The expected NEET 2026 OBC cutoff is approximately 130–145 marks out of 720, corresponding to the 40th percentile qualifying threshold that NTA applies to OBC students every year.
NTA announces category-wise qualifying cutoffs along with the NEET UG result. OBC students must score at or above the 40th percentile to be declared qualified and become eligible for counselling. The official NEET 2026 result and cutoff are expected on July 17, 2026, at neet.nta.nic.in. Until then, the expected OBC cutoff range is based on trends from 2022 to 2025.
- OBC qualifying percentile for NEET 2026 is expected at the 40th percentile, consistent with all previous years.
- Expected qualifying score range for OBC students: 130–145 marks out of 720.
- OBC NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) students compete under the 27% AIQ OBC reservation for MBBS and BDS seats.
- NEET 2026 result is expected on July 17, 2026; official cutoffs will be available at neet.nta.nic.in.
- Qualifying the cutoff does not guarantee admission — AIQ counselling closing ranks for top colleges are significantly higher.
| Direct Link to NEET 2026 Result (Awaited) |
NEET 2026 OBC Qualifying Cutoff: Expected Percentile and Score
NTA defines a minimum qualifying percentile for each category. OBC students must reach the 40th percentile to be declared NEET-qualified. The exact score band that maps to this percentile changes each year based on exam difficulty and the performance curve of all students who appeared. The table below shows the expected category-wise qualifying cutoff for NEET 2026, based on 2022–2025 data.
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Expected Score Range (NEET 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th Percentile | 162–720 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 130–161 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 130–161 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 130–161 |
| General-PH | 45th Percentile | 146–161 |
| OBC/SC/ST-PH | 40th Percentile | 130–145 |
These are expected figures based on historical trends. OBC students scoring above 145 marks can be reasonably confident of qualifying, while those in the 115–129 range remain at risk depending on how difficult the 2026 paper turns out to be.
NEET OBC Cutoff Trends: 2022 to 2025
The OBC qualifying percentile has been fixed at 40th every year, but the score range shifts with each exam cycle. The table below shows the official NTA-declared qualifying cutoff score bands for OBC students in recent years.
| NEET Year | OBC Qualifying Percentile | OBC Score Range | UR Score Range (Reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET 2025 | 40th Percentile | 130–163 | 164–720 |
| NEET 2024 | 40th Percentile | 129–163 | 164–720 |
| NEET 2023 | 40th Percentile | 107–136 | 137–720 |
| NEET 2022 | 40th Percentile | 93–116 | 117–720 |
The significant jump in the OBC score range between 2022–2023 and 2024–2025 reflects a higher overall performance level across all students. If NEET 2026 follows a similar pattern to 2024 and 2025, the OBC qualifying score is expected to settle between 130 and 145 marks.
Expected OBC AIQ Cutoff for Top Government Medical Colleges (NEET 2026)
Qualifying NEET is only the first step. To secure an MBBS seat through the All India Quota, OBC NCL students must compete within the 27% AIQ OBC reservation managed by MCC. The closing ranks below are expected estimates based on NEET 2024 and 2025 AIQ OBC counselling data.
| Medical College | Expected OBC AIQ Closing Rank (NEET 2026) | OBC AIQ Closing Rank (NEET 2024, Reference) |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | ~350–500 | ~400–480 |
| Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi | ~1,500–2,500 | ~1,700–2,400 |
| VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi | ~2,000–3,200 | ~2,100–3,000 |
| Grant Medical College, Mumbai | ~4,000–6,500 | ~4,200–6,000 |
| Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute | ~6,000–9,500 | ~6,500–9,000 |
| Government Medical College, Chandigarh | ~5,000–8,500 | ~5,200–8,000 |
All rank ranges above are estimates based on previous year trends. OBC students scoring 650 marks or above have strong chances at most prominent government medical colleges through AIQ. For AIIMS New Delhi, a score closer to 680 marks is typically needed. State quota OBC cutoffs are managed separately by respective state counselling authorities and differ from AIQ figures.
Factors Affecting NEET 2026 OBC Cutoff
Both the qualifying cutoff and the AIQ counselling closing ranks for OBC students depend on several factors. Understanding these gives you a clearer picture of where the final cutoff is likely to land.
- Exam difficulty level: A harder paper lowers the overall score distribution, pulling the qualifying cutoff score downward while compressing competition at the top end.
- Total OBC students who appeared: A larger OBC applicant pool increases competition at every rank, pushing AIQ closing ranks for popular colleges higher.
- New MBBS seat intake: Additional seats approved by the National Medical Commission can ease pressure on AIQ OBC closing ranks, particularly at government colleges.
- Central OBC list applicability: Only students whose caste is listed in the Government of India’s Central OBC List can claim 27% AIQ OBC reservation. State OBC lists are valid only for state quota seats.
- Creamy layer exclusion: OBC students from families with annual income above Rs 8 lakh fall in the creamy layer and are not eligible for OBC reservation in central quota seats, including AIQ.
- Top OBC scorers opting for state quota: When high-scoring OBC students claim their home state quota instead of AIQ, competition for AIQ OBC seats at top colleges increases.
NEET 2026 OBC Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected NEET 2026 OBC qualifying cutoff score?
Ans. The expected NEET 2026 OBC qualifying cutoff score is approximately 130–145 marks out of 720, at the 40th percentile. This estimate is based on NEET 2022–2025 trends and the official figure will be released with the result on July 17, 2026.
Ques. Is the NEET OBC qualifying percentile fixed at 40th every year?
Ans. Yes, NTA has maintained the 40th percentile as the OBC qualifying threshold consistently. However, the score range that corresponds to the 40th percentile changes each cycle depending on paper difficulty and how students perform overall.
Ques. What is the difference between the NEET OBC qualifying cutoff and AIQ OBC counselling cutoff?
Ans. The qualifying cutoff (expected 130–145 marks) is the minimum score to be declared NEET-qualified. The AIQ counselling cutoff is the closing rank at which the last OBC AIQ seat in a specific college is filled during MCC counselling — this requires a much higher score at top colleges.
Ques. Can OBC students on a state list claim OBC reservation in NEET AIQ seats?
Ans. No. AIQ OBC reservation is available only to students whose caste appears in the Central Government’s OBC list. A state OBC certificate alone does not qualify you for the 27% AIQ OBC quota; it is valid only for state counselling OBC seats.
Ques. When will the official NEET 2026 OBC cutoff be released?
Ans. NTA is expected to release the NEET 2026 result and official category-wise qualifying cutoffs on July 17, 2026, on the official website neet.nta.nic.in. The OBC cutoff will be part of that result notification.
Ques. What NEET score does an OBC student need for MBBS at a top government medical college through AIQ?
Ans. Based on 2024 and 2025 AIQ OBC counselling trends, a score of 650 marks or above gives strong chances at most leading government medical colleges. For AIIMS New Delhi specifically, OBC students typically need 680 marks or higher to be competitive in the AIQ OBC quota.
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