A significant number of aspirants preparing for the upcoming INI‑CET January 2026 session have voiced deep concern over the allocation of examination centres that are hundreds of kilometres away from their residences or home states. The calling body, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), has formally requested the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi to re-allocate nearby centres for affected candidates.
Centre Allotment Issues Highlighted by FAIMA
According to FAIMA, many candidates have received exam centre assignments far removed from their current locations or their home states. The letter addressed to AIIMS notes that factoring in travel and logistical arrangements, numerous candidates face severe hardship to reach their centres on time. “Considering the limited time left for the examination and the difficulties in arranging travel at such short notice, especially to distant states with limited transport connectivity, it would be practically impossible for many aspirants to reach their allotted centres in time,” the FAIMA letter states. FAIMA also emphasised that ensuring equitable access to the exam must include handling such logistic challenges to give all needy candidates a fair chance.
Exam Details & Timing
The INI-CET January 2026 session is scheduled for 9 November 2025, and the admit cards have already been released on AIIMS’ official website. This exam serves as a gateway for postgraduate medical education in major institutes including AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER and NIMHANS — thus centre accessibility becomes a crucial factor for thousands of candidates.
Implications of Distant Centre Allotment for Aspirants
Assigning exam centres many hundreds of kilometres away from a candidate’s residence or state adds several layers of difficulty:
- Logistical and financial burden increases significantly when candidates must travel to unfamiliar cities at short notice.
- Transport connectivity may be limited, especially for aspirants from remote or less accessible regions.
- Physical and psychological stress may impair performance in a high-stakes exam scenario.
- Equity of access is in question when some candidates receive nearby centres while others are pushed to distant locations.
FAIMA’s National President, Dr Akshay Dongardive, underlined that this situation is “placing undue stress and logistical challenges” on many candidates, and called for urgent intervention to revise centre allotments.
What FAIMA is Requesting?
The body has asked AIIMS’ Examination Division to:
- Re-allocate exam centres closer to candidates’ residence or state of application for those affected.
- Issue revised admit cards promptly once re-allocations are made.
