Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (ABVIMS-RML), New Delhi, is a central government hospital under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, known for its advanced clinical training, academic excellence, and comprehensive mental health services.

The Hospital, formerly known as the Willingdon Hospital, was established in 1933 with just 53 beds for the use of British personnel. Later in 1954, after its transfer to the Government of India, it expanded rapidly and now has more than 1500 beds spread across 30 acres, offering broad and super-speciality departments and 24/7 emergency services.

The Psychiatry department of the RML hospital was launched in 1943. It now has 72 beds and is recognized as the center of excellence in the field of Mental Health in India. Since 2015, the department has been affiliated with Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) for providing the MA Clinical Psychology (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) program.

Psychology Programs Offered by ABVIMS-RML Delhi

Currently, ABVIMS-RML offers the following psychology program:

• MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)

The MA Clinical Psychology program offered by them is recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and meets the regulatory requirements for professional training in clinical psychology.

MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)

The MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at ABVIMS-RML combines clinical practice, theory, and research, and is offered in regular mode. After its completion, the candidates can apply for a license from RCI to work as clinical psychologists in India.

Course Duration and Number of Seats

The number of seats and duration for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program are as follows:

• Duration: 2-years; Full-time
• Number of Seats: 13

NOTE: Admission to the program will be conducted on an all-India basis. Seats will be reserved as per the Central Government’s Reservation Policy.

Eligibility Criteria for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

Candidates must fulfil the following criteria to get admission into ABVIMS-RML Hospital’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program:

• Applicants must have their Bachelor’s in Psychology (4 Years) or Bachelor’s in Psychology (3 Years) + Master's (1 Year) in Psychology/Clinical Psychology/Applied Psychology or other relevant specializations for admission into the course, from a UGC-recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate. Preference will be given to the candidates who have studied clinical psychology as a special paper in their master’s.
• SC/ST/OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/PwD candidates must have a minimum of 50% in aggregate.
• Typically, degrees obtained through correspondence, part-time, or distance education are not considered for admission, as per institutional and RCI norms.

Process of Selection at RML for MA Clinical Psychology

Common Entrance Test (CET):

• The GGSIP University conducts a Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program on behalf of ABVIMS-RML Hospital.
• The University may conduct the CET online (CBT) or offline (OMR-based) at designated centers.
• CET Code: 157
• Exam format:
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Type: 100 MCQs
  • Marking: 4 marks per question, no negative marking
  • Total marks: 400

Procedure for Admission:

1. CET Examination – Eligible candidates appear for the MCQ-based CET.
2. Qualifying Marks:
   • General category: 50%
   • SC/ST/OBC (Non-creamy layer)/PwD/EWS: 45% (5% relaxation).
3. Merit List & Shortlisting:
   • Candidates who meet the qualifying marks will be ranked in a merit list.
   • Candidates are shortlisted for interviews at a ratio of 3 candidates per seat (as per reservation rules).
4. Final Selection:
   • 90% weightage – CET marks
   • 10% weightage – Interview performance
   • The final list will be prepared based on the combined scores as per the GGSIPU admission guidelines.

Syllabus for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Entrance at RML Delhi

Following is the syllabus for the ABVIMS-RML Hospital’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program. The entrance exam broadly covers postgraduate-level psychology syllabus, with emphasis on clinical psychology and research methodology:

1. The entrance test will cover the following areas of psychology:
   • General Psychology
   • Developmental Psychology
   • Research Methodology and Statistics
   • Social Psychology
   • Motivation and Personality
   • Cognitive Psychology
   • Experimental Psychology
   • Psychological Assessment
   • Health Psychology
   • Physiological Psychology
   • Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology
   • Neuropsychological Assessment and Rehabilitation
   • Therapy and Psychological Interventions
2. Distribution of Marks (Approximate):
   • General Psychology – 15%
   • Child Psychology – 15%
   • Clinical Psychology – 20%
   • Research Methodology & Statistics – 15%
   • Social Psychology – 5%
   • Psychological Assessments & Tests – 15%
   • Counselling & Psychotherapy – 15%

Application Process and Fee

• To apply for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program at ABVIMS-RML Hospital, candidates need to download the prospectus, find the application form attached to it, and take a print-out of it. Then they need to fill out the [offline] form.
• After filling out the form carefully and attaching all the necessary documents with it, candidates need to submit the form in hard copy. Along with it, they need to pay the application fee (non-refundable) to the University. The following is the address where they need to send their application forms via Indian Post:
  • University Facilitation Centre (PRO office), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka Sector-16C, New Delhi-110078.
• The Application fee is Rs 2500. Candidates need to submit the application fee by a demand draft (DD) in the name of:
  • “Registrar, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University”.

Important Dates for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

• Start of the Application Process: September
• Last Date to Apply: October
• Exam Date and Time: November

NOTE: The dates mentioned above are based on last year’s Admission Process for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

Fee for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Program at RML Delhi

The fee structure for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program at ABVIMS-RML Delhi, as per the official prospectus, are as follows:

• Tuition Fees (Per Annum): As per the Government notification
• University Charges (Per Annum): Rs. 25,000
• Alumni Contribution Fund (One-time payment): Rs. 2,000
• Security Deposit (One-time, Refundable): Rs. 10,000

NOTE: Tuition fees are regulated by government notifications and may vary each year.

Sample Question for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Entrance Exam

1. Which neuroscientific technique provides the highest temporal resolution for studying neural activity?

A. fMRI

B. PET scan

C. EEG

D. CT scan

2. In experimental psychology, which of the following scenarios best controls for expectancy effects?

A. Using a single-blind procedure.

B. Employing random assignment without blinding.

C. Providing participants with pretest instructions to reduce bias.

D. Implementing a double-blind design where neither subjects nor experimenters know the conditions.

3. According to statistical approaches, what defines 'abnormal' behavior?

A. Deviation from typical behavioral patterns

B. Experiencing intense anxiety

C. Loss of contact with reality

D. Withdrawal and depression

4. Which perspective in psychology emphasizes unconscious processes and early childhood experiences?

A. Behavioral

B. Psychodynamic

C. Humanistic

D. Cognitive

5. Neuroleptic drugs are primarily used to treat which disorder?

A. Major depressive disorder

B. Anxiety disorder

C. Schizophrenia

D. Bipolar disorder

6. In experimental psychology, what does a p-value represent when using biostatistical tests?

A. The likelihood that the null hypothesis is true

B. The probability of observing the data if the null hypothesis is true

C. The magnitude of correlation

D. The sample size of the experiment

7. Which intervention is generally most effective for students with dyscalculia (a math learning difficulty)?

A. Speech therapy sessions.

B. Multisensory math teaching approaches.

C. Behavioral therapy for focus improvements.

D. Physical coordination exercises.

8. Why might a biostatistician use regression analysis in psychology research?

A. To predict the value of one variable based on another

B. To identify the mean of a single variable

C. To count the frequencies of categorical responses

D. To calculate random sampling errors

9. In Incentive Theory, motivation is primarily driven by:

A. Intrinsic satisfaction

B. External rewards

C. Biological drives

D. Self-efficacy beliefs

10. Which process is essential for encoding new information into memory?

A. Attention

B. Forgetting

C. Decay

D. Retrieval

11. Which of the following best defines the 'engram' in memory studies?

A. A mental process of forgetting

B. A physical trace of memory in the brain

C. A memory retrieval failure

D. A type of explicit memory

12. Which theory of emotion explains the phenomenon of misattribution of arousal (e.g. feeling romantic attraction when actually scared)?

A. James-Lange theory

B. Two-factor theory

C. Cannon-Bard theory

D. Facial feedback hypothesis

13. Which of the following tests is typically used for neuropsychological assessment?

A. Beck Depression Inventory

B. Likert Scale

C. 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire

D. Peabody Individual Achievement Test

14. Which type of psychological test measures personality traits, emotions, and attitudes?

A. Achievement tests

B. Personality tests

C. Aptitude tests

D. Neuropsychological tests

15. What is the Enquiry Phase in the Rorschach test?

A. Phase where the cards are randomly shuffled

B. Phase involving detailed discussion and clarification of each response without leading answers

C. Initial exposure to inkblots without recording responses

D. Phase that involves scoring the responses only

16. Which is a key difference between the TAT and the Rorschach Inkblot Test?

A. TAT uses ambiguous social scenes with characters; Rorschach uses symmetrical inkblots

B. TAT measures IQ; Rorschach measures personality

C. TAT requires yes/no answers; Rorschach requires storytelling

D. Both tests are identical in method and purpose

17. Which cognitive disorder is correctly matched with its primary function affected: Dementia, Amnesia, Aphasia, Apraxia?

A. Dementia - Abstraction; Amnesia - Memory; Aphasia - Language; Apraxia - Motor skills

B. Dementia - Memory; Amnesia - Language; Aphasia - Motor skills; Apraxia - Abstraction

C. Dementia - Motor skills; Amnesia - Memory; Aphasia - Abstraction; Apraxia - Language

D. Dementia - Language; Amnesia - Motor skills; Aphasia - Memory; Apraxia – Abstraction

18. Who is considered the father of Indian psychology?

A. Narendra Nath Sen Gupta

B. Sudhir Kakar

C. Giriswar Misra

D. G. R. S. Rao

19. In abnormal psychology, the diathesis-stress model posits that mental disorders result from:

A. Purely biological causes

B. Learned experiences alone

C. A combination of vulnerability and stress

D. Supernatural influences

20. Which of the following brain structures is primarily responsible for regulating emotions such as fear and aggression?

A. Hippocampus

B. Thalamus

C. Amygdala

D. Cerebellum

Recommended Books to Prepare for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

Students preparing for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) entrance exam of ABVIMS-RML Hospital, Delhi, may find the following books helpful in their preparation. These texts cover core areas such as psychopathology, assessment, research methodology, statistics, and clinical theories.

• Introduction to Psychology (8th-10th Edition): Rita Atkinson and Hilgard
• Social Psychology: Baron Robert
• Human Development: Papalia and Sally Olds
• Cognitive Psychology: Robinson-Riegler / Sternberg and Sternberg
• Statistics: Quinn McNemar / Minium
• Biopsychology: Arvind Otta
• Research Method: James Goodwin / Lewin & Fox / A. K. Singh
• Psychological Testing: Ronald Jay Cohen and Mark E. Swerdlik
• Abnormal Psychology: Sarason and Sarason / R. Comerc
• Clinical Psychology: Alan Carr / Hecker and Geoffrey
• Psychology Question Bank: Arvind Otta

ALSO READ: How Much Time Does It Take To Prepare For Psychology Entrance Exams? A Realistic Guide for Students

Need More Help?

For more details about the program or information about different psychology entrance examinations, you can contact us at UPS Education using the details below:

Contact no: +91-9990717772

Website: upseducation.in

UPS Education’s Students Who Got Admission into ABVIMS-RML Delhi

UPS Education has been both the turning point and the starting point in my journey to crack my exam. UPS truly works on the principles of 'Humanistic Psychology,' and this is evident in their attention to detail, around-the-clock guidance, impeccable mentoring, and resourceful notes. I am indebted to Arvind sir's kindness and teaching. Countless online tests, class discussions, and doubt sessions shaped my preparation. Each and every student is looked after and encouraged to reach their potential. It has been an honour to be associated with this institution as a student. 
- Gursahiba Gill

My experience with UPS has been a positive and rewarding one. I'm grateful for all the mock tests, practice tests, and self-assessments that contributed to me scoring consistently better in M.Phil exams. The field is getting more competitive over the years, so it is definitely wise to make use of all the resources that UPS provides. Looking back, it's one of the best decisions, and it contributed greatly towards my admission to RML. Thank you, UPS team, for your support!
- Simrat Sinsinwar

Dr. Arvind Otta sir possesses remarkable knowledge. Being a student of him makes me feel so secure. Under his guidance and mentorship, I was able to crack the UGC NET, as well as secure admission to the M.Phil programs in Clinical Psychology at RML and Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP). Thank you very much, sir. - Sarthak Choudhary

References

1. Education, U. (2025, December 4). ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital MPhil Clinical Psychology Admissions 2025 | UPS Education. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/abvims-rml-mphil-clinical-psychology-admissions-2025/
2. Education, U. (2026, January 5). Institutions offering postgraduate psychology programs in Delhi NCR. Best Psychology Coaching. https://www.bestpsychologycoaching.com/news/postgraduate-psychology-programs-delhi-ncr/

3. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (Official Website). (n.d.). http://www.ipu.ac.in/admission2025main2.php