Will NEET 2025 Cutoff Decrease: Trends, Category-Wise Marks & 2026 Outlook
General category qualifying marks for NEET 2025 settled at a range of 686-144, a noticeable drop from the 720-162 range in 2024. The question of whether the NEET 2025 Cutoff will decrease is largely answered by the tougher exam difficulty and reduced candidate attendance in 2025, leading to lower qualifying scores across all categories compared to the previous year. This trend offers a slight advantage to aspirants, with OBC, SC, and ST categories also seeing their qualifying ranges decrease from 161-127 in 2024 to 143-113 in 2025. The official NEET 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
NEET 2025 Qualifying Cutoff Marks by Category
The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the NEET 2025 qualifying cutoff marks, which are the minimum scores required for eligibility in the counselling process.
| Category | Qualifying Percentile (2025) | Cutoff Score Range (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 50th | 686 – 144 |
| OBC/SC/ST | 40th | 143 – 113 |
| UR/EWS – PwD | 45th | 143 – 127 |
| OBC/SC/ST – PwD | 40th | 126 – 113 |
2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
NEET 2025 Admission Cutoffs for Government MBBS Seats
Admission to government medical colleges requires significantly higher scores than the qualifying cutoff, varying by category and quota.
| Category | All India Quota (AIQ) Safe Score (2025) | State Quota Safe Score (2025) | AIIMS Delhi Cutoff (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 590 – 610 | 550 – 580 | 700 – 710 |
| OBC | 550 – 590 | 530 – 560 | 650 – 680 |
| SC | 460 – 490 | 400 – 450 | 600 – 630 |
| ST | 480 – 510 | 400 – 450 | 580 – 610 |
2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
NEET 2025 Expected Cutoffs for Private Medical Colleges
Private medical colleges generally have lower admission cutoffs compared to government institutions, offering more flexibility for various score ranges.
| Category | Expected Cutoff Range (2025) |
|---|---|
| General | 500 – 550 |
| OBC | 480 – 520 |
| SC/ST | 350 – 450 |
2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
NEET 2025 Counselling Schedule at a Glance
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducted the NEET UG 2025 counselling in multiple rounds, with specific timelines for registration, choice filling, and seat allotment.
| Event | Round 1 Dates (2025) | Stray Vacancy Round Dates (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration & Payment | July 21 – 28 | August 9 – 11 |
| Choice Filling & Locking | July 22 – 28 | August 12 – 18 |
| Seat Allotment Processing | July 29 – 30 | August 19 – 20 |
| Allotment Result | July 31 | August 21 |
| Reporting & Joining | August 1 – 7 | August 22 – 29 |
2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
NEET Cutoff Trends: 2024 vs 2025 Performance
The NEET 2025 examination saw a notable shift in cutoff trends compared to 2024, primarily due to increased difficulty and a slight decrease in candidate attendance.
| Category | Qualifying Cutoff Range (2024) | Qualifying Cutoff Range (2025) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 720 – 162 | 686 – 144 | Decrease |
| OBC/SC/ST | 161 – 127 | 143 – 113 | Decrease |
2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
FAQs
Q: What is considered a good score in NEET 2025 for a government MBBS seat?
A: For a General category candidate, a score of 590-610 marks for All India Quota (AIQ) or 550-580 marks for State Quota seats was generally considered safe for a government MBBS seat in NEET 2025. Top institutions like AIIMS Delhi required scores in the 700-710 range.
Q: How does the NEET qualifying cutoff differ from the admission cutoff?
A: The NEET qualifying cutoff is the minimum score or percentile required to be eligible for counselling, released by the NTA. The admission cutoff, on the other hand, is the actual closing rank or score at which a seat is granted in a specific college and category during the counselling process.
Q: Are there alternative options if I don’t meet the NEET 2025 cutoff for MBBS?
A: Yes, if you don’t meet the MBBS cutoff, you can consider private medical colleges, which often have lower cutoffs (e.g., 360-530 for open states). Other options include AYUSH courses (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS) or allied health sciences programs.
Q: What factors influenced the NEET 2025 cutoff marks?
A: The NEET 2025 cutoff was primarily influenced by the increased difficulty level of the exam, a slight decrease in the number of candidates who appeared, and the overall performance of test-takers. The absence of paper leak controversies, unlike in 2024, also contributed to a more merit-based selection.
Q: Will the NEET 2026 cutoff be higher or lower than 2025?
A: The NEET 2026 cutoff is yet to be officially released. However, based on historical trends and increasing competition, experts generally anticipate the cutoff to remain competitive or potentially increase, depending on factors like exam difficulty and the number of applicants.
Q: What is the role of the All India Quota (AIQ) in NEET admissions?
A: The All India Quota (AIQ) comprises 15% of the total MBBS/BDS seats in government medical and dental colleges across India, including central universities and AIIMS. Admissions under AIQ are managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and are open to candidates from all states, typically having higher cutoffs due to broader competition.
