NEET Cutoff 2026: Category Wise Marks and College Rank Guide
A simple breakdown of NEET 2026 cutoff marks, category wise data, and AIIMS rank trends to help you understand your MBBS admission chances.
AC Team
The wait is over. NTA has released the NEET 2026 cutoff marks, and lakhs of students across India are now checking where they stand. If you just gave NEET and are refreshing your phone every five minutes, take a breath. This guide breaks down everything you need to know in plain language.
What is the NEET Cutoff 2026?
The cutoff is the minimum score you need to qualify for NEET counselling. It changes every year based on how tough the paper was and how many students appeared. This year, the General category cutoff sits between 715 and 213 marks. For OBC, SC and ST candidates, the range is 212 to 177 marks.
Here is the full category-wise breakdown:
| Category | Percentile | Marks Range | Candidates Qualified |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR/EWS | Above 50th | 715-213 | 996,935 |
| OBC | 40th-50th | 212-177 | 81,111 |
| SC | 40th-50th | 212-177 | 29,947 |
| ST | 40th-50th | 212-177 | 12,452 |
| UR/EWS & PwBD | 45th-50th | 212-194 | 480 |
| OBC & PwBD | 40th-45th | 193-177 | 185 |
| SC & PwBD | 40th-45th | 193-177 | 64 |
| ST & PwBD | 40th-45th | 191-177 | 11 |
A total of 11,21,185 students qualified this year. That number might sound huge, but remember, only a fraction of them will actually get an MBBS seat. Medical seats in India are still far fewer than the number of qualified aspirants.
Why Did the Cutoff Go Up This Year?
Compared to last year, the cutoff marks have increased across every category. Last year, the General cutoff was 686-144. This year it jumped to 715-213. This usually means the paper was easier, which pushed more students into the higher score bracket, even though fewer candidates got selected overall.
So if your score feels lower than expected, you are not alone. The competition simply got tighter this year.
NEET Cutoff Rank: The Number That Actually Matters
Marks are just the first hurdle. What really decides your college is your All India Rank (AIR). Once counselling begins, colleges publish opening and closing ranks, and this is where the real game starts.
Since NEET 2026 counselling ranks are not out yet, here is last year's AIIMS cutoff rank for the General category to help you gauge your chances:
| College | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | 1 | 48 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 55 | 392 |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 148 | 634 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 60 | 785 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 230 | 816 |
| AIIMS Nagpur | 136 | 1030 |
| AIIMS Patna | 702 | 4952 |
| AIIMS Guwahati | 509 | 7686 |
| AIIMS Madurai | 2126 | 16728 |
Notice the gap between AIIMS Delhi and AIIMS Madurai. Both are AIIMS, both offer MBBS, but the competition to get in varies wildly depending on the campus. Location, seat count and reputation all play a part.
What Decides Your Final Admission Rank?
Three things control where you land after counselling:
- Your NEET All India Rank
- The seat matrix released by the counselling authority
- Reservation criteria under your category
None of these are things you can change after the exam, so the smartest move now is to research colleges honestly instead of just chasing the biggest name.
A Quick Reality Check on Marks vs Rank
Many students assume a good score automatically means a good rank. That is not always true. Since NEET is a relative exam, your rank depends on how everyone else performed too. For instance, a score of 325 last year corresponded to a rank near 5,00,000. A score of 460 landed closer to rank 1,50,000. The takeaway? Track your rank, not just your marks.
What Should You Do Right Now?
While you wait for the official counselling ranks, use the previous year's data as a rough map. Shortlist colleges based on realistic rank ranges rather than just their names. Keep a backup list ready, because counselling rounds move fast and seats fill up faster than you'd expect.
Stay calm, keep your documents ready, and check the official NTA and MCC websites regularly for updates. The next few weeks will decide a lot, so use them wisely instead of anxiously refreshing your results page every hour.
