NEET Cut off 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET UG 2026 results on 16 July. Around 20 lakh candidates appeared, and 11.21 lakh qualified. The highest score was 715/720 (shared by two candidates).
Important distinction:
- Qualifying cutoff = minimum marks to become eligible for counselling.
- Admission cutoff = actual opening/closing ranks (or marks) at which seats in government MBBS colleges are allotted under All India Quota (AIQ – 15%) and State Quota (85%).
Admission cutoffs for 2026 will be finalised only after MCC and state counselling rounds. Until then, previous-year (mainly 2025) closing ranks/scores and expert analyses based on seat increase (+9,911 MBBS seats overall) and fewer qualifiers in many states form the best reference.
Official NEET UG 2026 Qualifying Cutoff
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Marks Range (out of 720) |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 50th | 715 – 213 |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40th | 212 – 177 |
| UR / EWS – PwBD | 45th | 212 – 194 |
| OBC / SC – PwBD | 40th | 193 – 177 |
| ST – PwBD | 40th | 191 – 178 |
This is significantly higher than 2025 (General 686–144; reserved 143–113), reflecting paper characteristics.
Note: Qualifying does not guarantee a government seat. Realistic government MBBS targets remain much higher.
NEET Expected Safe Scores for Government MBBS (2026)
| Category | AIQ (15%) Safe Score | State Quota Safe Score (varies by state) | Private MBBS |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 610–680+ | 560–630+ (high-competition states) | 400–500+ |
| OBC | 580–650+ | 520–600+ | 350–450+ |
| SC | 490–560+ | 430–520+ | 300–400+ |
| ST | 440–530+ | 380–480+ | 280–380+ |
High-competition states (Delhi, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka) lean toward the upper end. Lower-competition North-Eastern and some newer colleges accept lower scores under state quota.
NEET State-wise Expected / Reference Cutoffs for Government MBBS (General Category – State Quota)
These are approximate target score ranges or 2025 closing-rank references for the last government seats, adjusted for 2026 trends (more seats + fewer qualifiers in many states = relatively easier in several places).
| State | Target Score Range (State Quota Gen) | Competition Level | 2025 Closing Rank Reference (approx.) | 2026 Trend Expectation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 610–650+ | Very High | Very low ranks (top colleges <500–2,000) | Remains highly competitive |
| Rajasthan | 600–620+ | Very High | ~26,451 | Similar or slightly higher |
| Kerala | 580–620+ | High | ~10,555 | Easier (fewer qualifiers) |
| Tamil Nadu | 580–600+ | High | — | Easier (more seats) |
| Karnataka | 570–610+ | High | ~70,627 | Much easier (+1,851 seats, fewer qualifiers) |
| Maharashtra | 570–600+ | High | ~47,550 | Slightly easier |
| Uttar Pradesh | 580–600+ | High | ~32,366 | Similar |
| West Bengal | 580–600+ | High | ~46,820 | Easier |
| Bihar | 560–580+ | High | ~19,226 | Easier |
| Gujarat | 560–580+ | Moderate | ~91,590 | Easier |
| Madhya Pradesh | 570–580+ | Moderate | ~61,341 | Easier |
| Telangana | 550–590+ | Moderate | Higher ranks | Easier |
| Andhra Pradesh | 540–590+ | Moderate | — | Moderate |
| Assam | 540–580+ | Moderate | — | Moderate |
| Uttarakhand / HP | 500–550+ | Moderate | — | More accessible |
| NE states (Mizoram, Nagaland, etc.) | 450–520+ | Low | Higher ranks | Most accessible |
Sources combine 2025 closing data and 2026 seat/qualifier analyses.
Previous Year (2025) Reference – Top Government Colleges (AIQ Closing Ranks – General)
| College | Closing Rank (Gen, approx.) |
|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | 48 |
| Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Delhi | 103 |
| VMMC & Safdarjung, Delhi | 132 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute (RML), Delhi | 215 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 260 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 392 |
| UCMS, Delhi | 559 |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 634 |
| GMCH Chandigarh | 690 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 785 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 816 |
| BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad | 889 |
| AIIMS Nagpur | 1,030 |
| Seth GS Medical College (KEM), Mumbai | 1,126 |
| GMC Kozhikode | 1,173 |
| Madras Medical College, Chennai | 1,296 |
| AIIMS Mangalagiri | 1,357 |
| AIIMS Raipur | 1,376 |
Last government MBBS seats under AIQ 2025 closed around AIR 26,000–27,000 (approx. 525 marks) for General.
NEET Cut Off 2026 for MBBS Private Colleges (State-wise)
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) remains the sole gateway for MBBS admissions in India, including private medical colleges. For 2026, exact state-wise private college cut-offs will be released only after counselling by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota/Deemed universities and respective state authorities for the 85% state quota seats.
As of mid-2026, full final allotment data for NEET 2026 private seats is still emerging in many states. Cut-offs depend heavily on exam difficulty, number of candidates, seat matrix changes, reservation policies, and fee structures. This article therefore provides expected ranges for 2026 based on recent trends, along with detailed previous-year (mainly 2025 and 2024) closing ranks/scores for private MBBS colleges. Private seats generally close at significantly lower scores than government colleges because of higher fees.
Factors Influencing Private MBBS Cut-Offs
- Exam difficulty and score distribution: Harder papers lower cut-offs.
- Seat availability: India has 350+ private medical colleges with ~65,000+ MBBS seats.
- Quota type: Government/state quota seats in private colleges, management/institutional quota, NRI quota, and minority quotas have different closing ranks.
- Domicile rules: Many states restrict cheaper “government quota” seats in private colleges to local candidates.
- Fees: Higher-fee colleges often have lower cut-offs.
- Counselling rounds: Ranks drop sharply in mop-up and stray vacancy rounds.
Expected safe scores for private MBBS seats in 2026 (General category, approximate, management/open seats)
- Competitive private colleges (top reputation/low fee): 500–580+
- Mid-tier private: 400–500
- Lower-tier / management / later rounds: 250–400 (or even lower in some states in final rounds)
Category-wise expected ranges (private seats overall): General 450–530, OBC 400–480, SC 330–400, ST 300–360.
State-wise Previous Year Cut-Offs for Private MBBS Colleges
Data below focuses on closing ranks/scores from 2025 counselling (where available) or 2024. Figures are approximate final/last-round closings for open/general or equivalent categories unless noted. Always verify official state counselling PDFs, as they vary by round, category, and exact quota.
Maharashtra (2025)
Private colleges saw very low final cut-offs in later rounds (including institutional/LQ seats). Government colleges closed much higher.
| Category | Govt. Closing Marks (approx.) | Private Closing Marks (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| OPEN | 500 | 118 |
| OBC | 153 | 132 |
| SC | 178 | 150 |
| ST | 326 | 176 |
| SEBC | 306 | 130 |
| LQ (Linguistic/Institutional) | — | 114 |
Lowest private allotments occurred in stray/institute-level rounds (e.g., SSPM Medical College around 118 marks).
Telangana (Cat-A / Local Quota, Round 3, 2025)
Private colleges closed lower than top government ones. Top private (Apollo, Hyderabad) was the toughest.
Selected Private Colleges – OPEN Category Closing (Marks / AIR)
- Apollo Medical College, Hyderabad: 510 / 41,663
- Mamata, Bachupally: 485 / 70,137
- Kamineni, Hyderabad: 483 / 73,606
- S.V.S. Medical, Mahbubnagar: 453 / 117,606
- Lower private colleges (e.g., Nova, TRR, Surabhi): ~403–410 marks
Minority (MIN) private examples: Deccan ~446, Shadan ~416, Dr VRK Women’s ~398.
Karnataka
Private seats under GMP (General Merit Private – domicile), OPN (open), and other quotas. 2025 last closing ranks (indicative):
- GMP overall last CR around 5.13 lakh in some data points.
- OPN last around 4.6 lakh. Top private colleges (e.g., St. John’s, Kempegowda) close much higher (better ranks/scores in 450–550+ range for early rounds). Fees are regulated for many state-quota seats (~₹10–12 lakh range in several colleges).
Uttar Pradesh
Private colleges (state quota/management) show wide ranges. 2024 examples (closing ranks/scores varied heavily by college and round):
- Higher private (e.g., Era’s Lucknow): around 292–408 marks in later rounds.
- Many colleges closed between AIR 2–6 lakh+ in management/open categories. Expected 2026 private government-quota safe scores often cited in the 460–500 range for General.
Tamil Nadu
Self-financing/private colleges under management quota had relatively accessible cut-offs in later data. 2025 reports showed some management seats closing as low as ~154–175 marks in certain private/university seats (final rounds). Early rounds and better colleges require higher scores (typically 450+ for competitive ones). Fees are high for management seats.
Other States – Summary Trends (General/Open Category, Private Seats)
| State | Approx. Expected/Recent Private Closing Score Range (Gen) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 480–595 (higher for good colleges) | Strong competition; regulated fees in self-financing |
| Rajasthan | 430–490 | Moderate |
| Andhra Pradesh | 430–510 | Moderate |
| Gujarat | 415–490 (2025 examples in 440–480 range for many) | Management lower |
| Bihar / Jharkhand | 400–460 | Relatively lower competition |
| Haryana | 350–460 (management/open) | Varies widely |
| Punjab | Competitive for top private (e.g., DMC Ludhiana); lower for others | Minority/NRI options exist |
Deemed universities (MCC counselling) often close between AIR 40,000–2 lakh+ depending on reputation and fees (e.g., Manipal, DY Patil, SRM, Saveetha groups).
Category-wise Insights (Private Colleges)
- General/Open: Highest cut-offs; top private still demand 500+.
- OBC/EWS: 20–50 marks lower than General in most states.
- SC/ST: Can close 100–200+ marks lower; final rounds drop further.
- Minority/NRI/Management: Often the lowest cut-offs but highest fees (NRI frequently $25,000–50,000+ per year).
Previous Year Trends (Key Takeaways)
- 2025 saw some of the lowest private cut-offs in later rounds in states like Maharashtra (under 120 marks in extreme cases) due to seat filling pressure.
- Government quota seats inside private colleges remain more competitive than pure management seats.
- Scores of 300–450 routinely secured seats in many private colleges across UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, and newer institutions in later rounds.
- Top private (low-fee or high-reputation) still require 550+ in competitive states (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu).
Advice for NEET 2026 Aspirants Targeting Private MBBS
- Check both state counselling (domicile advantage) and MCC (Deemed/AIQ).
- Compare total cost (tuition + hostel + other charges over 4.5–5 years) — some “low cut-off” colleges have very high packages.
- Prefer NMC-recognised colleges with good hospital load and infrastructure.
- Participate in all rounds; ranks improve significantly in mop-up/stray.
- Use official college predictors and previous allotment lists from state CET cells / DGME / KEA / etc.
- Keep documents ready (domicile, category, income certificates where required).
Key Factors Affecting 2026 Cutoffs
- Seat matrix expansion (+9,911 MBBS seats; Karnataka and Tamil Nadu among the biggest gainers).
- Fewer qualified candidates in many states.
- Higher qualifying marks this year.
- Category reservation, domicile rules, and round-wise movement (Round 1 tightest; Mop-up/Stray more relaxed).
- Newer government colleges usually have more accessible closing ranks.
Practical Advice for Candidates
- Register for both MCC AIQ counselling and your home-state counselling.
- Use last year’s closing ranks as a reference range, not an exact prediction.
- Fill a balanced choice list (ambitious + realistic + safe).
- Stay active through all rounds — many seats open up later.
- Verify the latest seat matrix and official notifications on mcc.nic.in and respective state counselling websites.
Disclaimer: Exact 2026 admission cutoffs will be released only after counselling rounds conclude. The figures above are based on official 2026 qualifying data, 2025 closing ranks, and current analyses of seat increases and qualifier numbers. Always cross-check official sources before final decisions.
For personalised predictions, use reliable college predictors with your exact rank and category once counselling begins. Stay updated via official MCC and state medical education department portals.
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