NEET 2026 Expected Cutoff Category Wise – Marks, Percentile & Admission Guide
C
CaderaEdu TeamAuthor
8 June 2026
12 minutes read
Click to enlarge
NEET 2026 was conducted on May 3, 2026, and over 24 lakh students appeared for the exam across India and select overseas centres. Now that the exam is done, one question is on every aspirant's mind: what is the NEET 2026 expected cutoff? Whether you're in the General category, OBC, SC, ST, or EWS — the cutoff directly decides whether you qualify, and more importantly, which college you can actually get. This guide breaks it all down, category by category, with data-backed expectations based on past trends.
Before diving in, here's a key distinction you need to understand: there are two types of NEET cutoffs — the qualifying cutoff (minimum marks to be eligible for counselling) and the admission cutoff (marks actually needed to secure a seat in a good college). Qualifying is just the entry ticket. Admission is the real game. Use our NEET College Predictor to check your actual admission chances based on your score and category right now.
NEET 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff – Category Wise
The NEET qualifying cutoff is set by NTA based on percentile, not raw marks. The 50th percentile applies to General category candidates, while the 40th percentile applies to SC/ST/OBC, and General PwD candidates get the 45th percentile threshold. Based on the 2026 paper being rated as easy to moderate by leading coaching institutes, here is what the qualifying cutoff is expected to look like:
Table
| Category | Expected Qualifying Percentile | Expected Qualifying Marks (out of 720) | Expected Qualifying Rank Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th Percentile | 135 – 145 | Up to ~8,00,000 |
| General – EWS | 50th Percentile | 135 – 145 | Same as UR; separate EWS merit list |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 40th Percentile | 107 – 118 | Up to ~12,00,000 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 40th Percentile | 107 – 118 | Up to ~14,00,000 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 40th Percentile | 107 – 118 | Up to ~15,00,000 |
| General – PwD | 45th Percentile | 122 – 130 | Separate PwD merit list |
| SC/ST/OBC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 107 – 118 | Separate PwD merit list |
4 columns · 8 rows
Important: Scoring above the qualifying cutoff only makes you eligible for MBBS/BDS counselling. It does NOT guarantee a seat. Government MBBS seats through AIQ close at far higher marks — typically 580+ for top government colleges under the General category.
Why Is the NEET 2026 Cutoff Expected to Be Slightly Higher?
NEET cutoffs don't move in isolation — they respond to paper difficulty and the total number of candidates who appeared. Here's the pattern from the last five years that shapes the 2026 expectation:
Table
| Year | General Qualifying Cutoff (Marks) | Paper Difficulty | Total Appeared (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 138 | Moderate | 15.44 lakh |
| 2022 | 117 | Difficult | 17.64 lakh |
| 2023 | 137 | Moderate | 20.38 lakh |
| 2024 | 162 | Easy | 23.33 lakh |
| 2025 | 144 | Moderate-Difficult | ~22 lakh |
| 2026 (Expected) | 135 – 145 | Easy to Moderate | ~24 lakh |
4 columns · 7 rows
The 2024 spike to 162 marks happened because the paper was considerably easier than usual. With 2026 paper difficulty described as easy to moderate, the qualifying cutoff is expected to settle around 135–145. However, the admission cutoff for top government colleges is expected to climb back toward 2024 levels — because more candidates appeared and competition for the same number of government seats has only intensified. Check your personalised admission chances using the NEET UG College Predictor.
NEET 2026 AIQ Cutoff – Expected Admission Marks for Government Medical Colleges
The All India Quota (AIQ) covers 15% of seats in all government medical colleges and 100% of seats at AIIMS and JIPMER. These are the most competitive seats in the country. Here's what to realistically expect for AIQ admissions in 2026:
Table
| Category | Expected AIQ Closing Marks (Govt Medical Colleges) | Expected AIQ Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 580 – 620 | ~8,000 – 15,000 |
| EWS | 560 – 600 | ~15,000 – 25,000 |
| OBC (NCL) | 540 – 580 | ~20,000 – 40,000 |
| SC | 480 – 530 | ~50,000 – 1,00,000 |
| ST | 440 – 490 | ~80,000 – 1,50,000 |
3 columns · 6 rows
For AIIMS New Delhi — India's most coveted medical college — the General category closing rank has historically been within the top 50 AIR, meaning a near-perfect score of 700+ is typically required. Other AIIMS campuses like AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Jodhpur, and AIIMS Patna close between AIR 500–2,000 for General category candidates.
NEET 2026 State Quota Cutoff – What to Expect
The remaining 85% of seats in government medical colleges are filled through State Quota counselling, managed by individual state counselling bodies. State quota cutoffs are generally more accessible than AIQ cutoffs — and they vary significantly from state to state. A General category candidate in UP or Bihar may secure a government MBBS seat at a lower rank than the same category candidate in Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, purely because of seat availability and competition in that state.
Table
| State | General Category Expected Closing Rank (State Quota Govt MBBS) | OBC Expected Closing Rank | SC Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | ~30,000 – 60,000 | ~60,000 – 1,00,000 | ~1,50,000 – 2,50,000 |
| Tamil Nadu | ~20,000 – 50,000 | ~50,000 – 90,000 | ~1,20,000 – 2,00,000 |
| Uttar Pradesh | ~40,000 – 80,000 | ~80,000 – 1,40,000 | ~2,00,000 – 3,50,000 |
| Karnataka | ~25,000 – 55,000 | ~55,000 – 95,000 | ~1,30,000 – 2,20,000 |
| Rajasthan | ~35,000 – 70,000 | ~70,000 – 1,20,000 | ~1,80,000 – 3,00,000 |
| West Bengal | ~30,000 – 65,000 | ~65,000 – 1,10,000 | ~1,60,000 – 2,80,000 |
| Delhi | ~10,000 – 25,000 | ~25,000 – 50,000 | ~70,000 – 1,20,000 |
| Gujarat | ~35,000 – 70,000 | ~70,000 – 1,20,000 | ~1,70,000 – 2,80,000 |
4 columns · 9 rows
These ranges are indicative. To get a personalised, state-specific estimate based on your actual marks and category, use the NEET College Predictor — it covers AIQ as well as all major state counselling bodies.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for Private and Deemed Medical Colleges
If government college seats are out of reach at your score, private and deemed universities fill through MCC's Deemed University Counselling (for AIQ seats) and respective state counselling (for state quota seats). The cutoffs here are significantly lower, but fees are considerably higher — often ranging from ₹15 lakh to ₹25 lakh per year for MBBS. Browse our complete list of top private medical colleges in India with fee structures and cutoff history.
Table
| College Type | General Category Expected Closing Rank | OBC Closing Rank | SC/ST Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Private Deemed (e.g., Jamia Hamdard, Amrita) | ~15,000 – 50,000 | Same as General (no reservation in Deemed) | Same as General |
| Mid-Tier Private Deemed | ~50,000 – 2,00,000 | Same as General | Same as General |
| State Private Colleges (State Quota) | ~60,000 – 3,00,000 | ~1,20,000 – 5,00,000 | ~2,50,000 – 8,00,000 |
| Management / NRI Quota (Private) | No fixed cutoff — based on marks only | Same | Same |
4 columns · 5 rows
Important note: Deemed universities don't follow SC/ST/OBC reservation policies under MCC counselling. Every seat in a deemed university is filled on open merit regardless of category. So OBC or SC candidates don't get a lower cutoff at institutions like Jamia Hamdard or DY Patil — every candidate competes equally.
Score vs Rank vs Cutoff – How They All Connect
Many students confuse marks with rank. Your NEET rank is determined by your marks relative to all other candidates — not just by the raw score. With 24+ lakh students appearing in 2026, even a single mark difference can shift your rank by thousands of positions near the mid-range scores (400–550). Here's a rough score-to-rank mapping for NEET 2026:
Table
| NEET 2026 Score Range | Expected General Category AIR | Likely Admission Possibility |
|---|---|---|
| 700 – 720 | 1 – 100 | AIIMS New Delhi, JIPMER Puducherry |
| 660 – 699 | 100 – 1,000 | AIIMS campuses, top government colleges |
| 620 – 659 | 1,000 – 5,000 | Top government colleges AIQ, AIIMS newer campuses |
| 580 – 619 | 5,000 – 15,000 | Government colleges AIQ (non-AIIMS), top state quota |
| 540 – 579 | 15,000 – 40,000 | State quota govt MBBS in most states, top private deemed |
| 500 – 539 | 40,000 – 1,00,000 | State quota govt MBBS (some states), mid-tier private |
| 450 – 499 | 1,00,000 – 2,50,000 | Private colleges (state quota), good options for SC/ST via AIQ |
| 400 – 449 | 2,50,000 – 5,00,000 | Private colleges, SC/ST state quota govt seats in some states |
| 300 – 399 | 5,00,000 – 10,00,000 | Private college management/NRI quota, BDS in some states |
| 135 – 299 | 10,00,000+ | Qualifying only — BDS, AYUSH, or private MBBS management quota |
3 columns · 11 rows
For a much deeper analysis of your specific score, read our detailed NEET 2026 Score vs Rank Analysis blog, which covers expected rank ranges for every score bracket and college-level cutoffs.
How the NEET Qualifying Cutoff Is Calculated
NTA does not fix qualifying marks in advance. The cutoff is always percentile-based and is determined after the exam. Here's the exact methodology:
- General (UR) and EWS: The score at the 50th percentile of all candidates who appeared is declared as the qualifying cutoff. This means the top 50% of all test-takers qualify.
- OBC / SC / ST: The score at the 40th percentile is the cutoff. This means the top 60% of all test-takers in these categories qualify.
- General-PwD: The 45th percentile threshold is applied, giving a slightly lower bar than the open General category.
- SC/ST/OBC-PwD: The 40th percentile applies, same as the unreserved cutoff for these categories.
- No absolute score is fixed in advance: If paper difficulty goes up, the raw marks at the 50th percentile will naturally drop — and vice versa. That is why the qualifying cutoff varies every year.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for AIIMS Campuses – Category Wise
AIIMS campuses fill seats through a single centralised counselling process. All seats at all AIIMS are 100% AIQ — no state quota, no domicile reservation. Reservation only applies for SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories, and PwD horizontal reservation. Here's what to expect at major AIIMS campuses in 2026:
Table
| AIIMS Campus | General AIR (Expected Closing) | OBC AIR (Expected Closing) | SC AIR (Expected Closing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | Top 50 | Top 200 | Top 600 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | ~500 – 800 | ~1,200 – 2,000 | ~3,500 – 5,500 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | ~600 – 1,000 | ~1,400 – 2,500 | ~4,000 – 6,000 |
| AIIMS Patna | ~900 – 1,500 | ~2,000 – 3,500 | ~5,500 – 8,000 |
| AIIMS Nagpur | ~1,200 – 2,000 | ~2,800 – 4,500 | ~7,000 – 10,000 |
| AIIMS Gorakhpur | ~1,500 – 2,500 | ~3,200 – 5,000 | ~8,000 – 12,000 |
| AIIMS Kalyani | ~2,000 – 3,500 | ~4,500 – 7,000 | ~10,000 – 15,000 |
4 columns · 8 rows
You can check detailed admission data, fees, and courses for each campus: AIIMS New Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur, AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Nagpur, AIIMS Gorakhpur, and AIIMS Kalyani.
Factors That Can Shift the NEET 2026 Cutoff
Even when we project cutoffs based on past data, several factors can push the actual cutoff higher or lower. Be aware of these variables:
- Paper difficulty: The single biggest factor. An easier paper means more students score higher, pushing the cutoff up. This year's easy-to-moderate difficulty points toward a higher cutoff than 2025.
- Total candidates appeared: More candidates increase competition for the same number of seats. At 24+ lakh in 2026, this is the highest ever.
- Answer key challenges: If NTA grants grace marks or modifies the answer key, it can artificially inflate scores — pushing cutoffs higher. This happened in 2024.
- New medical college seats: If new government medical colleges are added or existing ones increase MBBS intake, admission cutoffs may ease slightly.
- Court orders and policy changes: Any ongoing legal challenge to NEET or reservation policy can temporarily affect the counselling cutoff process.
- State-specific seat matrix changes: Some states add or reduce seats through new college recognition or de-recognition, directly impacting that state's closing ranks.
What Should You Do Right Now Based on Your Expected Score?
While you wait for the official NEET 2026 result, here's the smartest action plan based on your estimated score:
- Score 600+: You are in excellent shape. Start researching AIIMS campuses and top government medical colleges. Use our NEET College Predictor to shortlist your top 20 choices now.
- Score 500–599: Government MBBS is very much on the table — especially through state quota. Research your home state's counselling authority and fee structure. Also explore top private deemed options.
- Score 400–499: State quota government MBBS is possible for SC/ST/OBC through reservation. For General/EWS, private MBBS and BDS options are realistic. Start comparing fees and placements.
- Score 300–399: Look carefully at BDS (dental), BAMS, BHMS, BUMS (AYUSH streams), and private MBBS management quota. These can lead to excellent careers.
- Score 135–299: You qualify but government MBBS is out of reach. Consider repeating NEET 2027 or exploring alternative healthcare careers. Many successful doctors cleared NEET on their second or third attempt.
Need Help Deciding What to Do With Your Score?
Cutoff tables give you the framework — but applying them to your specific situation takes expert guidance. CaderaEdu's free 1-on-1 counselling service helps you build a smart college choice list based on your NEET score, category, home state, budget, and long-term medical career goals. Our counsellors work with both AIQ and state quota strategies simultaneously — so you never miss a seat because of a planning gap.
Also explore our full directory of top private medical colleges to compare fees, seat intake, NEET cutoff history, and infrastructure across 200+ institutions. And if you need a rank estimate before the official result, our NEET 2026 result and expected cutoff guide has the most updated analysis available right now. For the complete counselling process, read our NEET UG Counselling 2026 guide.
Topics:
Share this article
Share this article
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NEET 2026 expected qualifying cutoff for General category?
The NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff for General category (UR) is expected to be between 135 and 145 marks out of 720, corresponding to the 50th percentile. This is based on the 2026 paper being rated as easy to moderate and historical qualifying cutoff trends from 2021–2025.
What is the NEET 2026 expected cutoff for OBC category?
The NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates is expected to be between 107 and 118 marks, corresponding to the 40th percentile. For government MBBS admission through AIQ, OBC candidates typically need a score of 540–580 marks to secure seats in good colleges.
What is the NEET 2026 expected cutoff for SC and ST categories?
SC and ST candidates need to score at the 40th percentile to qualify, which is expected to be around 107–118 marks in NEET 2026. For actual MBBS admission through AIQ, SC candidates can expect closing ranks up to ~1,00,000 and ST candidates up to ~1,50,000 in state and central government colleges.
Is the NEET qualifying cutoff the same as the MBBS admission cutoff?
No, they are completely different. The qualifying cutoff (135–145 for General in 2026) is the minimum marks to become eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff for a government MBBS seat through AIQ for General category is typically 580–620+ marks. Qualifying does not guarantee a seat.
What marks are needed to get AIIMS New Delhi in NEET 2026?
AIIMS New Delhi typically closes within the top 50 AIR for General category, which requires a score of 700 or above out of 720. This is historically one of the most competitive seats in India. Other AIIMS campuses like AIIMS Jodhpur and AIIMS Rishikesh close between AIR 500–1,000 for General category.
Do deemed university cutoffs follow OBC/SC/ST reservation?
No. Deemed universities participating in MCC AIQ counselling do not follow OBC/SC/ST/EWS reservation. All seats in deemed universities are filled on pure merit (open to all categories equally). Only PwD horizontal reservation applies in some cases.
When will the official NEET 2026 cutoff be declared?
The official NEET 2026 cutoff will be declared along with the result on neet.nta.nic.in. Based on previous years, the result is expected within 4–6 weeks after the exam date (May 3, 2026), meaning the official cutoff may be announced in June 2026.
How can I check which colleges I can get with my NEET 2026 score?
You can use CaderaEdu's free NEET College Predictor at caderaedu.com/predictor/free-Neet-UG-Predictor. Enter your expected marks and category to get a personalised list of MBBS/BDS colleges across All India Quota and state quota where admission is realistic — no login required.
Get Free Counselling
Fill in your details and our experts will get back to you shortly.