NEET vs AIIMS — How AIIMS MBBS Admission Works Through NEET
There is no separate AIIMS MBBS exam: AIIMS admits through NEET and MCC counselling. Recent closing ranks, fees, campuses and INI-CET for PG explained.
There is no separate AIIMS MBBS exam any more. Since 2020, all AIIMS MBBS admissions happen through NEET UG, and 100% of AIIMS MBBS seats are filled through MCC's central counselling. Your NEET All India Rank decides whether you get into AIIMS. This guide covers: recent closing ranks, campuses and seats, fees, and how the counselling process works.
For the 2026 cycle, the NEET-UG exam was re-held on 21 June 2026 after NTA cancelled the 3 May paper, results came out on 16 July, and MCC counselling runs from August to October 2026. From 2027, NEET-UG is set to move to computer-based testing.
NEET to AIIMS — How It Works
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Take NEET UG | Same exam for all MBBS seats in India (AIIMS, JIPMER, government, private and deemed) |
| 2. Get AIR (All India Rank) | Based on your NEET score out of 720 |
| 3. Register for MCC Counselling | MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) conducts central counselling on mcc.nic.in |
| 4. Choose AIIMS in preferences | List AIIMS campuses in your preference order |
| 5. Seat allotment | Based on rank + preferences + category + seat availability |
AIIMS Closing Ranks — A Recent Example
These are MCC Round 1 closing ranks from the 2024 counselling, as reported by Careers360. Later rounds close at higher ranks, and every year is different. The 2026 counselling is still running, so there are no 2026 closing ranks yet. Use MCC's official allotment lists on mcc.nic.in for the full picture.
| AIIMS Campus | General | OBC | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 47 | 186 | 214 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 374 | 695 | 805 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 594 | 1,252 | 1,790 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 731 | 1,133 | 1,200 |
| AIIMS Patna | 1,297 | 1,963 | 2,371 |
| AIIMS Kalyani | 2,149 | 3,245 | 4,033 |
| AIIMS Bilaspur | 2,401 | 3,276 | 4,012 |
| AIIMS Deoghar | 3,106 | 3,891 | 4,684 |
| AIIMS Guwahati | 3,476 | 4,463 | 5,035 |
| AIIMS Madurai | 4,531 | 5,142 | 6,186 |
Note: Closing ranks move each year with paper difficulty, candidate numbers and seats. SC, ST and PwBD closing ranks are considerably higher. Don't convert these ranks into a fixed NEET score — the marks for a given rank change a lot from year to year (the top score was 686 in 2025, while 19 candidates scored above 700 in the 2026 re-exam).
AIIMS vs Other Government Medical Colleges
| Factor | AIIMS | Other Top Government Medical Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | Nominal (AIIMS New Delhi: about ₹1,628 academic fee for the whole course, reported) | Low, but set by each state or institute — varies widely |
| Infrastructure | Excellent (especially Delhi and the older AIIMS) | Good to excellent (varies) |
| Clinical Exposure | Exceptional — AIIMS hospitals are major referral centres | Very good in top colleges (JIPMER, MAMC, KEM) |
| Research Opportunities | Strong — AIIMS institutes combine teaching, research and patient care | Varies by college |
| Hostel | Nominal charges | Varies by college |
| PG (after MBBS) | INI-CET — the PG entrance for AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS and SCTIMST | NEET PG |
| Brand Value | Highest in Indian medical education | Strong (especially JIPMER, MAMC, KEM) |
Target AIIMS through NEET preparation
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Practise with Super Tutor — start freeAIIMS New Delhi — Why It Is Special
- Fees: academic fee reported at about ₹1,628 for the entire MBBS course — among the lowest anywhere in India
- Ranking: No. 1 in the NIRF 2025 medical ranking (nirfindia.org), a position it has held every year since the medical category began in 2018
- Hospital: one of India's best-known public hospitals and a national referral centre
- Research: teaching, research and patient care under one roof
- Alumni network: doctors in senior positions across India and abroad
- Location: New Delhi — close to national health institutions and programmes
Preparation Strategy for AIIMS (Through NEET)
| Target | Rank to Aim For (General, approx.) | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | Top 50 or so | Near-perfect Biology, very strong Chemistry and Physics, zero silly mistakes. NCERT mastery is non-negotiable. |
| Older AIIMS (Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Rishikesh and similar) | Roughly the top 1,000 | Strong across all subjects. 2+ years of preparation. Regular mock tests (weekly). PYQ mastery. |
| Any AIIMS | Low thousands | Complete NCERT 3 times. Solve recent years' PYQs. Regular full-length mocks on screen. Consistent daily study. |
Rank targets are based on the 2024 Round 1 closing ranks above; later rounds and other categories close at higher ranks.
Common Myths About AIIMS
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "AIIMS has a separate exam" | Not for MBBS — all AIIMS MBBS admission has been through NEET since 2020 |
| "Only toppers get AIIMS" | AIIMS New Delhi needs a rank of roughly 50 (General), but newer AIIMS campuses have closed in the low thousands (2024 Round 1, reported) |
| "AIIMS is only in Delhi" | Around 20 AIIMS across India now admit MBBS students |
| "Newer AIIMS are not good" | Newer campuses are still building up, but they are central government institutes. Bhopal, Jodhpur and Rishikesh are now well established. |
| "AIIMS MBBS is free" | Not free, but fees are nominal |
Build the NEET score you need for AIIMS
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Practise with Super Tutor — start freeClosing ranks are MCC Round 1 figures from 2024 as reported by Careers360; fees are as reported from the AIIMS prospectus. Actual ranks and fees vary each year. For official information: aiimsexams.ac.in (AIIMS), mcc.nic.in (counselling), neet.nta.nic.in (NEET).
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Start freeFrequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate AIIMS entrance exam?
Not for MBBS. Since 2020, AIIMS has admitted MBBS students only through NEET UG — the separate AIIMS MBBS entrance exam was last held in 2019. You take NEET, and based on your All India Rank (AIR) you choose AIIMS campuses in MCC's central counselling, which fills 100% of AIIMS MBBS seats. AIIMS still runs its own exams for some other courses (such as nursing and paramedical), and INI-CET is its entrance for postgraduate courses.
What NEET rank is needed for AIIMS New Delhi?
AIIMS New Delhi is the hardest medical seat in India to get. In MCC Round 1 of 2024, its General-category closing rank was 47, OBC 186 and EWS 214 (as reported by Careers360). SC and ST closing ranks are higher — check MCC's allotment lists on mcc.nic.in. Ranks vary each year, and the marks needed shift with paper difficulty: the top score was 686 in 2025, while 19 candidates scored above 700 in the 2026 re-exam.
How many AIIMS are there in India?
Around 20 AIIMS currently admit MBBS students, and more have been sanctioned. AIIMS New Delhi is the oldest and most prestigious. Other established AIIMS include Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh; newer ones include Bathinda, Nagpur, Mangalagiri, Gorakhpur, Kalyani and others. Together they offer roughly 2,000 or more MBBS seats — MCC's seat matrix on mcc.nic.in has the exact number each year.
Is AIIMS free or paid?
Not free, but fees are nominal. AIIMS New Delhi's MBBS academic fee is reported at about ₹1,628 for the entire course, with hostel charges of a few thousand rupees more — among the lowest medical fees in India. Other AIIMS also charge low fees, though amounts differ by campus. Check the current AIIMS prospectus for exact figures.
Can I get into AIIMS without coaching?
Yes — AIIMS admission is through NEET, and many students prepare for NEET without coaching. NCERT mastery is the key for NEET (and therefore AIIMS). For AIIMS New Delhi specifically, you need a General-category rank of roughly 50 or better, which requires near-perfect preparation. Many top rankers use coaching, but it is not mandatory.