NEET UG 2026 Expected Cutoff Marks for General, OBC, SC, and ST Categories

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NEET UG 2026 qualifying cutoff alongside the examination results in June 2026 on the official website neet.nta.nic.in. The expected cutoff for the General/EWS category is projected at 710-145 marks based on previous year trends and expert analysis.

The NEET UG 2026 cutoff is the minimum qualifying marks required to participate in the counselling process for medical college admissions. The qualifying cutoff differs from the admission cutoff.

The qualifying cutoff is set by NTA while the admission cutoff is determined by MCC for All India Quota (15%) and state counselling authorities for state quota (85%).

Check Now: NEET UG 2026 Exam LIVE Updates: Difficulty Level, Answer Key PDF, Expected Cutoff

NEET UG 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff

NEET UG 2026 Safe Score for Government MBBS Seats

The safe score for securing a government MBBS seat differs by category and quota type. General category candidates need 620-680+ marks for All India Quota seats and 570-620+ marks for state quota seats. OBC candidates require 590-610 marks for AIQ and 550-590 marks for state quota. SC and ST candidates need 520-550 marks for AIQ and 420-490 marks for state quota, respectively. These safe scores provide a higher probability of actual admission compared to the minimum qualifying cutoff.

Previous year trends show that NEET cutoffs fluctuate based on exam difficulty and overall candidate performance. In 2025, the General/EWS qualifying cutoff was 686-144 marks, compared to 720-162 in 2024 and 720-137 in 2023. The OBC/SC/ST qualifying cutoff in 2025 was 143-113 marks, down from 161-127 in 2024. These variations highlight how paper difficulty and competition levels directly impact cutoff scores year after year.

Multiple factors influence the NEET UG cutoff each year, making predictions challenging but essential for candidates. Exam difficulty plays a crucial role—tougher papers typically result in lower cutoffs, while easier papers increase cutoffs. The total number of candidates appearing, their overall performance, available seat capacity, and reservation policies all contribute to final cutoff determination. NTA considers previous year trends to maintain consistency, ensuring fairness across examination cycles.

Read More: 

• NTA to Release NEET UG 2026 Answer Key Soon
• NEET 2026 Result Expected by June 12 @nta.ac.in

Candidates should focus on achieving safe scores rather than relying solely on minimum qualifying marks. For top colleges like AIIMS Delhi, a score of 680+ is typically required, with closing ranks often under 100. Other premier institutions like MAMC, VMMC, and Safdarjung Hospital have closing cutoff ranks between 50-600 for the General category, with scores ranging from 670-705. State-wise cutoffs vary considerably, requiring candidates to research their specific state's merit lists and college preferences.

After the NEET UG 2026 results and cutoff release in June 2026, the counselling process will commence with MCC conducting All India Quota counselling and state authorities managing state quota admissions. Candidates who qualify will receive admit cards for counselling rounds, where they can choose colleges based on their rank and category. Expert guidance suggests that students should prepare strategically to achieve safe scores, as these provide genuine opportunities for admission to quality government medical colleges across India.

Also Read:

• Top Medical Colleges in India Accepting NEET Based on 2026 Ranking
• How to Use NEET 2026 Answer Key to Calculate Your Expected Score
• CUET UG City Intimation Slip (Out) - Check Live Updates

Subscribe to Collegedunia to get the latest news and updates –