NEET 2026 Counseling Cutoff – Overview
The NEET 2026 counseling cutoff refers to the minimum NEET score or rank at which seats in a particular medical college are allotted during each round of counseling. Cutoffs are NOT fixed in advance — they are determined based on:
– Number of qualified candidates
– Seat availability
– Category (UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwD)
– Round of counseling (Round 1 cutoffs are always higher than Round 2 or Mop-Up)
– Participation rate of candidates.
NEET 2026 Qualifying Cutoff (Minimum Marks to Qualify)
This is the minimum score needed just to appear in counseling — it does NOT guarantee admission.
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Expected Cutoff Score (Out of 720) |
|—|—|—|
| General (UR) | 50th percentile | 720 – 130 |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40th percentile | 129 – 100 |
| General-PwD | 45th percentile | ~120 |
| OBC/SC/ST-PwD | 40th percentile | ~100 |
**Important:** These are qualifying marks to receive a NEET scorecard. Actual college allotment cutoffs are much higher for top government colleges.
NEET 2026 AIQ Cutoff – Top Government Medical Colleges (Expected)
Based on 2023, 2024, and 2025 MCC AIQ cutoff trends:
### MBBS – Government Colleges (General Category AIQ Rank)
| College | State | Expected Closing Rank (UR) |
|—|—|—|
| Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) | Delhi | 1 – 50 |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) | Delhi | 51 – 200 |
| Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital | Maharashtra | 200 – 500 |
| Grant Medical College (GMC), Mumbai | Maharashtra | 500 – 800 |
| Stanley Medical College | Tamil Nadu | 800 – 1,500 |
| Madras Medical College (MMC) | Tamil Nadu | 100 – 300 |
| Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute | Karnataka | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Mysore Medical College | Karnataka | 2,000 – 3,500 |
| SCB Medical College | Odisha | 3,000 – 5,000 |
| Osmania Medical College | Telangana | 2,000 – 4,000 |
| Patna Medical College | Bihar | 5,000 – 9,000 |
| KGMU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 200 – 800 |
| BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 1,000 – 2,500 |
| Kilpauk Medical College | Tamil Nadu | 500 – 1,200 |
> **Note:** Closing ranks for OBC, SC, and ST categories are significantly higher (more relaxed). SC closing ranks are often 20,000–50,000 at the same colleges.
NEET 2026 Expected Cutoff – Central Universities & AIIMS Colleges
AIIMS and JIPMER have separate but concurrent counseling through MCC.
| Institute | Expected NEET Score Range (UR) | Expected Rank |
|—|—|—|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 710 – 720 | 1 – 50 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 680 – 710 | 200 – 600 |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 675 – 710 | 300 – 700 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 680 – 710 | 250 – 650 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 670 – 705 | 400 – 900 |
| AIIMS Patna | 665 – 700 | 500 – 1,200 |
| AIIMS Raipur | 665 – 700 | 500 – 1,200 |
| AIIMS Nagpur | 660 – 695 | 700 – 1,500 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 680 – 715 | 150 – 500 |
| JIPMER Karaikal | 655 – 690 | 800 – 1,800 |
NEET 2026 Cutoff – Category-Wise Analysis
General Category (UR)
– Top government colleges close within rank 50–5,000
– AIIMS institutions require NEET score above 660+.
### OBC Category
– Relaxed by approximately 5,000–15,000 ranks compared to UR
– OBC students from non-creamy layer are eligible for central OBC quota.
### SC Category
– SC category closing ranks at top colleges range from 5,000 to 40,000
– Separate SC merit list prepared for each college.
### ST Category
– ST quota closing ranks are generally the most relaxed
– Some colleges in states with high ST population have higher ST demand.
### EWS Category
– Introduced in 2020; 10% horizontal reservation within UR seats
– EWS closing ranks are typically between UR and OBC ranks.
### PwD Category
– 5% horizontal reservation
– PwD candidates compete in their own merit list within their vertical category.
NEET 2026 State Quota Cutoff Estimates
Maharashtra (DMER Counseling)
| College | Expected Closing Rank (UR – State Quota) |
|—|—|
| Seth GS Medical College (KEM) | 200 – 600 |
| BYL Nair Hospital | 600 – 1,200 |
| Grant Medical College | 600 – 1,500 |
| Government Medical College, Nagpur | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| BJGMC, Pune | 1,500 – 4,000 |
### Tamil Nadu (TNMGRMU Counseling)
| College | Expected Closing Rank (UR – State Quota) |
|—|—|
| Madras Medical College | 50 – 200 |
| Stanley Medical College | 200 – 700 |
| Kilpauk Medical College | 300 – 900 |
| Coimbatore Medical College | 1,000 – 3,000 |
| Tirunelveli Medical College | 2,000 – 5,000 |
### Karnataka (KEA Counseling)
| College | Expected Closing Rank (UR – State Quota) |
|—|—|
| Bangalore Medical College (BMC) | 500 – 1,500 |
| Mysore Medical College | 1,500 – 3,500 |
| Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences | 3,000 – 7,000 |
Round-Wise Cutoff Pattern for NEET 2026
Cutoffs change across counseling rounds — a critical point many students miss:
| Round | Cutoff Trend | Why? |
|—|—|—|
| Round 1 | Highest (most competitive) | Maximum candidates participate; top ranks fill seats early |
| Round 2 | Slightly lower | Some seats vacated by students upgrading or not reporting |
| Mop-Up Round | Lowest (most accessible) | Only remaining candidates; many upgraded or joined elsewhere |
| Stray Vacancy Round | Lowest of all | Final few seats; often in less-preferred private colleges |
NEET 2026 Cutoff: Factors That May Shift Cutoffs
Several factors can cause NEET 2026 cutoffs to be higher or lower than 2025:
1. **Total number of NEET qualifiers:** More qualifiers = more competition = higher cutoffs
2. **New medical colleges:** New seats added = lower cutoffs
3. **MCI/NMC fee regulation changes:** Affects demand for private deemed universities
4. **Supreme Court interventions:** Can affect seat availability mid-counseling
5. **State-level domicile rule changes:** Affects AIQ vs state quota dynami
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What NEET 2026 rank is needed for MBBS in government college?**
A: For top government colleges like MAMC Delhi, you need a rank within 50–200 (UR). For government colleges in smaller states, ranks up to 20,000–30,000 can secure seats depending on category.
**Q2: What is the NEET 2026 cutoff for AIIMS New Delhi?**
A: Historically, AIIMS New Delhi has the highest cutoff in India. Candidates typically need a NEET score of 710–720 and an AIR within 50 (UR category).
**Q3: Can OBC category students get MBBS at lower ranks in 2026?**
A: Yes. OBC candidates have a separate merit list, and closing ranks for OBC category are typically 10,000–30,000 higher than UR category at the same college.
**Q4: Are NEET 2026 cutoffs announced before counseling?**
A: No. Cutoffs are only known after each round of allotment. You can only use previous year data as a reference.
**Q5: How accurate are NEET 2026 college predictors?**
A: College predictors based on 2023–2025 data give a reasonable estimate. However, fluctuations in NEET difficulty, total candidates, and seat additions can shift cutoffs by 20–40%.
**Q6: What is the minimum NEET score for private medical college in 2026?**
A: For private (non-deemed) colleges under state quota, candidates with scores around 130–400 may still secure seats in some states. For private deemed universities, even lower scores may qualify depending on NRI/management quotas.
Conclusion
NEET 2026 counseling cutoffs are not fixed but can be reasonably predicted based on historical trends. Candidates with ranks in the top 1,000 can comfortably aim for premier government colleges and AIIMS institutes. Those in the 5,000–30,000 rank range have excellent options across state government colleges. Students in the 30,000–1,00,000+ range should focus on state quota seats and private/deemed colleges.
If you are serious about securing a medical seat in 2026, enrolling with TheCareerAssistance is a smart and safe decision.
Contact TheCareerAssistance
Website: www.thecareerassistance.com
Instagram page link : TheCareerAssistance| MBBS 2026
Phone: +91-9999768177, +91-8447798979