Last verified: 29 May 2026 against AIIMS Delhi INICET Information Bulletin. natboard.edu.in · nmc.org.in
Quick Answer
INICET 2026 has 200 MCQs conducted as a single-shift CBT by AIIMS Delhi. Marking is +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered — total 800 marks. Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes). Image-based MCQs make up ~15-20% of the paper — notably higher than NEET-PG. The qualifying score is percentile-based.
INICET 2026 at a Glance
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | AIIMS Delhi |
| Frequency | Twice a year — May & November sessions |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT), single shift, single day |
| Language | English only |
| Total questions | 200 MCQs |
| Total exam duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Marks per correct answer | +4 |
| Negative marking | -1 per wrong answer |
| Image-based MCQs | ~15–20% (higher than NEET-PG) |
| Maximum marks | 800 |
| Qualifying score | Percentile-based (50th general, 40th SC/ST/OBC) |
Seat Pool — What INICET Unlocks
| Institution | Approximate Seats per Session |
|---|---|
| AIIMS (Delhi + 18 other institutes) | ~150–180 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | ~40–50 |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | ~25–35 |
| NIMHANS Bengaluru | ~10–15 (psychiatry, neurosciences) |
| Total per session | ~225–280 seats |
INICET vs NEET-PG — Quick Pattern Comparison
| Aspect | INICET | NEET-PG |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | AIIMS Delhi | NBEMS |
| Total MCQs | 200 | 200 |
| Marking | +4 / -1 / 0 | +4 / -1 / 0 |
| Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Frequency | Twice a year | Once a year |
| Image MCQs | ~15–20% | ~10% |
| Seat pool | ~225–280 (INI only) | ~65,000+ (all-India) |
| Cutoff competitiveness | Very tight (small pool) | Variable by college |
Strategy implication: the higher image-MCQ share rewards aspirants who drill the Kinase Image Bank (2,000+ tagged clinical images) in parallel with text PYQs. Treat INICET as NEET-PG prep + extra image-reasoning practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the INICET 2026 exam pattern?▼
INICET 2026 is a single-shift 200-MCQ Computer-Based Test conducted by AIIMS Delhi. Marking: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unanswered. Total marks: 800. Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes). The exam runs twice a year — May session (July admission cycle) and November session (January admission cycle).
How many questions are in INICET?▼
INICET has 200 MCQs covering all 19 MBBS subjects. The clinical-to-paraclinical ratio is similar to NEET-PG but with a notably higher proportion of clinical vignettes and image-based questions — typically 15–20% of the paper.
What is the INICET marking scheme?▼
Each correct answer scores +4 marks; each incorrect answer is penalised -1 mark; unanswered questions score 0. Total maximum marks: 800 (same as NEET-PG). With negative marking, blind guessing has negative expected value — only attempt questions where you can eliminate at least 2 options.
How long is the INICET exam?▼
INICET runs for 3 hours (180 minutes) for 200 questions — roughly 54 seconds per question, slightly tighter than NEET-PG. Single shift, single day, conducted at AIIMS-approved CBT centres across India.
How is INICET different from NEET-PG?▼
Two key differences: (1) INICET is conducted by AIIMS Delhi vs NEET-PG by NBEMS; (2) INICET has more image-based MCQs and clinical vignettes — typically 15–20% image vs ~10% for NEET-PG. The syllabus overlap is ~95% (both follow MBBS curriculum). INICET is also 30 minutes shorter than NEET-PG.
When are the INICET sessions held?▼
INICET runs twice a year. The May session feeds the July admission cycle (PG-July 2026); the November session feeds the January admission cycle (PG-January 2027). Application opens ~6 weeks before each session on aiimsexams.ac.in.
Conducted by AIIMS Delhi
Twice a year (May + November)
English only
Ready to Start Practicing?
INICET 2026 May session is in May. Start daily PYQ practice now.
Start Free PracticeNo credit card required