NEET Reservation Criteria 2026: EWS, OBC, PWD, SC, ST & Others

NEET reservation criteria 2026 for 15% AIQ

NEET 2026 reservation criteria is provided to 27% OBC and 10% EWS categories. Out of the total seats in all government MBBS/BDS colleges, 15% are reserved for All India Quota (AIQ) seats. The seats under the 15% AIQ scheme are allotted through NEET UG reservation criteria.

Earlier, the Supreme Court introduced NEET reservation to 15% seats for SC and 7.5% seats for ST categories. While the 27% OBC reservation in NEET was implemented in Central universities only. However, it was not extended to AIQ seats of state MBBS and BDS colleges. In 2021, the Government of India (GoI) decided to provide 27% OBC and 10% EWS reservation in the AIQ scheme. The OBC and EWS students from across the country can take admissions under the AIQ scheme.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on behalf of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts the NEET counselling for 15% of seats available for admission in all government medical and dental colleges. As per the NEET reservation criteria, there are certain percentage of seats reserved category-wise in government medical colleges in the 15% AIQ. Candidates must note that the remaining unreserved seats are filled on the basis of merit secured in NEET result 2026. The article below provides information on OBC criteria for NEET, EWS criteria for NEET, and others.

NEET reservation category: AIQ 15% reservation criteria

*Horizontal reservation across all categories including unreserved seats.

NEET reservation criteria: Economically weaker section

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare brought EWS quota in NEET UG admission in 2019. Under this quota, 10% of seats are reserved in the government medical colleges for candidates from financially unstable backgrounds. The candidates must hold an EWS certificate for NEET exam. The distinguishing criteria for EWS category in NEET 2026 reservations are listed below. It must be noted that those candidates whose family owns any of these will not be eligible.

• Annual income of the family must not be more than ₹8,00,000

• 5 acres of agricultural land and above

• Residential flat of 1000 sq. ft. and above

• Residential plot of 100 sq. yards and above in notified municipalities

• Residential plot of 200 sq. yards and above in areas others than the notified municipalities

Participating institutes in NEET EWS reservation

1. Central University/Institutes

2. National Institutes

3. State Government Medical Colleges

NEET reservation criteria 2026 (EWS) - List of colleges

Given below is the list of colleges that undertake admissions through NEET EWS reservations. Also this reservation will only be available to candidates belonging to unreserved categories.

• Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi

• University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

• VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi

• Medical College of RML Hospital, New Delhi

• Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi

NEET reservation criteria 2026: Persons with disability

In compliance with the last year NEET reservation criteria, those candidates who have a benchmark physical disability are eligible for getting a reservation of 5%. Candidates will be getting this provision under effect of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. Those candidates who claim to be eligible for NEET 2026 reservation criteria under the same have to submit their PwBD Certificate for NEET, issued to them by any one of the fifteen authorities approved for disability certificates.

Reservation criteria of NEET 2026: 85% state quota seats

Like previous years, the guidelines for NEET reservation criteria for the seats which are under state quota will be set by the state counselling authorities on the basis of the prevailing reservation policies. Candidates must be aware that all the states have their own reservation policies. These reservation policies are strategised for different indigenous categories that are governed under state rule.

Also, the concerned state counselling authorities govern the admission process in the government and dental colleges of the particular state. Their reservation policy might not match with NEET 2026 reservation criteria.

Reservation criteria of NEET 2026: Deemed/Central Universities & ESIC colleges

DGHS conducts All India Counselling for seats available in Deemed/Central universities, ESIC college and AFMS institutes and NEET reservation criteria 2026 is applied here. Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Ministry of Defence, Government of India lays down rules and regulations for admission to AFMC, Pune.

Also read: NEET Sample Papers | NEET Exam Pattern | NEET Exam Date