NEET 2026 Low Score and APST State Quota: Arunachal Pradesh Counselling Options and Eligibility

Students with a low NEET 2026 score can still pursue MBBS admission in Arunachal Pradesh through the APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) state quota, where the eligible applicant pool is small and closing scores are much closer to the qualifying cutoff than in other states.

Arunachal Pradesh allocates 85% of government medical college seats to its state quota, and a reserved share of these seats is exclusively for APST students. State quota counselling is managed by APDHTE (Arunachal Pradesh Department of Health and Technical Education) at apdhte.nic.in. If you have cleared the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff for the ST category, your all-India rank does not affect your eligibility for APST state quota seats.

• NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff for ST category: 40th percentile (107 marks in 2023; 127 marks in 2024 out of 720)
• APST students are classified as Scheduled Tribe and benefit from lower NEET qualifying thresholds
• State quota counselling covers 85 seats at TRIHMS, Naharlagun (out of 100 total MBBS intake)
• A valid APST certificate issued by DC or SDO of your home district in Arunachal Pradesh is mandatory
• APST quota closing scores are historically close to the ST qualifying cutoff due to limited competition in the applicant pool

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What is APST State Quota in NEET Counselling?

The APST state quota refers to MBBS seats reserved for Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe students within the state’s 85% state quota allocation. Under the national NEET counselling framework, 15% of seats in government medical colleges go to the all-India quota managed by MCC and 85% remain with the state for its own counselling process.

In Arunachal Pradesh, APDHTE manages this process. Within state quota seats, sub-categories are reserved for APST students. APST covers all recognised scheduled tribes of Arunachal Pradesh listed in the state roster. The APST quota operates under state-specific eligibility norms and is separate from the national SC/ST reservation applied in the all-India quota. Students who do not secure a seat through the all-India quota due to a low NEET score often find APST state quota seats more accessible because the competing pool is far smaller.

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NEET 2026 Qualifying Marks for APST Category

Before registering for Arunachal Pradesh state quota counselling, you must first clear the NEET qualifying cutoff. For SC/ST and OBC categories, which include APST students, the qualifying threshold is the 40th percentile. Based on NEET 2023 and 2024 data, this has ranged from 107 to 127 marks out of 720.

NEET 2026 qualifying cutoffs will be declared by NTA along with results. Figures above are from NEET 2023 and 2024 and are for historical reference only.

Once you clear the national qualifying threshold, you are eligible to register for Arunachal Pradesh state quota counselling. Your all-India rank does not disqualify you from APST state quota seats — only your NEET score relative to other eligible APST applicants determines your allotment.

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Why APST Quota Has Lower Closing Scores

Arunachal Pradesh has a relatively small population and the number of APST students who appear in NEET each year is limited. Competition within the APST applicant pool is significantly lower than in states like Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu.

In several recent years, the closing score for APST quota seats at TRIHMS has been close to the national ST qualifying cutoff. This happens because:

• The eligible APST applicant pool is small in absolute numbers
• Some APST students who clear NEET choose institutions outside Arunachal Pradesh
• Seats sometimes remain vacant after Round 1 and roll over to a mop-up round where lower-scoring students can apply

If you are an APST student who has cleared the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff for ST category, you have a realistic chance of securing MBBS admission at TRIHMS based on historical trends. Actual NEET 2026 APST quota closing scores depend on the total eligible applicants and the seat matrix notified by APDHTE for that year.

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Medical Colleges Under Arunachal Pradesh State Quota

TRIHMS is the primary government medical college participating in Arunachal Pradesh NEET state quota counselling. Private medical colleges in the state, if any, operate under separate admission procedures.

Of the 85 state quota seats at TRIHMS, APDHTE sub-divides them by category including APST and other reserved categories. The exact APST seat count for NEET 2026 will be published on apdhte.nic.in when counselling registration opens.

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Arunachal Pradesh NEET Counselling Process 2026

APDHTE manages Arunachal Pradesh state quota counselling. Based on the process followed in previous years, here are the expected steps for NEET 2026:

1. Confirm eligibility: Verify you have cleared the NEET 2026 ST qualifying cutoff and hold a valid APST certificate.
2. Check the official notice: Visit apdhte.nic.in for the counselling schedule, seat matrix and registration dates.
3. Online registration: Fill the application form on the APDHTE portal, upload documents and pay the registration fee.
4. Merit list publication: APDHTE publishes a state-level merit list ranking eligible APST applicants by NEET score.
5. Choice filling and locking: Enter your college preference within the stipulated window on the portal.
6. Seat allotment: APDHTE releases an allotment letter based on your NEET score, category and preference order.
7. Document verification: Report to TRIHMS with original documents on the date stated in your allotment letter.
8. Admission and fee payment: Complete enrolment by paying the prescribed admission fee at the college.

APDHTE may conduct a mop-up round when seats remain vacant after the main round. Monitor apdhte.nic.in actively and register for the mop-up if you are not allotted a seat in Round 1. Students with lower NEET scores stand a better chance in the mop-up round when the competing pool is even smaller.

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Documents Required for APST Category Students

Prepare these documents before registering on the APDHTE portal. Originals are required at document verification at TRIHMS.

Your APST certificate must be current and issued by a competent authority in Arunachal Pradesh. An expired certificate or one issued by an authority outside the state is not accepted during document verification. If your certificate needs renewal, apply to your district’s Deputy Commissioner office well before the counselling registration window opens.