Search Colleges, Exams, Schools & more
Login
NEET 2026 Cut off Increased: Why Has the Qualifying Cutoff Gone Up This Year?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff along with the results, and this year the minimum qualifying marks have increased across almost all categories. As per the NEET result, the General/EWS qualifying cutoff has risen to 213 marks, while the cutoff for OBC, SC and ST candidates has increased to 177 marks. The jump in NEET cutoff has surprised many aspirants, especially since the re exam was considered moderate to difficult by a large section of students.
Also check: Re NEET 2026 Cutoff Live Updates
Live | Jul 17, 2026 | 3:00 PM IST
This Story also Contains
- NEET 2026 Cutoff Increased: Category-wise Qualifying Marks Comparison
- NEET 2026 Cutoff Increase: Reasons Behind the Higher Qualifying Marks
- Impact of Higher NEET 2026 Qualifying Cutoff on MBBS Admissions
- NEET 2026 Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff: Know the Difference
- NEET 2026 Result Statistics That Led to the Cutoff Increase
Candidates must know that the NEET qualifying cutoff is determined by percentile, candidate performance and overall competition rather than a fixed score. Here's a detailed look at why the NEET 2026 cutoff has increased and what it means for medical aspirants.
NEET 2026 Cutoff Increased: Category-wise Qualifying Marks Comparison
Candidates can check the NEET UG 2026 category-wise qualifying cutoff from the table mentioned below.
NEET UG Cutoff 2026 vs 2025
Category | NEET 2026 Cutoff | NEET 2025 Cutoff |
General/EWS | 715–213 | 686–144 |
OBC/SC/ST | 212–177 | 143–113 |
General-PwD | 212–195 | 143–127 |
SC/ST/OBC-PwD | 194–177 | 126–113 |
Must Check:
Confused About College Admissions?
Get expert advice on college selection, admission chances, and career path in a personalized counselling session.
Book a Counselling Slot
Select Date
Pick a Slot
NEET 2026 Cutoff Increase: Reasons Behind the Higher Qualifying Marks
Overall Candidate Performance: Although many students found the paper lengthy, the overall performance of candidates was stronger than last year. A larger number of candidates scored in the mid and high-score range, pushing the qualifying marks upward while maintaining the prescribed percentile.
Tough Competition: More than 11.21 lakh candidates qualified for NEET 2026, reflecting intense competition for limited medical seats. Even a small increase in average scores across lakhs of candidates can lead to a noticeable rise in qualifying marks.
Percentile-Based Cutoff System: One of the biggest reasons behind the increase is that NEET qualifying cutoff is percentile-based, not mark-based. If candidates perform better overall, the marks corresponding to these percentiles automatically increase. This is exactly what has happened in NEET 2026.
Must Check: Re NEET 2026 Marks vs Rank
Impact of Higher NEET 2026 Qualifying Cutoff on MBBS Admissions
The higher NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff will not directly affect MBBS admissions. The qualifying cutoff only determines a candidate's eligibility for counselling, while admission to MBBS colleges depends on factors such as All India Rank (AIR), category, seat availability, reservation policy and counselling cutoffs. Therefore, even though the qualifying marks in NEET have increased this year, candidates should focus on their rank and previous years' opening and closing ranks to assess their admission chances.
NEET 2026 Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff: Know the Difference
The NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff is the minimum score required to become eligible for the counselling process. The NEET 2026 admission cutoff is the rank or score at which candidates secure an MBBS, BDS or other medical seat. The qualifying cutoff is released by NTA with the Re NEET 2026 result and is based on percentile, whereas the admission cutoff varies depending on factors such as All India Rank (AIR), category, seat availability, reservation policy and counselling trends. Therefore, qualifying NEET 2026 does not guarantee admission to a medical college.
NEET Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters
NEET 2026 Result Statistics That Led to the Cutoff Increase
The NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff increased mainly due to the overall performance of candidates. This year, 11.21 lakh candidates qualified for the medical entrance exam, while 138 students scored above 690 marks. The highest score was 715 out of 720, with no candidate securing a perfect score. A larger number of candidates scoring in the higher mark range pushed the percentile higher, resulting in an increase in the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff across all categories. As the cutoff is percentile-based rather than mark-based, better overall performance naturally leads to higher qualifying marks.
Also read: Re NEET 2026 AIR 1 | Re NEET 2026 AIR | Re NEET 2026 AIR 3
Articles
Related Stories
|
Upcoming Medicine Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
Popular Courses and Specializations
List of colleges accepting NEET
Browse Medicine Colleges by State
Questions related to NEET
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to NEET ?
You can watch recorded NEET counselling webinars from several trusted sources:
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) – The official MCC website publishes counselling schedules, notices, information bulletins, and updates. While it does not regularly host recorded webinars, it is the most reliable source for official counselling information.
Hey there,
With 343 marks in NEET UG and Bihar domicile, getting an MBBS seat at Katihar Medical College through the mop-up or stray vacancy rounds is possible but not guaranteed. Admission depends on your NEET rank, category, counselling round, and seat availability. You should participate in all Bihar UGMAC
Hey there,
With 115 marks in Re-NEET 2026, getting a BAMS seat through the management quota is unlikely, as you must first qualify NEET and also meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the counselling authority. If your score is above the official qualifying cutoff for your category, you may have
Hello Dear Student,
With 526 marks in the NEET 2026 exam, your expected All India Rank (AIR) will be roughly in the range of 26,000 to 39,000. For the OBC category specifically, your state rank in Bihar will likely hover between 4,000 and 6,000.
You can check, find and access
Hello Dear Student,
No, NEET is not compulsory for BPT admission in the 2026–27 academic year. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) issued an official notification deferring the mandatory NEET requirement for Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) courses until the 2027–28 academic
Popular NEET Questions
the product 'P' will be ,
Option: 1
Option: 2
Option: 3
Option: 4
| Column A | Column B |
| A |
a) Organisation of cellular contents and further cell growth. |
| B |
b) Leads to formation of two daughter cells. |
| C |
c) Cell grows physically and increase volume proteins,organells. |
| D |
d) synthesis and replication of DNA. |
Match the correct option as per the process shown in the
0.16 g of dibasic acid required 25 ml of decinormal solution for complete neutralisation. The modecular weight of the acid will be
Option: 1
32
Option: 2
64
Option: 3
128
Option: 4
256
0xone is
Option: 1
Option: 2
Option: 3
Option: 4
Begin a career in Medical and Allied Sciences. Admissions Open for
Register for iACST. Get instant Scholarship on NEET Repeater Courses.
SCSVMV Deemed to be University | AHA Admissions 2026
ApplyAlied Health Sciences at SCSVMV | NAAC 'A' Grade | AICTE & UGC Aproved | 100% Placement Support | Merit-based Scholarships
SIGMA University Medical & Health Sciences Admissions 2026
Apply5+ Crore Scholarship for Meritorious Students | 250+ Recruiters | 10,000+ Placements | 20 Lakhs Highest Package
ITMBU Medical & Health Scinces Admissions 2026
ApplyHighest Package: ₹32 LPA | Placement Rate: 90% students placed | 5000+ Students Placed 900+ Placements Recruiters | Scholarships Available
Parul University Allied Health Sciences Admissions 2026
ApplyIndia's youngest NAAC A++ accredited University | NIRF rank band 151-200 | 2200 Recruiters | 45.98 Lakhs Highest Package
Quantum University | Allied Health Sciences Admissions 2026
Apply33.5 LPA-Highest Package | Up to 100% scholarship worth 30 CR
NEET Notifications
Never miss NEET update
Get timely NEET updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!