The NEET 2026 cutoff is one of the most searched things by medical aspirants after the exam on May 3, 2026. Before you start worrying about your score, it is important to understand that there are two very different cutoffs: the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff.
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum marks to be eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff is the actual score needed to get a seat in a specific government MBBS college. These two numbers are very different, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes students make.
This guide covers the expected NEET 2026 cutoff category wise for General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS candidates, the safe score targets for government MBBS admission, previous year trends, and what factors affect the cutoff each year.
NEET 2026 Cutoff: Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | May 3, 2026 |
| Result Date | June 2026 (expected) |
| Cutoff Release | Along with result at neet.nta.nic.in |
| Qualifying Percentile (General/EWS) | 50th percentile |
| Qualifying Percentile (OBC/SC/ST) | 40th percentile |
| Qualifying Percentile (General PwD) | 45th percentile |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| AIQ Seat Allocation | MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) |
| State Quota Seats | Respective state counselling authorities |
Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff: The Key Difference
Qualifying Cutoff is the minimum marks set by NTA to become eligible for counselling. Crossing this only means you can participate in the admission process. It does not guarantee any seat.
Admission Cutoff is the last rank or score at which a candidate actually receives a seat in a specific college during counselling. This varies by college, state, category, and round.
Qualifying the NEET cutoff only means you are eligible for counselling. Getting a government MBBS seat requires scoring well above the qualifying cutoff, typically 550+ for General category.
NEET 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff: Category Wise
The qualifying cutoff percentile is fixed by NMC regulations and does not change year to year. What changes is the actual marks corresponding to that percentile, based on how difficult the paper was and how students performed overall.
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Expected Qualifying Marks 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th percentile | 137 to 164 (approx.) |
| EWS | 50th percentile | 137 to 164 (approx.) |
| OBC-NCL | 40th percentile | 107 to 136 (approx.) |
| SC | 40th percentile | 107 to 136 (approx.) |
| ST | 40th percentile | 107 to 136 (approx.) |
| General PwD | 45th percentile | 121 to 150 (approx.) |
| OBC/SC/ST PwD | 40th percentile | 107 to 136 (approx.) |
These are expected qualifying marks based on previous year trends. These ranges may shift by plus or minus 5 to 10 marks depending on the difficulty level of the 2026 paper. The official qualifying cutoff will be released by NTA along with the NEET 2026 result in June 2026.
Previous Year NEET Qualifying Cutoff Trends (2021 to 2025)
Looking at year-wise data helps you understand how the cutoff changes with paper difficulty.
| Year | General (UR) Marks | OBC/SC/ST Marks | Highest Score That Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 686 to 144 | 143 to 113 | 686 |
| 2024 | 720 to 162 | 161 to 127 | 720 |
| 2023 | 720 to 137 | 136 to 107 | 720 |
| 2022 | 715 to 117 | 116 to 93 | 715 |
| 2021 | 720 to 138 | 137 to 108 | 720 |
The NEET cutoff 2025 dropped significantly compared to 2024 and 2023. The cutoff marks for the UR/EWS category decreased from 720 in 2024 to 686 in 2025 due to a tougher paper and a slight drop in candidate attendance.
The key takeaway: if the NEET 2026 paper is moderate to easy, expect the qualifying cutoff to rise. If it is tough, it will drop slightly.
Safe Score for Government MBBS Admission: NEET 2026
This is the number that actually matters for most students. The safe score is the minimum you need to have a realistic chance at a government MBBS seat. This is significantly higher than the qualifying cutoff.
| Category | Safe Score for AIQ (All India Quota) | Safe Score for State Quota |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 620 to 650 | 580 to 620 |
| EWS | 600 to 630 | 560 to 600 |
| OBC-NCL | 580 to 610 | 530 to 570 |
| SC | 500 to 530 | 430 to 480 |
| ST | 480 to 510 | 400 to 450 |
For the NEET exam 2026, the general category expected safe score is around 620 to 650 marks. The NEET exam 2026 safe score for the EWS category is expected to be around 600 to 630 marks. OBC aspirants should focus on targeting a minimum of 580 to 610 marks. The minimum safe marks range for SC category students is around 500 to 530 marks. The safe marks range for ST category students is around 480 to 510 marks.
State quota cutoffs are typically 20 to 40 marks lower than AIQ cutoffs. If you are aiming for state government colleges in your home state, the required score is more relaxed than AIQ.
NEET 2026 Cutoff for AIIMS and Top Government Colleges
AIIMS institutions are the most competitive government medical colleges in India. The cutoff for AIIMS Delhi is significantly higher than any other government college.
| College | Expected Cutoff Marks (General) | Expected AIR |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 700+ | Top 50 to 100 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur, Bhopal, Rishikesh | 670 to 690 | Top 200 to 500 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 650 to 680 | Top 500 to 1,000 |
| Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi | 650 to 670 | Top 500 to 1,500 |
| UCMS Delhi | 640 to 660 | Top 1,000 to 2,500 |
| Top state government colleges | 600 to 640 | Up to AIR 20,000 |
AIIMS Delhi MBBS admission requires approximately 700 to 720 marks for General category. Only about 50 General category seats are available through NEET AIQ counselling.
AIQ vs State Quota: Which Cutoff Applies to You?
Every government MBBS seat falls under one of two quotas.
15% All India Quota (AIQ) is managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). These seats are the most competitive since they draw the top rankers from across India. AIQ cutoffs are always higher.
85% State Quota is managed by the respective state counselling authorities. Cutoffs here depend on your state, home state eligibility, and the number of seats available. These cutoffs are generally 20 to 40 marks lower than AIQ.
If you are from a less competitive state or have home state quota advantage, your chances of getting a government MBBS seat at a lower score improve significantly.
Factors That Affect NEET 2026 Cutoff
Several factors determine where the cutoff lands each year.
Difficulty level of the examA tougher paper brings the cutoff down because fewer students score high. A moderate paper pushes the cutoff up. NEET 2025 was tough, which caused the cutoff to drop.
Number of candidatesOver 22 to 24 lakh students are expected to appear for NEET 2026. Higher registration means higher competition, which generally pushes the cutoff higher.
Highest score achievedThe upper end of the qualifying cutoff range is set by the highest marks scored in the exam. In 2025 the topper scored 686, pulling the upper cutoff down from 720 in 2024.
Total MBBS seats availableAny new MBBS seats added by the National Medical Commission ease the admission cutoff slightly since more seats are available for the same number of candidates.
Reservation categoriesCategory-wise reservation policies ensure different qualifying percentiles for General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Any changes to reservation rules can significantly shift category-wise cutoffs.
What Is a Good Score in NEET 2026?
| Score Range | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 680 to 720 | AIIMS Delhi and top AIIMS institutes in reach |
| 640 to 680 | Top government colleges through AIQ |
| 600 to 640 | Government MBBS through AIQ or top state colleges |
| 550 to 600 | Government college possible through state quota (OBC/EWS) |
| 500 to 550 | State quota government college for SC/ST, private for General |
| 400 to 500 | Private MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, or MBBS abroad |
| Below 400 | AYUSH courses, paramedical, or repeat attempt |
In the NEET 2026 exam, the safest score for general category students is 650 or above, while for the reserved category students, a score above 580 marks is fine.
NEET 2026 Cutoff: When Will It Be Released?
The official NEET 2026 cutoff will be released by NTA along with the NEET UG 2026 result, expected in June 2026, on the official website neet.nta.nic.in.
What happens next after the cutoff is released:
- NEET 2026 Result: June 2026 at neet.nta.nic.in
- MCC AIQ Counselling: July 2026 for 15% AIQ seats in government colleges
- State Quota Counselling: July to August 2026 managed by respective states
- Mop-up and Stray Vacancy Rounds: August to September 2026
Also check our NEET 2026 Admit Card guide and NEET 2026 Exam Day Guidelines if your exam is coming up.
Conclusion
The NEET 2026 cutoff has two distinct meanings. The qualifying cutoff, around 137 to 164 marks for General category, just makes you eligible for counselling. The admission cutoff for government MBBS seats is much higher, starting at around 580 to 620 marks for General category under state quota and 620 to 650 marks for AIQ.
If you are targeting a government MBBS seat, do not aim for the qualifying cutoff. Aim for the safe score range for your category. State quota seats are more accessible than AIQ, and students from reserved categories neet.nta.nic.in have significantly lower score requirements.
The official NEET 2026 cutoff will be released with the result in June 2026 at neet.nta.nic.in.
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FAQs
What is the expected NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff for General category?
The expected qualifying cutoff for General candidates is around 137 to 164 marks out of 720, corresponding to the 50th percentile. The exact figure depends on paper difficulty and will be officially released with the result in June 2026.
What is the NEET 2026 cutoff for OBC, SC, and ST categories?
The expected qualifying cutoff for OBC, SC, and ST candidates is approximately 161 to 127 marks (40th percentile). These are minimum qualifying marks. Actual government college admission requires much higher score.
What score is needed for a government MBBS seat in NEET 2026?
For General category, aim for 620 to 650 marks for AIQ seats and 580 to 620 for state quota. OBC candidates should target 580 to 610 for AIQ. SC and ST candidates may secure state quota government seats with 430 to 480 marks depending on the state.
Is 500 marks enough for a government MBBS seat in NEET 2026?
For General category, 500 marks is generally not enough for a government MBBS seat through AIQ or competitive states. However, SC and ST candidates may get state quota government seats with 500 marks in some states with more available seats.
Does clearing the NEET qualifying cutoff guarantee MBBS admission?
No. Qualifying the NEET cutoff only means you are eligible for counselling. Getting a government MBBS seat requires scoring well above the qualifying cutoff. Admission depends on rank, seat availability, category, and counselling outcomes.
When will the NEET 2026 cutoff be officially released?
The NEET 2026 cutoff will be released along with the NEET UG 2026 result in June 2026 at neet.nta.nic.in. It will be available as a PDF with category-wise qualifying marks and percentiles.