For NEET (UG) 2026, the expected safe score for ST category students to secure MBBS admission is estimated as 430-445+ marks out of 720.
- With 430-450 marks, a ST category student has high chances of getting an MBBS seat in government colleges through AIQ (All India Quota) counselling.
- The expected qualifying percentile to be eligible for the counselling process is predicted to be 40% with a marks range of 105-135.
Related Links:
- NEET Marks vs Rank 2026: Check NEET Course-wise Marks vs Rank, Safe Score, Rank Predictor, and Expected Cut off
- NEET 2026 MBBS Safe Score
- NEET Marks vs Rank 2026
Key Summary
- For ST students, the qualifying marks to be eligible for counselling is 105-135 marks out of 720 in NEET 2026.
- The minimum percentile required to qualify the exam is 40th percentile for ST students.
- However, the minimum safe score expected for an ST student is 430-445+ marks in NEET 2026.
- An ST student with marks above 450 has high chances of securing admission in government colleges through AIQ counselling.
- If a student from ST category is eligible for State Quota, he/ she can secure admission even in government colleges located in high competition states.
ST Category Marks vs. Expected Rank NEET 2026
The expected rank for ST category students can be estimated based on previous years’ trends.
- For a score of 500-550 out of 720 marks, the expected rank for ST students is estimated around 10,000 - 39,000.
- Any score below 300 is expected to get a rank above 1,27,000.
- If a student scores around 450-499, then he/ she has the possibilities to fall within 70,000 rank.
| NEET 2026 Score | Expected Rank |
|---|---|
| 500 - 550 | ~10,000 - 39,000 |
| 450 - 499 | ~39,000 - 70,000 |
| 400 - 449 | ~70,000 - 88,000 |
| 350 - 399 | ~88,000 - 1,10,000 |
| Below 300 | >1,27,000 |
Also Check:
Ques: How many ST students appeared for NEET 2026?
Ans. Around 1.43 lakh to 1.50 lakh ST (Scheduled Tribe) students registered for NNET 2025, and a similar number of ST students are expected to appear this year as well. However, the total number of students registered for NEET 202 is over 26 lakh people.
Ques. Is 500 marks good in NEET for ST category?
Ans. Not really. 500 marks in NEET is not considered a good score. However, if you are an ST category candidate in less competitive states, there are possibilities that you can get MBBS admission in private medical institutions. But securing an MBBS seat in a government medical institution is unlikely.
Ques. How much should a ST score in NEET?
Ans. An ST student should at least score a minimum of 107-143 marks out of 720, that corresponds to 40th percentile, in order to qualify the exam and be eligible for counselling process. However, to secure a government MBBS seat, a much higher score is needed—roughly 420–500+ for All India/State Quota, while 280-300+ may suffice for private colleges in certain states.
Factors Influencing NEET 2026 Predictions
There are a few factors that affect the NEET 2026 rank predictions.
- Increased Competition: More candidates participating in the exam leads to increase in marks for the expected ranks.
- Paper Difficulty: A harder exam (like NEET 2025) lowers the required marks for a top rank, while an easier one pushes it up.
- State Quota Variations: The closing rank for the ST category varies significantly from state to state.
Ques. Will the cutoff increase in NEET 2026?
Ans. Yes. Since the previous year (NEET 2025) paper was tough, the NEET 2026 cutoff is expected to remain high or increase slightly due to intense competition and rising student performance. A score above 600 marks is expected to be necessary for government MBBS seats for general category students. While seat numbers are increasing, the high number of applicants keeps the cutoff competitive.
State-wise Expected Target Marks for ST in NEET 2026
Based on the competition level of the states, the target marks for admission in government colleges in the respective states through AIQ counselling can be estimated for the academic year 2026.
High Competition States
| Location | Expected Target Marks |
|---|---|
| Delhi | 480 – 500+ |
| Rajasthan | 440 – 490 |
| Haryana & Kerala | 450 – 480 |
Moderate Competition States
| Location | Expected Target Marks |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh & Bihar | 410 – 460 |
| Maharashtra | 390 – 450 |
| West Bengal | 400 – 440 |
Lower Competition States
| Location | Expected Target Marks |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh & Jharkhand | 350 – 410 |
| Karnataka | 380 – 430 |
| North Eastern States | 320 – 380 |
State-wise Expected Cutoff Ranks for ST in NEET 2026
Based on the competition level of the states, the expected cutoff ranks for admission in government colleges in the respective states through AIQ counselling can be estimated for the academic year 2026.
High Competition States
| Location | Expected Cutoff Ranks |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Under 90,000 |
| Rajasthan | Under 1,20,000 |
| Haryana & Kerala | Under 1,15,000 |
Moderate Competition States
| Location | Expected Cutoff Ranks |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh & Bihar | 1,30,000 – 1,70,000 |
| Maharashtra | 1,50,000 – 2,00,000 |
| West Bengal | 1,60,000 – 1,90,000 |
Lower Competition States
| Location | Expected Cutoff Ranks |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh & Jharkhand | 2,00,000 – 2,80,000 |
| Karnataka | 1,70,000 – 2,20,000 |
| North Eastern States | 3,00,000+ |
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