INI CET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Check Nationality, Age Limit, Aggregate Score & Qualifications

Aspirants of INI CET 2026 exam (January Session) need to fulfil the INI CET eligibility criteria 2026 to appear for the test, according to which both Indians and Foreign students must have a MBBS Degree to apply for MD / MS / DM / MCh courses and a BDS Degree for admission in MDS. There is no prescribed age limit to apply for the Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test for the 2026.

This article includes in-depth details on the INI CET exam eligibility criteria such as nationality, educational qualification, required qualifying marks, and reservation.

In order to apply for the July session of INI CET 2026, candidates need to follow the INI CET exam eligibility criteria 2026, specified by AIIMS. Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals along with the OCI / PIO candidates can apply for the test for admission into PG courses at participating Institutes of National Importance (INIs), including AIIMS and other prestigious institutes.

The below-given table represents the key highlights about INI CET eligibility criteria 2026:

To become eligible for the INI CET Registration 2026, Indian candidates must check the below-given INI CET Eligibility Criteria 2026:

• Passed a MBBS Degree for MD / MS / DM / MCh and BDS Degree for MDS from a university recognized by NMC / MCI and DCI respectively.
• Completed 12 months of Internship or practical training under different departments on or before 31^st January, 2026. It is required in all INIs. Candidates who fail to complete their internship before the prescribed date will not be considered for registration for INI CET 2026.
• Indian Nationals graduated from India must attain 55% aggregate marks for OBC / EWS and 50% for SC / ST categories in MBBS / BDS (4 years) professional courses.
• The eligibility for admission to various Institutes of National Importance (INIs) depend upon their requirements.

For Sponsored Candidates (Indian Nationals)

The Sponsored candidates need to acquire the minimum marks as mentioned above. Moreover, it is necessary for them to upload a valid and original sponsored certificate during the process of completion of application form within the due date and time.

For Indian Candidates Graduated from Foreign Universities:

The marks of Foreign Medical Graduate Examination conducted by the National Board of Examination will be considered as the qualifying marks for INI CET 2026.

Special Points to Consider:

• At the time of completion of application form, the candidates must fill the aggregate marks of qualifying exam of 4 year MBBS / BDS professional courses. The marks of the 1^st and 3^rd examination will not be considered. In case of the supplementary exam in one or more than one subject, candidates must use the qualified marks only.
• If a candidate does not fulfil the eligibility standards and is found to provide any misleading or false information to appear in the exam, he / she will face the cancellation of their candidature and will be prohibited from INI CET examination in future.

Foreign nationals must be the candidates who are not the citizens of India; they can refer to the following points related to the INI CET Eligibility Criteria 2026:

• The academic qualifications for Foreign nationals is the same as mentioned above in ‘Eligibility for Indian Candidates’.
• Along with the academic qualification, the candidates must have completed the 12 months of internship or training in all the medical departments.
• Foreign candidates must have attained a certificate of grading system from a recognized University / Institution to estimate the value of grading in percentage.
• The calculated marks achieved by the candidate must be filled in the “Marks Column” for the completion of application for INI CET 2026 July Session before the last date.
• According to the INI CET eligibility criteria 2026, the minimum marks required for the foreign candidates are 55% aggregate in all examinations of MBBS / BDS professional courses.
• The No Objection Certificate (NOC) must be issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It must be submitted by the candidates before the specified last date i.e., 3^rd Week of May 2026 (Tentative). The NOC issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs will not be considered valid for INI CET.

The eligibility conditions for OCI / PIO candidates are as follows:

• Applicants who have born and secured the OCI card before 4^th March 2021 will be considered as the Indian nationals and they will be eligible for unreserved seats (for open category) and not as foreign nationals.
• As per the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil) 891 / 2021, the OCI / PIO card holder candidates who are not considered under Indian nationals category will be considered as Foreign Nationals.

* OCI candidates do not have to obtain the NOC but they must upload the scanned copy of the valid OCI card before the due date and time. The OCI card must be issued earlier on the specified date and uploaded on the portal.

* Hiding the OCI card or uploading a new card will lead to cancellation of the candidature.

The percentage of reserved seats will be given as per the rules of Government of India. Also, the Foreign Nationals / Sponsored candidates are excluded from the reservation benefits. To claim the reservation benefits the SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS, candidates have to submit the category certificates in prescribed format at the time of registration within the due date and time.

The below-given table represents the percentage of reserved seats on the basis of different categories:

* As per the RPwD Act, 2016, the PwBD candidate with 40% or more disability will be eligible to apply under this category. To avail the reservation benefits, PwBD candidates must have a valid document to certify their disability.

For Sponsored Foreign Nationals

• Sponsored / Foreign Nationals candidates are not eligible for General Seats (for UR / SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwBD.
• For admission to the PG courses under Sponsored / Foreign Nationals reserved seats category, candidates have to submit mandatory documents.

* After fulfilling all the INI CET eligibility criteria 2026 and completing the registration, go through the INI CET Syllabus 2026 and INI CET Exam Pattern 2026 to start the Preparation for INI CET Exam.