AIIMS New Delhi (on behalf of 32 participating institutes)
Last Date: July 3, 2026

AIIMS New Delhi has released the notification for Common Recruitment Examination-5 (CRE-5) to fill 1484 non-faculty Group B and Group C posts. This is a single-window application process that allows you to apply for multiple similar posts across 23 AIIMS and 9 other central government institutes with one application. The online registration opens on June 13, 2026 and the last date to apply is July 3, 2026.

AIIMS Common Recruitment Examination-5 2026: Quick Overview

AIIMS Common Recruitment Examination-5 2026: Quick Introduction

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi is not the recruiting employer here. It is only the examination conducting body for CRE-5. The actual recruitment will be done by 32 participating institutes including 23 AIIMS across the country. It also includes major central government institutes like ESIC, ICMR, CNCI Kolkata, and RIPANS Aizawl. So if you get selected, you will be an employee of the institute you are allocated to. Your service conditions, transfer rules, and career progression will be governed by that institute's rules, not by AIIMS New Delhi and this is an important point to understand before you apply. The large number of participating institutes means the type of work environment and posting locations vary significantly. A job at a well-established AIIMS like Jodhpur or Bhubaneswar may offer different facilities compared to a newer institute. Similarly, roles at ICMR or ESIC have their own work culture. Think about your priorities before filling the post preference form later in the process.

The CRE platform was created to speed up recruitment across the AIIMS network. In earlier years, each institute used to recruit separately, causing long delays but now, a single examination will do the work and also for you, this means one application, one exam fee, and one merit list that can lead to an offer from any participating institute you choose in your preference.

Vacancy Details

The total number of vacancies is 1484 across 59 different posts. The vacancy table in the official notification PDF (Available in the Important Links section toward the end of the page) runs from page 110 to 139, which shows the institute-wise and category-wise breakdown for each post. There are vacancies for Senior Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse Grade I), Junior Administrative Assistant (LDC), Pharmacist, Technician (Lab/OT/Radiology), Stenographer, Data Entry Operator, Driver, and many others.

The category-wise reservation follows the central government norms. Each participating institute has listed UR, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST vacancies separately. PwBD reservations are also marked clearly for each post. For example, for the Upper Division Clerk posts at ESIC Maharashtra, there are 148 total vacancies with specific seats marked for PwBD categories including blindness, deaf and hard of hearing, and locomotor disability.

Some posts have very low vacancy counts. For instance, many Assistant Dietician positions have just one vacancy per institute therefore, when a post has a single vacancy, the selection bar becomes extremely high. You are essentially competing against thousands of applicants for that one seat. It is wise to also apply for posts where the vacancy count is higher to improve your chances.

Application Fee

You have to pay the application fee for each group you apply to. A single application covers one group. If you apply to multiple groups, you pay separately for each.

The fee payment is online through debit card, credit card, or net banking also the transaction or processing charge levied by the bank (if any) will be paid by you. The application fee is non refundable under any circumstances. Even if your application is rejected later for being ineligible, the fee will not be returned.

There is one positive point for SC and ST candidates. Their application fee will be refunded to the same account after the result is declared. But this refund happens only if they actually appear in the examination. If you simply apply and do not attend the examination then refund will not be generated.

Age Limit

The crucial date for calculating age is July 3, 2026 (the closing date for online registration). The minimum age and maximum age vary from post to post. Look at Annexure I (starting page 26) of the official notification PDF (Available in the Important Links section toward the end of the page) for the exact age limit for each post.

Here is the summary of age relaxation available:

The PwBD relaxation is particularly important. As per the DoPT guidelines dated September 6, 2022, the 10 year age concession applies to persons with benchmark disability regardless of whether the post is reserved for PwBD or not, provided the post is identified as suitable for that disability category.

There are institute specific age relaxations mentioned for AIIMS Bilaspur, AIIMS Raipur, and CNCI Kolkata. These apply only to existing contractual employees of those respective institutes. They are not applicable to candidates from other institutes or general applicants.

Educational Qualification

The educational qualifications vary widely across the 59 posts. Provided below is a helpful look at some major posts:

Senior Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse Grade I): Requires B.Sc Nursing (4 year course) or B.Sc Nursing (Post Basic) with registration with Indian Nursing Council/State Nursing Council. Plus 3 years experience as Staff Nurse Grade II.

Pharmacist: Requires Diploma in Pharmacy from a recognized institution and registration under the Pharmacy Act 1948.

Junior Administrative Assistant (LDC): Requires 12th pass and typing speed of 35 wpm in English or 30 wpm in Hindi on computer.

Technician (OT/Anesthesia): Requires B.Sc in OT techniques or equivalent with experience, or 10+2 with science plus diploma in OT techniques.

Stenographer: Requires 12th pass and skill test dictation at 80 wpm.

For technical and paramedical posts, the domain knowledge requirement is must and The CBT for these posts will be in English only, not bilingual. The official notification clearly states that for groups where the qualification is bachelor's or higher in a technical field, the medium of examination is English only.

For qualifications obtained through Open and Distance Learning mode, you must ensure that the program was approved by the Distance Education Bureau, UGC for the relevant period. Programs in engineering, medicine, dental, nursing, pharmacy, architecture, and physiotherapy are not permitted under distance mode except for specific exceptions noted for IGNOU up to 2009-10.

Selection Process

The selection has two or three stages depending on the post.

Stage I: Computer Based Test (CBT). This is common for all groups. The exam duration is 90 minutes with 100 MCQs for 400 marks. Each correct answer gives 4 marks, each wrong answer deducts 1 mark (negative marking of 1/4). The CBT will have 20 questions on General Knowledge, Aptitude, and Computer Knowledge. The remaining 80 questions are domain specific based on the educational qualification and experience required for the post.

The exam has a sectional timing pattern. The 90 minutes are divided into 5 sections of 18 minutes each, with 20 questions in each section. You cannot go back to a previous section once the time for that section ends. This is a critical point for your preparation strategy. You need to manage your time exactly. If you spend too long on the first section, you will be forced to move on without answering questions you could have answered.

Qualifying marks are:

UR/EWS: 40% (160 out of 400)

OBC: 35% (140 out of 400)

SC/ST: 30% (120 out of 400)

PwBD: 30% (120 out of 400) regardless of category

Stage II: Skill Test (only for certain groups). If your post group requires a skill test, it will be qualifying in nature. For example, the Junior Administrative Assistant group requires a typing test. The Stenographer group requires a dictation and transcription test. The Assistant Security Officer group requires a physical standards test. The official notification PDF (Available in the Important Links section toward the end of the page) includes detailed skill test schemes starting at page 144.

The key thing to note is that for groups where skill test is required for some posts but not all, the merit will be prepared based on CBT performance. Candidates who qualify both CBT and skill test will be eligible for all posts in the group. Candidates who qualify CBT but not skill test will only be considered for posts in that group where skill test is not required.

Salary, Job Location, and Service Conditions

The salary is based on the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix. The pay levels range from Level 1 (for posts like Hospital Attendant Grade III) to Level 8 (for Senior Nursing Officer and similar). The approximate in hand salary with allowances ranges from around ₹22,000 for entry level Group C posts to over ₹1,30,000 per month for higher Group B posts, depending on the posting city and applicable HRA.

The job location is across India. Once you are provisionally selected, you will be asked to fill your choice and preference for institutes. Allocation will be done strictly based on merit. If you are allocated to an institute, you are mandatorily required to report for joining. Failure to report will lead to cancellation of your candidature for the entire CRE examination. So fill only those choices for which you genuinely intend to join.

Most of these posts are permanent. Probation periods vary by institute. Bond conditions are not uniformly mentioned in the official notification. You should check the recruitment rules of the specific institute after allocation.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to complete your online application:

> Go to the official AIIMS examination website at www.aiimsexams.ac.in.

> Click on the link for Common Recruitment Examination CRE 5 or directly go to the OTR (One Time Registration) portal.

> Register with your email ID and mobile number. Note down the candidate ID and password generated.

> Log in with your credentials. Fill the application form with your personal details, educational qualification, and category information.

> Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and left thumb impression. Follow the image size and format guidelines mentioned in the instruction manual. If the images are not clear or do not meet the specifications, your application will be rejected.

> Pay the application fee online through debit card, credit card, or net banking.

> Review the entire form carefully. Corrections may not be allowed after submission.

> Submit the form and download the registration slip. Keep a printed copy for your records. Physical documents are not required to be sent by post. Any physical document sent will be treated as null and void.

Required Documents and Important Instructions

Have these documents ready in digital format before you start the online application:

^ Photograph (as per the size and format in the upload instructions)

^ Signature (on white paper with black pen)

^ Left thumb impression

^ Educational qualification certificates and mark sheets

^ Caste certificate (if applying under SC/ST/OBC/EWS)

^ PwBD certificate (if applicable)

^ Experience certificates (if claiming experience)

^ No Objection Certificate (if currently working in Government/Semi Government/PSU/Autonomous Body). This NOC must be uploaded by the specified date. Without it, you will not be allowed to appear in the examination.

Important/Critical instructions:

The OBC (Non Creamy Layer) certificate must be valid for the financial year 2026-2027. This means the income considered should be up to the financial year ending March 31, 2026. The certificate should be issued on or after April 1, 2026. If you have an older certificate, you can upload it with an acknowledgement slip of renewal application. But at the time of document verification, you must produce the valid certificate for 2026-2027.

The EWS certificate must be issued based on the income of the financial year 2025-2026. The certificate should be issued between April 1, 2026 and July 3, 2026. Any certificate issued outside these dates will be treated as invalid.

The NOC requirement is mandatory for government employees including contractual employees in government, semi government, PSUs, autonomous bodies, or any government funded institution. Without a valid NOC uploaded by the specified date, you will not be allowed to appear in the examination regardless of your application status.

To help aspirants better understand the recruitment process, here are some important practical insights:

What the CBT Sectional Timing Means for Your Preparation

The CBT has a strict sectional time limit. Each of the five sections of 20 questions must be completed in 18 minutes. You cannot revisit a section after the time ends. This is very different from a typical competitive exam where you can go back and forth between questions. Therefore, preparation needs to include practicing with timed sections. Train yourself to move on quickly from difficult questions. If you get stuck on one question, you risk losing the chance to answer other questions in that section.

The positive side is that the section wise distribution means you know exactly how many questions you need to attempt from each domain. Use this to your advantage. Focus your preparation on the domain specific part because that carries 80 questions. The general knowledge and aptitude part carries only 20 questions. Prioritize accordingly.

What the Role Involves Beyond the Post Name

The actual day to day work depends heavily on which institute you are allocated to. A Junior Administrative Assistant at a new AIIMS may have a different workload and responsibilities compared to someone at an established institute like AIIMS New Delhi. For paramedical roles like Technician (OT) or Pharmacist, the work pressure in a large teaching hospital is typically higher than in a smaller research institute. The official notification also mentions some posts require shift duties, especially in patient facing roles. For Group C posts like Hospital Attendant, the work involves physical effort and long standing hours, this is not a desk job. Therefore, read the functional requirements mentioned at the end of the official notification PDF. Categories like Sitting, Standing, Walking, Bending, Lifting are listed for many posts. If you have any physical limitation that would affect these activities, that is something to consider seriously before applying.

Where to Expect Official Updates

AIIMS has clearly stated that they do not authorize any agent, coaching centre, social media channel, or third party website for recruitment. All official updates will be published only on www.aiimsexams.ac.in. The admit card will be released on the website around 3 days before the exam. City intimation will be notified about 7 days in advance. Candidates are advised not to rely on WhatsApp forwards or Telegram groups. If any discrepancy arises, the official website notification will prevail.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are there in AIIMS CRE 5 2026?

Total 1484 vacancies across 59 different Group B and Group C posts in 32 participating institutes including AIIMS, ESIC, ICMR, and CNCI.

What is the last date to apply for AIIMS CRE 5?

The online registration closes on July 3, 2026 up to 5:00 PM.

Who is eligible for AIIMS CRE 5?

Eligibility varies by post. Minimum qualification ranges from 10th pass to Graduate or Post Graduate. Check the post specific qualification in Annexure I of the notification.

What is the age limit for AIIMS CRE 5?

The maximum age varies from 27 to 40 years depending on the post. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwBD (10 years), and Ex Servicemen.

What qualification is required for Pharmacist post in AIIMS CRE 5?

Diploma in Pharmacy from a recognized institution and registration under the Pharmacy Act 1948.

What is the selection process for AIIMS CRE 5?

Stage I is a Computer Based Test (CBT) of 90 minutes with 100 MCQs. Stage II is a Skill Test (typing, dictation, or physical test) for selected posts. Final stage is Document Verification.

What is the salary for AIIMS CRE 5 posts?

Pay Level 1 to Level 8 as per 7th CPC. In hand salary ranges from approximately ₹22,000 to over ₹1,30,000 per month including allowances.

What is the application fee for AIIMS CRE 5?

₹3000 for General/OBC/EWS per group, ₹2400 for SC/ST per group. PwBD candidates are exempted.

How to apply for AIIMS CRE 5 online?

Visit www.aiimsexams.ac.in, register through OTR, fill the application form, upload documents, pay fee, and submit before July 3, 2026.

What is the official website for AIIMS CRE 5?

The official website for application and all updates is www.aiimsexams.ac.in. Do not rely on any other website or social media sources.

Conclusion

The notification is already out and online application window is open so do not wait until the last date to apply. Gather your certificates, especially the valid category certificates (OBC NCL or EWS) that are required to be issued within specific date ranges. If you are a government employee, start the process of getting your NOC now. Without it, you will not be allowed to appear in the exam. For preparation, download the group wise syllabus from the official website. The CBT is on July 25 to 27. That gives you about a month after the application closes. Use that time wisely. Focus on domain specific questions as they carry 80% weight in the CBT.

This article is based on the official AIIMS CRE-5 notification No. 93/2026 dated June 13, 2026 and is simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website at www.aiimsexams.ac.in.