NEET 2026 Cutoff — Category-Wise Qualifying Score & College Prediction
NEET 2026 expected cutoffs by category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) with marks vs rank projection, AIIMS cutoff, and state-wise college predictions.
Every NEET aspirant eventually asks the same question — "What marks do I actually need?" The answer is never a single number. Your required score depends on your category, your target college, your state domicile, and the counselling round you are banking on. ExamHub breaks down the NEET 2026 cutoff landscape so you can set a realistic target and plan accordingly.
How NEET Cutoff Is Calculated
NTA releases the NEET cutoff based on percentile scores, not raw marks. The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile a candidate must achieve to be eligible for counselling. Here is how it works:
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Percentile (General) | 50th percentile |
| Qualifying Percentile (OBC/SC/ST) | 40th percentile |
| Qualifying Percentile (PwD) | 45th percentile |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 correct, -1 wrong |
| Tie-breaking | Higher Biology marks > fewer wrong answers > age (older candidate preferred) |
NEET 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff
| Category | Expected Cutoff Marks (out of 720) | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 720–137 | 50th percentile |
| General-EWS | 136–107 | 45th percentile |
| OBC-NCL | 136–107 | 40th percentile |
| SC | 136–107 | 40th percentile |
| ST | 136–107 | 40th percentile |
| UR-PwD | 136–121 | 45th percentile |
| OBC-PwD | 120–107 | 40th percentile |
| SC-PwD | 120–107 | 40th percentile |
| ST-PwD | 120–107 | 40th percentile |
Previous Year NEET Cutoff Trends
| Category | 2025 Cutoff | 2024 Cutoff | 2023 Cutoff | 2022 Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 137 | 137 | 137 | 117 |
| OBC | 107 | 107 | 107 | 93 |
| SC | 107 | 107 | 107 | 93 |
| ST | 107 | 107 | 107 | 93 |
| EWS | 107 | 107 | 107 | 93 |
Marks Required for Government Medical Colleges
This is where the real competition lies. Qualifying NEET is one thing — getting a government MBBS seat is another battle entirely.
| College Tier | Expected Marks (General) | Expected Marks (OBC) | Expected Marks (SC/ST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | 700+ | 680+ | 640+ |
| Top AIIMS (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Rishikesh) | 680+ | 660+ | 610+ |
| Top State GMCs (KEM Mumbai, Maulana Azad Delhi, Madras MC) | 670+ | 650+ | 600+ |
| Mid-tier GMCs (State Capitals) | 620–660 | 580–630 | 520–570 |
| New GMCs / District Medical Colleges | 550–620 | 500–570 | 440–510 |
| Private Medical Colleges (Management Quota) | 400–500 | 380–450 | 350–400 |
State-wise Government Medical College Cutoff Ranges (General Category, AIQ)
| State | Top GMC Cutoff (Marks) | Average GMC Cutoff (Marks) |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 670+ | 640+ |
| Maharashtra | 660+ | 610+ |
| Tamil Nadu | 650+ | 600+ |
| Karnataka | 660+ | 610+ |
| Uttar Pradesh | 630+ | 560+ |
| Rajasthan | 620+ | 550+ |
| Madhya Pradesh | 610+ | 540+ |
| West Bengal | 640+ | 580+ |
| Gujarat | 630+ | 570+ |
| Bihar | 600+ | 530+ |
NEET Marks vs Rank — Projection Table
Your rank determines your seat. Here is the expected marks-to-rank mapping for NEET 2026 based on previous year data (approximately 24 lakh registered candidates):
| Marks (out of 720) | Expected Rank Range |
|---|---|
| 715–720 | 1–10 |
| 700–714 | 11–100 |
| 680–699 | 100–500 |
| 660–679 | 500–2,000 |
| 640–659 | 2,000–5,000 |
| 620–639 | 5,000–10,000 |
| 600–619 | 10,000–18,000 |
| 580–599 | 18,000–28,000 |
| 560–579 | 28,000–40,000 |
| 540–559 | 40,000–55,000 |
| 520–539 | 55,000–75,000 |
| 500–519 | 75,000–1,00,000 |
| 450–499 | 1,00,000–1,80,000 |
| 400–449 | 1,80,000–3,00,000 |
| 300–399 | 3,00,000–6,00,000 |
| 137–299 | 6,00,000+ |
AIIMS-Specific Cutoff Analysis
Since AIIMS institutes now admit through NEET, their cutoffs have remained among the highest in the country.
| AIIMS Campus | 2025 Closing Rank (General) | Expected Marks |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | ~50 | 710+ |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | ~200 | 700+ |
| AIIMS Bhopal | ~350 | 695+ |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | ~400 | 690+ |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | ~500 | 685+ |
| AIIMS Patna | ~600 | 680+ |
| AIIMS Raipur | ~700 | 678+ |
| AIIMS Nagpur | ~800 | 675+ |
| New AIIMS (various) | 800–2,500 | 650–675 |
AIQ vs State Quota Cutoff Difference
India reserves 15% of government medical seats under All India Quota (AIQ) and 85% under state quota. The cutoffs differ significantly.
| Aspect | AIQ Counselling | State Counselling |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) | State-level bodies |
| Seats | 15% of state GMC seats + all central institutions | 85% of state GMC seats |
| Cutoff Trend | Generally higher | Varies; lower in some states |
| Domicile Required | No | Yes, for most states |
| Advantage | Open to all India candidates | Locals get lower cutoffs |
What Score Gets You Which College Type
Here is a straightforward breakdown to help you set your target:
| Your Target | Marks Needed (General) | Marks Needed (OBC) | Marks Needed (SC/ST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | 710+ | 690+ | 650+ |
| Any AIIMS | 650+ | 630+ | 580+ |
| Top 10 GMCs in India | 670+ | 650+ | 600+ |
| Any Government Medical College | 550+ | 500+ | 440+ |
| Deemed University (at reasonable fees) | 500+ | 470+ | 420+ |
| Private Medical College | 400+ | 380+ | 350+ |
Common Mistakes in Cutoff Estimation
- Confusing qualifying cutoff with admission cutoff — The 137-mark qualifying cutoff does not get you a seat anywhere. It just allows you to participate in counselling. You need 500+ for any realistic chance at a government seat.
- Ignoring counselling round dynamics — Cutoffs drop significantly from Round 1 to mop-up rounds. A score of 580 might not get you a GMC in Round 1 but could in Round 3 or state mop-up rounds.
- Not accounting for annual variations — A tougher paper lowers cutoffs. A large candidate pool raises them. Never fixate on one year's data.
- Overlooking state-specific advantages — Your domicile certificate is valuable. State quota cutoffs can be 30–50 marks lower than AIQ cutoffs for the same college.
- Comparing raw marks across years without normalization — Paper difficulty varies. Always compare percentiles and ranks, not raw marks, when looking at trends.
How to Maximize Your Chances with a Given Score
- Fill maximum choices during counselling — Do not leave any option blank. Preferences can always be upgraded in subsequent rounds.
- Understand float, slide, and freeze — In AIQ counselling, choosing "float" keeps you in the upgrade pool while holding your current seat.
- Apply for state counselling simultaneously — You can participate in both AIQ and state counselling processes.
- Consider deemed universities strategically — Some deemed universities offer excellent clinical exposure. Do not dismiss them outright.
- Keep documents ready beforehand — Missing documents during verification has cost many students their seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a safe score for NEET 2026 to get a government medical college?
For General category, aim for 620+ to have a comfortable chance at a government medical college through AIQ counselling. For state quota, 550+ can work in states with many seats like UP, MP, or Rajasthan. Reserved category candidates need approximately 80–100 marks less than General cutoffs.
Does NEET cutoff change every year?
The qualifying cutoff (137 for General) has been stable since 2023. However, admission cutoffs for specific colleges change every year based on paper difficulty, number of applicants, and seat availability. Always check the latest counselling data.
Can I get MBBS with 500 marks in NEET?
With 500 marks in General category, getting a government MBBS seat through AIQ is very difficult but possible in later rounds or mop-up counselling. Through state quota in states like UP, Bihar, or MP, your chances improve. Private and deemed universities are more realistic options at this score.
How does the NEET cutoff differ for AYUSH courses?
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha) courses have significantly lower cutoffs than MBBS. General category candidates can get BAMS/BHMS seats with 300–400 marks. However, top AYUSH colleges (like RGUHS affiliates or government AYUSH colleges) require 450+ marks.
Is there any way to predict my college based on NEET score?
Yes. Use the marks-to-rank conversion table above, then cross-reference with the previous year's counselling closing ranks for specific colleges. MCC publishes this data on its official website after each counselling cycle. ExamHub also provides updated predictor tools.