NEET Cutoff Rank 2026: Marks vs Rank & Percentile
Reflecting significant rank compression compared to the anomalous 2024 results, the NEET 2026 cutoff rank will be pivotal for medical admissions; for instance, 650 marks are expected to yield a rank around 340, notably lower than rank 75 for the same score in 2025. This cutoff, defining the final rank up to which a candidate secures admission, is managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for the 15% All India Quota seats and by state authorities for the 85% State Quota. The National Testing Agency (NTA) establishes initial qualifying marks, which dropped from 720–162 in 2024 to 686–144 in 2025, influenced by exam difficulty.
Government MBBS College Admission: Expected Ranks
Securing a government MBBS seat in NEET 2026 requires careful planning, with expected cutoff ranks varying by category. This section outlines the projected scores and ranks needed for admission to government medical colleges, including specific targets for AIQ and state quotas, helping you understand the competitive landscape.
| Category | Expected Safe AIR | Expected Safe Score |
|---|---|---|
| General/UR | Up to 28,000 | 540 – 550 |
| OBC | Up to 29,000 | 540 – 550 |
| EWS | Up to 32,000 | 535 – 545 |
| SC | Up to 1,40,000 | 450 – 460 |
| ST | Up to 1,70,000 | 430 – 440 |
The table illustrates the projected All India Ranks and corresponding scores for securing a government MBBS seat through the 15% All India Quota. General and OBC candidates should aim for scores in the 540-550 range to be competitive.
AIIMS & JIPMER Admissions: Expected Scores
While explicit cutoff ranks for AIIMS are not yet available, candidates can reference the AIIMS MBBS 2025 cutoff data to understand expected scores. This section details the previous year’s performance trends and college-wise cutoffs, derived from all counselling rounds.
| Category | AIR (2025) | Score (2025) | AIR (2024) | Score (2024) | AIR (2023) | Score (2023) | AIR (2022) | Score (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GN | 16728 | 541 | 25037 | 652 | 21289 | 614 | 11177 | 625 |
| OBC | 26016 | 527 | 9299 | 675 | 23606 | 610 | 14836 | 615 |
| EWS | 19825 | 536 | 28752 | 647 | 8472 | 645 | 12350 | 620 |
| SC | 51471 | 501 | 138065 | 550 | 52252 | 565 | 79328 | 506 |
| ST | 163006 | 425 | 168349 | 526 | 159677 | 453 | 118275 | 459 |
| FQ | 9332 | 557 | 3419 | 690 | 249584 | 388 | – | – |
This table illustrates the AIIMS MBBS cutoff trends across different categories from 2022 to 2025. You can observe the fluctuations in All India Ranks and corresponding scores over these years, which helps in predicting future cutoff patterns for the exam.
Admission Trends: Comparison with Previous Years
The NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff is expected to remain stable, broadly aligning with 2025 figures with only minor fluctuations. This section analyzes anticipated rank trends, comparing them against the 2025 and 2024 results to provide a comprehensive overview for candidates.
| Year | Candidates Appeared (%) | Paper Difficulty | General Category Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET UG 2023 | 97.06% | Easy–Moderate | 720–137 |
| NEET UG 2024 | 96.94% | Easy | 720–162 |
| NEET UG 2025 | 91.40% | Difficult | 686–144 |
| Re NEET UG 2026 | ~87.5% | Moderate–Difficult | 715–148 (Expected) |
This three-year trend analysis reveals that easier papers, like NEET UG 2024, resulted in higher qualifying cutoffs, while tougher exams, such as NEET UG 2025, led to lower scores. With NEET UG 2026’s Moderate–Difficult paper, candidates can expect the qualifying cutoff of 715–148 to remain stable, broadly in line with 2025 figures.
State-Wise Ranks: All India vs. State Quota
This section details the expected cutoff ranks for various states and categories, offering insights into both All India Quota and State Quota admissions. A score of 620 is expected to be a safe score for UR candidates aiming for a government college via All India Quota.
NEET 2026 Expected State-Wise Cutoff Marks
| State | Expected General Cutoff | Expected EWS/OBC Cutoff | Expected ST/SC Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 490 to 500 | 480 to 495 | 450 to 470 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 490 to 500 | 480 to 495 | 450 to 470 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 490 to 500 | 480 to 495 | 450 to 460 |
| Assam | 470 to 490 | 450 to 480 | 400 to 450 |
| Bihar | 540 to 580 | 530 to 550 | 430 to 460 |
| Chandigarh | 530 to 570 | 520 to 540 | 420 to 450 |
| Chattisgarh | 525 to 560 | 520 to 535 | 415 to 445 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 525 to 560 | 520 to 535 | 415 to 445 |
| Delhi | 540 to 580 | 530 to 550 | 430 to 460 |
| Goa | 520 to 540 | 510 to 530 | 400 to 420 |
| Gujarat | 530 to 570 | 520 to 540 | 420 to 450 |
| Haryana | 540 to 580 | 530 to 550 | 430 to 460 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 530 to 540 | 520 to 535 | 410 to 420 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Jharkhand | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Karnataka | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Kerala | 550 to 560 | 530 to 550 | 430 to 440 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Maharashtra | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Manipur | 530 to 540 | 520 to 530 | 410 to 420 |
| Meghalaya | 530 to 540 | 520 to 530 | 410 to 420 |
| Mizoram | 530 to 540 | 520 to 530 | 410 to 420 |
| Nagaland | 530 to 540 | 520 to 530 | 410 to 420 |
| Odisha | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Pondicherry | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Punjab | 535 to 550 | 525 to 545 | 420 to 430 |
| Rajasthan | 540 to 580 | 530 to 550 | 430 to 460 |
| Tamil Nadu | 530 to 570 | 520 to 540 | 420 to 450 |
| Telangana | 530 to 570 | 520 to 540 | 420 to 450 |
| Tripura | 530 to 540 | 520 to 530 | 410 to 420 |
The table above illustrates the wide range of expected cutoff scores across different states and categories for the exam. Students scoring between 500 and 549 marks may still secure admission to government medical colleges via AIQ or State Quota, depending on their category and state-specific trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the expected NEET 2026 cutoff rank for a score of 650 marks?
For NEET 2026, a score of 650 marks is expected to yield a rank around 340, which is notably lower than the rank 75 for the same score in 2025.
Who manages the NEET cutoff rank for All India Quota and State Quota seats?
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) manages the cutoff for the 15% All India Quota seats, while state authorities manage it for the 85% State Quota seats.
What were the NEET qualifying marks established by the NTA in 2024 and 2025?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) established initial qualifying marks of 720–162 in 2024, which then dropped to 686–144 in 2025.
What is the expected safe score for General/UR candidates aiming for a government MBBS seat through the 15% All India Quota in NEET 2026?
General/UR candidates should aim for scores in the 540-550 range to be competitive for a government MBBS seat through the 15% All India Quota in NEET 2026.
How does the difficulty of the NEET exam paper influence the qualifying cutoff?
Easier papers, such as NEET UG 2024, resulted in higher qualifying cutoffs, while tougher exams, like NEET UG 2025, led to lower scores.
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