For PMCH Patna MBBS through BCECEB UGMAC 2026, a safe NEET score for General category students is 635 or above out of 720, based on 2024 closing rank trends from Bihar state quota counselling.

Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) is Bihar’s most prestigious government medical college and consistently draws the highest demand in BCECEB UGMAC counselling. With 170 state quota MBBS seats, competition among Bihar domicile students is intense. BCECEB UGMAC 2026 was officially notified in April 2026 and counselling is expected in July–August 2026 once NEET UG 2026 results are declared. Knowing a realistic safe score now helps you set a target, shortlist backup options, and plan your counselling choices before registration opens.

  • PMCH Patna has 200 total MBBS seats — 170 filled through Bihar state quota via BCECEB UGMAC and 30 through All India Quota.
  • In 2024, the General category closing Bihar state rank at PMCH Patna was approximately 3,273 in Round 1 and 4,329 in Round 2.
  • Expected safe NEET score for General category at PMCH Patna 2026: 635 or above (out of 720).
  • Reserved category students (SC/ST/OBC) can target PMCH Patna with lower but still competitive NEET scores.
  • A safe score is typically 10–20 marks above the previous year’s closing figure to account for year-on-year fluctuations.
  • BCECEB UGMAC 2026 counselling is expected to begin in July–August 2026 after NEET UG 2026 results.

Safe Score vs Minimum Cutoff: What Is the Difference?

The minimum cutoff for PMCH Patna MBBS is the NEET score of the very last student admitted in a given category and counselling round — often called the closing score or closing rank. A safe score sits 10–20 marks above this closing figure, building in a buffer for the natural year-on-year variation in competition. Relying on last year’s minimum alone is risky: a slightly easier NEET paper, an increase in Bihar domicile qualifiers, or a dip in the number of available seats can all push the cutoff upward without warning. Students who score at or just above the previous year’s closing often end up just outside the cutoff in the new year.


PMCH Patna MBBS Seat Matrix 2026

PMCH Patna offers 200 MBBS seats in total. Of these, 30 seats (15%) fall under the All India Quota (AIQ) managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), while the remaining 170 seats (85%) are state quota seats filled through BCECEB UGMAC counselling for Bihar domicile students. The approximate category-wise distribution of state quota seats is:

Category Approximate Share of State Quota Seats
Unreserved / General (UR) ~50%
BC I (OBC) ~12%
BC II (EBC) ~18%
SC ~16%
ST ~1–2%
PWD (horizontal) ~3% (horizontal across categories)

The exact seat count per category for 2026 will be published in the official BCECEB UGMAC 2026 information brochure. Students should verify the final seat matrix on the official portal before counselling registration.


Expected Safe NEET Score for PMCH Patna MBBS 2026 by Category

The table below provides expected safe NEET scores for PMCH Patna MBBS 2026 across categories, derived from 2024 BCECEB UGMAC closing rank trends and NEET score-to-rank mapping for Bihar. All figures are estimated and based on 2024 trends — actual 2026 cutoffs may vary.

Category Estimated Closing NEET Score (2024 Trend) Expected Safe NEET Score 2026 NEET Score Out Of
Unreserved / General (UR) 615–625 635+ 720
BC I (OBC) 595–610 615+ 720
BC II (EBC) 588–605 608+ 720
SC 540–560 570+ 720
ST 495–525 535+ 720

These are expected estimates. General category students scoring below 600 are unlikely to secure PMCH Patna MBBS in the 2026 state quota rounds. Students should target the safe score range for a comfortable margin, not just the estimated minimum.


Bihar state rank data from BCECEB UGMAC counselling reveals that competition for PMCH Patna MBBS General category seats has intensified steadily. The table below shows approximate General category closing Bihar state ranks across recent counselling years:

Year General Category Closing Rank (Round 1) General Category Closing Rank (Round 2) Trend
2022 ~4,500 ~5,800 Moderate competition
2023 ~3,800 ~5,100 Rising competition
2024 ~3,273 ~4,329 Higher competition

The tightening of closing ranks over three years confirms that PMCH Patna has grown more competitive each cycle. A student who scored just enough for PMCH in 2023 may have missed the cutoff in 2024. This upward drift of roughly 500–700 rank positions per year underscores why targeting a safe score — rather than the bare minimum — is the right approach for 2026.


Factors That Affect the Cutoff at PMCH Patna

Several variables determine whether the 2026 cutoff rises or falls compared to 2024:

  • NEET UG 2026 difficulty level: An easier paper inflates average scores across the board, driving cutoffs upward. A harder paper tends to lower them slightly.
  • Number of Bihar domicile NEET qualifiers: A larger qualifying pool from Bihar increases competition for the 170 state quota seats.
  • Seat matrix changes: Any MCI/NMC-approved increase in PMCH Patna’s MBBS intake would ease competition marginally.
  • Category-specific demand: In years with high OBC or EBC participation, those cutoffs can rise independently of General category trends.
  • Counselling round: Round 1 closing ranks are always tighter than subsequent rounds, since top-scoring students fill the most sought-after seats first.
  • AIQ vs state quota split: Any re-allocation of seats between AIQ and state quota directly changes the number of seats available in BCECEB UGMAC.

Score Below the Safe Range? What to Do

If your NEET 2026 score is below the expected safe score for PMCH Patna, you still have strong options through BCECEB UGMAC 2026:

  • Target other Bihar government medical colleges: ANMCH Gaya, NMCH Patna, DMCH Laheriasarai, JLNMCH Bhagalpur, and SKMCH Muzaffarpur all fill through the same UGMAC counselling and have relatively lower closing ranks than PMCH Patna.
  • Wait for later rounds: Closing ranks in Round 2 and mop-up rounds are consistently higher (worse) than Round 1, meaning additional seats open at PMCH Patna at those stages.
  • Check all eligible categories: Students who qualify under SC, ST, BC I, or BC II categories should use their category rank — cutoffs are significantly lower than General.
  • Fill choices carefully: In BCECEB UGMAC, filling PMCH Patna as your first choice while listing other government colleges below it costs nothing — you are only admitted to the highest-ranked seat you qualify for.

BCECEB UGMAC 2026 PMCH Patna Safe Score FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum NEET score required for PMCH Patna MBBS in 2026 for General category?

Ans. Based on 2024 BCECEB UGMAC closing rank trends, the estimated minimum NEET score for General category at PMCH Patna is 615–625 marks (out of 720). A safe score to target for 2026 is 635 or above to account for rising year-on-year competition.

Ques. What is a safe NEET score for PMCH Patna for OBC and SC students through BCECEB UGMAC 2026?

Ans. Based on past trends, the expected safe NEET score for BC I (OBC) students is 615 or above, for BC II (EBC) is 608 or above, and for SC students is 570 or above. These are estimates; the actual 2026 cutoffs will depend on NEET 2026 competition levels.

Ques. How many MBBS seats does PMCH Patna have under state quota in BCECEB UGMAC?

Ans. PMCH Patna has 200 total MBBS seats. Of these, 170 seats (85%) are filled through the Bihar state quota via BCECEB UGMAC counselling, while 30 seats fall under the All India Quota managed by MCC.

Ques. When will BCECEB UGMAC 2026 counselling start?

Ans. BCECEB UGMAC 2026 was officially notified in April 2026. Counselling registration is expected to open in July–August 2026, after NEET UG 2026 results are declared. Students should monitor the official portal at bceceboard.bihar.gov.in for exact dates.

Ques. Is a NEET score of 600 enough for PMCH Patna MBBS General category in 2026?

Ans. Based on 2024 trends, a NEET score of 600 is below the General category closing figure for PMCH Patna. Students scoring 600 are unlikely to secure PMCH Patna in the General category in 2026, but may have good chances at other Bihar government medical colleges through BCECEB UGMAC.

Ques. Does the safe score differ between Round 1 and Round 2 of BCECEB UGMAC counselling?

Ans. Yes. Round 1 closing ranks at PMCH Patna are tighter (lower state rank numbers, meaning higher NEET scores). In 2024, the General category closing rank improved from 3,273 in Round 1 to 4,329 in Round 2, meaning additional seats become accessible at slightly lower scores in later rounds.