NEET 2026 Expected Cutoff Category Wise – General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS & PwD
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CaderaEdu Editorial TeamAuthor
5 May 2026
NEET 2026 was conducted on May 3, 2026. If you just walked out of that exam hall, the first question on your mind isn't about the paper — it's about the cutoff. Did I clear it? Can I get a government seat? What score do I actually need for MBBS? This guide answers all of that, category by category, without the vague language that usually fills these posts.
A quick clarification before anything else: there are two completely different cutoffs in NEET, and confusing them is the single biggest mistake students make at this stage. The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile set by NTA — clear this and you're eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff is the actual score you need to get a seat in a specific college. The first is a low bar. The second is where the real competition is. Both are covered below, category by category, with 2025 actuals and 2026 expectations side by side.
NEET 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff – Category Wise
The qualifying percentile set by NTA doesn't change year to year — what changes is the marks range that corresponds to that percentile. General category candidates must reach the 50th percentile. OBC, SC, and ST candidates must reach the 40th percentile. Based on NEET 2026 paper analysis (easy to moderate difficulty), expected qualifying marks are slightly higher than 2025 due to better student performance overall.
Table
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Expected Marks 2026 | Actual Marks 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / UR | 50th percentile | 720 – 135 | 686 – 144 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 50th percentile | 720 – 130 | 686 – 144 |
| OBC-NCL | 40th percentile | 135 – 107 | 143 – 113 |
| SC | 40th percentile | 135 – 107 | 143 – 113 |
| ST | 40th percentile | 135 – 100 | 143 – 113 |
| General / UR – PwD | 45th percentile | 135 – 121 | 143 – 127 |
| OBC / SC / ST – PwD | 40th percentile | 120 – 100 | 126 – 113 |
4 columns · 8 rows
Important: Qualifying the NEET cutoff only means you are eligible to participate in counselling. It does NOT guarantee a seat. A General category student qualifying at 135 marks will be eligible for counselling but will not get any government MBBS seat — that requires 600+ marks.
NEET 2026 Safe Score for Government MBBS – Category Wise
This is the section that actually matters for most students. Qualifying is one thing; getting a government MBBS seat is another. The safe score is the mark range that puts you in a realistic position for seat allotment through the All India Quota (AIQ) or State Quota counselling. NEET 2026 paper was reported as easy to moderate — which means more students will score higher, pushing the admission cutoff up compared to 2025.
Table
| Category | Safe Score for Govt MBBS (AIQ) | Expected AIR Range | Safe Score for Private MBBS |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / UR | 650 – 680+ | Top 10,000 – 18,000 | 480 – 550+ |
| EWS | 620 – 650+ | Top 18,000 – 28,000 | 460 – 520+ |
| OBC-NCL | 600 – 630+ | Top 25,000 – 40,000 | 440 – 500+ |
| SC | 480 – 520+ | Top 60,000 – 90,000 | 380 – 430+ |
| ST | 440 – 480+ | Top 80,000 – 1,10,000 | 350 – 400+ |
4 columns · 6 rows
State Quota cutoffs are typically 30,000–80,000 ranks lower than AIQ for the same college. If you're applying through your home state, the bar is lower. A General category student with AIR 50,000 may not get an AIQ seat anywhere but could still get a good government college through their state quota counselling. To find out which medical colleges accept your score, use the NEET College Predictor on CaderaEdu for an instant personalised estimate.
NEET 2025 vs 2024 vs 2023 – Cutoff Trend Analysis
Understanding the trend is more useful than any single year's data. Here's what the last five years tell us: qualifying cutoffs are stable (percentile-based and set by policy), but admission cutoffs have been climbing steadily because the number of NEET applicants has grown from under 15 lakh to over 22 lakh between 2018 and 2026. More competition for the same number of government seats means the admission cutoff rises even when the paper difficulty increases.
Table
| Year | General Category Qualifying Marks | OBC/SC/ST Qualifying Marks | Safe Score for Govt MBBS (General) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET 2025 | 144 (50th percentile) | 113 (40th percentile) | 600 – 640 |
| NEET 2024 | 162 (50th percentile) | 129 (40th percentile) | 620 – 650 |
| NEET 2023 | 137 (50th percentile) | 107 (40th percentile) | 610 – 640 |
| NEET 2022 | 117 (50th percentile) | 93 (40th percentile) | 600 – 630 |
| NEET 2021 | 138 (50th percentile) | 108 (40th percentile) | 600 – 630 |
| NEET 2026 (Expected) | 135 – 140 (50th percentile) | 105 – 110 (40th percentile) | 640 – 680 |
4 columns · 7 rows
The 2024 spike to 162 marks happened because the paper was easier than usual. 2025 dropped back to 144 because of increased difficulty. 2026 paper has been described as easy to moderate by coaching experts, so the qualifying cutoff is expected to settle around 135–140 — and the admission cutoff for top government colleges is expected to climb back up toward 2024 levels.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for AIIMS – Category Wise
AIIMS is a completely different tier from other government medical colleges. The cutoff here is among the highest in any Indian entrance exam. AIIMS New Delhi specifically requires the top 50–70 AIRs in the General category — a score of 690+ out of 720 is usually required. Other AIIMS campuses have progressively lower cutoffs but are still extremely competitive.
Table
| AIIMS Campus | General AIR Closing (2025) | OBC AIR Closing (2025) | SC AIR Closing (2025) | ST AIR Closing (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | ~50 – 70 | ~200 – 400 | ~700 – 1,200 | ~1,200 – 2,000 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | ~400 – 800 | ~1,500 – 2,500 | ~4,000 – 7,000 | ~7,000 – 12,000 |
| AIIMS Bhopal | ~600 – 1,200 | ~2,000 – 3,500 | ~6,000 – 10,000 | ~10,000 – 16,000 |
| AIIMS Patna | ~800 – 1,500 | ~2,500 – 4,000 | ~8,000 – 12,000 | ~12,000 – 18,000 |
| AIIMS Kalyani | ~1,500 – 2,500 | ~4,000 – 6,000 | ~10,000 – 15,000 | ~15,000 – 22,000 |
| AIIMS Nagpur | ~1,200 – 2,000 | ~3,500 – 5,500 | ~9,000 – 14,000 | ~14,000 – 20,000 |
5 columns · 7 rows
AIIMS New Delhi remains the benchmark. If your score puts your AIR above 100 in General category, you're in realistic territory for AIIMS Delhi MBBS. For the newer AIIMS campuses, the cutoff is significantly lower — a General category student with AIR 1,500–2,500 can target multiple AIIMS campuses. Read the full AIIMS New Delhi profile on CaderaEdu including MBBS fee structure, placement data, and campus details.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for Government Medical Colleges – AIQ vs State Quota
The All India Quota (AIQ) covers 15% of MBBS and BDS seats across all government medical colleges. These seats are filled by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) counselling and are the most competitive. The remaining 85% go to State Quota, managed by each state's health department, and are only available to students with domicile in that state.
- AIQ General Category safe score: 650+ marks (AIR within ~18,000)
- AIQ OBC-NCL safe score: 620+ marks (AIR within ~35,000)
- AIQ SC safe score: 500+ marks (AIR within ~85,000)
- AIQ ST safe score: 460+ marks (AIR within ~1,10,000)
- State Quota cutoffs are 30,000–80,000 AIR lower than AIQ for the same college
- Top state quota MBBS colleges (Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) have their own separate cutoffs released during state counselling
For a list of all government MBBS colleges across India with their admission cutoffs by round and category, visit the Top MBBS Colleges in India on CaderaEdu. It covers government and private colleges filtered by state, fee, and ranking.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for Private and Deemed Medical Colleges
Private and deemed medical colleges have significantly lower admission cutoffs than government colleges. This is where scores between 400–600 typically find admission routes. The fees are substantially higher — ₹10L–₹25L per year — but for students who have a reasonable score and want MBBS in India, private colleges are a real path.
Table
| Category | Expected Closing Rank for Private MBBS (AIQ Deemed) | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|---|
| General / UR | ~2,70,000 – 4,50,000 | 480 – 550 |
| OBC-NCL | ~4,50,000 – 7,00,000 | 430 – 490 |
| SC | ~7,00,000 – 12,00,000 | 360 – 420 |
| ST | ~10,00,000 – 14,00,000 | 320 – 380 |
3 columns · 5 rows
D.Y. Patil Medical College Kolhapur, for example, had a 2025 MCC Deemed counselling Round 2 closing rank of 2,70,180 (General AI). View D.Y. Patil Kolhapur's full cutoff history and fees on CaderaEdu to understand the kind of colleges accessible in the 400–550 marks range. For a broader view of all private options, the Top Private Medical Colleges in India list on CaderaEdu covers 200+ colleges ranked by NIRF, fees, and placement outcomes.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for BDS – Dental Colleges
BDS cutoffs are consistently lower than MBBS across all categories. Students with scores in the 350–500 range who don't make MBBS through government counselling often find viable BDS options in good dental colleges. The BDS AIQ closing rank for Government colleges typically falls in the 60,000–1,40,000 range for General category.
- General Category – Safe score for Government BDS: 500 – 540 marks
- OBC-NCL – Safe score for Government BDS: 450 – 490 marks
- SC – Safe score for Government BDS: 370 – 420 marks
- ST – Safe score for Government BDS: 330 – 380 marks
- Private BDS admission is possible at 300–380 marks in most states
- BDS → MDS path is equally viable for specialisation in dentistry
Factors That Determine the Final NEET 2026 Cutoff
The official NTA cutoff is released alongside the result (expected June 2026). Several factors push it up or down relative to predictions:
- Total candidates appeared: 22.79 lakh registered for NEET UG 2026 — more than any previous year
- Paper difficulty level: 2026 paper was reported easy to moderate, which typically pushes qualifying cutoff slightly higher
- Total MBBS seats available: 1,18,190 MBBS seats and 27,868 BDS seats across India in 2026
- Topper scores: If multiple students score 720/720, the rank distribution compresses and cutoffs rise
- Reservation policy: SC/ST/OBC reservation percentages are fixed by policy and don't change year to year
- Grace marks or re-evaluation: Any NTA-issued grace marks (as happened in 2024) can significantly alter cutoffs
What to Do After NEET 2026 – Based on Your Score
The exam is done. Now the strategy changes depending on where your score lands. Here's a practical breakdown by score range:
If You Scored 650+ (General) / 620+ (OBC) / 500+ (SC/ST)
You're competitive for government MBBS seats. Register for MCC AIQ counselling at mcc.nic.in. Also register for your state counselling authority simultaneously — don't wait for AIQ results before applying to state quota. Keep your document set (Class 10, 12 marksheets, category certificate, NEET scorecard, domicile) ready for upload. If You Scored 480 – 650 (General) / 430 – 600 (OBC)
Government MBBS through AIQ is unlikely, but not impossible through state quota depending on your home state. Start researching your state's previous year closing ranks immediately. Simultaneously explore private and deemed university MBBS options — fees are higher but the degree is equivalent. Browse top private medical colleges on CaderaEdu filtered by state to understand realistic options for your score range.
If You Scored 350 – 480 (General) / 300 – 430 (Reserved)
MBBS admission in India in this range is limited to private/management quota seats at higher fees. BDS is a strong alternative — good dental colleges are accessible at this score range, and MDS provides a solid specialisation path. AYUSH courses (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS) are also eligible through NEET at this score. Explore the full Science Exams and Medical Courses section on CaderaEdu to understand all courses available through NEET scores.
If You Did Not Clear the Qualifying Cutoff
You're not eligible for counselling this year. But NEET has no upper age limit and no limit on attempts under current NMC guidelines. Several students clear NEET in their second or third attempt after targeted preparation. Identify which sections cost you marks — Biology typically carries 360 of 720 marks and is the most impactful improvement area for most students. A structured one-year preparation plan with weekly mock tests is the standard approach for re-appearing students.
NEET 2026 Counselling Process – Quick Overview
Once NTA releases results (expected June 2026), the counselling process begins in two parallel tracks — AIQ counselling through MCC and state counselling through respective state authorities. Both run multiple rounds, and seats unfilled in one round roll over to the next.
- NTA releases NEET 2026 result and scorecard (expected June 2026)
- MCC opens AIQ counselling registration at mcc.nic.in
- Round 1 seat allotment – candidates fill college preferences
- Round 2 seat allotment – for candidates who didn't get Round 1 preference or for vacant seats
- Mop-up round – fills seats still vacant after Rounds 1 and 2
- Stray vacancy round – final round for remaining unfilled seats
- Parallel state quota counselling runs simultaneously through state authorities
- Document verification at allotted college → Fee payment → Admission confirmation
Candidates who appear for state counselling can also simultaneously participate in AIQ rounds unless they have already joined a college. Always read the MCC counselling brochure and your state authority's instructions — the overlap rules are important to understand before making joining decisions.
Top Medical Colleges Accessible by Score Range
Below is a quick reference for which tier of colleges becomes accessible at different NEET score ranges. These are General category benchmarks — reserved category candidates typically access the same college at a 30–80 rank lower AIR.
- 690–720 marks: AIIMS New Delhi, JIPMER Puducherry – top 100 AIR range
- 650–690 marks: Other AIIMS campuses, Maulana Azad Medical College Delhi, top state government colleges – AIR 100–5,000
- 600–650 marks: Good state government medical colleges through AIQ, top AIIMS Bhopal and AIIMS Bhubaneswar – AIR 5,000–20,000
- 550–600 marks: State quota government colleges, Army College of Medical Sciences Delhi – AIR 20,000–50,000
- 480–550 marks: Private MBBS in good deemed universities, BDS in government colleges – AIR 50,000–2,50,000
- 380–480 marks: Private MBBS (management quota), government BDS seats, AYUSH courses – AIR 2,50,000+
- Below 380 marks: AYUSH, paramedical, allied health sciences; consider NCMC Meerut and similar accessible private options
For detailed cutoff history including round-wise opening and closing ranks, visit individual college pages on CaderaEdu. For example, AIIMS Bhopal's cutoff page shows round-wise data across all categories. Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences Barabanki is a useful reference for understanding what accessible private MBBS looks like in terms of cutoff and fees.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for AYUSH Courses – BAMS, BHMS, BUMS
AYUSH admissions through NEET are conducted by AACCC (Ayush Admissions Central Counselling Committee) for All India Quota seats in government AYUSH colleges. State counselling handles state quota AYUSH seats. The cutoff for AYUSH is lower than MBBS/BDS and offers a medical degree route for students who qualify NEET but don't get MBBS.
Table
| Course | General Category Minimum Score | Reserved Category Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|
| BAMS (Ayurveda) | 300 – 380 | 270 – 340 |
| BHMS (Homeopathy) | 280 – 360 | 250 – 320 |
| BUMS (Unani) | 260 – 340 | 230 – 300 |
| BSMS (Siddha) | 250 – 320 | 220 – 290 |
3 columns · 5 rows
These scores are for government AYUSH colleges. Private AYUSH colleges typically accept lower scores and also offer management quota seats. BAMS in particular has seen a rise in career viability with the integration of Ayurveda practitioners into the national health system under PM-ABHIM and Ayushman Bharat programs.
Key Dates After NEET 2026 – What Happens Next
- NEET 2026 Exam Date: May 3, 2026 (conducted)
- Official Answer Key Release: Expected May 2026 (within 2 weeks of exam)
- NEET 2026 Result: Expected June 2026
- MCC AIQ Counselling Round 1: Expected July 2026
- MCC AIQ Counselling Round 2: Expected August 2026
- Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy Rounds: August–September 2026
- State Counselling (varies by state): July–September 2026
Keep checking the official NTA NEET website (neet.nta.nic.in) and MCC website (mcc.nic.in) for exact dates. Also visit the Science Exams and Medical Admissions section on CaderaEdu for updated counselling news, cut-off alerts, and college selection guidance throughout the season.
How to Use CaderaEdu to Plan Your NEET 2026 Admission
CaderaEdu is built for exactly this moment — the post-NEET window when you need to convert a score into a college shortlist fast. Here's how to use the platform effectively:
- NEET College Predictor — Enter your score and get a personalised list of colleges across AIQ and state quota where admission is realistic
- MBBS Colleges in India — Browse all MBBS colleges filtered by state, ranking, fees, and government vs private
- Top Private Medical Colleges — Detailed profiles of 200+ private medical colleges with fee structure and NEET cutoff history
- AIIMS New Delhi College Page — Complete MBBS program details, cutoffs, hostel info, and faculty data
- Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Science — Example of how individual college pages show round-wise cutoff and admission data
- Free Expert Counselling -CaderaEdu offers 1-on-1 counselling sessions to help you pick the right college for your score, category, and state preference
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NEET 2026 expected cutoff for General category?
The expected qualifying cutoff for NEET 2026 General category is 135–140 marks out of 720 (50th percentile). This is the minimum to be eligible for counselling. To get a government MBBS seat through AIQ, the safe score is 650+ marks. Official cutoff will be released by NTA along with the result in June 2026.
What is the NEET 2026 cutoff for OBC category?
OBC-NCL candidates need to reach the 40th percentile to qualify — expected around 107–135 marks in 2026. For a government MBBS seat through AIQ OBC reservation, a safe score is 600–630+ marks. State quota cutoffs for OBC are lower and vary by state.
What is the NEET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST categories?
SC and ST candidates also need the 40th percentile to qualify — expected 100–107 marks for ST and 107–135 for SC in 2026. For government MBBS admission, SC candidates typically need 480–520+ marks and ST candidates 440–480+ marks for AIQ seats. State quota cutoffs are significantly lower.
What is the difference between qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff in NEET?
Qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile set by NTA — clear this and you can participate in counselling. Admission cutoff is the actual score of the last candidate who got a seat in a specific college during counselling. Qualifying a General category student needs ~135 marks. Getting a government MBBS seat through AIQ typically requires 620–680+ marks for the same category.
What NEET score is needed for AIIMS New Delhi in 2026?
AIIMS New Delhi is the most competitive — General category typically requires scoring 690+ out of 720 marks, translating to an AIR within the top 50–70. OBC category usually sees closing ranks around 200–400 AIR. Other AIIMS campuses have significantly lower cutoffs and are accessible at 600–650 marks depending on the campus.
Can I get MBBS with 500 marks in NEET 2026?
500 marks in NEET 2026 is unlikely to get you a government MBBS seat through AIQ for General category. However, state quota government seats are possible depending on your home state's competition level. Private MBBS at deemed universities is accessible in this range. BDS in government colleges is a strong option at 500 marks for General category.
Is there a limit on NEET attempts in 2026?
No. As per current NMC guidelines, there is no upper limit on the number of NEET attempts. The minimum age requirement is 17 years as of December 31, 2026. Students who did not clear the 2026 cutoff can re-appear in NEET 2027.
When will NEET 2026 result and official cutoff be announced?
The NEET 2026 exam was conducted on May 3, 2026. The official result and cutoff is expected in June 2026. NTA releases the qualifying cutoff marks category-wise along with the result scorecard on neet.nta.nic.in.
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