NEET Criteria for 12th Percentage for OBC, General, SC/ST & PwD Categories

NEET Criteria for 12th Percentage for OBC, General, SC/ST & PwD Categories

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Deep PathakUpdated on 13 May 2025, 04:45 PM IST
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The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the gateway for aspiring medical students in India to gain admission into undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and others. One of the key eligibility criteria for appearing in NEET is the performance in the Class 12 board examinations. Any student who is planning to take the NEET 2026 exam, it is important to understand how much percentage is required for NEET in class 12. Read the full article to know comprehensively about the NEET eligibility marks in 12th class.

This Story also Contains

  1. NEET eligibility criteria marks in 12th
  2. NEET minimum marks in 12th
  3. NEET eligibility criteria
NEET Criteria for 12th Percentage for OBC, General, SC/ST & PwD Categories
percentage required for NEET in class 12

NEET eligibility criteria marks in 12th

The NEET eligibility criteria are set by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the examination every year. The percentage requirement varies based on the candidate’s category (General, OBC, SC/ST, etc.). The NEET criteria for 12 percentage is calculated for the following subjects - Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/ Biotechnology. Along with the essential subjects, candidates must have studied English as a core subject in class 12.

NEET minimum marks in 12th

Students who have passed or are in class 12, often wonder how many percentage required for NEET? The NTA has set specific NEET criteria for 12 percentage. This minimum percentage in class 12 for NEET varies depending on the candidate’s category. The category-wise percentage required for NEET is provided below.

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NEET criteria in 12 percentage

Category

Minimum percentage marks

General (Unreserved)

50%

OBC/ SC/ ST

40%

PwD (General category)

45%

PwD (Reserved category)

40%

Note: The required percentage is calculated only for the PCB subjects. English is mandatory but not counted in the aggregate percentage.

NEET eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for NEET are set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and are generally consistent year to year. Here’s a detailed overview of the NEET UG eligibility criteria

1. Nationality

The student must be one of the following:

  • Indian citizen

  • Non-Resident Indian (NRI)

  • Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)

  • Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)

  • Foreign nationals (eligible for some specific seats)

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2. Age Limit

  • Minimum age: 17 years as of 31st December of the admission year (i.e., born on or before 31st December 2009 for NEET 2026).

  • Maximum age: There is no upper age limit as per the latest Supreme Court judgement

3. Educational Qualifications

  • The student must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 or equivalent with the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology, and English as a core subject

  • The candidate must have passed the above subjects individually and obtained the NEET minimum marks in 12th class as specified by the NTA.

4. Number of Attempts

  • There is no limit on the number of attempts for NEET UG exam.

5. Qualifying Exam Boards

  • Recognised boards like CBSE, ICSE, state boards, and international boards (with equivalence to Indian standards) are accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can a student with 49% in PCB apply for NEET?
A:

If the student belongs to the OBC/SC/ST category, they are eligible as the requirement is only 40%. However, for General category students, 49% would not be sufficient.

Q: Is it necessary to pass all subjects in Class 12 to appear for NEET?
A:

Yes, passing in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology individually is compulsory.

Q: Are grace marks in Class 12 considered for NEET eligibility?
A:

Yes, if the student passes the subject with grace marks, they are considered eligible as long as the minimum aggregate percentage is met.

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Questions related to NEET

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NEET ?

Good Morning, Aspirant,

Preparing for both NEET and JEE entrance exams at the same time would be challenging but possible. AS physics and chemistry are both subjects common to both exams. Students need to balance math and biology. A proper timetable can help you manage time and prepare for the exam without stress. You can register for the mock test for JEE students, conducted by Creers360. Giving a mock test can help you analyse your in-depth performance. The last date of registration on 8th January. The link to the mock test is attached herewith.


Hello Aspirant

Preparing for both NEET and JEE together is possible, but honestly, very tough.
The syllabus is huge. NEET needs strong Biology, and JEE needs strong Math.
Both exams have very different styles and expectations.
Only students with very strong basics and high discipline can manage both well.

If you are an average student, it’s better to choose one exam and focus fully on it. These are my honest advise to you, you can prepare for one exam and crack that exam, the future opportunities are many in JEE and NEET.

Hello,

Here is your Odisha NEET PG Admission 2025 - Counselling, Round 2 Choice Filling (Dec 18), Seat Allotment. I am providing you the link. Kindly open and check it out.

https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/odisha-pg-medical-admission

I hope it will help you. For any further query please let me know.

Thank you.

Hi dear candidate,

Although NEET and paramedical courses (nursing, lab tech etc.) share same core subjects of PCB but the syllabus for NEET is NOT identical with that of paramedical exams as they require extra sections of GK and aptitude that is beyond NEET.

Kow more at:

NEET Syllabus 2026 by NMC (Released): Download Official PDF

BEST REGARDS

Hello Yashpal

Your plan to shift from online BCA to regular MCA is completely valid and acceptable. The gap years taken for NEET preparation will not affect MCA admission.
You should first try government colleges through exams like NIMCET or CUET-PG for better fees and placements. Top options include NITs, University of Hyderabad, JNU, and Delhi University.
If not, good private choices are VIT, Manipal, SRM, Amrita, and Christ University. Choose a college based on placements, fees, and industry exposure, not just the name.

Hope it helps you, and if you face any other query, you can raise your question directly. We are here to assist you with the best.