Every year, lakhs of students appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which is conducted in India for admission to medical courses. Therefore, the cut-off helps determine whether a candidate meets the minimum eligibility criteria for admission. There are several categories that we need to be aware of: General, OBC (Other Backward Classes), SC, ST, and EWS. A candidate must know where their cut-off fall because this will help with creating an effective preparation and counselling strategy as an aspiring physician, especially when understanding the neet cutoff category wise.
What Is The NEET Cut-Off?
The NEET cut-off is the minimum score required to achieve eligibility for medical school admission. It is released and published by the National Testing Agency in two separate and independent types of data: qualifying cut-off and admission cut-off (these two are often confused). The qualifying cut-off is usually expressed in percentiles (minimum score) that a candidate must achieve to pass the examination and enter the counselling stage. For General category students, this is the 50th percentile, while for OBC, SC, or ST categories, the minimum is the 40th percentile—forming the basis of the neet cutoff category wise system. Once you obtain qualifying marks in NEET, you become eligible for admission into medical school; however, this does not guarantee a seat, as allocation happens through the counselling process.
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NEET Cutoff Category Wise 2026 Overview
The NTA will announce the NEET cutoff category wise 2026 with the NEET Results for 2026 in June 2026. Based on the prior years’ trends, below is an overview of the qualifying cut-offs and expected cut-off marks by category:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | NEET 2026 Cut-Off (Expected) | Safe Score for Govt MBBS |
| General (UR) | 50th | 686 – 144 | 620 – 650+ |
| EWS | 50th | 686 – 130 | 600 – 630 |
| OBC-NCL | 40th | 143 – 113 | 580 – 610 |
| SC | 40th | 143 – 113 | 500 – 530 |
| ST | 40th | 143 – 113 | 480 – 510 |
| General-PwD | 45th | 143 – 127 | — |
| OBC/SC/ST-PwD | 40th | 126 – 113 | — |
The biggest point of review from the table is the difference between qualifying marks and safe scores. A candidate from the General category with 144 marks is, by definition, eligible for counselling. However, a General category candidate, before being admitted to a government MBBS seat, will need to have a safe score of 620 – 650 +. This difference is crucial to NEET cut-off category-wise 2026 planning. All reserved categories have much lower safe score thresholds, which offer some candidates the opportunity to be placed into the top government college at a relatively lower absolute mark level.
NEET 2026 Cutoff Trends And Analysis
The trends in NEET cutoffs over the last five years provide valuable information for aspiring doctors to help set their cutoff target for 2026.
| Year | General Category (Range) | OBC/SC/ST (Range) | Toppers Mark |
| 2021 | 720 – 138 | 137 – 108 | 720 |
| 2022 | 715 – 117 | 116 – 93 | 715 |
| 2023 | 720 – 137 | 136 – 107 | 720 |
| 2024 | 720 – 162 | 161 – 127 | 720 (17 in total) |
| 2025 | 686 – 144 | 143 – 113 | 686 |
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Learning From The NEET Cut-Off Trend
The main reason for the drop in qualifying cut-off from 2024 to 2025 is due to the difficulty level of the NEET exam in 2025. As such, the Top score was much lower than in 2024 (686 in 2025 vs 720 in 2024). The cut-off for the Year 2024 is also the highest, yet this 5-year span is due to the fact that 17 candidates achieved a perfect score, and overall student performance was relatively high. As you can see, the cut-off passes with each successive year, the level of difficulty of the question paper directly impacts the qualifying cut-off, while the cut-off required to get into a top school continues to be consistent in terms of its difficulty and competition level amongst students. As such, the experts project an approximate level of conceptual understanding of material in the NEET cutoff 2026 Test and predict qualifying cut-off levels for General candidates of between 135 and 145.
Factors Affecting NEET Cutoff 2026
Some of the important factors for determining the NEET Cut-Off each year include the following:
- How difficult the exam is will impact the average score of all the students taking NEET and, therefore, impact the overall cut-off as well. For example, since it is tougher, this will decrease the average score of all students, and thus the cut-off will decrease. Conversely, if the exam is easier, then the average score of the students will increase, and therefore the cut-off will be higher.
- The sheer number of students taking NEET each year (approx. 23 lakhs) means that even minor changes in the number of students taking the exam will greatly affect where the cut-off ends.
- The number of seats available for admission to Medical College has increased in recent years (the number of MBBS seats available in India is now over 128,875 with 819 colleges, approx). This will make the cut-off slightly lower than in previous years.
- Any changes in the percentages of reservations put in place under OBC and EWS policies will result in a direct change to the cut-offs for each category of applicant (for instance, implementation of OBC reservations in 2022 for admissions in the All-India Quota).
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How To Calculate NEET Cutoff Marks?
The NEET cutoff calculation method is determined through the use of percentiles rather than absolute scores (Marks). The following explanation outlines how the percentile score will be calculated:
Step 1 — Understand the NEET Calculation Formula: NTA uses the following formula to determine your percentile: (The number of candidates scoring equal to, or less than you) / Total candidates * 100 = Your Percentile
Step 2—Know the qualifying percentiles for your category: General/EWS (50th Percentile), OBC/SC/ST (40th Percentile), and GPWD (45th Percentile).
Step 3—Convert percentile to score: The absolute scores that correspond to the qualifying percentile change from year to year based on paper difficulty and candidate performance; for example, the 50th percentile (General) corresponded with 144 marks in 2025, and 162 marks in 2024.
Step 4 — Apply NEET scoring: The raw score (out of 720) is used to establish the cutoff—generating a percentile cutoff based on raw scores, ensuring fairness by allowing a student whose score of 144 corresponds with the 50th percentile in a tough year to be the same relative to a student who obtained a score of 162 in an easy year.
NEET Cutoff For Government Vs Private Medical Colleges – Category-Wise
To make sure you have the best idea of the colleges you would like to attend after receiving your results, it is important to be aware of the NEET score cut-off for both Government Medical Colleges and private medical colleges.
The projected cut-off ranges for various categories of students for NEET scores for 2022 are provided below, as well as the average projected NEET scores for typical government first-year MBBS students through the use of AYQ (All India Quotas) and typical state quotas.
Government Medical College MBBS – AIQ (All India Quota)
| Category | Expected Score Range |
| General | 620 – 650+ |
| OBC | 590 – 620 |
| SC | 500 – 540 |
| ST | 480 – 520 |
Government Medical College MBBS – State Quota
| Category | Expected Score Range |
| General | 580 – 620 |
| OBC | 550 – 590 |
| SC | 460 – 510 |
| ST | 440 – 490 |
Private Medical College MBBS
| Category | Expected Score Range |
| General | 450 – 550 |
| OBC | 420 – 520 |
| SC | 380 – 470 |
| ST | 360 – 450 |
Deemed to be Universities
| Category | Expected Score Range |
| General | 400 – 520 |
| OBC | 380 – 500 |
| SC | 350 – 450 |
| ST | 330 – 430 |
Given that only 15% of government medical seats are filled through the All India Quota (AIQ), government medical schools are usually more competitive than private and deemed universities.
The expected NEET admission score cut-off for state quota seats will be 20 to 40 points lower than would be expected based on the NEET AIQ score cut-offs and thus can provide a significant benefit to students who live in the state in which the government medical college is located; however, private and deemed medical colleges have much less competitive admission score requirements, which are usually associated with substantially greater tuition costs in the order of ₹60 lakhs to ₹1 crore for the entire duration of the MBBS course.
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NEET 2026 AIQ Cut-off Marks Category-Wise
The All India Quota (AIQ) represents 15% of the MBBS/BDS seat availability in all of the government medical schools across India. It is considered one of the most competitive admission processes of its kind in the entire country and is managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
The projected cut-off ranges for various categories of students for NEET scores for 2026 are provided below, as well as the estimated projected rank at which a student would be offered a seat for each of the student categories.
State Wise NEET Cutoff 2026 – Category Wise Analysis
Across India, the NEET cut-off will differ significantly by state depending on the overall number of seats available in a state and the level of competition for those seats within the same state, as well as whether or not there are state-specific reservation policies in place for students who reside in that state. Below is an outline of anticipated NEET 2026 cut-offs based on state-wise categories of students.
| State | Estimated General Cut-Off (State Quota) |
| Delhi | 650 – 680+ |
| Maharashtra | 620 – 665+ |
| Tamil Nadu | 600 – 650+ |
| Karnataka | 580 – 630+ |
| Rajasthan | 570 – 620+ |
| Uttar Pradesh | 560 – 610+ |
| West Bengal | 580 – 625+ |
| Gujarat | 560 – 610+ |
| North-Eastern States | 480 – 560 |
The cut-offs for students who are part of a reserved category based on the state in which they have applied for admission are commonly 30-50 points lower than those for general category students within the same state. The states with the lowest total NEET score cut-offs nationally are Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland; whereas Delhi, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are considered the most competitive states.
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Tips to Clear NEET Cutoff Category-Wise 2026
Regardless of your category, you can utilize these tested techniques to guarantee that you surpass the NEET cutoff preparation threshold.
Set target scores significantly above the qualifying cutoff
- Focus on Biology
- Practice using past year papers
- Prepare for counselling based on the category you are applying for
- Learn to manage time during exams
- Apply to the MCC AIQ and state counselling at the same time
- Use a NEET rank predictor provided by NEET
Get Trusted NEET Counselling Support With EOCL India
EOCL India is a leading MBBS consultancy, providing dedicated support to prospective medical students throughout their entire medical journey—including determining their level of NEET eligibility and securing admission for MBBS abroad, especially MBBS in Russia. The extensive resources of EOCL India ensure a smooth and transparent admission process for both students and parents. The professional team at EOCL India stays updated with the latest NMC guidelines and counselling procedures, ensuring that students are well-informed when it comes time to apply for admission.
Frequently Asked Questions about NEET Cutoff Category Wise 2026
What is the minimum NEET cutoff for the General category in 2026?
In the 2026 NEET exam for general students, be they medical students, we estimate that any student with 137-145 marks, approximately (out of 720), will be the qualifying cutoff.
How is NEET cutoff different for reserved categories?
The only difference is that general candidates must have a minimum of the 50th percentile, and OBC/SC and ST will have a minimum of the 40th percentile. Therefore, if we convert that into numbers, OBC/SC and ST will need a minimum of 113-143 marks to qualify.
Can NEET cutoff change after result declaration?
The qualifying cut-offs are determined in accordance with NMC Regulations (50% general, 40% for OBC/SC and ST); however, the marks corresponding to each qualifying cut-off may be different depending on the exam difficulty and the performance of students.
Does scoring above the qualifying cutoff guarantee medical admission?
No, meeting the qualifying cutoff only means that you are eligible for the counselling process; seats will actually be filled based on your All India Rank (AIR), your category, the college choices you make, your domicile state, the allotment or reservation policy that is in effect, and how many seats are available.
How to improve chances if NEET score is close to cutoff?
Any candidate who is near the qualifying cutoff should look at all the options that are available to them. Some examples would be registering for counselling in relation to the State Quota, which usually has lower qualifying cutoffs; looking at seats that fall under the SC/ST/OBC category, if applicable; looking into other medical areas such as BDS or AYUSH courses considered to be substitutes for medicine, or considering private medical colleges if affordable. Lastly, taking a one-year break with focused preparation can yield a much higher score.
Where to find official NEET cutoff updates for all categories?
The website has the most accurate and current NEET qualifying cutoffs for the academic year 2026. Candidates should also refer to the official website of the Medical Counselling Committee (mcc.nic.in) for the cutoffs of AIQ/MCC Counselling and should also check with their individual state counselling authorities for their respective state quota cutoff.
