AIIMS INI CET January 2026 counselling begins: NIMHANS and SCTIMST introduce upper age limits, details here
The counselling process for the Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) January 2026 session has officially commenced, marking a critical step for over 32,000 qualified candidates seeking admission to postgraduate medical programs across premier institutes in India. Candidates can now register online, fill their choices, and prepare for seat allocation in MD, MS, DM, MCh, and MDS courses offered by AIIMS campuses, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum.
This year, two key institutes — NIMHANS Bengaluru and SCTIMST Trivandrum — have announced upper age limits for eligible candidates. Aspirants from OBC and EWS categories without valid certificates will be barred from participating in counselling. Experts advise candidates to carefully verify their eligibility criteria before submitting choices, as incomplete or incorrect documentation may lead to disqualification.
Counselling registration and eligibilityA total of 32,374 candidates who qualified in the INI CET January 2026 session are eligible to participate in the counselling process. Aspirants from OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and PwBD categories must possess valid category certificates, without which they will be deemed ineligible. The counselling covers admissions to postgraduate medical programs across AIIMS campuses, JIPMER Puducherry, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and SCTIMST Trivandrum.
Seat allocation at AIIMS and JIPMER follows a dynamic roster-based system, whereas NIMHANS, PGIMER, and SCTIMST allocate seats based on merit and category rules. Candidates who fail to meet the prescribed category or age criteria will not be considered for admission, even if they have successfully qualified in the INI CET.
AIIMS INI CET counselling schedule January 2026Check complete AIIMS INI CET counselling schedule here:
Candidates must strictly adhere to these deadlines to avoid disqualification. Late submissions or incomplete documentation will render the candidate ineligible for seat allocation.
Guidelines for aspirantsCandidates participating in the counselling process are advised to follow the guidelines below:
With counselling now underway, aspirants are advised to remain alert to official updates and notifications from aiimsexams.ac.in and participating institutes. Proper adherence to eligibility criteria, deadlines, and documentation will be important for securing seats in India’s premier postgraduate medical programs.
This year, two key institutes — NIMHANS Bengaluru and SCTIMST Trivandrum — have announced upper age limits for eligible candidates. Aspirants from OBC and EWS categories without valid certificates will be barred from participating in counselling. Experts advise candidates to carefully verify their eligibility criteria before submitting choices, as incomplete or incorrect documentation may lead to disqualification.
Seat allocation at AIIMS and JIPMER follows a dynamic roster-based system, whereas NIMHANS, PGIMER, and SCTIMST allocate seats based on merit and category rules. Candidates who fail to meet the prescribed category or age criteria will not be considered for admission, even if they have successfully qualified in the INI CET.
AIIMS INI CET counselling schedule January 2026Check complete AIIMS INI CET counselling schedule here:
Candidates must strictly adhere to these deadlines to avoid disqualification. Late submissions or incomplete documentation will render the candidate ineligible for seat allocation.
Guidelines for aspirantsCandidates participating in the counselling process are advised to follow the guidelines below:
- Verify age eligibility for NIMHANS and SCTIMST before participating
- Ensure valid category certificates for OBC, EWS, SC/ST, and PwBD categories
- Complete choice filling, seat acceptance, and reporting within the stipulated schedule
- Even if seats remain vacant after Round 1, subsequent rounds require compliance with age and documentation criteria
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