NEET Cutoff 2026, Category-Wise — Qualifying vs Admission
Confirmed NEET 2026 qualifying cutoffs by category — and why qualifying and admission cutoffs are not the same thing.
Two completely different numbers are both called "the NEET cutoff", and confusing them is the single most common source of false hope in counselling season. One says you may enter. The other says whether you get a seat. Here is both, with the confirmed 2026 figures.
The Distinction, in One Table
| Dimension | Qualifying cutoff | Admission cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | NTA, as a percentile standard | The market — where seats ran out in each college and category |
| Known when? | With the result | Only after each counselling round is processed |
| What it means | You are eligible to participate in counselling | You would actually have received that seat |
| 2026 value (UR) | 213 marks | Far higher — varies by college, quota and category |
Which category row is yours, and what does it open? Ask on WhatsApp →
clearing 213 marks in 2026 makes you eligible for counselling. It does not put a government MBBS seat anywhere near reach. Around 11.21 lakh candidates qualified; India's MBBS intake is a fraction of that.
NEET UG 2026 Qualifying Cutoffs — Confirmed
| Category | Qualifying percentile | Marks range (out of 720) |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 50th | 715 – 213 |
| OBC | 40th | 212 – 177 |
| SC | 40th | 212 – 177 |
| ST | 40th | 212 – 177 |
| UR / EWS – PwBD | 45th | 212 – 194 |
| OBC – PwBD | 40th | 193 – 177 |
| SC – PwBD | 40th | 193 – 177 |
| ST – PwBD | 40th | 191 – 177 |
Which category row is yours, and what does it open? Ask on WhatsApp →
These bands read from the topper's score down to the cutoff mark. UR/EWS runs from 715 (the 2026 topper) down to 213; the reserved-category bands sit below the general cutoff, because a reserved-category candidate scoring above 213 appears in the general merit list rather than in the reserved band.
Category-Wise Qualified Numbers
| Category | Approximate qualified candidates (2026) |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS | ≈ 9,96,900 |
| OBC | ≈ 81,100 |
| SC | ≈ 29,900 |
| ST | ≈ 12,500 |
| PwBD categories (combined) | ≈ 740 |
| Total | ≈ 11.21 lakh |
Which category row is yours, and what does it open? Ask on WhatsApp →
The UR/EWS figure looks disproportionate because it counts every candidate who cleared the general standard, whatever their category. The smaller category-specific numbers are those who qualified in the band below the general cutoff.
Why the Qualifying Cutoff Moves Every Year
The standard itself does not move: 50th percentile for general, 40th for reserved categories, 45th for general-PwBD. What moves is the mark equivalent of that percentile, calculated fresh each year from the actual distribution of scores.
That is why the qualifying mark can jump substantially between cycles — an easier paper lifts the whole distribution and pulls the 50th percentile mark up with it. Comparing this year's qualifying mark against last year's tells you about the paper, not about your chances. Our marks vs rank guide explains the same effect on ranks.
And never use any qualifying mark to judge whether you will get a seat — that is what closing ranks are for.
What Actually Predicts a Seat: Closing Ranks
Admission cutoffs are published as closing ranks — the rank of the last candidate allotted a given college, course, quota and category in a given round. To use them properly:
- Match the quota. AIQ closing ranks and state quota closing ranks are different populations; never substitute one for the other. See our state quota vs AIQ guide.
- Match the category. Reserved-seat allotment runs on category rank, not All India Rank.
- Match the round. Closing ranks loosen through later rounds; a Round 1 closing rank is a stricter test than a Mop-Up one.
- Expect movement. Seat matrices change, new colleges are added, and candidate behaviour shifts. Treat last year's closing rank as a centre of gravity, not a threshold.
Then convert that into an ordered list — the method is in our choice filling strategy guide.
If You Qualified but the Numbers Look Tight
Being on the wrong side of the government-seat maths is not the end of the process, and it is much better handled in July than in October. Read your real MBBS, BDS and AYUSH options, BDS vs BAMS vs BHMS, and what private and deemed seats really cost before deciding anything.
NEET Cutoff — FAQs
What is the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff category-wise?
For NEET UG 2026 the qualifying cutoff was 715–213 marks at the 50th percentile for UR and EWS, and 212–177 marks at the 40th percentile for OBC, SC and ST. UR/EWS-PwBD qualified at the 45th percentile in a 212–194 band, with the other PwBD categories at the 40th percentile in bands down to 177.
What is the difference between qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile you must reach to be eligible for counselling at all — 213 marks for UR in 2026. The admission cutoff is the score or closing rank at which seats in a particular college and category actually ran out, and it is far higher. Qualifying makes you eligible; it does not make you competitive.
Why is the NEET cutoff a percentile and not a fixed mark?
The qualifying standard is defined as a percentile — 50th for general, 40th for reserved categories, 45th for general-PwBD — so it adjusts automatically to how difficult the paper was and how the cohort performed. The mark equivalent of that percentile is calculated afresh each year, which is why the qualifying mark moves between cycles.
When will the NEET 2026 admission cutoffs be known?
Admission cutoffs are an output of counselling, not an input. They become known only after each round's allotment, when the closing ranks for each college and category are published. Until MCC and state authorities run their rounds, any figure presented as a 2026 admission cutoff is a prediction.
How many candidates qualified in each category in NEET 2026?
About 11.21 lakh candidates qualified overall. The published category breakdown showed roughly 9.97 lakh under UR/EWS, about 81,000 under OBC, about 30,000 under SC and about 12,000 under ST, with a small number across the PwBD categories. Note that the general merit list includes candidates from all categories who cleared the general standard.
Your next step
You now know the rules. What this guide cannot tell you is your answer — which seat your rank actually reaches, in which round, at which fee. That is personal, it is deadline-bound, and it is the part we do.
Get my answer on WhatsAppGuidance only. No seat is guaranteed — allotment is decided solely by the counselling authority. Not affiliated with MCC, NTA or any state counselling authority.