INICET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
INICET eligibility is broadly similar to NEET PG but with one important difference — internship must be completed by the joining date (January 2027), not by the exam date. This means candidates who are still in internship during November 2026 may be eligible to appear, provided they will finish internship before January 2027. Always verify the exact deadline in the official AIIMS INI-CET 2026 notification.
| Qualification | MBBS from MCI/NMC-recognised institution (India or abroad) |
| Internship | Must be completed by the joining date (January 2027) — not the exam date |
| NMC Registration | Provisional or permanent NMC/State Medical Council registration required at time of registration |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit |
| Nationality | Indian national; OCI candidates also eligible |
| Foreign Nationals | Eligible under Foreign National / NRI / Sponsored category (separate seats) |
| Number of Attempts | No restriction on number of attempts |
Your MBBS degree must be from an institution recognised by the NMC (formerly MCI). Degrees from unrecognised institutions do not satisfy the eligibility condition, regardless of whether the college is currently operational.
You must hold a provisional or permanent NMC/State Medical Council registration at the time of filling the INICET application. Registration is verified again at counselling — if it is not valid by then, your allotted seat will be cancelled.
There is no minimum MBBS percentage requirement for INICET eligibility, unlike some state-level PG tests. However, some sponsored categories may have additional institutional requirements.
NEET PG 2026: Internship must be completed by July 31, 2026 — well before the exam date of August 30, 2026.
INICET November 2026: Internship must be completed by the joining date (expected January 2027). Candidates completing internship in November or December 2026 can still appear — as long as they finish before the January 2027 joining date.
This distinction matters significantly for candidates from the April/May internship batch. Under NEET PG rules, these candidates would be ineligible for the August 2026 exam but may still be eligible for INICET November 2026 since they would complete internship by December 2026 — before the January 2027 joining deadline.
Verify the exact cutoff date in the official notification, as AIIMS may set a specific date.
No upper age limit exists for INICET. Any MBBS graduate with valid NMC registration who meets the qualification and internship criteria can apply regardless of age.
There is also no cap on the number of attempts. You can appear for INICET as many times as you wish — in the May session, November session, or both. Each session's result is independent and valid only for that session's counselling.
In-service doctors in government service should check with their parent department, as some institutions require a minimum period of service or a no-objection certificate before sponsoring a candidate for INICET.
Candidates who completed their MBBS from a foreign medical institution must have cleared the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination) or the new NEXT (National Exit Test), as mandated by NMC. Without clearing FMGE/NEXT and obtaining a valid NMC registration, FMGs are not eligible for INICET.
The foreign MBBS institution must be recognised by the NMC and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Degrees from unrecognised institutions will not be accepted.
FMGs who clear FMGE/NEXT and obtain NMC registration compete in the same merit list under their applicable category. No separate FMG quota exists.
INICET includes a Sponsored category for candidates sponsored by recognised organisations or government bodies (e.g., state health services, central government departments, defence). The qualifying cutoff for sponsored candidates is 50th percentile (same as General category). Sponsored seats are separate from the open merit seats and the candidate must produce a sponsorship certificate from their organisation at the time of registration. The sponsoring organisation typically requires the candidate to serve with them for a specified period after completing the PG course.