NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Expected Cutoff for UR, OBC, SC and ST Category

NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 expected qualifying cutoff for UR and EWS category is around 260 to 270 marks (50th percentile), while OBC, SC and ST students need approximately 225 to 235 marks (40th percentile), based on 2025 and 2024 trends.

NEET MDS 2026 was conducted on May 2, 2026 and results were declared on June 2, 2026. Round 1 counselling by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) started registration on July 18, 2026. The qualifying cutoff determines which students are eligible for MCC counselling. The Round 1 closing marks — the actual scores at which the last seat is filled in each specialty — are always much higher and vary by dental branch and college.

• NEET MDS 2026 had 30,435 registered students with a maximum score of 960 marks.
• The 2026 topper scored 802 out of 960 marks.
• Expected qualifying cutoff for UR and EWS: 260–270 marks (50th percentile).
• Expected qualifying cutoff for OBC, SC and ST: 225–235 marks (40th percentile).
• Round 1 closing marks for Orthodontics are expected in the 620–720 marks range for UR students, based on past trends.
• NBE revised the qualifying cutoff downward in both 2024 and 2025 — a similar revision is possible in 2026.

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NEET MDS 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff by Category

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum marks (and percentile) a student must score in NEET MDS 2026 to become eligible for MCC counselling. NBE announces this threshold after the result. Based on data from 2025 and 2024, the expected qualifying cutoff for NEET MDS 2026 across all categories is given below.

In 2025, NBE revised the initial qualifying cutoff downward by 19.863 percentile points on August 14, 2025. A similar revision happened in 2024 with a reduction of 21.692 percentile points. Students who score above 261 marks (UR/EWS) or 227 marks (OBC/SC/ST) are most secure for counselling eligibility in 2026. Students falling between the initial and a possible revised cutoff should stay updated via natboard.edu.in.

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NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Expected Closing Marks by Specialty

Round 1 closing marks are the NEET MDS 2026 scores at which the last seat in a specialty is allotted during Round 1 of MCC counselling. These are always significantly higher than the qualifying cutoff because high-scoring students fill competitive seats first. The table below shows expected closing marks based on 2024 and 2025 counselling trends.

Closing marks also vary across colleges within the same specialty. Seats at premier government dental colleges and central university programmes close at the higher end of the estimated ranges. All figures are expected estimates based on prior-year counselling trends and actual allotment data will be published on mcc.nic.in.

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Previous Year NEET MDS Cutoff Trends

Reviewing NEET MDS qualifying cutoff data from 2024 and 2025 provides a reliable basis for 2026 predictions. A consistent pattern across both years is that NBE published an initial qualifying cutoff and later revised it downward to help fill remaining seats.

Pattern from 2024 and 2025: Students scoring between the initial and the revised qualifying cutoff became eligible for later counselling rounds after the revision was announced. If a similar revision occurs in 2026, students who just missed the initial qualifying mark should not give up and must keep watching for official updates.

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Factors Affecting NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Cutoff

Several variables shape both the qualifying cutoff and the Round 1 closing marks for NEET MDS 2026. Understanding these helps students gauge whether the cutoff is likely to rise or fall compared to 2025.

• Total eligible students: With 30,435 students registered for NEET MDS 2026, competition for limited MDS seats remains high. A larger pool of students scoring above the qualifying threshold pushes closing marks for popular specialties upward.
• Topper score: The 2026 topper scored 802 out of 960. A high topper score indicates a competitive year and may raise closing marks for top dental specialties compared to 2025.
• Number of available MDS seats: Any increase in All India Quota seats at government dental colleges and central university MDS programmes can lower closing marks in Round 1.
• Specialty preference trends: Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Prosthodontics attract maximum student demand every year, keeping their closing marks well above the qualifying cutoff regardless of overall difficulty.
• NBE cutoff revision: A mid-counselling revision of the qualifying cutoff — as seen in 2024 and 2025 — brings more students into the eligible pool and can affect closing marks in Round 2 and Mop-Up rounds.