Selecting the suitable super-specialisation course is a vital process that medical practitioners seeking to advance their careers should follow. The INI SS exam is the entry point to top institutes such as AIIMS, PGIMER, NIMHANS, JIPMER, and SCTIMST for DM, M.Ch, and MD (Hospital Administration) programs.

This comprehensive guide will present you with all the knowledge you require in this INI SS – January 2026 session, which contains the exam date, eligibility criteria, application, exam pattern, institutes, and seat plan. Continue reading for detailed insight.

Important Dates & Schedule (INI SS Jan 2026 Exam Date)

The important dates of the January 2026 session of the INI-SS are out. The Stage-I written test will take place on 22 November 2025, and the admit cards were made available on the AIIMS exam portal on 18 November 2025. The expected results of Stage I would be available by 28 November 2025.

Keeping pace with the official schedule is key to preparing without any inconveniences. The following is the current program for the INI SS January 2026, which provides the exam date, admit card issuance, result schedule, and approximate counselling period.

• Application Window (Tentative): Late Sep-mid Oct 2025 (according to the past cycles)
• Admit Card Release: 18 Nov 2025
• Stage-I Exam Date: 22 Nov 2025
• Result Declaration (Stage I): 28 Nov 2025
• Counselling: January 2026 (dates TBD)

Prospective candidates are advised to follow the official AIIMS exams website (aiimsexams.ac.in) for updates or corrections.

Overview of INI-SS and Courses

INI-SS is an admission test that is held twice a year (January and July) to enter 3-year DM, M.Ch, and MD (Hospital Administration) programs. The exam is conducted by the top institutes of AIIMS, PGIMER, NIMHANS, JIPMER, and SCTIMST, and each offers a limited number of seats in various super-speciality disciplines.

To guide candidates on the format of the INI-SS January 2026 session, below is a brief overview of the courses offered, the institutes participating, the number of disciplines, and the seats available. This section is an overview of the exam before you delve deeper into eligibility rules and exam pattern:

• Courses: DM (Doctorate of Medicine), M.Ch (Master of Chirurgiae), and MD (Hospital Administration) to January 2026.
• Institutes (INIs): All AIIMS (New Delhi + new AIIMS) and PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, JIPMER Puducherry, and SCTIMST Trivandrum.
• Disciplines: Represents 79 super-speciality disciplines (e.g., Cardiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, etc.)
• Total Seats: There are 887 seats across all INIs in Jan 202, according to the final seat matrix.

The NI-SS examination is AIIMS-based in New Delhi. It is an extremely competitive exam; only candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and have passed Stage I can proceed to the next stage of counselling. The courses, institutes, and seat breakdown are provided in the official prospectus (gathered on the AIIM website).

What are the Eligibility Criteria of the INI SS January 2026?

The overall eligibility requirements are:

• Medical Degree: MD, MS, or DNB (or equivalent) in your particular speciality in an NMC-recognised institution. Here is an example, MD in Medicine qualifies DM in Neurology, MS in Surgery, M.Ch in Surgery under Surgical specialities, etc.
• Age Limits: Various institutes have different upper-age limits (e.g., AIIMS DM/M.Ch upper age is in the range of 35 years, PGIMER range of 45, NIMHANS range of 37, SCTIMST range of 40, JIPMER has no age limit), so they all vary – browse the current prospectus to have the correct cut-offs.
• No Current DM/M.Ch Enrollment: Applicants are not expected to be studying a DM/M.Ch elsewhere.
• Recognition: Should be provisionally registered with the National Medical Commission (NMC) at the time of applying.

The category rules may vary slightly across Institutes of National Importance, and the applicant should consult the formal prospectus, Part B (institute-wise arrangements).

The AIIMS prospectus states that one must meet the mandated medical qualifications and pay the application fee of ₹4,000.

Application & Registration Process

INI-SS can be registered in January 2026 entirely online using the AIIMS exam portal. Applicants will be required to complete the form in the INI-SS category on aiimsexams.ac.in and submit the required documents, including degree certificates, ID proof, photo, and signature.

Learning about the steps involved in the registration process in advance will guarantee a successful, error-free registration. The following outlines the steps for applying, the required documents, the fees, and the key instructions for the INI-SS January 2026 session:

• Step 1: You have to apply via the AIIMS Registration portal. Do not send hard copies.
• Step 2: Provide photo, signature, PG degree certificate, caste/PwD certificate (where required), scanned photo (passport size), and signature as per specifications.
• Step 3: An amount of ₹4000 (non-refundable; no fee for PwD) must be paid online via credit/debit/net banking.
• Step 4: Register a user account, enter personal and academic information, specify exam centre preferences, upload documents, pay, and submit.
• Step 5: Applicants should keep a copy of the submitted form with them.

Note: The AIIMS INI-SS 2026 notification will officially announce the registration dates (opening/closing). Traditionally, the registrations in January sessions open in September and close in October. Applications should be submitted in time to avoid last-minute complications and retain the login information as a precaution for the next steps.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus

INI-SS takes place through a two-stage process. Stage I is a computer-based multiple-choice test consisting of 80 questions within 90 minutes (+1 mark, –0.33 negative marking). Short-listed to Stage II (also known as a practical/clinical assessment) are up to 3 x the number of seats allotted to a specific year, chosen only at AIIMS and PGIMER.

The selection process in INI-SS consists of 2 stages. Stages 1 and 2 are Computer-Based Tests (online MCQ exam) for all candidates. Stage II is a practical/clinical examination (only for AIIMS and PGIMER seats):

• Stage I (All INIs): 80 multiple-choice questions, 90-minute exam, General Biomedical + Speciality syllabus. Each correct = +1, wrong = –⅓. Cut-off is 50% (overall). Questions are based on basic medical knowledge and fundamental subjects of the selected speciality.
• Stage II (AIIMS/PGIMER only): Clinical/practical assessment (departmental) 20 marks. Shortlisting is done only for candidates who have ≥50% in Stage I (and are seeking AIIMS/PGIMER seats). Stage II is done physically (clinical viva/practical) at AIIMS New Delhi. The combined score of Stage I+II (on 100) will rank the AIIMS/PGIMER seats.
• Result and Merit Lists: Stage-I eligible candidates receive a Common Merit List (CML) in each of the INIs. AIIMS/PGIMER applicants possess a combined merit list (AML) of successful candidates from both phases. The same lists include sponsored or foreign candidate ranks.

Component	Details
Duration	90 minutes
Questions	80 (Single-best-answer MCQs)
Marks	+1 each, –0.33 each wrong
Stage-I Cut-off	≥50% to qualify
Stage-II	Dept. Assessment (20 marks) in case of AIIMS/ PGIMER only.
Syllabus	Basic/general component and speciality/subspeciality.

Applicants are advised to prepare for their pre-clinical and paraclinical fundamentals, in addition to knowledge related to their respective MD/speciality, since INI-SS assesses general medicine/surgery, not just subspecialty training. The qualifying degree curriculum is identical to the official syllabus.

Participating Institutes & Seat Matrix

INI-SS January 2026 admissions will be through a combined seat matrix in all Institutions of National Importance. The institutions involved are all the AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, JIPMER Puducherry, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.

The number of seats available in each speciality, as well as the institutes that accept INI-SS scores, should be known to candidates before they apply. The information below provides a clear picture of the participating INIs, the total seats, and the wide array of super-speciality disciplines the January 2026 session will offer:

Category	Details
Total Seats (Jan 2026)	887 seats (DM/M.Ch.) -Smart Senate: General, EWS, OBC, SC/ST, and sponsored / foreign seats.
Number of Institutes	19 Institutes (All INIs taking part in INI SS January 2026).
Key Participating Institutes	• AIIMS New Delhi • AIIMS Raipur • AIIMS Bhopal • AIIMS Patna • AIIMS Jodhpur • AIIMS Guwahati • AIIMS Rishikesh • PGIMER Chandigarh • NIMHANS Bengaluru • JIPMER Puducherry • SCTIMST Trivandrum
Total Specialities Offered	79 Super-specialities (DM/M.Ch), including: • Cardiology • Neurology • Nephrology • Endocrinology • GI Surgery • Neurosurgery • Critical Care • Medical Oncology, etc.
Seat Distribution	Allocation is made to seats in the institute and on a speciality basis, as per the official prospectus and seat matrix published by AIIMS.
Category-wise Seat Types	• General • EWS • OBC • SC • ST • Sponsored/Foreign National (Candidates nominated by state/UT/central institutions)

The category-specific and institute-specific distribution of seats is available only in the official INI SS seat matrix. Seat numbers may be subject to minor adjustments in response to changes in the department and corrections; hence, a candidate must always ensure they have the latest matrix with the correct information.

Admit Card & Exam Day Guidelines

Stage I admit cards were issued on the AIIMS exams portal on November 18, 2025. The hall ticket must be downloaded and printed to allow candidates to appear in the exam. The admit card shall provide the candidate with their name, roll number, exam centre, and time.

To make the test day as hassle-free as possible, candidates should read their admit card and pay attention to what they need to do on exam day. However, prior to that, there are some details you should know:

• Download Admit Card: Log in to aiimsexams.ac.in with your registration ID and password, then click the INI-SS Admit Card January 2026 link.
• Check Details on the Admit Card: Check the candidate’s name, photo, and signature, examination centre, date/time, and all important instructions.
• Carry ID Proof: Carry the admit card and a genuine government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving license, etc.). No applicant is admitted without the two documents.
• Reporting Time: Arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam. No entry will be allowed after the commencement of the exams.
• Instructions: Adhere to all the guidelines on exam day that are printed on the admit card (e.g., no electrical devices, bring your stationery, etc.).

Students are expected to verify the exam date on the admit card. Lacking the admit card or essential ID will imply no access to the examination hall.

INI SS Results & Counselling

The outcomes of Stage I are typically published in a week, and in the case of Jan 2026, the outcome will be published by 28 November 2025. Applicants with a score of 50 or higher are eligible to secure seats. For AIIMS and PGIMER seats, Stage I and Stage II marks would be combined to compute the final merit.

After the exam, the candidate must carefully follow the announcement of results and counselling updates, as these determine who will be eligible, who will be ranked by merit, and which seat will be allocated in the January 2026 session:

• Result: AIIMS publishes the Stage I score (rank and result) on the Internet.
• Stage II Shortlist: For AIIMS/PGIMER, stage II normally attracts 3x (or 2x) the number of seats (as per the prospectus). Individuals who miss Stage II cannot receive those seats.
• Merit Lists: Each institute/category has final merit lists. Seat allocation is done based on AIIMS/PGIMER list (combined 100 marks) and the common merit list of other INIs (only Stage I marks).
• Counselling: Online counselling for INI-SS seats is typically conducted by the MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) in early January 2026.

Applicants need to apply on the MCC site, where they are required to select their preferred institute/speciality and receive seat allotment in rounds. By the deadline, these candidates should submit the necessary documents to the allotted institutes.

Continuously monitor the websites of aiimsexams.ac.in and MCC for official announcements on counselling schedules, open positions, and admission rules following the results announcement.

INI SS Latest Updates & Preparation Tips

Aspirants are to monitor official updates involving possible changes in seat and application information. Be informed on the official site. Broad medical knowledge, as well as specialised subjects, should be prepared in advance.

To do well in the INI-SS January 2026 exam, it is necessary to stay informed about official updates and plan strategically, covering both general and specialisation topics:

• Official Notices: Check the AIIMS examination portal regularly for any corrigenda or changes to the seat. Indicatively, an addendum of October 2025 (No. 39/2025) contained changes in seats in AIIMS Jodhpur (added seats).
• Study Strategy: Practice MCQs of basic science (physiology, pharmacology, etc.) and on clinical speciality issues. Past-year papers and question banks can also help you familiarise yourself with exam formats. It is important in time management and precision.
• Documents & Verification: Having cleared Stage I, ensure you have all the required certificates in place to receive counselling. Admission may be disqualified for incomplete or falsified documents.

FAQs about INI SS January 2026 Session

1. What is the INI SS January 2026 exam for?

INI-SS is the entrance exam for admission to DM and M.Ch. Programs. Programs. And MD (Hospital Administration) courses at Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS, PGIMER, NIMHANS, JIPMER, and SCTIMST.

2. How many seats are available for the January 2026 session?

There are 887 seats (79 super-specialities) according to the final AIIMS seat matrix.

3. Which institutes participate in INI SS?

INI SS admissions are conducted across all AIIMS campuses, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS Bengaluru, JIPMER Puducherry, and SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram.

4. What is the qualification cutoff for Stage I?

To be eligible for Stage II or to obtain directly allocated seats (in case of non-AIIMS/PGIMER seats), candidates must receive 50 per cent in Stage I.

5. Is Stage II mandatory for all candidates?

No. Stage II seats are only for AIIMS and PGIMER seats. AIIMS and PGIMER. Applicants whose applications are received by other INIs receive seats based only on their Stage I score.

Conclusion

The INI-SS January 2026 exam is important to DM and M.Ch aspirants seeking admission in the best national institutes in India. Always rely on official updates released by AIIMS and avoid unverified information that may mislead you during the application or preparation stages.

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