AIIMS PG Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Sections, Duration and Question Types

AIIMS PG, now conducted as the INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) by AIIMS New Delhi, is a 180-minute computer-based test with 200 MCQs carrying 200 marks for MD/MS/DM/MCh admissions. The exam follows a block-wise pattern of four timed sections and awards +1 for a correct answer with a negative marking of 1/3 for a wrong one. The pattern stays the same across the January and July sessions held each year, with details published on aiimsexams.ac.in.

• INI-CET (AIIMS PG) is a 180-minute computer-based test with 200 MCQs for 200 marks in the MD/MS stream.
• The paper is split into 4 blocks of 50 questions, with 45 minutes per block and no backward navigation once a block is submitted.
• A correct answer earns +1 mark; a wrong answer deducts 1/3 mark; unattempted questions score 0.
• Questions are drawn from pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects of the MBBS curriculum.
• The exam is held in two sessions a year (January and July) and in a single shift from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
• Clinical subjects, especially Medicine and Surgery, carry the highest weightage in the paper.
• You must score the 50th percentile (General) or 45th percentile (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) to qualify.

AIIMS PG Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

The AIIMS PG exam is now held as INI-CET, a single national test for PG seats at AIIMS and other Institutes of National Importance. It is a computer-based test taken in English, with 200 objective questions for the MD/MS stream. You get 180 minutes, split into four timed blocks, and the same pattern applies to both the January and July sessions.

AIIMS PG (INI-CET) 2026 is a 180-minute computer-based test with 200 questions for 200 marks in the MD/MS stream.

AIIMS PG Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

AIIMS conducts INI-CET twice a year, and the July 2026 session was held on 16 May 2026, with results declared on 23 May 2026. You should now track the January 2027 session, whose schedule is yet to be released on aiimsexams.ac.in. The table below lists the latest confirmed dates alongside the upcoming cycle.

Note: AIIMS names the sessions by their admission cycle, so the "July 2026 session" exam was actually conducted in May 2026.

AIIMS PG 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

The AIIMS PG (INI-CET) paper follows a block-wise structure. The 200 questions are split into four blocks of 50 questions each, and you get 45 minutes per block. Once a block’s time ends or you submit it, that block is locked and you cannot return to it. The questions cover pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects without a fixed published section order.

Note: The MDS paper carries 90 questions for 90 marks in 90 minutes, following the same block-wise and marking rules.

You cannot go back to a previous block once it is submitted, so manage the 45 minutes per block carefully.

AIIMS PG Marking Scheme 2026

The AIIMS PG (INI-CET) marking scheme rewards accuracy and penalises wrong answers. You earn +1 mark for each correct response and lose 1/3 mark for each wrong one. Questions you leave blank carry no penalty, so the marking scheme applies uniformly across all subjects.

Negative marking of 1/3 mark applies to every wrong answer in AIIMS PG (INI-CET) — avoid random guessing.

Because the penalty is one-third of a mark, attempt a question only when you can eliminate at least two options. This keeps your net score safe while still letting you gain from educated guesses.

AIIMS PG Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

AIIMS does not publish an official subject-wise weightage for INI-CET. The questions are spread across the full MBBS curriculum, grouped into pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects. Based on past papers, clinical subjects dominate the test, while pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects fill the rest. The breakdowns below are indicative, not official.

Clinical Subjects

Clinical subjects form the bulk of the paper, with Medicine and Surgery alone contributing a large share of the questions. Strong clinical preparation drives most of your score.

Para-Clinical Subjects

Para-clinical subjects bridge basic science and clinical practice. They are high-yield for quick scoring because the questions are often factual and application-based.

Pre-Clinical Subjects

Pre-clinical subjects carry fewer questions but remain important for concept-based items. Do not skip these basics, as they support your clinical reasoning.

AIIMS PG Question Types 2026

AIIMS PG (INI-CET) uses objective questions only, but the format goes beyond simple one-line MCQs. You should expect a mix of question styles that test recall, reasoning, and clinical application within the same paper.

• Single Best Response: The most common type, where you choose one correct option out of four or five.
• Multiple Correct (Multiple True-False): More than one option can be correct, so read each option carefully.
• Reason-Assertion: You judge whether a statement and its given reason are true and linked.
• Image-Based and Clinical Vignette: Questions built around case scenarios, charts, or images that test applied knowledge.
• Match the Following and Sequential Arrangement: Items that ask you to pair or order options correctly.

The same +1 and -1/3 marking applies to all question types, so accuracy matters regardless of the format.

AIIMS PG Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

The AIIMS PG (INI-CET) exam pattern has not changed in 2026. The block-wise structure, the 200-question format, and the +1/-1/3 marking scheme all carry over from the previous year. The table below compares the key parameters across both cycles.

The AIIMS PG pattern remains stable in 2026, so you can rely on past-year mocks to plan your strategy.

How to Prepare Based on AIIMS PG Exam Pattern

Your preparation should match the block-wise, clinically heavy nature of the paper. The tips below are drawn directly from the AIIMS PG (INI-CET) pattern.

1. Practise block-wise mocks: Solve 50 questions in 45 minutes per block, since you cannot revisit a block once it is submitted.
2. Prioritise clinical subjects: Give Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Paediatrics the most study time, as they carry the highest weightage.
3. Build a guessing rule: With 1/3 negative marking, attempt a question only after eliminating at least two options.
4. Train for varied question types: Practise reason-assertion, multiple-correct, and clinical vignette items, not just single-best-response MCQs.
5. Strengthen para-clinical basics: Use Pathology, Pharmacology, and PSM for quick, reliable marks.
6. Time every section: Since each block locks after 45 minutes, build the habit of flagging and moving on quickly.
7. Revise from recent papers: As the pattern is unchanged, previous INI-CET papers remain the best preparation guide.