NEET PG vs INI CET Exam Comparison: An Overview

Candidates often get a little confused about NEET PG and INI CET as both are post-graduate-level entrance exams in the medical stream. Read the article to know the difference between NEET PG and INI CET exam.

NEET PG and INI CET, both are PG-level entrance examinations in the medical stream. Conducted by the National Board of Examination(NBE), NEET-PG is an annual exam for providing admission into various MD (Doctor of Medicine)/ MS (Master in Surgery) and PG Diploma courses across the country. The scores are also used for taking admissions into postgraduate MBBS DNB courses.

Conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, INI CET, known as Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Examination, provides admission into PG courses such as Masters of Surgery (MS), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Dental Surgery (MDS), Doctorate of Medicine (DM), and Master of Chirurgie (MCh) at 16 Institutions including twelve AIIMS across the country as well as JIPMER(Puducherry), PGIMER(Chandigarh), and NIMHANS(Bengaluru), and SCTIMST, Trivandrum. INI CET is conducted twice a year, one for the January session and another for the July session. INI CET was conducted on November 20, 2020, for the first time.

As both are PG-level entrance examinations, candidates often get a little confused about the examination. Some candidates may not have an idea about the agency which conducts these exams, the pattern and marking system, and other necessary information related to both these entrance exams. Read the complete article to understand the difference and other details of NEET PG and INI CET exams. 

NEET PG vs INI CET Exam Comparison: Overview

Particulars	NEET PG	INI CET
Exam Name	National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduate courses (NEET PG)	Institute of National Importance combined Entrance Test
Competent authority	National Board of Examination (NBE)	AIIMS, New Delhi
Courses offered	MD/MS/PG Diploma/DNB post-MBBS	MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, MDS
Level of the examination	Postgraduate	Postgraduate
Frequency of the examination	Once in a year	Twice a year (January and July)
Mode of the examination	Online	Online
Duration of examination	210 minutes	180 minutes
Exam website	neetpg@nbe.edu.in	aiimsexams.ac.in

INI CET and NEET PG: Latest Updates

While NEET PG 2023 exam held on March 5 in computer-based mode, INI CET 2023 July session is scheduled for May 7. NBE declared NEET PG 2023 result on March 14. MCC will soon announce schedule for NEET PG 2023 counselling. AIIMS has already released INI CEt 2023 admit card on May 1. 

NEET PG vs INI CET: Difference in the application process

While NEET PG application process is a simple one, INI CET application is bit complicated. INI CET application process involves basic and final registration followed by generation of Registration Unique Code (RUC). The exam conducting body has introduced the Prospective Applicants Advanced Registration (PAAR) process for INI CET registration which facilitates the selection of more than one course at a time.

For NEET PG, the application process starts with registration on the official website of NBE. Candidates can then log in using their registration ID and password to fill the application form. To complete the application process, candidates will have to upload scanned copies of photographs and signature. They will also have to pay a non-refundable application fee to complete the application process.

The first step of the application process for INI CET is basic registration. Candidates have to register themselves on the official website of AIIMS Delhi using a valid email ID and mobile number. Then they have to check the provisional status of their registration. The next step is code generation and final registration. Only those candidates whose basic registration was accepted could generate the RUC code. This code is a mandatory requirement to proceed with the final registration.

NEET PG vs INI CET: Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

Candidates who want to appear for the NEET PG and INI CET exams should know about its exam pattern and marking scheme. Exam pattern comprises syllabus, type and number of questions, and timings. Last year, NBE introduced some important changes in NEET PG exam pattern. There were changes in the application fee, the number of test centers, the total number of questions, and tie-breaking parameters. 

NEET PG syllabus is another important thing candidates should pay attention to. NEET PG syllabus comprises subject areas as per the Graduate Medical Education Regulations issued by the Medical Council of India. Candidates need to check subject-wise topics and weightage from each topic. NEET PG 2023 test paper will have 200 multiple-choice questions of 800 marks and candidates will get 3.5 hours to answer them. There will be negative marking for wrong responses.

Candidates appearing for the July session should have an idea about INI CET 2023 exam pattern. INI CET 2023 exam will be carried out in online mode with a test paper comprising a total of 200 multiple-choice questions. Candidates will be getting 3 hours to answer them. There will be the single correct answer and multiple correct answer type questions in the INI CET 2023 test paper. As per the marking scheme, candidates will be awarded 1 mark for right answer and -1/3 mark for wrong answer. Candidates must note that the NEET PG exam is conducted once a year while INI CET is held twice, January and July session.

Institutions that accept NEET PG or INI CET score

NEET PG score is valid for admission in all private and government medical institutions except AIIMS, JIPMER(Puducherry), PGIMER(Chandigarh), and NIMHANS(Bengaluru). SGPGIMS, Lucknow and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, also don’t accept NEET PG score NEET-PG is valid for admission to the following:

• All India 50 percent quota seats for MD/MS/PG Diploma courses across all states, except Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Telangana

• State quota seats for MD/MS/PG Diploma courses for all States/Union territories of India, including the three mentioned above

• MD/MS/PG Diploma courses offered by Private Medical Colleges, Institutions & Universities/Deemed Universities across India

• MD/MS/PG Diploma courses offered by Armed Forces Medical Services Institutions

• DNB Broad specialty courses 

INI CET scores are accepted for admission to 15 AIIMS, and JIPMER Puducherry, PGI Chandigarh, and SCTIMST, Trivandrum. The list of AIIMS includes AIIMS Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Nagpur, Raipur, and Rishikesh, Bathinda, Bibinagar, Deoghar, and Manglagiri.

Read More:

• How to Prepare for INI CET 2023
• How to prepare for NEET PG at home?