NEET-SS vs INI-SS Radiology: Differences, Dates, and Which to Attempt
By Dr. Bharath Korrapati, MD Radiodiagnosis, AIIMS Bhubaneswar · Last verified: 2026-07-04
NEET-SS, conducted by NBEMS, is the single entrance for DM/MCh/DrNB seats at all institutes except the Institutes of National Importance. INI-SS, conducted by AIIMS New Delhi, covers DM/MCh seats at AIIMS and the other INIs and runs twice a year. Eligible radiology candidates should generally attempt both — the exams and counselling are entirely separate.
The two exams side by side
The split is institutional, not academic: the same MD/DNB Radiodiagnosis feeder degree qualifies you for both, but the seats behind each exam do not overlap. NEET-SS feeds the national MCC counselling for non-INI seats; INI-SS feeds the INIs’ own common counselling.
| Parameter | NEET-SS | INI-SS |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences) | AIIMS New Delhi |
| Seats covered | DM/MCh/DrNB at all institutes except the INIs | DM/MCh at the INIs — AIIMS campuses, PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS in recent sessions |
| Format | Single-stage computer-based MCQ paper | Two stages — Stage 1: 80 MCQs in 90 minutes; Stage 2: departmental assessment (20 marks, video mode) for AIIMS and PGIMER seats |
| Marking | +4 correct / −1 incorrect in recent cycles (verify in the current NBEMS bulletin) | Stage 1: +1 correct / −⅓ incorrect; 50% (40/80) qualifying |
| Frequency | Once a year | Twice a year (January and July sessions) |
| Counselling | Online, by MCC at mcc.nic.in | Common INI counselling via aiimsexams.ac.in |
Current-cycle dates (verified 4 July 2026)
INI-SS July 2026 session: the entrance exam was held on 25 April 2026 in computer-based mode and Stage 1 results were declared on 30 May 2026, with the academic session starting 1 July 2026 and admissions closing 31 August 2026 — per the AIIMS exam-section notifications for this session. The next session (January 2027) will be notified on aiimsexams.ac.in.
NEET-SS: the 2025 exam was held on 26–27 December 2025 and results were declared by NBEMS on 23 January 2026. As of 4 July 2026, the NEET-SS 2026 information bulletin has not been released — data pending official release; check natboard.edu.in / nbe.edu.in for the notification rather than relying on circulating tentative dates.
What the radiology papers test differently
Aspirants consistently report INI-SS Stage 1 as more image-dependent and concept-driven — recognising a classic sign or a physics principle applied to a case — while NEET-SS rewards broader curricular coverage with a heavier recall component. Treat this as reported experience rather than a published statistic; neither body releases an official image-question percentage.
The negative-marking schemes also demand different attempt strategies: INI-SS’s −⅓ per wrong answer with a 50% qualifying bar tolerates educated guessing more than NEET-SS’s −1 against +4. Practising timed blocks under each scheme separately is the only reliable way to calibrate.
Which should you attempt?
Both, if you are eligible — they cost you one application fee each and open non-overlapping seat pools. For interventional radiology aspirants specifically, INI DM-IR seats are scarce and shift between sessions: the revised July 2026 INI-SS seat matrix, for example, listed DM Interventional Radiology at AIIMS Bhopal with one sponsored seat and no general seat (per the official AIIMS seat-matrix revision reported in June 2026). Skipping INI-SS because seats look few is still usually a mistake; skipping NEET-SS means giving up the entire non-INI pool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take both NEET-SS and INI-SS?
Yes. They are conducted by different bodies (NBEMS and AIIMS New Delhi), cover non-overlapping seat pools, and run separate counselling. Most eligible radiology candidates attempt both.
How many times a year is each exam held?
NEET-SS is held once a year by NBEMS. INI-SS runs twice a year, with January and July sessions, conducted by AIIMS New Delhi.
Is the syllabus different between the two?
Both draw on the same broad radiodiagnosis curriculum. The practical difference is framing: INI-SS Stage 1 is reported as more image-heavy and concept-driven, while NEET-SS covers the curriculum more broadly with different negative marking (+4/−1 vs +1/−⅓).
When is NEET-SS 2026?
As of 4 July 2026 the official NEET-SS 2026 notification has not been released. Check the NBEMS website (natboard.edu.in) for the information bulletin rather than relying on unofficial tentative dates.