INI-CET Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise Weightage & High-Yield Topics to Focus On

Most INI-CET aspirants make the same mistake. They open their textbooks, start from page one, and try to cover everything equally. Three months later, they've spent 40 hours on Forensic Medicine — a subject worth 2-3% of the paper — and haven't touched Anatomy properly, which repeats every single session.

Knowing the INI-CET syllabus is not enough. Knowing what AIIMS actually tests within that syllabus — that is what separates toppers from the rest. This guide gives you both: the complete INI-CET 2026 syllabus, subject-wise weightage, and the specific high-yield topics that appear repeatedly in AIIMS papers.

Key Takeaways

• The INI-CET syllabus covers all 19 MBBS subjects, but Medicine, Surgery, and Obs & Gynae together make up nearly 50% of the paper — master these three first.
• Medicine, Surgery, and Obs & Gynae are P1 priority subjects; Pathology, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology are P2; the remaining subjects are lower-weightage P3.
• Medicine questions are clinical and decision-based ("what is the next best step?"), not simple recall.
• Pathology in INI-CET is heavily image-based, so histological pattern recognition matters as much as textbook knowledge.
• Anatomy carries more weight in INI-CET than in NEET PG, with AIIMS traditionally emphasising detailed neuroanatomy questions.

INI-CET Syllabus 2026: The Official Framework

The INI-CET syllabus is based on the Graduate Medical Education Regulations issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

In simple terms: everything you studied in MBBS is fair game.

The exam covers all 19 subjects of the standard MBBS curriculum:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology
• Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
• Medicine (General Medicine)
• Surgery (General Surgery)
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Orthopaedics
• Ophthalmology
• ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat)
• Dermatology & STD
• Psychiatry
• Anaesthesia
• Radiology (Radio-diagnosis)
• Community Medicine (PSM)

But the syllabus is not the strategy. The strategy is knowing how much of each subject appears in the actual exam.

INI-CET Subject-Wise Weightage 2026

Based on analysis of AIIMS PG papers from the last 5 years, here is how the 200 questions are distributed:

Subject	Approx. Questions	Weightage	Priority
Medicine	36–44	18–22%	P1 — Start Here
Surgery	28–36	14–18%	P1 — Start Here
Obs & Gynae	24–30	12–15%	P1 — Start Here
Pathology	20–26	10–13%	P2
Pharmacology	16–20	8–10%	P2
Anatomy	12–16	6–8%	P2
Physiology	10–14	5–7%	P2
Microbiology	8–12	4–6%	P2
Community Medicine	8–12	4–6%	P3
Paediatrics	6–10	3–5%	P3
Forensic Medicine	4–6	2–3%	P3
Ophthalmology	4–6	2–3%	P3
ENT	4–6	2–3%	P3
Orthopaedics	4–6	2–3%	P3
Dermatology	2–4	1–2%	P3
Psychiatry	2–4	1–2%	P3
Anaesthesia	2–4	1–2%	P3
Radiology	2–4	1–2%	P3
Biochemistry	2–4	1–2%	P3

Key insight: Medicine + Surgery + Obs & Gynae = nearly 50% of the paper. Master these three first. Everything else builds on top of this foundation.

High-Yield INI-CET Topics: Subject by Subject

This is the section that matters most. These are not random predictions — they are drawn from AIIMS PG paper patterns over the last 5 years.

Medicine (18–22%) — Highest Priority

Medicine in INI-CET is almost entirely clinical. Expect case vignettes, not direct recall questions.

High-yield topics:

• Cardiology: Heart failure (HFrEF vs HFpEF), ECG interpretation, valvular diseases, acute coronary syndromes, antiarrhythmics
• Nephrology: CKD staging, glomerulonephritis types, renal tubular acidosis, RPGN, dialysis indications
• Endocrinology: Diabetes complications, thyroid disorders, Cushing's vs Addison's, MEN syndromes, pituitary tumours
• Neurology: Stroke management, seizure classification, movement disorders, demyelinating diseases, CSF findings
• Pulmonology: COPD vs Asthma management, pleural effusion analysis, interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary hypertension
• Rheumatology: SLE diagnostic criteria, RA vs other arthritis, vasculitis classification
• Gastroenterology: Liver cirrhosis complications, IBD, pancreatitis scoring systems

AIIMS-specific pattern: Medicine questions in INI-CET frequently ask "what is the next best step?" — not just diagnosis. Practice clinical decision-making, not just identification.

Surgery (14–18%) — High Priority

Surgery in INI-CET rewards candidates who understand surgical principles and management protocols, not just anatomy.

High-yield topics:

• GI Surgery: Appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, colorectal carcinoma, GIST, surgical jaundice
• Hepatobiliary: Gallstones and complications, cholangiocarcinoma, liver abscess, portal hypertension
• Trauma: ATLS protocol, damage control surgery, abdominal trauma management
• Urology: BPH, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, urinary tract injuries
• Breast Surgery: Breast carcinoma staging, sentinel node biopsy, management protocols
• Thyroid & Parathyroid: Thyroid carcinoma types, surgical complications, hyperparathyroidism
• Hernias: Types, surgical repair techniques, complications
• Vascular Surgery: AAA, peripheral arterial disease, DVT and pulmonary embolism

Obstetrics & Gynaecology (12–15%) — High Priority

OBG in INI-CET combines both obstetrics and gynaecology with roughly equal weight.

High-yield topics:

Obstetrics:

• High-risk pregnancy management — preeclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome
• Antepartum haemorrhage — placenta previa vs abruption
• Abnormal labour — dystocia, prolonged labour, fetal distress management
• Postpartum haemorrhage — causes, management, uterotonics
• Preterm labour — tocolysis, corticosteroids, PPROM

Gynaecology:

• Cervical carcinoma — screening, staging, management
• Endometrial carcinoma — risk factors, staging, hysterectomy
• Ovarian cysts and carcinoma — tumour markers, classification
• Uterine fibroids — types, clinical features, fertility implications
• Contraception — mechanism of action, failure rates, contraindications
• Infertility — causes, investigations, ART options

Pathology (10–13%) — Second Priority

Pathology in INI-CET is heavily image-based. Learning to recognise histological patterns is non-negotiable.

High-yield topics:

• Haematology: Anaemia classification and iron studies, leukaemia types and markers, lymphoma (Hodgkin vs NHL), bleeding disorders
• Oncological Pathology: Tumour markers, carcinoma vs sarcoma principles, metastasis patterns
• Systemic Pathology: Glomerular diseases, hepatic pathology (cirrhosis, hepatitis patterns), pulmonary pathology
• Inflammation & Repair: Granuloma types, wound healing, chronic inflammation
• Genetic Disorders: Common chromosomal anomalies, inheritance patterns

Image practice is mandatory for Pathology in INI-CET. The REFLEX app includes histopathology image-based MCQs specifically designed to build this skill.

Pharmacology (8–10%) — Second Priority

Pharmacology questions in INI-CET focus on mechanisms, adverse effects, and clinical applications. Pure memorisation is not enough.

High-yield topics:

• Autonomic Pharmacology: Sympathomimetics, alpha/beta blockers, cholinergics, anticholinergics
• Cardiovascular Drugs: Antihypertensives (mechanisms and contraindications), antiarrhythmics (Vaughan Williams classification), anticoagulants
• Antimicrobials: Mechanism of action, spectrum, resistance patterns, specific drug interactions
• CNS Drugs: Antiepileptics (teratogenicity is a favourite), antipsychotics, antidepressants
• Endocrine Pharmacology: Insulin types, oral hypoglycaemics, thyroid drugs, steroids
• Adverse Drug Reactions: Drug-induced lung disease, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity — these appear every session

Anatomy (6–8%) — Second Priority

Anatomy carries more weight in INI-CET than in NEET PG — and AIIMS has a tradition of asking detailed anatomical questions, especially neuroanatomy.

High-yield topics:

• Neuroanatomy: Cranial nerves (origin, course, lesions), spinal cord tracts, blood supply of brain, basal ganglia
• Embryology: Cardiovascular development, gut rotation, urogenital development, common congenital anomalies
• Thorax: Heart relations, mediastinal contents, lung segments, pleural reflections
• Abdomen: Peritoneal relations and related anatomical structures

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the INI-CET 2026 syllabus based on?

The INI-CET syllabus is based on the Graduate Medical Education Regulations issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), covering all 19 subjects of the standard MBBS curriculum.

Which subjects carry the highest weightage in INI-CET?

Medicine (18–22%), Surgery (14–18%), and Obstetrics & Gynaecology (12–15%) are the P1 priority subjects, together making up nearly 50% of the paper. Pathology, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology are P2 priority subjects.

How many questions are there in INI-CET?

The paper carries 200 questions, distributed across all 19 MBBS subjects based on the weightages shown in the subject-wise breakdown above.

Is INI-CET Medicine mostly recall-based or clinical?

Medicine in INI-CET is almost entirely clinical, built around case vignettes rather than direct recall. AIIMS papers frequently ask "what is the next best step?", so clinical decision-making matters more than simple identification.

Why does Pathology need image-based practice for INI-CET?

Pathology in INI-CET is heavily image-based, so recognising histological patterns is as important as knowing the underlying concepts — pure textbook reading isn't enough.

Does Anatomy matter more in INI-CET than in NEET PG?

Yes. Anatomy carries more weight in INI-CET than in NEET PG, and AIIMS has a tradition of asking detailed anatomical questions, especially in neuroanatomy.

Bottom Line

The INI-CET syllabus technically covers all 19 MBBS subjects, but the exam itself is not evenly weighted — Medicine, Surgery, and Obs & Gynae alone account for nearly half the paper, with Pathology and Pharmacology close behind. Build your preparation around this weightage rather than treating every subject equally, focus on the specific high-yield topics within each subject that repeat across AIIMS papers, and prioritise clinical reasoning and image-based recognition over rote recall — that combination is what actually separates a strong INI-CET score from an average one.