INI-CET exam pattern
What public reporting says about INI-CET, what you should confirm in the official brochure, and how to prepare.
We are an independent practice platform, not AIIMS. We could not open the official brochure while writing this, so every figure comes from public coaching-site reporting. Confirm each one on the AIIMS exams website before you plan around it.
What is reported
- 200 multiple-choice questions, computer-based.
- Three hours in total, often described as four sections of 50 questions.
- One mark for a correct answer and one third of a mark lost for a wrong one.
- No pass line: institutes and seats are allotted by rank.
Some sources also mention question formats beyond a single best answer. NextPrep's practice uses single best answer throughout, so check the brochure for the formats in your session.
INI-CET, NEET PG and FMGE side by side
| INI-CET | NEET PG | FMGE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | AIIMS | NBEMS | NBEMS |
| Purpose | Ranked entrance to institutes of national importance | Ranked entrance to most other PG seats | Pass or fail screening |
| Questions (reported) | 200 MCQs | 180 MCQs in the 2026 cycle | 300 MCQs in two parts |
| Marking (reported) | +1 and minus one third | +4 and minus one | +1, no negative marking |
| Duration (reported) | Three hours | Three and a half hours | Disputed between sources |
All reported figures. See the NEET PG and FMGE pages for their disputes.
How to prepare
- 1Read the brochure and write your own numbers: questions, minutes, sections, marking.
- 2With minus one third, a reasoned guess between two options is worth more than under NEET PG, but a blind guess still loses marks over a long paper. Practise deciding when to guess.
- 3Practise application questions: management steps, next best investigation and mechanisms, not just recall.
- 4Review every option, right and wrong. The distractors are where the second tier of marks is.
Free · 25 minutes
Where do you stand right now?
20 questions, one from every subject, with the reasoning behind every option.
Common questions
What is INI-CET?
The Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test is the postgraduate entrance for AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS and other institutes of national importance. It is conducted by AIIMS and is separate from NEET PG.
How many questions and how long is INI-CET?
Coaching-site reports for recent cycles say 200 multiple-choice questions in three hours, often described as four sections of 50. We could not open the official AIIMS brochure, so confirm both figures there for your session.
How is INI-CET marked?
As reported: one mark for a correct answer and one third of a mark deducted for a wrong one. That is gentler on guessing than NEET PG's minus one. Confirm in the brochure.
Is INI-CET different from NEET PG?
The syllabus is the same MBBS subjects. The reported differences are the paper length, the marking and a reputation for more application, reasoning and image-based questions. Seats go by rank, with no pass line.
Can I use NextPrep for INI-CET?
Yes. The questions cover the same 20 subjects, and the app has INI-CET mocks of 200 questions in three hours scored +1 and minus one third, as reported. Choose INI-CET in Settings to see them first.
Do you have INI-CET previous year papers?
No. We do not publish recalled questions from any exam. See our previous-year paper policy for why.