The AIIMS Paramedical entrance exam happens on 4 July 2026. That part is fixed. The part that still makes even well-prepared students anxious is what comes after - counselling. AIIMS, New Delhi, runs its own centralised online counselling for BSc (Hons.) Paramedical courses across all participating AIIMS campuses. It is not part of NEET counselling, not run by MCC, and not interchangeable with BSc Nursing counselling at AIIMS - though the mechanics are similar.

You will need to register on aiimsexams.ac.in, fill and lock your campus-and-course preferences, wait for seat allotment, accept or upgrade, and then physically report to the allotted institute with a demand draft of ₹1,00,000 (refundable) and original documents. This article walks you through every verifiable step, using the official AIIMS examination calendar, the latest 2026 notices, previous year cutoffs, and the documented counselling protocols from AIIMS’s own systems. Where exact 2026 counselling dates are not yet published, we tell you what to watch for and what the historical rhythm has been.

What Is AIIMS Paramedical Counselling?

AIIMS Paramedical counselling is the merit‑based, centrally administered seat‑allocation process for admission to BSc (Hons.) Paramedical courses at AIIMS New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Rishikesh, Jodhpur, Patna, Bhopal, Raipur, and over a dozen other AIIMS campuses. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, conducts the entrance examination and also runs the subsequent counselling entirely on its own portal, aiimsexams.ac.in.

The courses covered include Medical Laboratory Technology, Operation Theatre Technology, Medical Radiology & Imaging Technology, Optometry, Anaesthesia Technology, Radiotherapy Technology, Dental Hygiene, and several other allied‑health programmes. In 2026, the total number of seats across all AIIMS for paramedical and allied health courses is approximately 725, excluding BSc Nursing seats.

Counselling proceeds round‑wise. AIIMS has officially stated that the counselling process will include a mock round, a first round, a second round, and - if seats remain vacant - an open round for AIIMS New Delhi only. The exact dates for each round will be announced after the result is declared on 10 July 2026.

AIIMS Paramedical Counselling 2026: Key Dates

The only dates officially locked in by AIIMS are the examination and result dates. Everything thereafter is “dates will be declared later” - but the sequence is known from the published calendar and from prior years’ patterns.

All counselling‑related announcements appear only on aiimsexams.ac.in. No separate call letters are sent by post. You must check the portal daily from mid‑July onward.

Seat Matrix and Reservation Policy

The combined seat matrix for BSc (Hons.) Paramedical and allied health courses across all participating AIIMS totals 725 seats in 2026. The distribution per campus and course is published in the official prospectus. A few high‑demand campuses and the approximate seats for selected courses are listed below to give you a sense of scale.

Seat Snapshot: Selected AIIMS Campuses (Allied Health Courses)

The above is illustrative. Verify the complete seat matrix from the official prospectus on aiimsexams.ac.in before choice filling.

Reservation Structure

AIIMS follows the central government reservation policy for all paramedical seats. The reservation splits are:

• Scheduled Castes (SC): 15%
• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5%
• Other Backward Classes - Non‑Creamy Layer (OBC‑NCL): 27%
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 5% horizontal reservation across all categories

If reserved seats remain unfilled in a particular category in later rounds, they are de‑reserved and offered to the next eligible category as per AIIMS rules - for instance, vacant ST seats may move to SC, then to general.

Previous Year Cutoffs (AIIMS Delhi, Round 1)

Cutoffs from earlier years are your best predictor of what rank you need for a given course and campus. Below are the closing ranks for AIIMS Delhi paramedical courses in the 2024 counselling cycle, as released by the institute.

AIIMS Delhi Paramedical Closing Ranks (Round 1, 2024)

For B.Sc. OT Technology, the overall closing rank for the general category was 488 in 2024, while in 2023 it was 90 - so rank movement can be sharp. Use these numbers only as a reference; counselling in 2026 will depend on the actual seat matrix, the number of qualified candidates, and the choices filled.

Counselling Process: Step‑by‑Step

AIIMS Paramedical counselling is fully online until the physical reporting stage. The sequence mirrors the BSc Nursing counselling process that AIIMS already runs, which is well‑documented. Below is the step‑by‑step path you will walk through.

Step 1: Register on the Counselling Portal

After the result is declared on 10 July 2026, qualified candidates will be able to register on the AIIMS online seat allocation portal (the same portal used for result and application: aiimsexams.ac.in). You will need your application number, date of birth, and the password created during the exam registration process. Once logged in, you complete a counselling registration form - this may involve paying a counselling registration fee (the exact amount will be in the official notice). Keep your mobile number and email active; these are where OTPs and alerts arrive.

Step 2: Choice Filling and Locking

This is the most decisive step. The portal displays all available paramedical courses and AIIMS campuses where seats are offered. You must arrange them in your genuine order of preference.

Key rules, consistent across all AIIMS undergraduate counselling systems:

• Fill as many choices as you would realistically accept. Do not leave gaps.
• Prioritise by what you actually want - not by what you think is “safe”. The seat allotment algorithm checks your list from top to bottom. Put your dream campus‑and‑course combination first.
• You can modify, delete, or reorder choices as many times as you want until you lock them.
• Locking is mandatory. The system will auto‑lock your last saved version if you miss the deadline, but that version may not be your final intended order. Lock manually.
• After locking, choices cannot be changed.

Step 3: Seat Allotment (Round‑wise)

A mock round will be conducted first to show you what seat you might get based on your locked choices and the provisional rank list. Use this to rearrange your preferences if needed - it is your safety rehearsal.

Then, the real Round 1 allotment is published. You log in to see whether you have been allotted a seat and, if so, which one. The allotment is based on your entrance exam rank, category, seat availability, and the order of your locked choices - not on any human intervention.

Step 4: Accept, Upgrade, or Withdraw

After receiving an allotment, candidates must choose one of two paths - identical to the structure AIIMS uses for BSc Nursing counselling:

Option A: Accept the allotted seat and do not participate in further rounds. You are satisfied. You must:

• Download the offer letter and seat allotment letter.
• Report physically to the allotted AIIMS campus on the scheduled date.
• Submit original documents or, if you cannot submit originals, a demand draft (DD) of ₹1,00,000 drawn in favour of “AIIMS Main Grant” (payable at the respective AIIMS city). The DD is refundable after you later submit the original documents.
• Pay the admission fee and complete medical fitness requirements.
• You are then out of further rounds.

Option B: Accept the allotted seat and participate in the next round for an upgrade. You want to keep this seat as a fallback but hope for a better campus or course in Round 2. You must:

• Still report to the allotted AIIMS campus on time.
• Submit the original documents or a ₹1,00,000 DD as above.
• If you are upgraded in Round 2, your previous seat is automatically cancelled, and you must join the new allotment.
• If you are not upgraded, your current seat remains yours.
• If you fail to join the upgraded Round 2 seat, your admission is cancelled, and the ₹1,00,000 DD is forfeited.

Candidates who reject their Round 1 seat entirely (without accepting) can participate in Round 2 afresh.

Step 5: Document Verification and Final Admission

At the time of physical reporting, you must carry the following documents - both originals and self‑attested photocopies:

• AIIMS Paramedical admit card 2026
• AIIMS Paramedical scorecard / rank letter
• Class 10 certificate or birth certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate
• Category certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS) in central government format, if applicable
• PwBD certificate from a designated medical authority, if applicable
• Valid photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driver’s licence)
• Passport‑size photographs (6-8 copies, same as used in the application)
• Provisional seat allotment letter (downloaded from the counselling portal)
• Medical fitness certificate
• Migration certificate / transfer certificate from last attended institution
• Any other document specified in the allotment letter

OBC‑NCL certificates must be issued in the central format and dated within one year of the counselling date. An expired or state‑format certificate will void your reserved seat.

How the Seat Allotment Algorithm Works

The allocation engine at AIIMS uses the same logic that runs across JOSAA, CSAB, and NEET MCC: it is a merit‑first, choice‑second algorithm. The system sorts all registered candidates by their entrance exam rank, highest to lowest.

Starting at rank 1, it looks at that candidate’s locked preference list in order. If the first choice has an available seat under the candidate’s category, the seat is allotted and the candidate is removed from the pool. If not, the system checks the second choice, then the third, and so on, until a seat is found or the candidate’s list is exhausted.

By the time the algorithm reaches your rank, many seats in top choices may be taken - but the engine will still give you the highest‑preference option that remains open. That is why filling a long, wide choice list is protective: it gives the algorithm more opportunities to find a feasible seat before reaching the end of your list.

Practical Choice‑Filling Strategy

Drawing from documented best practices across AIIMS counselling notices and similar centralised seat‑allocation systems, here is how to structure your preference list:

• Dream Choices (top of list): Courses and AIIMS campuses you want most, even if last year’s closing rank was slightly better than your rank. Ranks shift, and withdrawals in later rounds may release seats you did not expect.
• Realistic Choices (middle): Options where your rank falls close to historical closing marks. These are your strongest probability zone.
• Safe Choices (lower middle): Campuses and courses where your rank comfortably beats previous cutoffs. These prevent you from going unallotted.
• Backup Choices (bottom): Any remaining acceptable options. Even a less‑preferred course at a newer AIIMS is better than no seat.

Do not place a “safe” option as Choice 1 purely to avoid the anxiety of not getting a seat. The algorithm will immediately assign it to you, and you will never be considered for the dream campus you placed at Choice 2. You have nothing to lose by listing your true preferences first.

Common Mistakes That Cost Seats

These errors recur every counselling season across AIIMS undergraduate admissions:

• Filling too few choices. If you list only 5-10 options and the cutoffs tighten, the algorithm runs through your short list, finds no vacancy, and you remain unallotted. Fill every option you would genuinely accept.
• Not locking choices manually. Saved but unlocked preferences are not considered during seat allotment. If the system auto‑locks your last saved draft, it may not reflect your final order.
• Choosing to freeze too early. Freezing in Round 1 when you could realistically upgrade in Round 2 locks you out permanently. Use the “accept and participate in next round” option unless you are fully satisfied.
• Using an expired OBC-NCL certificate. The certificate must be in the central government format and issued within the last year. An old or state‑format certificate invalidates your reserved category seat and moves you to the general pool, where cutoffs are higher.
• Missing the physical reporting deadline. If you are allotted a seat but fail to report to the campus in the specified window, your seat is cancelled. In later rounds, the ₹1,00,000 DD may be forfeited.
• Not checking the official website daily. Announcements about choice‑filling windows, allotment results, and reporting deadlines are published only on aiimsexams.ac.in. There are no guaranteed SMS or email alerts for every step. A 48‑hour registration window can close while you are waiting to be notified.

What to Do If You Don’t Get a Seat

Not receiving a seat after Round 2 does not mean the admission cycle is over.

• Wait for the open round. AIIMS has officially confirmed that an open round will be conducted for AIIMS New Delhi if seats remain vacant after Round 2. This is an additional opportunity. Candidates who were not allotted in previous rounds or who want to try for Delhi specifically can participate.
• Check other AIIMS campuses. Newer AIIMS - Bilaspur, Deoghar, Nagpur, Mangalagiri, Gorakhpur, and others - may still have unfilled seats that go to spot rounds or institutional‑level filling. Monitor individual campus notices.
• Explore state‑level paramedical admissions. Many state medical universities and government colleges conduct their own paramedical admissions independently of AIIMS. You can pursue those while still being in the AIIMS counselling pool.
• Verify if you can participate in NEET counselling simultaneously. AIIMS Paramedical counselling and NEET UG counselling (MCC) are entirely separate. You can be registered in both - but if you accept a seat in both, you must vacate one within the respective deadlines.

How to Stay Updated

• Primary source: aiimsexams.ac.in Every counselling notification, round‑wise schedule, seat allotment result, and reporting instruction will be posted here. Bookmark it and check at least once a day during the counselling period.
• Do not rely on social media or third‑party aggregators. Unofficial groups may circulate outdated or incorrect dates. Always verify against the official portal.
• Contact AIIMS Examination Section if you encounter technical issues. Contact details are available on the official website.