AIIMS New Delhi has officially released the detailed CRE-5 2026 notification for recruitment to 1,484 Group B and Group C posts. Along with the notification, the institute has also published the exam pattern, marking scheme, eligibility details, and selection process, while the online application process is currently underway. However, candidates will have to wait for the release of the admit card, exam city details, shift allotment, and the Stage I qualifying cutoff, as these have not been announced yet.
CRE (Common Recruitment Examination) is AIIMS’ centralized recruitment test for Non-Faculty Group B and Group C posts. Instead of conducting separate recruitment drives for each institute, AIIMS uses a single examination to fill vacancies across multiple AIIMS campuses and participating central government healthcare institutions. Candidates who appeared in earlier recruitment cycles such as CRE-3 or CRE-4 will notice that the overall selection process remains largely similar. However, the sectional timing pattern is one area that deserves special attention, as it is stricter than the exam format followed in most SSC and banking recruitment examinations.
AIIMS CRE 5 Recruitment 2026 details
| Exam Name | AIIMS Common Recruitment Examination (CRE)-5 |
| Conducting Authority | AIIMS New Delhi |
| Recruitment For | Group B & Group C Posts |
| Notification Release Date | 13 June 2026 |
| Total Post Groups | 59 Group Codes |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date to Apply | 03 July 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| CBT Exam Date | 25–27 July 2026 (Tentative) |
| Exam Duration | 90 Minutes |
| Exam Pattern | 100 Questions, 400 Marks, Negative Marking Applicabl |
A genuine inconsistency needs flagging here rather than glossed over: a number of exam-tracking portals list the application closing date as 30 June 2026, while a larger number — and the age-calculation clause tied to the closing date — point to 3 July 2026. We’re not in a position to resolve this from secondary reporting alone, and a few aggregator articles even contradict themselves within the same piece. Don’t let either date be the one you rely on. Open the official Detailed Recruitment Advertisement PDF on aiimsexams.ac.in and check the date printed there before you assume you have time to spare.
AIIMS CRE 5 New CBT Exam Pattern 2026
The CBT is a single paper of 100 multiple-choice questions worth 400 marks total, to be completed in 90 minutes. It isn’t one continuous 90-minute block, though — it’s broken into five fixed sections.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 400 Marks |
| Exam Duration | 90 Minutes |
| General Knowledge & Aptitude | 25 Questions (100 Marks) |
| Computer Knowledge | 25 Questions (100 Marks) |
| Domain / Post-Specific Subject | 50 Questions (200 Marks) |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 Marks |
| Negative Marking | 1 Mark Deducted for Each Wrong Answer |
| Merit Preparation | Based on CBT Score |
The paper is split into two parts. Part A is the General Section — 20 MCQs covering General Knowledge, Aptitude/Reasoning, and Computer Awareness, common across most posts. Part B is the Domain-Specific Section — 80 MCQs tied directly to the post and educational qualification you’re applying under. That 80:20 split is the single most important number in this whole pattern, and we’ll come back to why.
Medium of the exam isn’t uniform either. For posts requiring 10th/12th-level qualification, the paper is bilingual — English and Hindi. For posts requiring a bachelor’s degree, a technical qualification, or falling into a “mixed-level” eligibility band, the paper is in English only.
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Marking Scheme and Negative Marking
Each correct answer earns +4 marks. Each wrong answer costs -1 mark. There’s no penalty stated for questions left unattempted. Worked as a ratio, that’s a 1-in-4 negative marking scheme — proportionally identical to the more familiar “+1/-0.25” format used in many other government exams, just scaled up by a factor of four.
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 400 Marks |
| Marks for Each Correct Answer | +4 Marks |
| Marks for Each Incorrect Answer | -1 Mark |
| Marks for Unanswered Questions | 0 Mark |
| Negative Marking Applicable | Yes |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Merit Calculation | Based on Final CBT Score |
| Maximum Obtainable Score | 400 Marks |
| Minimum Possible Score | Negative Marks May Apply Due to Wrong Answers |
What this means practically: an unattempted question costs you nothing, but a wrong guess costs you the equivalent of a quarter of a correct answer’s value. In a sectional, no-revisit format where you can’t come back to “clean up” guesses later, that arithmetic should shape how aggressively you guess in the last two or three minutes of each section.
Why the Sectional, No-Backtracking Format Matters More Than a Generic Summary Suggests
This is where candidates moving from SSC CGL, IBPS, or RRB-style exams tend to misjudge their strategy. Those exams typically let you move freely across the entire paper, skip a hard question, and return to it with ten minutes left. AIIMS CRE-5 doesn’t allow that across sections. Once your 18 minutes for a section are up, it submits automatically — wrong, blank, or half-marked answers and all — and you move to the next section with no way back.
That changes two things about how you should sit the exam. First, time budgeting has to happen per section, not per paper. Eighteen minutes for 20 questions works out to under a minute a question, and if you’re spending three minutes stuck on question 4 of a section, you’re not just losing that question — you’re putting every later question in that same section at risk. Second, the “save the hard ones for later” habit doesn’t transfer. If you hit a tough question, you either attempt it within your section’s time budget or you let it go; there’s no later in this format.
The 80-question Domain-Specific section deserves a second look too, mainly because it’s so easy to underweight in preparation if you’re used to GK-and-reasoning-heavy government exams. Eighty percent of your total marks here come from subject knowledge tied to your specific post — nursing subjects for a Nursing Officer post, technical/engineering content for an Assistant Engineer post, pharmacy subjects for a Pharmacist post, and so on. Treating the General Section (GK/Aptitude/Computer Awareness) as the main event and the domain section as an afterthought is, by the numbers, backwards for this exam.
AIIMS CRE 5 Subject-Wise Syllabus 2026
General Knowledge & Aptitude
- Indian History
- Indian Polity & Constitution
- Geography
- Economy
- General Science
- Current Affairs
- Static GK
- Reasoning Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Analytical Ability
Computer Knowledge
- Basics of Computer
- Computer Hardware & Software
- Operating System
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- MS PowerPoint
- Internet & E-mail
- Networking Basics
- Cyber Security Basics
- Computer Abbreviations and Terminology
Domain / Post-Specific Subject
- Questions will be asked from the concerned discipline or subject related to the post applied for.
- The syllabus will be based on the essential educational qualification and professional knowledge required for the respective post.
- Candidates should prepare the core subjects of their discipline as mentioned in the recruitment rules of the post.
Skill Test (For Applicable Posts)
- Computer Proficiency Test
- Typing Test
- Stenography Test
- Trade/Skill Test
- Other Post-Specific Practical Assessments (where applicable)
AIIMS CRE 5 General Knowledge & Current Affairs Syllabus 2026
- Indian History
- Ancient History
- Medieval History
- Modern Indian History
- Indian National Movement
- Indian Polity
- Constitution of India
- Fundamental Rights & Duties
- Parliament and State Legislature
- Panchayati Raj System
- Geography of India
- Physical Geography
- Indian Rivers, Mountains and Climate
- World Geography
- Indian Economy
- Economic Planning
- Banking and Finance Basics
- Government Schemes
- General Science
- Physics (Basic Concepts)
- Chemistry (Basic Concepts)
- Biology (Basic Concepts)
- Environmental Science
- Science & Technology
- Space Missions
- Defence Technologies
- Important Scientific Developments
- Current Affairs (National)
- Current Affairs (International)
- Government Policies and Programs
- Sports News
- Awards and Honours
- Books and Authors
- Important Days and Dates
- Summits and Conferences
- Art and Culture
- Indian Heritage
- Famous Personalities
- Static General Knowledge
- Important Organizations
- National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Countries, Capitals and Currencies
- Important Government Institutions
- Healthcare and Medical Sector Updates
Note: General Knowledge & Current Affairs questions form part of the General Knowledge & Aptitude section (25 Questions) of the AIIMS CRE-5 CBT
AIIMS CRE 5 Post-Wise Domain Subject Syllabus 2026
- Pharmacist – Pharmacy Subjects (D.Pharm/B.Pharm Level)
- Nursing Officer – Nursing Subjects
- Assistant Dietician – Nutrition & Dietetics
- Dietician – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
- Medical Laboratory Technologist – Medical Laboratory Technology
- Laboratory Technician – Laboratory Science & Diagnostics
- Radiographic Technician – Radiography & Imaging Technology
- Radiotherapy Technician – Radiotherapy Technology
- Operation Theatre Technician – Operation Theatre Technology
- Dental Technician – Dental Technology
- Dental Hygienist – Dental Hygiene
- Physiotherapist – Physiotherapy Subjects
- Occupational Therapist – Occupational Therapy
- Audiologist – Audiology
- Speech Therapist – Speech & Hearing Sciences
- Optometrist – Optometry
- Junior Engineer (Civil) – Civil Engineering
- Junior Engineer (Electrical) – Electrical Engineering
- Junior Engineer (Mechanical) – Mechanical Engineering
- Technical Assistant – Relevant Technical Discipline
- Assistant Administrative Officer – Administration & Office Management
- Upper Division Clerk (UDC) – Office Procedure & Administrative Knowledge
- Lower Division Clerk (LDC)/JAA – Office Practices & Clerical Work
- Store Keeper – Store Management & Inventory Control
- Store Attendant – Store and Material Handling
- Data Entry Operator – Computer Applications & Data Management
- Cashier – Accounts & Financial Procedures
- Accountant – Accounting & Finance
- Stenographer – Stenography & Office Administration
- Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) – Job-Related Basic Knowledge
- Hospital Attendant – Hospital Support Services
- Nursing Attendant – Patient Care & Nursing Assistance
- Driver – Motor Vehicle Rules & Driving Knowledge
- Sanitary Inspector – Sanitation & Public Health
- Health Educator – Community Health Education
- Social Worker – Medical & Psychiatric Social Work
- Library Attendant – Library Science Basics
- Library Clerk – Library Management
- Assistant Security Officer – Security Management
- Security Officer – Security Administration
- Coding Clerk – Medical Record & Coding Basics
- Medical Record Technician – Medical Records Management
- Perfusionist – Perfusion Technology
- ECG Technician – Electrocardiography
- CSSD Technician – Central Sterile Services Department
- Mortuary Attendant – Mortuary Procedures
- Biomedical Technician – Biomedical Equipment Technology
- Any Other Post – Subject Knowledge Based on Essential Qualification and Recruitment Rules of the Concerned Post
Important Note: AIIMS CRE-5 Notification clearly states that 50 questions in the CBT will be from the domain/subject related to the post applied for. The exact post-wise domain syllabus is based on the essential educational qualification and professional curriculum prescribed for that particular post.
Selection Process
Selection runs in stages, and not every post goes through every stage.
- Stage I — Computer-Based Test (CBT): Mandatory for all applicants, structured as above.
- Stage II — Skill Test/Trade Test: Applicable only to specific post groups where a practical skill matters directly — examples reported in the notification include a stenography test for stenographer-type posts, a typing test for certain clerical posts, and trade tests or physical efficiency/standard tests for specific technical and security-related groups. This stage is qualifying only — it doesn’t add marks to your score.
- Document Verification: For provisionally selected candidates, conducted at the allotted institute.
- Institute Allocation: Based on the final merit list, your category, and the institute preferences you submit after the merit list is out.
The final merit list is built purely from CBT marks. Where a Skill Test applies, only candidates who clear it remain in contention for those specific posts; candidates who clear the CBT but not the Skill Test are considered only for posts within the same group that don’t require one, if any exist. One detail worth knowing in advance: in case of a tie in total marks, the tie-break reportedly favours whoever scored higher in the Domain-Specific section (the 80-MCQ part) — one more reason not to treat that section as secondary in your preparation.
A Documentation Mistake That Trips Up Otherwise-Qualified Candidates
This isn’t about the exam paper at all, but it disqualifies people just as effectively as a bad CBT score. OBC-NCL and EWS category candidates are required to hold a certificate valid for financial year 2026–2027, issued specifically between 1 April 2026 and 3 July 2026. Candidates who only have an older certificate at the time of registration are permitted to upload it along with a renewal acknowledgment slip — but they must produce the updated, valid certificate at the document verification stage, not just at registration. Skipping this and assuming an old certificate “should be fine” is a real and avoidable way to lose a seat after clearing the exam, not before it.
A related accessibility provision: candidates with benchmark disabilities are entitled to a scribe and 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour of the examination. If you arrange your own scribe rather than using one provided, that scribe’s educational qualification is capped at matriculation level or below — a detail that’s easy to miss if you assume “any helpful person” qualifies.
What’s Still Pending
No cutoff exists yet, for the simple reason that the exam hasn’t happened — it’s tentatively scheduled for 25–27 July 2026, so any “expected cutoff” figure circulating online right now is, at best, a guess based on past CRE cycles and should be treated as such. The admit card hasn’t been released either; based on how AIIMS has run past CRE cycles, it’s commonly expected roughly three days before the exam date, but that specific date hasn’t been officially confirmed as of this writing. Exam city and shift information is due 7 days before the exam per the official notification, which — given a 25–27 July window — should start appearing in candidate logins sometime in the second half of July.
Disclaimer: Vacancy count, exam pattern, marking scheme, application window, and exam dates in this article are based on the official AIIMS CRE-5 2026 notification as reported through the AIIMS Exams portal and cross-checked across multiple exam-tracking sources. The application closing date discrepancy (30 June vs 3 July 2026) and the exact admit-card release date are explicitly flagged as unconfirmed and should be verified directly. For the authoritative version of all dates and documents, refer to: https://www.aiimsexams.ac.in
FAQs
Q1. If I don’t attempt a question in AIIMS CRE-5, do I lose marks the same way as a wrong answer?
No. The negative marking of -1 applies only to incorrect answers. Unattempted questions are simply not scored — no gain, no penalty.
Q2. I’m strong in General Knowledge but weaker in my post’s domain subject — can a high Part A score compensate?
Mathematically, yes, since all 400 marks are added together for the merit list — but practically, it’s a steep climb, since Part A is only 20 of 100 questions (80 marks max) against Part B’s 80 questions (320 marks max). Most candidates will get more return from domain-specific preparation than from polishing General Knowledge further.
Q3. Does qualifying the CBT guarantee my post if a Skill Test is required for it?
No. The Skill Test is qualifying in nature, not marks-adding, but you still have to clear it to remain eligible for that specific post group. Failing it doesn’t disqualify you from the whole exam — you’d still be considered for other posts within your applied group that don’t carry a Skill Test requirement, if any are available.
Q4. I registered with an old OBC-NCL certificate and uploaded the renewal acknowledgment — am I safe?
You’re safe for registration purposes only. You must still produce a certificate valid for FY 2026-27 (issued between 1 April 2026 and 3 July 2026) at the document verification stage if you’re shortlisted. The acknowledgment slip is a bridge, not a substitute for the final document.
Q5. Different websites show different last dates for applying — 30 June or 3 July. Which one is correct?
We can’t confirm this with certainty from the secondary sources available, and the discrepancy appears even within some single articles. Treat the official Detailed Recruitment Advertisement PDF on aiimsexams.ac.in as the only document that settles this — don’t rely on either date from a third-party portal.
