The definitive INI-CET 2026 reference: 200 MCQs in 180 minutes, 4 blocks of 50 with no back-navigation, +1/−1/3 marking, twice-a-year sessions, and full MBBS syllabus scope.
NEETPGAI EditorialPublished 6 Jun 202615 min read
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The INI-CET 2026 pattern is precise and rewards disciplined pacing — here are the numbers that define it:
200 MCQs in 180 minutes. INI-CET is 200 single-best-answer questions to be solved in 3 hours — about 54 seconds per question — delivered as a computer-based test by AIIMS New Delhi.
4 blocks of 50, no going back. The paper runs as 4 sequential blocks of 50 questions (~45 minutes each), and there is no backward navigation between blocks — once a block closes, those answers are final.
+1 correct, −1/3 wrong (MD/MS). Each correct answer scores +1, each wrong answer costs −1/3 (−0.33), and a blank scores 0. The MDS stream uses −1/5. This is gentler than NEET PG's −1, so calibrated guessing still pays.
Whole MBBS syllabus, twice a year. There is no separate INI-CET syllabus; it mirrors the full MBBS curriculum across all 19 subjects, with sessions in May (July admission) and November (January admission).
This structure rewards decisive, block-by-block execution and visual pattern recognition far more than a slow, review-everything-at-the-end approach.
What INI-CET is and who conducts it
The Institutes of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI-CET) is the single entrance exam for postgraduate medical and dental seats at India's premier government institutes. It is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi on behalf of the participating INIs, and one common test feeds PG admissions across all of them. The participating institutes are the AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum — together the most competitive PG destinations in Indian medicine.
INI-CET sits apart from NEET PG in both prestige and difficulty. The seat pool is small and the question style is demanding — heavy on clinical reasoning, image interpretation, and recent advances rather than rote recall. Because admission to an INI is the goal of the strongest aspirants in every cohort, knowing the exact pattern is not optional polish; it is the baseline that lets you compete. The sections below break the structure down precisely, from the four-block delivery and the fractional negative marking to the syllabus scope and what all of it means for how you should prepare.
INI-CET exam pattern at a glance
INI-CET is a 200-question, computer-based, single-best-answer MCQ exam delivered in four sequential blocks over 180 minutes. Every structural element is fixed by AIIMS New Delhi, so you can plan against exact numbers rather than estimates. The table below is the entire pattern in one view.
Parameter
INI-CET detail
Total questions
200 MCQs (single best answer)
Duration
180 minutes (3 hours)
Block structure
4 blocks of 50 questions (~45 min/block)
Navigation
No backward navigation between blocks
Marking (MD/MS)
+1 correct, −1/3 (−0.33) wrong, 0 unattempted
Marking (MDS)
+1 correct, −1/5 wrong, 0 unattempted
Pace
~54 seconds per question
Image-based questions
~15–25% of the paper
Mode
Computer-based test (CBT)
Conducting body
AIIMS New Delhi
Frequency
Twice a year (May and November sessions)
Two features in this table do most of the strategic work. The four-block, no-back-navigation structure means you cannot defer hard questions to a final review sweep — each block of 50 is a self-contained mini-exam you must close before moving on. And the −1/3 penalty is materially gentler than the −1 used elsewhere, which changes how aggressively you should attempt borderline questions. The ~54-second average pace ties both together: you have to be fast and decisive, block by block.
The block structure and no-back-navigation
INI-CET delivers its 200 questions in four sequential blocks of 50, and the defining rule is that there is no backward navigation between blocks. You navigate freely within the block you are currently on — mark, review, and change answers as much as you like inside those 50 questions — but the moment you submit or exit a block, it locks permanently. You cannot return to revisit a question from an earlier block, even if a later question jogs your memory.
This single rule reshapes exam-day tactics. On a traditional single-pool paper, many candidates flag uncertain questions and return to them at the end with fresh eyes; INI-CET removes that safety net at the block boundary. The practical consequence is that you must budget time within each ~45-minute block and reach a final decision on every question before the block closes. Do not carry a backlog of "I'll come back to it" items toward the end of a block — there is no coming back. The discipline this demands is exactly why block-structured mock practice matters: rehearse closing 50 questions cleanly in 45 minutes, four times over, until the rhythm is automatic.
The marking scheme and how −1/3 changes your guessing strategy
The INI-CET marking scheme is fractional, not all-or-nothing. For the MD/MS streams, each correct answer earns +1, each wrong answer deducts −1/3 (−0.33), and an unattempted question scores 0. The MDS (dental) stream uses a slightly harsher −1/5 deduction. Your final score is the sum of these across all 200 questions, and AIIMS uses it to rank candidates for the limited INI seats — so every fractional mark genuinely moves your position.
The size of the penalty is what governs optimal guessing, and it differs sharply across the three big exams. The table below makes the contrast explicit.
Exam
Correct
Wrong
Guessing implication
INI-CET (MD/MS)
+1
−1/3 (−0.33)
Calibrated guessing pays — eliminate to 2–3 options, then commit
INI-CET (MDS)
+1
−1/5 (−0.20)
Even gentler penalty; favourable odds when you can narrow at all
NEET PG
+4
−1
A wrong answer costs 1/4 of the reward (vs 1/3 on INI-CET); guess only after real elimination
FMGE
+1
None
No penalty — attempt every single question
For INI-CET MD/MS, the −1/3 penalty means a question where you can eliminate even one or two options usually carries positive expected value if you commit. A pure four-way blind guess is roughly break-even (one in four right at +1 against three in four wrong at −1/3), but the moment you can confidently rule out one option, the odds tip in your favour. The mistake to avoid is treating −1/3 like NEET PG's −1 and skipping questions you could have reasoned through — that leaves expected marks on the table on an exam where fractions decide ranks. Eliminate first, then back yourself.
The INI-CET syllabus mirrors the entire Indian MBBS curriculum, so there is no separate "INI-CET syllabus" to track down. All 19 subjects across the pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical phases are examinable, and AIIMS does not publish a distinct reading list — the MBBS curriculum is the syllabus. What distinguishes INI-CET is not its scope but its depth and its appetite for recent advances and applied reasoning within that scope.
Subject block
Subjects
What INI-CET tests
Pre-clinical
Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
Applied and clinically-framed basics, not isolated rote facts
Because the scope equals the full MBBS curriculum, breadth alone is not the differentiator at INI-CET — depth is. The exam reliably draws on recent advances, newer guideline updates, and integrated questions that span more than one subject, so a candidate who has only memorised standard high-yield lists will be outpaced by one who understands mechanisms and can reason to the next best step. Treat the syllabus as a known, fixed surface and invest your edge in depth and current developments rather than in hunting for hidden topics.
Question style: image-based, assertion-reason, and next-step
INI-CET's question style is what makes it harder than its 200-MCQ count suggests, because a large share of the paper tests recognition and reasoning rather than recall. Roughly 15–25% of questions are image-based — clinical photographs, radiographs and CT/MRI films, ECGs, pathology and microbiology slides, and instruments — so visual diagnosis is a core skill, not a peripheral one. You cannot reason your way to a finding you cannot recognise.
Beyond images, two formats appear repeatedly. Assertion-reason questions present a statement and a justification and ask you to judge whether each is true and whether the second explains the first — they punish surface familiarity and reward precise understanding. Integrated clinical-reasoning questions, often framed as "what is the next best step," give a vignette and ask for the most appropriate action rather than a single named fact, which means you must hold a working diagnosis and a management sequence in mind together. With about 54 seconds per question and a fifth of the paper in images, INI-CET rewards the candidate who has drilled pattern recognition and applied reasoning until both are fast.
Eligibility and sessions in brief
INI-CET eligibility is straightforward but specific. You need an MBBS degree plus a completed 12-month internship (or one that completes by the cut-off date in the relevant notification). The qualifying requirement in MBBS is 55% for General, OBC and EWS candidates and 50% for SC/ST candidates. There is no cap on the number of attempts and no upper age limit, so the exam stays open to repeat aspirants who keep improving.
On timing, INI-CET runs twice a year against two admission cycles. The July-admission session is conducted in May, and the January-admission session is conducted in November of the prior year. One exam per session feeds PG seats across all the participating INIs — the AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum. Because eligibility cut-offs, internship dates, and the participating-institute list are the parts most likely to be refined session to session, treat this as orientation and verify your exact requirements on the official AIIMS notice before you apply.
What the INI-CET pattern means for your preparation
The right INI-CET strategy is read directly off the pattern, because the format rewards a different kind of preparation than a no-negative or single-pool exam does. Four structural features should shape every decision in your timetable.
−1/3 penalty → calibrate, don't gamble or freeze. The fractional penalty makes informed guessing profitable once you can eliminate even one option, but reckless four-way guessing is break-even at best. Practise honest self-assessment: attempt when you can narrow the field, leave it only when you genuinely cannot.
No back-navigation → close each block decisively. With four locked blocks of 50, you cannot defer hard questions to a final sweep. Budget ~45 minutes per block in practice and reach a final answer on every question before the block ends.
~54 seconds per question → build speed under timing. The pace is tight, so untimed reading will not prepare you. Drill full-length, timed mocks so your decision speed and stamina hold across all 200 questions.
Image-heavy, depth-heavy scope → train recognition and recent advances. With a fifth of the paper in images and a clear bias toward applied reasoning and current guidelines, spend deliberate time on visual diagnosis and on what's new in each subject, not only on classic high-yield lists.
The summary is simple: INI-CET rewards the candidate who is fast, decisive, and deep. You are competing for a small pool of elite seats, and the pattern tells you precisely which skills — calibrated guessing, block discipline, speed, and visual reasoning — earn them.
How NEETPGAI mirrors the INI-CET pattern
NEETPGAI is an AI-powered MCQ practice platform built around exactly the fast, reasoning-heavy drilling that INI-CET rewards — and it mirrors the real exam format so your practice transfers directly to test day. When you set your target exam to INI-CET, the platform tunes itself to the INI-CET structure and difficulty rather than a generic one.
A free 31,500+ MCQ bank with full explanations, so your breadth-first foundation work and your high-volume drilling both run on the same verified question pool at no cost.
200-question, INI-CET-pattern mock tests with +1/−1/3 marking, so your timed practice replicates the exact 200-MCQ-in-180-minutes structure and the fractional-penalty scoring that decides ranks.
Diagnostic analytics that track accuracy, retention, and per-subject mastery, so you always know which blocks of the syllabus are exam-ready and which still leak marks.
A recent-advances AI tutor that frames answers around current guidelines and next-step reasoning — the exact depth INI-CET tests — clearing concepts in your foundation phase and generating endless reasoning-style vignettes for drilling.
The full question bank, mock tests, revision, and analytics are free for every registered user; the AI tutor and a few advanced tools are part of the Pro plan, which covers NEET PG, INI-CET, and FMGE together. To start a focused INI-CET preparation in the right mode from day one, begin on the INI-CET preparation hub, and for the broader strategy see our complete INI-CET preparation guide for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the INI-CET exam pattern in 2026?
INI-CET 2026 is a computer-based exam of 200 single-best-answer MCQs to be solved in 180 minutes. The paper is split into 4 sequential blocks of 50 questions each, with no backward navigation between blocks. It is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi twice a year — in May for the July-admission session and in November for the January-admission session.
How many questions are in INI-CET and how much time is given?
INI-CET has 200 single-best-answer MCQs to be answered in 180 minutes (3 hours). That works out to roughly 54 seconds per question on average. The questions are organised into 4 blocks of 50, so you get about 45 minutes per block before it locks.
What is the INI-CET marking scheme and negative marking?
For the MD/MS streams, INI-CET awards +1 for each correct answer and deducts −1/3 (−0.33) for each wrong answer; unattempted questions score 0. The MDS (dental) stream uses a −1/5 penalty instead. The penalty is fractional, not the −1 used by NEET PG, so calibrated guessing on questions you can narrow down is usually still worthwhile.
What are INI-CET blocks and can you go back?
INI-CET delivers its 200 questions in 4 blocks of 50. You move through the blocks in sequence and there is no backward navigation — once you submit or exit a block, you cannot return to review or change those answers. You can navigate freely within the active block, so finish each block decisively before moving on.
Is there a separate INI-CET syllabus?
No. INI-CET has no distinct syllabus — it mirrors the full Indian MBBS curriculum across all 19 subjects, from pre-clinical Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry through the clinical subjects. There is no separate reading list to chase; the depth and recent-advances emphasis are what set INI-CET apart from other PG entrance exams.
How is INI-CET different from NEET PG in marking?
NEET PG applies −1 for a wrong answer; INI-CET (MD/MS) applies only −1/3, a much gentler penalty. FMGE has no negative marking at all. So the same uncertain question carries three different risk profiles across the three exams, and your guessing discipline should adapt to whichever exam you are sitting.
How many image-based questions does INI-CET have?
Roughly 15–25% of INI-CET questions are image-based — clinical photographs, radiology films, ECGs, pathology slides and instruments. INI-CET also leans on assertion-reason items and integrated clinical-reasoning questions that ask for the next best step, so visual recognition and applied reasoning both matter alongside factual recall.
Who conducts INI-CET and which institutes participate?
INI-CET is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi for admission to the Institutes of National Importance: the AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru and SCTIMST Trivandrum. One common exam feeds PG seats across all these participating INIs. Always confirm the participating-institute list on the official AIIMS notice for your session.
How often is INI-CET held and when?
INI-CET is held twice a year. The July-admission session is conducted in May, and the January-admission session is conducted in November of the prior year. The exact dates and the application window are published in the official AIIMS notification, which you should check before planning your attempt.
What is the eligibility for INI-CET 2026?
You need an MBBS degree plus a completed (or soon-to-complete) 12-month internship. The qualifying-mark requirement in MBBS is 55% for General, OBC and EWS candidates and 50% for SC/ST candidates. There is no cap on the number of attempts and no upper age limit. Verify your cohort's exact conditions on the official AIIMS notice before applying.
How does the INI-CET pattern affect preparation strategy?
Three features drive strategy: the −1/3 penalty rewards calibrated rather than reckless guessing; the no-back-navigation blocks mean you must finish each set of 50 decisively; and the ~54-second pace plus image-heavy, reasoning-heavy style demands fast pattern recognition. Practise full 200-question, block-structured mocks under timed conditions to rehearse all three. Start your free INI-CET-pattern practice now →
Know the pattern, then practise to it. INI-CET is 200 questions, four locked blocks, and a fractional penalty that rewards discipline — the candidates who clear are the ones who rehearsed under the real format. For full-length timed practice, take an INI-CET-pattern mock test; to begin in the right mode today, create your free account or compare the Pro plan that covers NEET PG, INI-CET, and FMGE together.
Written by: NEETPGAI Editorial Team
Reviewed by: NEETPGAI Medical Advisory Board
Last reviewed: June 2026
Exam pattern, marking scheme, blocks, syllabus scope, and eligibility rules are summarised from the official notifications of AIIMS New Delhi (the conducting body) and the National Medical Commission (NMC); always verify your cohort's specific requirements and each session's official notice on the AIIMS and NMC portals before planning. This article is reviewed for accuracy and exam relevance. For corrections or updates, contact the editorial team.
