AIIMS MBBS vs NEET UG — Key Differences & Guide 2026

History of AIIMS MBBS Exam

• AIIMS New Delhi earlier had its own exam: AIIMS MBBS; separate from CBSE-conducted NEET
• Known for higher difficulty level in Physics and Chemistry; reasoning questions unique to AIIMS
• 2020: Supreme Court ruling merged AIIMS MBBS with NEET-UG; all AIIMs now admit via NEET only

Current AIIMS Admission

• All 7 original + 15 new AIIMs admit students via NEET-UG; no separate exam since 2020
• AIIMS Delhi: General category NEET cutoff typically 680+ out of 720; AIR < 50 needed for AIIMS Delhi MBBS
• Seats: AIIMS Delhi = 100 MBBS seats; AIIMS Bhopal, Jodhpur etc. = 100–125 seats each

NEET-UG Overview

• Single national entrance exam for all medical colleges in India; conducted by NTA
• 720 marks: Biology 360, Physics 180, Chemistry 180; 3 hours 20 minutes
• Qualifying cutoff: 50th percentile (General); 40th percentile (SC/ST/OBC); AIIMS needs 98th+

NEET vs Old AIIMS Exam

• Old AIIMS exam tested reasoning, GK, English + PCB; more difficult; 200 questions
• NEET is purely PCB; no reasoning or English; easier pattern; higher scores needed for AIIMS due to single exam
• Students who prepared for old AIIMS had stronger conceptual clarity; same preparation recommended now

How to Target AIIMS Through NEET

• Biology: NCERT line-by-line; AIIMS-level questions on genetics, human physiology, ecology
• Chemistry: NCERT + MS Chauhan (Organic); P Bahadur (Physical); JD Lee (Inorganic)
• Physics: HC Verma + NEET PYQs; Modern Physics and Optics have more weightage in AIIMS target prep

Life at AIIMS Delhi

• Highly subsidised: hostel + mess + tuition total ₹5,000–₹7,000/year
• Clinical exposure: 1.5 crore OPD patients/year; unmatched for India and globally
• Alumni: AIIMS Delhi graduates become top surgeons, policy makers, WHO officials worldwide

Alternative to AIIMS

• JIPMER Puducherry: free education; 150 MBBS seats; NEET admission; excellent clinical training
• BHU (Varanasi), AMU (Aligarh): central government medical colleges; affordable; NEET cutoff 640+
• State government medical colleges for realistic target: NEET 540–580 for top state GMCs