NEET 2026 EWS Cutoff: Expected Qualifying Marks and Percentile

NEET 2026 EWS category qualifying cutoff is expected between 125 and 140 marks (40th percentile), based on NTA’s previous year trends.

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in NEET 2026 follows the same 40th percentile qualifying threshold as OBC, SC, and ST categories. EWS reservation — introduced under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment — allocates 10% of All India Quota (AIQ) MBBS and BDS seats to students from the general category with a family income below ₹8 lakh. With NEET 2026 results expected in July 2026, you can use the year-wise data below to estimate your qualifying chances and shortlist target colleges accordingly.

• EWS qualifying percentile: 40th percentile (same as OBC, SC, and ST)
• NEET 2024 EWS qualifying cutoff: 129 marks out of 720
• NEET 2026 expected EWS qualifying cutoff: 125–140 marks
• 10% of AIQ MBBS seats are reserved for EWS students under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment
• A valid EWS certificate from a competent authority is mandatory for MCC counselling

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What is EWS Category in NEET?

EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation in NEET was introduced after the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act extended 10% reservation in government educational institutions to students from economically weaker sections of the general category. To be eligible for EWS reservation in NEET 2026, your family’s gross annual income must be below ₹8 lakh and you must not belong to any other reserved category — OBC, SC, or ST.

During MCC NEET UG counselling, 10% of All India Quota MBBS and BDS seats are allocated to EWS students. You need a valid EWS income and asset certificate — issued by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), District Magistrate, or equivalent competent authority — to claim this reservation in round 1, round 2, and the stray vacancy round of MCC counselling.

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NEET EWS Qualifying Cutoff: Previous Year Trends

NTA sets the NEET qualifying cutoff for EWS at the 40th percentile — the same threshold applied to OBC, SC, and ST categories. The qualifying marks change each year based on exam difficulty and the total number of students appearing. The table below shows year-wise EWS qualifying cutoff data.

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NEET 2026 Expected EWS Cutoff Marks

Based on 2023 and 2024 trends, the expected NEET 2026 EWS qualifying cutoff is between 125 and 140 marks out of 720. The official cutoff will be released by NTA along with the NEET 2026 result. The table below shows category-wise expected qualifying marks for NEET 2026.

All figures above are expected based on previous year trends and will be confirmed by NTA after the NEET 2026 result is declared.

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NEET EWS Cutoff for Top Government Medical Colleges (AIQ)

Clearing the qualifying cutoff is the first step. You also need to meet the AIQ EWS closing marks at your preferred college during MCC counselling. The table below shows expected NEET 2026 EWS AIQ closing marks for top government medical colleges, based on 2024 MCC counselling data.

These are expected figures based on 2024 MCC AIQ counselling trends. Actual closing marks for NEET 2026 will be published after each counselling round on the MCC official website.

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Factors Affecting NEET 2026 EWS Cutoff

Several factors determine whether the NEET 2026 EWS cutoff will rise or fall compared to previous years:

• Number of EWS applicants: A higher number of EWS students competing for the same seats pushes the closing cutoff higher.
• Exam difficulty: A tougher paper brings overall scores down, which generally lowers qualifying cutoff marks.
• Total MBBS seats in AIQ: An increase in government medical college seats can ease competition and lower the AIQ closing cutoff for EWS students.
• Top performer scores in the EWS pool: The highest-scoring EWS students directly set the closing marks at premium colleges.
• NTA normalisation policy: If NEET 2026 is held in multiple sessions, score normalisation can affect marks distribution and shift the cutoff.

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