The NEET UG 2026 Selection Ratio for SC Category refers to the proportion of SC candidates who qualify the exam and secure MBBS/BDS seats through counselling relative to the total SC applicants and available reserved seats.

  • More than 3.22 lakh SC category candidates appeared for NEET UG 2025 and around 1.69 lakh candidates qualified resulting in an estimated pass percentage of 52–55%.
  • SC category candidates receive 15% reservation under the 15% AIQ seats for NEET UG admissions.
  • SC category candidates also benefit from 15–20% reservation under the 85% State Quota depending on the reservation policy of the respective state.
  • The NEET UG 2025 qualifying cutoff for the SC category was 143–113 marks with 40th percentile.
  • The expected safe score for SC category candidates targeting government MBBS seats in NEET UG 2026 is 500–550 marks out of 720 under the All India Quota and State Quota counselling.

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NEET UG 2026 Selection Ratio for SC Category

Key Summary

  • The actual admission cutoff for government MBBS seats was much higher with 480+ marks considered a safer score based on previous counselling trends.
  • More than 22.79 lakh candidates have registered for NEET UG 2026.
  • The SC category admission cutoff for NEET UG 2026 is expected to be competitive due to the high number of registrations which is over 22.79 lakh total candidates.

NEET UG 2026 Selection Ratio for SC Category: Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff

The NEET UG 2026 SC qualifying cutoff is expected to remain around the 40th percentile with the qualifying marks between 107–134.

  • Government MBBS admission through AIQ is expected to require around 520–550+ marks for SC category candidates while State Quota cutoffs may close between 420–490+ marks in NEET UG 2026.
  • The qualifying cutoff determines eligibility for counselling whereas the admission cutoff decides actual seat allotment in government and private medical colleges.
Aspect Qualifying Cutoff (SC Category) Admission Cutoff (Expected for Govt MBBS)
Percentile 40th Percentile Not applicable (based on rank & competition)
Expected Marks Range 134–107 (approx.)Common estimates: 137–108, 142–115, 149–118, 134–107 AIQ: 520–550+State Quota: 420–490+
Purpose Eligibility for counselling Actual seat allotment in government/private colleges
What it Secures Participation in MCC/State counselling MBBS seat in Govt colleges (varies by state & round)
NEET UG 2026 Selection Ratio for SC Category: Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff

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Ques. Can SC category candidates get an MBBS seat by scoring only the NEET UG 2026 qualifying cutoff marks?

Ans. No, scoring the NEET UG 2026 SC qualifying cutoff only makes a candidate eligible to participate in MCC and state counselling. It does not guarantee an MBBS seat. For government MBBS admission, SC category candidates are generally expected to score much higher, with AIQ cutoffs around 520–550+ marks and State Quota cutoffs around 420–490+ marks, depending on the state and counselling round.

Ques. What is the difference between the NEET UG 2026 SC qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?

Ans. The NEET UG 2026 SC qualifying cutoff refers to the minimum marks required to become eligible for counselling under the 40th percentile, while the admission cutoff is the actual score needed to secure a medical seat. The qualifying cutoff allows participation in the counselling process, whereas the admission cutoff varies every year based on competition, seat availability, and category-wise closing ranks for government and private medical colleges.

Year-Wise SC Category Trends: NEET UG 2021 to 2025

The NEET UG 2025 SC category qualifying cutoff is at 143–113 marks while the last AIQ Government MBBS admission closed at AIR 1,39,123 with a score of 439 marks.

  • The highest AIQ Government MBBS closing marks for SC candidates during 2021 to 2025 was 2024 with score of 553 marks in NEET UG exam with the qualifying cutoff at 161–127 marks.
  • A score of 480–520+ marks in 2025, 520–570+ marks in 2024 and 490–540+ marks in 2023 is the safe range for SC category candidates to get admission at good government medical colleges.
Year Qualifying Cutoff Marks AIQ Govt MBBS Last Rank (SC) AIQ Last Score (Approx.) Typical Safe Score for Good Govt College (SC)
2025 143 - 113 1,39,123 439 480 - 520+
2024 161 - 127 1,33,872 553 520 - 570+
2023 136 - 107 1,23,215 486 490 - 540+
2022 116 - 93 1,19,793 457 460 - 510+
2021 137 - 108 Data Limited ~450 - 480 470 - 520+
Year-Wise SC Category Trends: NEET UG 2021 to 2025

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Ques. What is a safe NEET UG 2026 score for SC category candidates to get a good government medical college?

Ans. Based on NEET UG admission trends from 2021 to 2025, SC category candidates should target 500–530+ marks to improve their chances of securing admission to a good government medical college in 2026. Although the exact cutoff varies every year depending on competition and seat availability, scoring well above the qualifying cutoff significantly increases the possibility of getting a preferred MBBS seat through AIQ or state quota counselling.

Ques. Why do NEET UG SC category admission cutoffs change every year despite the same reservation policy?

Ans. The NEET UG SC category admission cutoff changes every year because it depends on factors such as exam difficulty, number of candidates, seat availability, and counselling trends rather than reservation percentage alone. An easier paper or increased competition can push the closing score higher, while a tougher paper may result in comparatively lower admission cutoffs for government medical colleges.

SC Category Reservation Structure in NEET UG 2026

SC candidates are eligible for 15% reservation under the All India Quota (AIQ) and Central or Deemed Universities in NEET UG 2026 counselling.

  • Under the 85% State Quota, the SC reservation percentage is expected to vary by state, generally ranging between 15% and 21%, based on the respective reservation policy.
  • A 5% horizontal PwD reservation within SC seats is also applicable across counselling quotas for candidates holding a valid PwD certificate.
Quota Type Total Seats Share SC Reservation Percentage Key Details
All India Quota (AIQ) 15% of total govt. seats 15% Uniform across India. Conducted by MCC. Open to all Indian candidates.
State Quota 85% of total govt. seats Varies by State (15–21% typical) State-specific policies. Domicile requirements usually apply. Examples: Higher in states with larger SC population.
Central/Deemed Universities 100% seats 15% Follows central AIQ-like policy.
PwD (Horizontal) Across all quotas 5% within SC seats Applicable on top of vertical SC reservation. Requires valid PwD certificate.
SC Category Reservation Structure in NEET UG 2026

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Ques. What is the SC reservation percentage under All India Quota and State Quota in NEET UG 2026?

Ans. SC candidates are eligible for 15% reservation under the All India Quota (AIQ) for government medical colleges and Central/Deemed Universities through MCC counselling. Under the 85% State Quota, the SC reservation percentage varies according to individual state policies and generally ranges between 15% and 21%, subject to domicile eligibility and the respective state's reservation rules.

Ques. Is there a separate PwD reservation for SC candidates in NEET UG 2026 counselling?

Ans. Yes, SC candidates with a valid benchmark disability certificate are eligible for a 5% horizontal PwD reservation within the SC category across AIQ, State Quota, and Central/Deemed University counselling. This reservation is applied in addition to the vertical SC reservation, allowing eligible candidates to benefit from both reservation provisions during seat allotment.

NEET UG 2026 Selection Ratio for SC Category: Reddit Discussion

  • The discussion focused on whether a student scoring 591 out of 720 in NEET 2026 should take a drop year or participate in counselling, while also dealing with concerns about high expected cutoffs, parental expectations, and uncertainty about future preparation.
  • Another Reddit user suggested that 591 marks may still be sufficient to secure an MBBS seat, expressing the opinion that the candidate could potentially get admission through the third round of counselling, making an immediate drop year unnecessary.
NEET UG 2026 Selection Ratio for SC Category: Reddit Discussion

Source: Reddit