GENERAL

NEET 2026 Expected Cut Off (Category Wise) – Marks, Rank & MBBS Admission Trends

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Shreshtha Mishra • 10 Mins read • 7 May 26
NEET Expected Cut Off 2026NEET Expected Cut Off 2026

NEET Expected Cut Off 2026 is an important event for medical aspirants after the NEET UG exam, to determine admission chances in top MBBS colleges. Students can refer to the NEET 2026 expected cutoffs for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories on this page. In the case of the General/EWS category, the qualifying cutoff will be approximately the 50th percentile (700 - 135 marks), and OBC, SC, and ST categories may qualify at the 40th percentile (150 - 120 marks). This is the minimum category-wise qualifying score.

To get admission, particularly in government MBBS colleges, students ought to target a bit higher. A safe AIQ score range is 550-620 marks, and top colleges may require 650+ or even 700+ marks due to high competition. With limited government seats and high competition, the NEET expected cut-off for MBBS government colleges in 2026, especially high for the general category. The NEET 2026 expected cutoff is most likely to be close to the previous years, with slight differences depending on the difficulty of the exam and the number of candidates. The paper was moderate with a slight increase in difficulty; competition is likely to escalate, leading to a slight increase in cutoff scores.


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NEET 2026 Expected Cutoff: Category Wise

The table below represents the NEET expected cut-off for the different categories for 2026. 

Category

Qualifying Score

Cutoff Score

UR/EWS

50th Percentile

700 - 135

OBC

40th Percentile

150 - 120

SC

40th Percentile

150 - 120

ST

40th Percentile

150 - 120

UR/EWS - PwBD

45th Percentile

150 - 110

OBC PwD

40th Percentile

130 - 115

SC PwD

40th Percentile

130 - 115

ST PwD

40th Percentile

130 - 115


NEET Expected Cut Off 2026 for General Category

The table below represents the year-wise NEET cut-off for the general category. The qualifying percentile for the General category is the 50th percentile. The official NEET 2026 cut-off score for the General category will be announced after the NEET result.

Year

NEET Cutoff Scores

2026

700 - 135

2025

686 - 144

2024

720 - 162

2023

720 - 137

2022

715 - 117

2021

720 - 138

2020

720 - 147

2019

701 - 134


NEET 2026 Cutoff for OBC Category

The table below represents the year-wise NEET cut-off for the OBC category. The qualifying percentile for the OBC category is the 45th percentile.

Year

NEET Cutoff Scores

2026

150 -1 20

2025

143-113

2024

161 - 127

2023

136 - 107

2022

116 - 93

2021

137 - 108

2020

146 - 113

2019

133 - 107


NEET 2026 Cut Off for SC Category

The table below represents the year-wise NEET cut-off for the SC category. The qualifying percentile for the SC category is the 40th percentile.

Year

NEET Cutoff Scores

2026

150 -120

2025

143-113

2024

161 - 127

2023

136 - 107

2022

116 - 93

2021

137 - 108

2020

146 - 113

2019

133 - 107


NEET Cutoff Trends (Last 5 Years Analysis)

The data below represents the trend summary for the NEET over the past 5 years. The cutoffs vary with the difficulty of exams and the performance of students.

Trend

Year

Summary

UR/EWS cutoff drop

2025

Dropped to 686–144 from 720–162 (2024)

Reserved category (SC/ST)

2025

OBC, SC, and ST had the same cutoff: 143–113

PwD categories segmented

2025

Separate cutoffs for SC/OBC/ST-PwD introduced

Peak cutoff year

2024

Highest cutoff in all categories

Gradual drop observed

2023

General cutoff at 720–137; reserved: 136–107

Continued decline

2022

General: 715–117; reserved: 116–93

High cutoff consistency

2021

General cutoff again peaked at 720–138

Percentile stability

2021–2025

50% (UR), 40% (OBC/SC/ST), 45% (PwD) across years

Read More: NEET 2026 Result


Previous Year NEET Cut Off Trends

The table below represents the past years NEET cut-off trends for different categories. Candidates can review the cut-off from the previous year and plan for the NEET 2026 cut-off, as the cut-off changes annually. 

Category

Qualifying Criteria

NEET 2026 Cut Off (Expected)

NEET(UG) 2025 Cut Off

NEET(UG) 2024 Cut Off

UR/EWS

50th Percentile

710 - 145

686 - 144

720-162

OBC

40th Percentile

142 - 115

143 - 113

161-127

SC

40th Percentile

142 - 115

143 - 113

161-127

ST

40th Percentile

142 - 115

143 - 113

161-127

UR/EWS & PH

45th Percentile

142 - 128

143 - 127

161-144

OBC & PH

40th Percentile

125 - 113

126 - 113

143-127

SC & PH

40th Percentile

125 - 113

126 - 113

143-127

ST & PH

40th Percentile

125 - 113

126 - 113

142-127


NEET 2026 Cutoff for Private Medical Colleges

Cutoffs of the private colleges are comparatively lower than those of the government institutions. The fees are better, but the chances of admission are lower for lower scores.

Category

Expected Cutoff

General

400 – 550

OBC

380 – 500

SC

300 – 450

ST

280 – 420


Category-wise NEET 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks for Government College

The following data represents the expected NEET 2026 Cut-off marks for the government college. However, it is advised to check the college's official cut-off before applying.

Category

Marks Range

General

550-580

OBC

550-580

EWS

520-550

SC

450-480

ST

420-450


NEET 2026 Expected Cut Off for AIIMS

The table below represents the MBBS college closing rank for different colleges. The state of every college can influence closing ranks because of state-wise reservation policies and regional choices.

State

College

NEET 2026 Closing Rank

NEET 2025 Closing Rank

Delhi

AIIMS Delhi

50 -60

40

Madhya Pradesh

AIIMS Bhopal

634

70

Uttarakhand

AIIMS Rishikesh

816

500

Odisha

AIIMS Bhubaneswar

785

600

Chhattisgarh

AIIMS Raipur

1376

700

West Bengal

AIIMS Kalyani

2417

850

Maharashtra

AIIMS Nagpur

1030

900

Punjab

AIIMS Bathinda

1978

950

Bihar

AIIMS Patna

4952

1400

Andhra Pradesh

AIIMS Mangalagiri

1357

1800

Uttar Pradesh

AIIMS Gorakhpur

2602

2300

Telangana

AIIMS Hyderabad

1874

2400

Uttar Pradesh

AIIMS Raebareli

3736

2800

Jharkhand

AIIMS Deoghar

9475

15000


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NEET 2026 Expected Cut Off for Government College

Apart from AIIMS, top medical colleges in India saw a significant rise in closing ranks and making admissions critical. The table below represents the different colleges' closing ranks along with the 2026 NEET expected closing ranks. 

State

College

NEET 2026 Expected Cut Off Rank

NEET 2025 Cut Off Rank

Delhi

Vardhman Mahavir Medical College

132

130

Delhi

Maulana Azad Medical College

103

140

Delhi

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute

215

190

Puducherry

JIPMET Puducherry

350

320

Gujarat

B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad

675

650

Chandigarh

GMCH Chandigarh

690 -700

700

Rajasthan

S.M.S. Medical College

718 - 1174

900

Maharashtra

Seth G. S. Medical College

2000

950

Uttar Pradesh

King George’s Medical University

4000

1900

Kerala

Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

4913

4000

Gujarat

AIIMS Rajkot

7712

5000

Delhi

Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College

1192 - 1772

6500

Tamil Nadu

Stanley Medical College

1258 - 2121

7000


NEET 2026 Marks Vs Percentile

The table below represents how NEET scores may correspond to percentiles, helping you better understand the NEET 2026 cut-off (expected).

Category

Qualifying Score

Cutoff Score

UR/EWS

50th Percentile

700 - 135

OBC

40th Percentile

150 - 120

SC

40th Percentile

150 - 120

ST

40th Percentile

150 - 120

UR/EWS - PwBD

45th Percentile

150 - 120

OBC PwD

40th Percentile

150 - 110

SC PwD

40th Percentile

150 - 110

ST PwD

40th Percentile

150 - 110


NEET UG 2026 Paper Analysis 

NEET UG 2026 was an NCERT-based, moderate-level exam with a balanced ratio of easy, moderate, and difficult questions. The paper was slightly less difficult in comparison to 2025, and therefore, students could attempt more questions, which could influence the trends in competition and cutoff.

Biology was the highest-scoring section, which had direct NCERT-based questions, and the questions in Chemistry were moderate and balanced. The hardest part was physics because of time-consuming numerical and concept-based questions. In general, the exam was based on conceptual clarity, accuracy, and time management, so it was important that students avoid doing it by guessing, but follow the strategic approach.

Subject

Difficulty Level (2026)

Key Insight

Physics

Moderate to Difficult

Time-consuming, numerical-based

Chemistry

Moderate

Balanced mix of theory & numericals

Biology (Botany)

Easy to Moderate

Direct NCERT questions

Biology (Zoology)

Easy to Moderate

Highly scoring section

Total

Moderate Overall

Balanced & competitive


NEET UG 2026 (May 3): Year-wise Difficulty Comparison

The NEET cut-off 2026 is also likely to be kept similar to the past years, although with slight differences depending on the difficulty of the exam and competition. General / EWS candidates would need to achieve a score of approximately 50th percentile (700 -135 marks), and those in the OBC, SC, and ST categories would be expected to qualify at the 40th percentile (150-120 marks). But students who are targeting to join government medical colleges should set an even higher score as a safe admission.

Year

Overall Difficulty

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

2026

Moderate

Moderate–Hard

Moderate

Easy–Moderate

2025

Moderate–Hard

Hard

Moderate–Hard

Easy

2024

Moderate

Moderate–Hard

Moderate

Easy–Moderate

2023

Easy–Moderate

Easy

Hard

Easy–Moderate

2022

Moderate–Hard

Moderate–Hard

Moderate

Easy


NEET UG 2026 (May 3): Chapter-wise Expected Weightage

According to the recent analysis of chapter-wise data and trend analysis, the following chapters are predicted to have the highest weightage in NEET UG 2026 (May 3). The students concentrating on these areas are likely to score high. Check the table for NEET Chapter-wise Expected Weightage.

Subject

High-Weightage Chapters (2026)

Marks (Approx.)

Physics

Modern Physics, Electrostatics, Optics, Mechanics (Gravitation)

60–80

Chemistry

Organic Chemistry (reactions), p-block, Electrochemistry, Coordination

70–90

Botany

Genetics & Evolution, Ecology, Cell Biology, Reproduction in Plants

100–120

Zoology

Human Physiology, Reproduction (Human), Genetics, Animal Kingdom

100–120


NEET Marks Vs NEET Rank

The NEET AIR (All India Rank) is a ranking that is determined by the marks obtained by the candidate in the exam. In case the candidate has scored more marks, it will result in a higher rank, and the candidate will have an opportunity to be offered admission to the best medical colleges.  An approximate comparison of NEET Marks Vs NEET Rank in terms of the tendencies observed over the past years is presented below.

NEET Marks

Expected NEET Rank

720 – 710

1 – 50

709 – 700

51 – 200

699 – 690

201 – 500

689 – 680

501 – 1,000

679 – 670

1,001 – 1,500

669 – 660

1,501 – 2,000

659 – 650

2,001 – 3,000

649 – 640

3,001 – 4,500

639 – 630

4,501 – 6,000

629 – 620

6,001 – 8,000

619 – 610

8,001 – 10,000

609 – 600

10,001 – 12,500

599 – 590

12,501 – 15,000

589 – 580

15,001 – 18,000

579 – 570

18,001 – 20,000

569 – 560

20,001 – 25,000

559 – 550

25,001 – 30,000

549 – 540

30,001 – 35,000

539 – 530

35,001 – 40,000

529 – 520

40,001 – 45,000

519 – 510

45,001 – 50,000

509 – 500

50,001 – 55,000


NEET 2026 Expected Rank for MBBS Admission

Knowing the rank is equal to marks. Rank is very dependent on the level of competition and normalization.

  • Rank under 5,000 → High chance of Govt MBBS
  • Rank under 15,000 → Possible Govt seat
  • Rank above 50,000 → Mostly private colleges


NEET Score vs College Type 

Verify the college type and the marks required to join that college type. This section is a direct response to the student's intention. This will assist students in making a clear picture of what they can realistically expect:

Score Range

College Type

700+

AIIMS / Top Govt Colleges

650–700

Govt Medical Colleges

600–650

Mid-level Govt Colleges

500–600

Private / Semi-Govt Colleges

400–500

Low-tier Private Colleges


Common Mistakes Students Make While Analysing Cutoff

Cutoff data are misunderstood by many students, resulting in erroneous expectations. Always set the cutoff as a safety measure.

  • Mixing the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff.
  • Disregarding state quota benefits.
  • Failure to check past year trends.
  • Setting unrealistic targets


How Many Marks Are Required for MBBS in India?

The marks needed to have MBBS will depend on the category and the college.

  • General Category (Govt MBBS): 610-650+
  • Reserved Categories: 480–600 marks
  • Private Colleges: 400–550 marks

With the growing competition, 650+ marks is the surest plan.


MBBS Abroad Option 

In case your NEET score is poor, then studying MBBS abroad in 2026 is an option. India has a lot of students preferring Russia, Georgia and Kazakhstan to do the MBBS.

  • Lower cutoff requirements
  • Affordable fees
  • Globally recognized universities


Conclusion

Admission to top medical colleges in India is primarily focused on good NEET 2026 cut-off marks. The NEET 2026 Expected Cut Off for government colleges is the last rank and its equivalent mark at which admission is granted. The NEET cut-off for government colleges varies from one college to another.


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FAQs

Ques: What is the minimum marks required to qualify for NEET 2026?

Ans: NEET 2026 minimum required marks will be approximately 165-135 marks in the general category and 150-120 in the reserved categories. These marks denote the qualification cutoff as per the percentile standards. Qualifying for NEET, however, does not ensure admission. The students require much higher marks to gain admission to MBBS, and in government medical colleges, much more.


Ques: How is the NEET cutoff calculated?

Ans: NEET cut off is computed using percentile scores instead of set marks. It is based on such factors as the total number of students who appeared, the difficulty of the exam, and the overall performance. As an example, a general category cutoff is established at the 50th percentile, and the reserved categories are below the 40th percentile. This is the reason why cutoff marks differ each year.


Ques: Does NEET cutoff vary for different states?

Ans: Yes, NEET cutoff is different in various states since there is a difference in competition, applicants, and medical seats. More competitive states, such as Delhi and Rajasthan, tend to have higher cutoffs, whereas some other states that have few applicants might have a little lower cutoffs. The state quota contributes significantly to the admission opportunities.


Ques: What rank is required for government MBBS through NEET?

Ans: In order to get a government MBBS seat under NEET, the student must have an average rank of 15,000 (general category), and the best colleges have a rank of 5,000 and below. In the case of reserved categories, the rank requirement can be eased a bit. But the rank is determined by state quota, category, and counselling rounds.


Ques: Is NEET cutoff the same every year?

Ans: No, NEET cutoff does not remain the same each year. It varies with several aspects such as the difficulty of exams, the number of candidates, and performance. A more difficult test will tend to have a lower cutoff and an easier test will have a higher cutoff. Students should, therefore, strive to score higher, instead of basing their cutoffs on the prior year.