step-by-Step Registration Guide
5. Application Fee Structure
6. Exam Pattern and Syllabus
7. Preparation Tips That Actually Work
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
9. Latest Trends and Updates
10. Key Takeaways
11. Conclusion
12. FAQs

 What Is INI CET and Why It Matters

INI CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) is the single national-level entrance exam conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, for admission to postgraduate medical and dental courses at India’s premier Institutes of National Importance. It replaced separate entrance tests that AIIMS, JIPMER, and PGIMER once ran independently, which means one exam now opens the door to all of them.

• All AIIMS campuses (New Delhi, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, Raipur, and others)
• JIPMER Puducherry
• PGIMER Chandigarh
• NIMHANS Bengaluru
• SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram

Courses covered: MD, MS, MDS, DM (6-year), and MCh (6-year) programs.

The exam runs twice a year — a November session (leading to the January admission cycle) and a May session (leading to the July cycle). This guide focuses on the November 2026 session.

 INI CET November 2026: Expected Key Dates

Based on how the November 2025 and May 2026 cycles unfolded, here’s the tentative schedule for INI CET November 2026:

A quick tip: bookmark and set calendar reminders for each stage. Missing the correction window, in particular, is a mistake that’s hard to undo once the exam is underway.

 Eligibility Criteria

Before you plan your prep schedule, make sure you actually qualify. The eligibility rules for INI CET have stayed fairly consistent across recent cycles:

For MD/MS/DM/MCh courses:

• A recognised MBBS degree from a university/institution approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• Completion of a 12-month rotatory internship by the cut-off date specified in the official notification (usually around six weeks before the exam or the start of the academic session).
• Minimum qualifying marks as prescribed (this has generally been around 50% aggregate for General/OBC and relaxed for reserved categories).

For MDS courses:

• A BDS degree from a recognised dental college, registered with the Dental Council of India.

Additional points:

• No upper age limit for INI CET.
• Indian nationals, OCI/PIO card holders, and foreign nationals (with a valid No-Objection Certificate) can apply.
• Foreign nationals typically need a slightly higher qualifying percentage (around 55%) in their MBBS/BDS degree.
• There’s no cap on the number of attempts — you can appear as many times as you meet the eligibility criteria.

If your internship completion date is borderline, don’t guess — check the exact cut-off date mentioned in the official INI CET November 2026 brochure once released, since this single detail disqualifies a surprising number of otherwise-strong candidates every cycle.

  Registration Guide

INI CET registration is a two-stage process. Here’s how it typically works:

Step 1: Basic Registration

1. Visit aiimsexams.ac.in and create a One-Time Registration (OTR) account if you don’t already have one.
2. Fill in your basic personal, academic, and contact details.
3. Upload a passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
4. Submit for verification. Once approved, you’ll receive an Exam Unique Code (EUC).

Step 2: Final Registration

1. Log in with your EUC.
2. Select the INI CET November 2026 session under “Academic Courses.”
3. Fill in your academic qualification details, category, and institute preferences.
4. Upload additional documents (category certificate, internship proof, ID proof, etc., as applicable).
5. Pay the application fee online via debit card, credit card, or net banking.
6. Review everything carefully and submit.
7. Download and save the confirmation/registration slip — you’ll need it later.

Pro tip: Use the correction window (usually open for 2–3 days after registration closes) to fix errors in your category, photograph, or contact details. Exam city/centre preferences are usually locked once submitted, so choose carefully the first time.

 Application Fee Structure

Fees have remained fairly stable across recent INI CET cycles. The expected fee structure for November 2026:

The fee is non-refundable once paid, so double-check your category and course selection before hitting submit.

 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Understanding the exam format is half the preparation battle.

Exam pattern at a glance:

• Mode: Computer-based test (CBT)
• Duration: 3 hours total
• Structure: Divided into 4 sections, each with a sectional time limit of 45 minutes
• Total questions: 200 MCQs (50 per section)
• Marking scheme: Negative marking applies — typically ⅓ mark deducted for each wrong answer

Core subjects covered:

• Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
• Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology
• Forensic Medicine and Community Medicine (PSM)
• All major clinical subjects: Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Radiology, Anaesthesia, and Community Medicine

Because the paper is sectional and time-boxed, you can’t simply “save time” from one section to spend on another — each 45-minute block is independent. That single design choice should shape how you practice.

 Preparation Tips That Actually Work

Build a subject-wise timeline, not a topic-wise one

With four sectional time limits, your accuracy-per-minute in each subject cluster matters more than raw content coverage. Group your revision by how subjects are likely to appear in a section, and time yourself accordingly.

Prioritise high-yield clinical subjects

Medicine, Surgery, OBG, and Paediatrics typically carry the heaviest weightage. If your time is limited, these four deserve first claim on your study hours, followed by Community Medicine — a subject many candidates underestimate.

Practice with a strict 45-minute clock

Don’t just solve questions — solve them in the exact sectional time format. This trains your brain to triage difficult questions and move on, instead of getting stuck and losing the whole section.

Use previous years’ papers as diagnostic tools, not just practice

After each mock test, don’t just check your score. Break down errors into three buckets: conceptual gaps, silly mistakes, and time-pressure errors. Each needs a different fix.

Revise, don’t just read

In the final 6–8 weeks, shift almost entirely from textbooks to your own notes, flashcards, and question banks. Passive re-reading rarely improves recall under exam pressure.

Take care of your body, not just your syllabus

Sleep, hydration, and short breaks aren’t optional extras during a 3-month prep sprint — they directly affect your accuracy in a 3-hour exam. Many toppers credit consistent daily routines over marathon all-nighters.

 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Registering at the last minute — server load spikes near the deadline, and technical glitches have derailed many applications in past cycles.
• Ignoring the internship cut-off date — apply only if you meet it; a mismatch here can lead to disqualification even after clearing the exam.
• Skipping the correction window — a wrong category or photograph upload can cause avoidable trouble during counselling.
• Over-focusing on one or two subjects — the sectional format punishes uneven preparation across the four sections.
• Not practicing full-length mocks under timed conditions — reading solved papers is not the same as attempting them cold, under the clock.
• Neglecting document readiness — degree certificates, internship completion proof, and category certificates should be scanned and ready well before the final registration deadline.

Latest Trends and Updates

A few patterns worth watching for the November 2026 cycle:

• Seat numbers fluctuate slightly each cycle as new AIIMS campuses stabilise their PG intake — recent cycles have offered under 1,000 combined seats across all institutes.
• Counselling continues in a four-round format, including one mock round for choice-locking practice before the real allocation begins.
• Digital-first registration remains the norm, with AIIMS increasingly pushing document verification and OTR-based logins to reduce duplicate applications.
• Keep an eye on the official Key Dates and Notices sections of aiimsexams.ac.in — AIIMS has, in recent cycles, made minor mid-process adjustments to correction windows and admit card release timing.

Key Takeaways

• INI CET November 2026 is expected to follow a familiar pattern: registration in September, exam around 1 November, results within a week, and counselling by December.
• Eligibility requires a recognised MBBS/BDS degree, completed internship by the cut-off date, and minimum qualifying marks — with no upper age limit.
• Registration is a two-step process: basic registration followed by final registration and fee payment.
• The exam is a 3-hour, 200-question CBT split into four sectional blocks of 45 minutes each.
• Sectional time limits mean your preparation strategy should be built around timed, subject-clustered practice — not just content revision.
• Always verify final dates against the official AIIMS notification once released.

Conclusion

The INI CET November 2026 exam is a high-stakes, high-reward opportunity for every MBBS and BDS graduate aiming for a PG seat at India’s top medical institutes. While the exact dates will only be locked in once AIIMS releases its official notification, planning around the expected timeline now gives you a real head start — both in your application readiness and your subject preparation. Treat the next few months as your runway: get your documents in order, build a sectional-timed study plan, and revisit this guide once AIIMS confirms the official schedule.

FAQs

1. When is the INI CET November 2026 exam expected to be held? Based on previous cycles, the exam is tentatively expected around 1 November 2026, though AIIMS will confirm the exact date in its official notification.

2. When will INI CET November 2026 registration start? Registration is expected to open in the first week of September 2026 and remain open for about 2–3 weeks.

3. What is the eligibility criteria for INI CET November 2026? Candidates need a recognised MBBS degree (or BDS for MDS courses) with minimum qualifying marks and a completed 12-month internship by the specified cut-off date. There’s no upper age limit.

4. How many attempts are allowed for INI CET? There is no cap on attempts — candidates can appear as many times as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

5. What is the INI CET November 2026 application fee? The expected fee is around ₹4,000 for General/OBC candidates and ₹3,200 for SC/ST/EWS candidates, with PwBD candidates exempted, though this should be confirmed against the official notification.

6. What is the exam pattern for INI CET? It’s a 3-hour computer-based test with 200 MCQs divided into four sections of 50 questions each, with a 45-minute time limit per section and negative marking of ⅓ mark per wrong answer.

7. Which institutes accept INI CET scores? AIIMS campuses across India, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.