INI-CET 2025: Cut-Off Trends, Seat Matrix, and Counseling Guide

If you are a medical graduate, you must be standing at a pivotal crossroad like all your other fellow aspirants. The only that eventually leads to India’s most elite institutions: AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER, and NIMHANS. 

The path is obviously through INI-CET. But, for all the aspirants out there, cracking the exam is only half the battle. The other half is won by those who understand what comes after. The shifting cut-offs, the intricate seat matrix, and the high-stakes counselling rounds. 

This blog is specifically written to inform you what to expect, how to plan, prioritize, and position yourself ahead of the curve. 

If you're serious about that AIIMS badge on your white coat, this roadmap is for you.

What is INI-CET?

This exam needs no introduction as it is widely known as a national-level postgraduate medical entrance test conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi. It serves as the common gateway for getting admission into MD, MS, DM, MCh, and MDS programs at premier medical institutions across India. 

This exam occurs twice a year, once in May and once in November. With the coming of INI-CET, separate PG entrance exams for institutions including AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER, and NIMHANS have been replaced. 

The rigorous format and emphasis on conceptual, application-based learning is what sets INI-CET apart. 

While other PG entrance exams rely more on factual recall, INI-CET is known to be more meticulous. It evaluates a candidate’s clinical reasoning, integration of subjects, and ability to handle complex, case-based questions. 

Knowing More About The Cut-Off Trends for INI-CET

The cut-off trends for INI-CET depend on a plethora of factors including the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, total number of available seats, and reservation categories.  

The qualifying percentile for the General and EWS categories is fixed at 50th percentile and at 45th percentile for reserved categories including SC/ST/OBC/PwBD. However, the actual score and rank required for a seat can be much higher. The latter solely depends on the course and institute preference. 

Talking about the previous years, top branches in AIIMS Delhi like Dermatology, Medicine, and Radiology have needed scores upwards of 160/200. And, on the other hand, peripheral AIIMS and other INIs might admit students with scores ranging from 120 to 145. 

It has also come to the notice often that many candidates see a significant difference in seat allotment between Round 1 and later rounds due to seat withdrawals and reshuffling. 

This is what makes it crucial to keep track of not just the qualifying percentile but also the actual closing ranks and scores from the previous sessions. 

Let’s take for instance, in the January 2025 session, the last seat for General Medicine at AIIMS Delhi closed at a rank of around 50. General Surgery in peripheral AIIMS institutions extended up to 1000+ ranks depending on the category. 

INI CET 2025 Cut off for January session

The INI CET 2025 cutoff for January session is the last rank and equivalent percentile of the candidates invited for the seat allotment process. The cut off sores will be released here after INI CET 2025 counselling rounds.

INI CET July 2025 Cutoff: The Qualifying Percentile

Seat Matrix: How Many Seats, Where?

The number of seats available through INI-CET varies slightly in every session. If we talk about the July 2025 session, the estimate lies at over 800 MD/MS seats across all INIS combined. 

Here is a breakdown of seat availability based on the previous trends: 

• AIIMS Delhi: ~150+ seats
  
• JIPMER Puducherry: ~100+ seats
  
• PGIMER Chandigarh: ~120+ seats
  
• NIMHANS Bengaluru: ~50+ seats (mostly DM/MCh in Neurology & Psychiatry)
  
• Other AIIMS (Rishikesh, Bhopal, Raipur, Patna, etc.): ~400+ seats collectively
  

All the institutes mentioned above have its own internal distribution of seats among various departments. Most of the popular branches including Radiology, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery see the highest demand. 

Moreover, every institute reserves a proportion of seats for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates according to Government of India norms. It has also come to the news that some institutions have sponsored seats for in-service doctors and reserved quotas for foreign nationals. 

If you wish to make your counselling choices more realistic and informed, you must have clarity on which branches and institutes you are targeting, and comparing that against your expected score and category. 

INI-CET 2025 Counseling: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

The counselling process for INI-CET is totally online and is conducted by AIIMS New Delhi. The candidates who clear the qualifying percentile and meet eligibility criteria are invited to participate in multiple rounds of seat allocation. Here’s how the whole process usually unfolds: 

Registration and Choice Filling: If you are an eligible candidate, you are required to log in to the AIIMS INI-CET portal using your credentials and register for counselling. You must then submit your preferences for Institute and branch in descending order of your priority. You are advised to fill as many choices as possible.

Round 1 Seat Allotment: Based on your rank, category and the order of your preferences, you will be allocated the seats in the first round. After receiving a seat, you can either accept and freeze it, accept it and keep the option of upgrading in the next round or simply decline it. However, once you decline the seat, you might not be eligible for subsequent rounds depending on AIIMS guidelines. 

Document Upload and Verification: Once you accept a seat, you are required to upload scanned copies of crucial documents including INI-CET admit card, Rank Letter, MBBS Degree and Internship certificate, Registration Certificate with MCI/SMC, and Caste/EWS Certificate if applicable. This is one of the most critical steps and it must be completed within the stipulated time window. 

Subsequent Rounds & Open Counselling: There are high chances that AIIMS might conduct additional rounds such as Round 2, Open Round, and Spot Round based on seat availability. The candidates who either didn’t get a seat earlier or opted out can still participate in these rounds. 

Key Dates for INI-CET July 2025 Session (Tentative)

Always verify with the official website for the most accurate and updated schedule.

Also Read: Mistakes to Avoid While Preparing for INI-CET

Tips for Making Smart Counseling Choices

A crucial part of counseling strategy lies in knowing when to hold and when to let go. Don’t make the mistake of chasing only brand names; instead, balance the choice between branch and institution. For instance, getting Radiology at AIIMS Rishikesh might serve your career goals better than settling for a less preferred specialty at AIIMS Delhi.

Always be realistic. Keep track of the previous year's closing ranks for your preferred branch and category. Be flexible with campuses and willing to explore newer AIIMS that offer equally valuable training. Never skip filling in lower preferences as seat shuffling is very common.

Staying Ahead in INI-CET 2025 Preparation

As you all know that the exam is scheduled for 17th May, 2025, these last few days can be really overwhelming. Every day from now should be an opportunity for you to sharpen your edge. You just shouldn’t focus on covering the syllabus. You must also invest your time in understanding the nature of the exam. 

We advise you to prioritize clinical application, image-based interpretation, and integrated subject knowledge. 

This is the phase when PrepLadder Version X offers immense value to the students. With Champions Exam INI-CET, detailed analytics, subject-wise test series, and high-yield content like Rapid Revision and Treasures, it becomes easier to revise smartly and simulate real exam pressure. The new Version X also includes audio explanations and visual mnemonics that accelerate retention.

Wrapping Up 

Aching INI-CET is no small feat but if you have the right strategy, awareness, and timing, this mountain can be climbed with the utmost ease. 

The counseling process is rewarding to those who prepare not only for the test but also for what comes after. If you meticulously analyze cut-off trends, understand the seat matrix, and actively prepare for the exam, you give yourself an edge over all your competitors.

Stay focused, stay informed, and make every hour count. Your dream seat at one of India’s top medical institutes might be just a few steps away—make them count.

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