The INI-CET (Institute of National Importance – Combined Entrance Test) is one of the most competitive PG medical exams in India, opening doors to AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS, and SCTIMST. With its concept-heavy questions, clinical integration, and focus on core subjects, INICET demands a different preparation strategy compared to NEET PG. Aspirants often find the exam rewarding due to the academic exposure, research opportunities, and structured training offered in these top institutes.
What do you think makes INICET tougher than NEET PG..is it the depth of questions, pattern, or the competition for limited seats?
INICET is undoubtedly tougher than NEET PG because the challenge is not just the number of questions, it is the depth behind each one. INICET heavily tests conceptual clarity, clinical reasoning, and integration across subjects, whereas NEET PG focuses more on breadth and pattern based practice. The competition is also far more intense, with only a few thousand seats across elite institutes like AIIMS, PGI, JIPMER, and NIMHANS. This means even high scorers are competing for very limited, high value positions. The paper style, unpredictable twists, image-based questions, and research oriented mindset make INICET a true test of understanding rather than rapid recall.
I feel like it is mainly due to the details and the of depth knowledge one needs to have to be able to not only select correct answers, but also effectively eliminate other options; mainly because they also have questions where more than one option can be correct.