AIIMS INI-CET Open Round Adjustments Continue After 70 Candidatures Cancelled

As of February 18, 2026, AIIMS New Delhi has cancelled the candidatures of 70 applicants during the INI-CET Open Round. The adjustments follow a strict verification of seat allocation rules and institutional preference criteria for January 2026 session admissions. These newly vacated seats are being redistributed to eligible waitlisted aspirants in the ongoing spot allotment phase. Affected candidates must check the official AIIMS exam portal for the revised list of vacancies across INIs like JIPMER, NIMHANS, and PGIMER.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has initiated significant adjustments to its ongoing Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI-CET) Open Round counseling. As of today, February 18, 2026, the examination section has officially cancelled the candidatures of 70 aspirants who were previously provisionally allotted seats in the January 2026 session. This unexpected cancellation follows a rigorous post-allotment audit of the documents and institutional preference claims submitted by the participants. The specialized medical institutes involved, which include various AIIMS branches, JIPMER, and PGIMER, are now working to ensure that these premium postgraduate seats are re-allocated to legitimate candidates before the session’s final cutoff date.

1. Reasons for Candidature Cancellation and Audit Findings

The decision to implement a mass cancellation of seats was triggered by discrepancies found during the physical reporting phase. AIIMS New Delhi, the nodal body for INI-CET, maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding the submission of inaccurate data during the highly competitive counseling process.

• Institutional Preference Errors: Several of the 70 candidates incorrectly claimed "Institutional Preference" for specific institutes where they did not complete their MBBS, leading to an immediate cancellation of their assigned slots.
• Document Discrepancies: The Official Notice highlights that 15 candidates failed to produce valid category certificates (OBC/EWS) within the prescribed timeline, resulting in the forfeiture of their reserved seats.
• Non-Reporting Penalty: A portion of the cancellation count is attributed to students who failed to report to their assigned institutes by the February 14 deadline without providing a prior administrative justification.
• Biometric Failures: During the in-person verification at the respective AIIMS branches, three cases of biometric mismatches were identified, prompting a permanent cancellation and further legal inquiry.

2. Redistribution of Seats and Revised Vacancy Matrix

Following the cancellation of these 70 seats, the AIIMS examination section has released a Revised Vacancy Matrix for the spot round. This sudden influx of seats in clinical branches like Surgery and Medicine has altered the counseling dynamics for those on the waitlist.

• Waitlist Activation: Aspirants who were not allotted any seat in the initial Open Round results are now being invited to participate in the spot counseling based on the updated rank cutoffs.
• Mandatory Fresh Choice: All candidates participating in the spot round must re-verify their preferences on the AIIMS Exam Portal to be considered for the 70 newly available positions.
• Security Deposit Refund: Candidates whose seats were cancelled due to clerical errors (not fraudulent claims) may remain eligible for a refund of their three-lakh security deposit, per the INI-CET Information Brochure.
• Final Deadline: The spot round counseling to fill these 70 vacancies is scheduled to conclude by February 21, ensuring that the January 2026 academic session starts at full capacity.

3. Conclusion

The ongoing adjustments in the AIIMS INI-CET Open Round on February 18, 2026, underscore the complexity and competitiveness of postgraduate medical admissions in India. The cancellation of 70 candidatures has served as a stern reminder that administrative compliance is as crucial as entrance test merit. For the premium institutes of national importance, maintaining the integrity of the counseling cycle is paramount to ensuring that the most deserving specialists are inducted into their residency programs. As the spot round progresses, aspirants are advised to double-check their eligibility against the latest Official Guidelines. These 70 seats represent a final, rare opportunity for many, and their successful re-allocation will officially close the doors on the January 2026 INI-CET admissions cycle.

For regular updates follow Only Education News. For more details on medical entrance exams and courses, check here: Medical Exams List.