NEET cutoff is actually three distinct numbers — the qualifying percentile, the qualifying raw marks, and the admission cutoff at specific colleges. Confusing them is the single biggest source of panic around results day. This guide unpacks all three, shows year-wise trends 2019–2025, breaks down category and state-quota splits, and builds a realistic 2026 prediction.
Three Cutoffs You Need to Know
- Qualifying Percentile (NTA-set): 50th percentile for General, 40th for reserved, 45th for PwD. Fixed by policy, rarely changes.
- Qualifying Raw Marks (Year-varying): The raw NEET score corresponding to the qualifying percentile. Varies year-on-year with paper difficulty.
- Admission Cutoff (Year-and-college-specific): The All India Rank (AIR) corresponding to the last admission at a specific college — usually a much higher score than qualifying.
NEET Qualifying Cutoff Trends (2019–2025)
Qualifying raw marks against 720 (category-wise):
| Year | Gen (50th) | OBC/SC/ST (40th) | PwD (45th) | EWS (50th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ~165 | ~130 | ~145 | ~165 |
| 2024 | 164 | 129 | 146 | 164 |
| 2023 | 137 | 107 | 121 | 137 |
| 2022 | 117 | 93 | 105 | 117 |
| 2021 | 138 | 108 | 122 | 138 |
| 2020 | 147 | 113 | 129 | 147 |
| 2019 | 134 | 107 | 120 | 134 |
Note: 2024 cutoff jumped significantly due to a less-difficult paper section. Qualifying percentile remains constant (50/40/45), but absolute marks vary based on overall score distribution.
AIQ MBBS Admission Cutoffs — Top Government Colleges
Sample closing ranks for MBBS admission via AIQ (15% of government MBBS seats), 2024 data. Numbers vary slightly each round:
| College | Gen Closing Rank (2024) | Corresponding Score |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | ~50 | 705+ |
| MAMC, Delhi | ~500 | 690+ |
| VMMC, Delhi | ~550 | 685+ |
| JIPMER Puducherry | ~500 | 690+ |
| BHU Varanasi | ~4,500 | 660+ |
| Grant Medical, Mumbai | ~4,800 | 658+ |
| Madras Medical College | ~2,500 | 675+ |
State-Quota MBBS Cutoffs (Sample)
State-domicile closing ranks (85% of government MBBS seats). Here's representative data:
- Tamil Nadu government MBBS: Closing around ~10,000–15,000 AIR for General
- Maharashtra state quota: Closing around ~12,000–18,000 AIR
- Karnataka state quota: Closing around ~15,000–25,000 AIR
- Uttar Pradesh state quota: Closing around ~18,000–30,000 AIR for government MBBS
- Delhi state quota: Closing around ~5,000–10,000 AIR (small state, high demand)
These are approximate and vary by counselling round. Exact data is published on individual state counselling portals. Use your state's official medical counselling committee website for binding numbers.
NEET 2026 Cutoff Prediction
Statistical predictions based on 2019–2025 data:
- Qualifying percentile: 50th for General, 40th for reserved — fixed
- Qualifying raw marks (General): 130–170 range (depends on paper difficulty)
- Top government MBBS AIR: 650–700 marks needed for top 50 colleges (General AIQ)
- State MBBS threshold: 560–600+ marks in most states for government MBBS
Predict your NEET rank
Use our NEET Rank Predictor to convert your expected marks into an AIR estimate, then compare against these cutoff projections.
How to Use Cutoff Data for NEET Prep
- Set score target based on college aspirations. AIIMS Delhi = 705+. Top state MBBS = 600+. State BDS = 550+.
- Calibrate mock scores. Aim for target score on weekly full-length NEET mocks.
- Know both AIQ and state quotas. State quota often has lower cutoffs — if you're state-domicile, this expands your options.
- Build a multi-tier counselling strategy. Top government colleges as reach, safer state government as realistic, private MBBS as safety net.
Frequently asked questions
What is NEET qualifying cutoff?
NEET qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required to be eligible for MBBS/BDS admission counselling. For General category, this is 50th percentile (roughly 720 marks × 0.5 = 138+ score). Reserved categories have lower percentile thresholds (40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC, 45th for PwD).
What was NEET 2024 General qualifying cutoff?
General category NEET 2024 qualifying cutoff was 164 marks (50th percentile in terms of the score distribution). SC/ST/OBC cutoff was around 129 marks (40th percentile). But qualifying is very different from MBBS-getting — you typically need 550+ for state MBBS.
What's the difference between qualifying and admission cutoff for NEET?
Qualifying cutoff (50th percentile) just makes you eligible for counselling. Admission cutoff is much higher — government MBBS colleges need 600+ marks typically, AIIMS/JIPMER need 670+. Qualifying marks rarely translate to actual admission at a decent college.
How is AIQ vs state quota different for NEET?
All India Quota (AIQ) = 15% of government MBBS/BDS seats open to all Indian candidates. State Quota = 85% reserved for state-domicile candidates with their own state cutoffs. AIQ cutoffs are usually HIGHER than state cutoffs because of pan-India competition.
Why did NEET cutoffs drop in 2024 compared to 2023?
The 2024 paper was widely considered harder than 2023, and there were paper-leak controversies leading to a re-exam for some candidates. Combined with changes in the score distribution, the raw-mark cutoff dropped even though percentile thresholds stayed at 50th.
Can I predict NEET 2026 cutoff from past trends?
Qualifying cutoff percentile stays at 50th (General) by policy — predictable. Raw mark cutoff varies by paper difficulty. Admission cutoffs (actual rank for MBBS) can be projected within ±500 AIR for top government colleges. Private and state-quota cutoffs vary more.