NEET 2026 ST Category Cutoff: Qualifying Score and Percentile

NEET 2026 expected qualifying cutoff for ST category is the 40th percentile, estimated at 125–140 marks out of 720, based on previous year NTA data.

NTA will release the NEET 2026 result and official cutoffs on or around July 17, 2026 at neet.nta.nic.in. The ST (Scheduled Tribe) qualifying cutoff is lower than the general category threshold, enabling more students from tribal communities to qualify for MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH admissions. Any student who scores at or above the 40th percentile within the ST category will be declared qualified for NEET 2026.

• NEET 2026 total marks: 720 marks (180 questions × 4 marks each).
• ST qualifying percentile: 40th percentile (same as OBC and SC categories).
• Expected ST qualifying marks for 2026: 125–140 marks, based on 2022–2025 trends.
• NEET 2026 result expected on July 17, 2026 at neet.nta.nic.in.
• AIQ seat reservation for ST: 7.5% of total All India Quota seats in government medical colleges.

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NEET 2026 ST Category Qualifying Cutoff (Expected)

NTA sets the NEET qualifying cutoff at the 40th percentile for ST, SC, and OBC categories. This means a student must score equal to or above the score that corresponds to the 40th percentile among all ST test-takers to be declared qualified. Students who clear the ST qualifying cutoff become eligible for AIQ counselling through MCC and state quota counselling through their respective state authorities.

The table below shows the expected NEET 2026 qualifying marks across categories, based on previous year performance data:

All figures above are expected values based on 2022–2025 trends. NTA will publish the official qualifying marks for each category alongside the NEET 2026 result at neet.nta.nic.in.

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NEET Previous Year ST Category Cutoff Trends

Looking at past qualifying cutoffs gives a clear picture of where the 40th percentile typically falls for ST students. The ST qualifying marks have ranged between 93 and 129 over the last five years, moving with exam difficulty — an easier paper raises the qualifying score, while a tougher paper brings it down.

If NEET 2026 follows a moderate difficulty pattern similar to 2024–2025, the expected ST qualifying cutoff is likely between 125 and 140 marks out of 720. A harder paper could push this down toward the 107–120 range.

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NEET 2026 AIQ Cutoff for ST Category

Clearing the qualifying cutoff is only the first hurdle. To secure an MBBS seat, students must compete in counselling. Under the All India Quota, 7.5% of seats in government medical and dental colleges are reserved for ST category students, and these are filled through MCC AIQ counselling rounds.

The table below shows expected NEET 2026 AIQ closing rank ranges for ST category students in government colleges, based on 2024–2025 counselling trends:

These are expected ranges based on NEET 2024–2025 AIQ counselling data. Actual closing ranks for NEET 2026 will depend on total qualified ST students, seat matrix released by MCC, and the number of counselling rounds held. State quota cutoffs for ST category are set separately by each state and are often lower than AIQ closing ranks.

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Factors Affecting NEET 2026 ST Category Cutoff

The NEET 2026 ST cutoff is not predetermined — NTA calculates it after the exam based on actual student performance. Several factors determine both the qualifying cutoff and the AIQ closing ranks:

• Exam difficulty level: A harder paper lowers the score at the 40th percentile, reducing the qualifying threshold for all reserved categories.
• Total number of ST students who appeared: A larger ST test-taking pool shifts the percentile benchmark, potentially raising the qualifying marks.
• Total MBBS and BDS seat availability: Any increase in government college seats improves closing ranks for ST students under AIQ.
• Number of qualified ST students: More students clearing the cutoff means more competition for limited AIQ ST seats, pushing closing ranks higher.
• Counselling rounds: Seats unfilled in Round 1 and Round 2 flow into the stray vacancy round, where closing ranks for ST category often relax further.

ST category students scoring 200 marks or above have historically had strong chances of securing a government MBBS seat through state quota counselling, based on trends from 2022–2025. For AIQ in top government colleges, a score of 480 marks or above is generally competitive for ST applicants.