With over 20.8 lakh candidates competing for approximately 1.08 lakh MBBS seats in 2025, the competition is high. However, not all states in India face the same level of competition. Certain states offer better opportunities for securing seats due to lower cut-off scores, higher seat availability, or fewer applicants relative to seats. For NEET 2025, aspirants expecting a low score can target the low competition states for NEET UG 2025 that offer a combination of high seat availability, lower cut-offs, and domicile advantages.
Candidates can check the minimum marks required in the qualifying NEET UG 2026 examination:
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The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) is the only exam through which admission to MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate medical courses is granted in India. However, considering the competition level for a single seat in NEET UG, candidates can try their chances of getting admission in such states where the competition is relatively lower. Read the full article to know comprehensively about the low competition states for NEET UG 2025.
Based on the previous year’s trends, the difficulty level of the NEET 2025 exam, and various factors that affect the competition level in states, the expected cutoff of low competition states for NEET 2025 is provided below.
State/ UT | Expected NEET 2025 state cutoff |
Nagaland | 410 - 420 |
Arunachal Pradesh | 420 - 455 |
Sikkim | 460 - 470 |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 465 - 475 |
Meghalaya | 475 - 485 |
Tripura | 525 - 535 |
Manipur | 535 - 545 |
Jammu & Kashmir | 555 - 565 |
Assam | 570 - 580 |
*Disclaimer: The above provided cutoff scores for different states are based on the previous year’s trends, exam analysis, and several other factors. The above data is only indicative and should not be considered conclusive.
The states with the lowest competition can be derived on the basis of NEET cutoff marks for each category. The lowest NEET cutoff state wise provided below is the minimum marks at which admission was granted in government colleges in previous years.
Lowest Score (2024): ~550–619 marks (General, State Quota, Goa Medical College, Bambolim).
Historical Low: ~451 marks (2019, General, State Quota).
Reason: Single government medical college with low competition.
Reserved Categories: SC/ST cut-offs ~400–450 marks in 2024.
Lowest Score (2024): ~147 marks (General, State Quota, Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences).
Reason: Low applicant numbers in northeastern states.
Reserved Categories: SC/ST cut-offs ~100–120 marks.
Lowest Score (2024): ~119 marks (General, State Quota, Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences).
Reason: High seat availability (45 government colleges) reduces competition.
Reserved Categories: SC/ST cut-offs ~100–113 marks.
Private Colleges: ~350 marks (e.g., Arunai Medical College, management quota).
Lowest Score (2024): ~113 marks (OBC/SC, State Quota, Darbhanga Medical College).
General Category: ~550–590 marks.
Reason: Large seat numbers and reservations lower cut-offs for OBC/SC/ST.
Lowest Score (2024): ~113 marks (ST, State Quota, Government Medical College, Karur).
General Category: ~600–630 marks.
Reserved Categories: SC/ST ~420–500 marks.
Private Colleges: ~350 marks (e.g., Karpagam Faculty).
Lowest Score (2024): ~400 marks (General, State Quota, Zoram Medical College).
Reason: Low competition and fewer candidates.
Reserved Categories: ST ~300–350 marks.
Lowest Score (2024): ~400 marks (General, State Quota, Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences).
Reason: Limited applicants.
Reserved Categories: ST ~300–350 marks.
Lowest Score (2024): ~450 marks (General, State Quota, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences).
Reason: Small population and low competition.
Reserved Categories: SC/ST ~350–400 marks.
Lowest Score (2024): ~500 marks (General, State Quota, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong).
Reason: Low competition in the northeastern region.
Reserved Categories: ST ~350–400 marks.
Lowest Score (2024): ~500 marks (General, State Quota, NAMO Medical Education & Research Institute).
Reason: Fewer applicants due to a small population.
Reserved Categories: SC/ST ~350–400 marks.
A state can be considered to have low competition for NEET UG 2025 based on some factors that are discussed below:
The state having a relatively high number of MBBS and BDS seats compared to the number of applicants can make the competition for a particular seat lower. The more the number of seats available, the less number of students are competing for a single seat, hence making it a state with low competition.
Many states have fewer candidates applying for NEET UG exam, often due to lower population density or less awareness about medical education. The fewer the number of candidates appearing for NEET 2025 in a state, the less is the competition for a seat in that state, eventually making it a state with low competition.
Several states have strict domicile policies for the NEET UG exam. These NEET state domicile criteria lower the competition for state quota seats (85% of seats reserved for state residents) and provide better opportunities for local candidates.
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