AIIMS INI-CET January 2026 Open Round Revised Schedule Remains Available

This final opportunity for postgraduate medical admission follows the conclusion of the second round of seat allocation earlier this year. According to the updated administrative notice, the window for online registration and the exercising of choices for institutes and specialties is set to conclude this evening. This specific round is crucial for candidates who have not yet secured a position in MD, MS, M.Ch (6 years), DM (6 years), or MDS programs across the country’s leading medical institutions.

Critical Deadlines and Registration Procedures

To participate in the Open Round, candidates must adhere to a strict set of technical and financial requirements. The AIIMS examination section has highlighted that no further extensions will be granted beyond the current deadline. Candidates are required to log in via the official portal using their existing credentials to initiate the process.

• Final Registration Window: The portal for choice filling and registration closes strictly at 5:00 PM on February 7, 2026.
• Security Deposit Requirement: A mandatory security deposit of ₹3.00 Lakh must be submitted through RTGS or NEFT to be eligible for seat allocation.
• Choice Locking: The system will automatically lock the latest saved preferences once the deadline passes; therefore, candidates must verify their lists carefully.
• Eligibility Percentile: Only those who met the minimum qualifying percentile in the November 2025 entrance exam are permitted to register for this round.

Vacancy Distribution and Institutional Matrix

The Open Round is designed to fill the remaining 498 vacant seats identified after the previous counselling phases. These seats are spread across various Institutes of National Importance, ensuring a diverse range of specializations for the high-ranking merit holders.

• Centralized Pool: The 438 seats available in the main AIIMS network represent the majority of the vacancies for this session.
• Specialized Centers: Institutes like NIMHANS and SCTIMST have also contributed their remaining slots to this centralized pool for merit-based allotment.
• Result Declaration: The official seat allocation result for the Open Round is scheduled to be published on February 21, 2026.

Mandatory Compliance and Reporting Guidelines

Once the allocation is announced later this month, the reporting phase will begin. Candidates who are successfully allotted a seat must be prepared for immediate physical verification of their original certificates at the respective institutes.

• Document Readiness: Aspirants should keep their MBBS degrees, internship completion certificates, and permanent registrations ready for the late-February reporting window.
• Acceptance Period: Allotted candidates will have from February 23 to February 28, 2026, to accept their seats online and complete the joining formalities.
• Forfeiture Clause: Failure to join an allotted seat in the Open Round will result in the forfeiture of the security deposit as per the established guidelines.

Conclusion

The closing of the registration window on February 7, 2026, marks the final administrative milestone for the INI-CET January 2026 admission cycle. With nearly five hundred seats still available, this round offers a significant prospect for doctors to enter India’s most prestigious medical colleges. Candidates are urged to perform a final review of their saved choices before the portal closes to ensure their participation in the upcoming seat allocation.

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