The NEET cut off 2026 will be released after the NEET UG 2026 results. At present, you should treat all numbers as expected ranges because NTA has announced the NEET UG 2026 re-examination for 21 June 2026. The official result date will be informed later on the NTA website.
NEET UG is used for undergraduate medical admission in India. The 2026 Information Bulletin lists it as the common entrance test for MBBS and BDS courses. It also covers BAMS and BUMS along with BSMS and BHMS courses. Also, it says that admission to MBBS in AIIMS and JIPMER is through NEET UG.
You should understand one important point first. The NEET expected cut off has two meanings. The first is the qualifying cutoff, which only makes a student eligible for counselling. The second is the admission cutoff, which is the actual score or rank needed to get a seat in a college.
Before comparing expected scores, you should understand the NEET exam pattern as well. The marking scheme directly affects the final score. Also, you can use NEET books for subject-wise practice, PYQs and revision before counselling-based score planning.
NEET Cutoff 2026 Category Wise: Qualifying Marks
The NEET cutoff 2026 category wise qualifying rule is based on percentile. Based on the last year cut off of NEET, the NEET UG 2025 qualifying marks for categories were:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | NEET UG 2025 Qualifying Marks |
| UR and EWS cutoff for NEET | 50th percentile | 686 to 144 |
| cut off for OBC in NEET | 40th percentile | 143 to 113 |
| cut off for SC in NEET | 40th percentile | 143 to 113 |
| cut off for ST in NEET | 40th percentile | 143 to 113 |
| UR and EWS PwBD | 45th percentile | 143 to 127 |
| Reserved PwBD | 40th percentile | 126 to 113 |
These were official NTA result figures for 2025.
For 2026, the expected qualifying cut off marks for NEET can be around recent trends. However, the exact range will depend on the re-exam difficulty level & candidate performance.
Expected qualifying range:
| Category | Expected Qualifying Marks |
| General and EWS | Around 145 to 165 marks |
| OBC | Around 115 to 140 marks |
| SC | Around 115 to 140 marks |
| General and EWS PwBD | Around 130 to 150 marks |
| Reserved PwBD | Around 115 to 135 marks |
Note: These are not official NEET cutoff marks 2026. You should check the final NTA result notice after declaration.
Expected NEET 2026 Cutoff for MBBS Government Colleges
The NEET 2026 cutoff for MBBS will be higher than the qualifying marks. The reason behind this is that MBBS seats are allotted through counselling.
The NTA only conducts the exam and declares the result, and provides the All India Rank. The admitting authorities then prepare merit lists based on AIR.
For government MBBS admission, you should not plan around the minimum marks for NEET only. The cutoff for Government medical colleges will depend on:
- Category
- Rank
- State quota
- All India Quota
- College preference
- Seat matrix
- Counselling round.
Expected practical safe-score range for government MBBS:
| Category | Expected Practical Safe Score Range | Admission Chance |
| General | 610 plus | Stronger chance in competitive counselling |
| EWS | 600 plus | Stronger chance |
| OBC | 590 to 610 plus | Stronger chance |
| SC | 480 to 520 plus | Stronger chance |
| ST | 440 to 480 plus | Stronger chance |
Note: This expected NEET safe score 2026 is only a planning range. The final cut off for medical colleges will be visible only after MCC and state counselling allotment lists are published.
NEET Cutoff for AIIMS
The NEET cutoff for AIIMS is also based on NEET UG rank. NEET UG has been used for MBBS admission in AIIMS and JIPMER since 2020. MCC conducts counselling for AIIMS open seats along with JIPMER seats and other central institutions listed in the NEET UG bulletin.
You should not use one common AIIMS cutoff for all campuses. AIIMS Delhi generally closes much higher than newer AIIMS campuses, while category and seat type also affect the closing rank.
A good score in NEET for AIIMS should be planned much above the minimum qualifying marks.
Eligible Marks for NEET and Admission Marks Are Not the Same
Many students confuse the eligible marks for NEET with MBBS admission marks. Eligible marks only mean the student has qualified as per the required percentile. Admission marks mean the score or rank at which a seat is allotted during counselling.
NTA prepares the merit list and All India Rank. MCC handles 15% All India Quota seats and central institution counselling.
This is why a student may qualify NEET but still not get a government MBBS seat. The safer approach we suggest is to aim for a strong score. Then, check AIQ and state quota options carefully.
The actual NEET cut off 2026 will be out after the release of the final results. Therefore, we recommend you to plan using expected ranges until then.
FAQs
What is the difference between NEET qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
The NEET qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile needed to become eligible for counselling. Admission cutoff is the actual score or rank needed to get a seat in a medical college. Admission cutoff is usually much higher than the qualifying cutoff.
Is NEET cutoff the same for all medical colleges in India?
No. NEET cutoff is not the same for all colleges. It changes by college, course, state quota, All India Quota, category, seat type and counselling round. So, we recommend you to check the official MCC and state counselling allotment lists before making a final choice.
Which states have the lowest NEET cutoff for government MBBS admission?
There is no fixed lowest-cutoff state every year. State cutoffs depend on seat availability, domicile rules, category reservation and candidate demand. You should compare the official state counselling closing ranks for the year in which they are applying.
What is the minimum NEET score required for semi-government medical colleges?
There is no single minimum score for semi-government colleges. It depends on the state, fee category, quota, round and college. You should first qualify NEET (UG) Exam and then check the official state counselling brochure and allotment result for semi-government seats.
How does reservation affect NEET cutoff marks?
Reservation affects category-wise seats and closing ranks. Under MCC counselling, the Central Government reservation includes EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST and PwBD provisions. State quota reservation follows the concerned state rules.
What is better: AIQ counselling or state quota counselling?
AIQ counselling gives access to seats across India, while state quota counselling gives access to seats under a student’s eligible state rules. Many students apply for both if eligible. The better option depends on rank, domicile, category and preferred college.
How many rounds are conducted in NEET counselling?
NEET (UG) MCC counselling generally includes multiple rounds, such as Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and stray or special stray rounds if seats remain. State counselling rounds can differ. So, you should follow the latest MCC and state counselling schedules.
