NEET Cut Off 2026: Category-Wise Expected Marks & Percentile

The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is the gateway for students aspiring to pursue MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses across India. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for NEET, but only those meeting the NEET cutoff qualify for admission. As NEET 2026 approaches, students are eager to know the expected neet cutoff marks and percentile for different categories. Understanding the cut off trends can help aspirants set realistic targets and prepare effectively.

What is NEET CutOff?

The NEET cut off is the minimum qualifying score candidates must secure to become eligible for counselling and admission. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the cut off in the form of percentile and marks. The percentile ensures fairness, as it indicates a candidate’s relative performance compared to others.

For instance, the 50th percentile for the General category means students scoring above 50% of the candidates are eligible. Similarly, reserved categories such as OBC, SC, and ST have lower percentile criteria.

NEET CutOff 2026: Expected Percentile and Marks

Although the official neet cutoff will be declared along with the NEET 2026 result, students can refer to the expected neet cutoff range based on previous years’ data.

Note: The above figures are expected ranges based on past trends. The actual NEET cutoff may vary depending on difficulty level, number of candidates, and seat availability.

Factors Affecting NEET Cutoff 2026

Several factors influence the final cut off each year, such as:

• Difficulty level of exam – Tougher papers usually lower the cut off.

• Number of test-takers – More candidates increase competition and may raise the cut off.

• Seat availability – Limited MBBS/BDS seats push the cut off higher.

• Previous year trends – NTA considers past year results while finalizing percentile marks.

Why is Knowing the Cut Off Important?

Understanding the NEET 2026 expected cut off helps students:

• Set target scores during preparation.

• Estimate chances of admission in top medical colleges.

• Plan counselling strategies effectively.

NEET 2025 Cut-Off (Category-Wise)

The NEET 2025 cut-off marks will be different for each category. This is because the number of seats and level of competition varies for each group. For example, students in the General category usually need higher marks than those in reserved categories like OBC, SC, and ST.

Based on the trends from past years, here is a general idea of what the cut-off might look like:

• General (UR): 720 – 155
• OBC: 154 – 125
• SC: 154 – 125
• ST: 154 – 125
• EWS: 720 – 155
• General PwD: 154 – 135
• SC/ST/OBC PwD: 135 – 125

These are not fixed numbers. They can go higher or lower depending on how students perform in the NEET 2025 exam. It’s better to score higher than the expected range to stay on the safer side.

NEET Cutoff 2024

The NEET Cutoff 2024 plays a crucial role in determining the eligibility of candidates for admission to medical and dental programs in India. The cutoff represents the minimum score required for students to qualify for the next stages of the admission process. It is set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) based on various factors, including the difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates, and the availability of seats in medical colleges. NEET Cutoff 2024 will help students understand whether they are eligible for participating in the counselling process and securing a seat in their desired medical or dental college.

NEET Cutoff 2023

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is the main body responsible for releasing the NEET Cutoff scores. In 2023, the NEET cutoff for the general category was 720-137, for the SC/ST/OBC category was 136-107, for the general- PH category was 136-121, and for Sc/ST/OBC- PH was 120-107. 

NEET Toppers 2024

What is the NEET Cut-off?

The NEET general cut-off score is the minimum mark necessary for a candidate to secure qualification in the medical entrance test. Within medical entrance assessments, there exist two primary types of NEET cut-offs: the qualifying cut-off and the admission cut-off. The NEET qualifying marks 2024 represents the minimum mark a candidate must achieve to successfully clear the examination, while the NEET 2024 cut-off denotes the final rank at which an applicant becomes eligible for admission. 

All medical colleges that accept NEET scores use the NEET admission cut-off as the basis for granting admission. The state-specific NEET cut-offs for both government and private colleges are determined and published by the respective state authorities. Through the NEET examination, admissions will be allocated for a total of 97,293 MBBS, 27,868 BDS, 52,720 AYUSH, 603 BVSc, and AH seats, in addition to 1205 AIIMS MBBS and 200 JIPMER MBBS seats across 15 AIIMS and 2 JIPMER institutes. Aspiring candidates can find information regarding the category-wise anticipated cut-off for 2024, the minimum qualifying percentile, cut-off ranks, the tie-breaking procedure, and other pertinent details here.

How Many Marks Are Required in NEET for MBBS?

A common query among NEET aspirants revolves around the marks required to successfully pass the NEET 2024 exam for MBBS. The response to this query varies each year due to several influencing factors, including the exam's difficulty level, the number of test takers, and the availability of seats in different medical colleges.

The NEET exam comprises 200 multiple-choice questions, with a maximum attainable score of 720. The scoring system awards four marks for each correct answer and deducts one mark for each incorrect response. Thus, a candidate's NEET 2024 score is determined by the count of correct answers minus the count of incorrect answers, multiplied by one.

To clear the NEET exam, candidates must achieve a minimum qualifying score. In the preceding year, the NEET qualifying score was set at 117 out of 720 for unreserved category candidates and 116 for reserved category candidates. This signifies that unreserved category candidates need to secure a minimum of 117 marks to become eligible for medical college admissions, while reserved category candidates must obtain at least 116 marks.

Nevertheless, candidates must recognize that achieving the NEET minimum qualifying score does not automatically guarantee admission to medical colleges. The medical admission process through NEET hinges on a combination of a candidate's NEET score, their rank in the NEET exam, and their eligibility for admission, determined by various criteria established by admission authorities.

NEET 2023 Cut Off

NEET 2024 aspirants can refer to the table below for the NEET 2023 cut-off score and percentile for the General and SC/ST/OBC Categories so that they can get an idea of the tentative NEET 2024 cut-off. 

NEET 2022 Cut-off 

NEET 2021 Cut-off 

NEET 2024 Related Links

NEET Cut-off FAQs

Q1. Due to the current situation, the session will start late. So can I expect a drop in the NEET cut-off?
Answer: The delay in the session has no relation to the cut-off. The cut-off is dependent on factors like the number of students appearing, the difficulty level of the paper, the performance of test-takers, etc. Please check the cutoff from the official website as it is released by the NTA.

Q2. What is the validity of NEET cut-off marks or scores?
Answer: The validity of the NEET score is only 1 year. Candidates can take admission to the medical course by using these scores only in a particular year.

Q3. From where will I get to know the latest cut-off for NEET 2024?
Answer: Candidates must check the official website of NTA NEET as the cutoff was released by the authorities for all categories. The cut-off is also provided above on the page for students' reference. 

Q4. What are the NEET UG Qualifying Marks?
Answer: The NEET UG passing marks are somewhere around 45 percent or higher for NEET 2024.

Q5. How is the NEET cutoff calculated?
Answer: The NEET cutoff is calculated based on the scores. For example: if you score 198 marks in physics and 200 in chemistry and 200 in biology, your cutoff will be calculated like this, 198/4 +200/4+200 /2 = 49.5+50+100 which will be equal to 199.50