The minimum score or rank that a candidate needs to qualify for the postgraduate medical entrance exam in India is very important for admissions. Every year, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) releases a score that candidates must meet to be eligible for counseling and seat allocation in MD, MS, or PG Diploma courses. This score is different for categories like General, SC, ST, and OBC. The NEET PG cutoff is a guide that helps you select a suitable postgraduate medical seat.
NEET PG 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
| Frequency of Exam | Once a Year (Annual) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours 30 Minutes (210 Minutes) |
| Total Questions | 200 |
| Total Marks | 800 |
| Marking Scheme |
+4 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each incorrect answer 0 marks for unanswered questions |
NEET PG Cutoff 2026 Important Dates
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced the tentative schedule for NEET PG 2026. The official registration dates are generally shared later in the detailed information; the most important dates, such as the exam date and internship cut-off date, have already been decided.
| Event | Date (Tentative/Confirmed) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | January 22, 2026 (Released) |
| Online Registration Starts | April 2026 |
| Registration Deadline | May 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | August 26–27, 2026 |
| NEET PG 2026 Exam Date | August 30, 2026 |
| Internship Completion Cut-off | September 30, 2026 |
| Result & Cut-off Scores Declaration | September 2026 |
| Counselling Commencement | October 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria for NEET PG 2026
Before applying, candidates should carefully check whether they meet all the required conditions for the exam. The eligibility rules include educational qualifications, internship completion, and registration requirements.
- Must have an MBBS degree from an NMC-recognized medical college
- Must possess permanent or provisional registration from NMC or State Medical Council
- Completion of a one-year internship is required.
- The internship must be completed on or before 30 September 2026
- Indian citizens, OCI candidates, and FMG candidates who have cleared FMGE are eligible
- There is no upper age limit
- Candidates must provide all required documents during counselling and admission
NEET PG Cutoff for Government and Private Medical Colleges
- Government Medical Colleges (AIQ 50%)
- For clinical branches like Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Radiology, you generally need a rank within AIR 15,000–20,000.
- In top colleges such as MAMC, VMMC, and KEM, the closing rank is generally below AIR 2,000.
- In peripheral or less competitive government colleges, clinical branches may be available up to AIR 15,000–25,000.
- For non-clinical branches like Anatomy and Physiology, seats can be available even beyond AIR 70,000.
- Private Medical Colleges & Deemed Universities
- The rank range is generally higher compared to government colleges.
- In top private colleges like KMC Manipal and JSS Mysore, clinical branches close between AIR 15,000–40,000.
- In average private colleges, clinical seats may be available up to AIR 80,000–90,000.
- Under the management/NRI quota, seats may be available even at the minimum qualifying percentile, but the fee structure is generally much higher.
NEET PG Cutoff 2026 – Category Wise Qualifying Percentile
The NEET PG cutoff for different categories is given below, along with the qualifying percentile and expected score range. This helps students understand the minimum marks required for their category and plan for the exam and counseling process.
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Cut Off Score Range (Out of 720) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th Percentile | 137 – 720 |
| General – PwD | 45th Percentile | 121 – 136 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 127 – 161 |
| OBC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 129 – 145 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 127 – 161 |
| SC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 127 – 143 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 127 – 161 |
| ST – PwD | 40th Percentile | 127 – 143 |
NEET PG 2026 Branch Wise Cutoff
Getting a specific branch in NEET PG 2026 depends on whether you are applying through the 50% All India Quota (AIQ) in government medical colleges or through private and deemed universities. The cut-off marks given below are estimated based on the 800-mark exam pattern and previous years’ rank trends.
1. Clinical Branches: Expected AIQ Closing Ranks (General)
Clinical branches are generally the most competitive in NEET PG. To get a seat in a top government medical college through AIQ, your All India Rank (AIR) generally needs to fall within the following expected range:
| Specialization (MD/MS) | Expected Score (Out of 800) | Expected Closing Rank (AIQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Radio-Diagnosis | 545 – 650+ | 1 – 3,000 |
| Dermatology | 550 – 660+ | 1 – 3,500 |
| General Medicine | 535 – 630+ | 100 – 5,000 |
| Paediatrics | 510 – 580 | 3,500 – 7,500 |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 500 – 570 | 5,000 – 10,000 |
| Orthopaedics | 490 – 560 | 6,000 – 12,000 |
| General Surgery | 480 – 550 | 4,000 – 11,500 |
| Ophthalmology | 450 – 510 | 12,000 – 18,000 |
| Anaesthesiology | 425 – 490 | 15,000 – 25,000 |
2. Para-Clinical & Non-Clinical Branches
These branches are generally easier to secure and remain available for candidates with ranks beyond 30,000.
| Specialization | Expected Score (General) | Expected Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology | 375 – 420 | 25,000 – 45,000 |
| Community Medicine | 320 – 360 | 40,000 – 70,000 |
| Pharmacology | 290 – 330 | 50,000 – 80,000 |
| Microbiology | 280 – 320 | 55,000 – 85,000 |
| Anatomy / Physiology | Qualifying Marks | 70,000 – 1,00,000+ |
Factors Deciding the Cutoff of NEET PG 2026
The NEET PG cutoff depends on multiple factors. These factors help decide both the qualifying percentile and the closing rank for different categories and branches.
Number of Candidates Appearing
One of the factors is the total number of candidates appearing for the exam. A larger number of students means higher competition, which can increase the cutoff.
Difficulty Level of the Exam
The difficulty level of the question paper has a direct impact on the cutoff. If the exam is difficult, average scores generally drop, and the cutoff may be lower. If the paper is easy, the cutoff generally goes higher.
Total Number of Seats
The availability of seats in government, private, deemed, and DNB colleges also has a major role. More seats can lead to a lower closing rank, while fewer seats increase competition.
Reservation Categories
The cutoff varies according to category, such as General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwBD. Each category has its own qualifying percentile and final closing ranks.
Previous Year Trends
Past year cutoff trends are used as a reference for the expected cutoff for the current year. This helps candidates understand the possible rank range.
Popularity of Branches
Highly preferred branches such as Radiology, Dermatology, General Medicine, and Orthopedics generally have much higher cutoffs due to demand.
Counselling Rounds
The cutoff may change in different counseling rounds. It is generally higher in Round 1 and may go lower in later rounds, such as Round 2, mop-up, and stray vacancy rounds.
How to Check NEET PG Cutoff
Candidates can check the NEET PG cutoff by visiting the official NBEMS website after the result is declared. First, go to the official website natboard.edu.in or nbe.edu.in. After that, look for the link related to the result or cutoff notice. The cutoff is generally released in PDF format along with the category-wise qualifying percentile and marks. Download the PDF and check the cutoff for your category, such as General, OBC, SC, ST, or PwBD. Candidates should also keep checking the MCC counseling website for revised cutoff notices during counseling rounds.
Steps to Check
- Visit natboard.edu.in or nbe.edu.in
- Click on the NEET PG 2026 link
- Open the result / cutoff PDF notice
- Check category-wise cutoff marks and percentile
- Download and save the PDF for future reference
NEET PG 2026 Expected Marks
The expected marks for NEET PG 2026 can depend on the category, exam difficulty, and the branch you are targeting. For the General / EWS category, the expected qualifying marks are likely to be around 275–320 marks. For SC / ST / OBC candidates, the expected range is generally 245–275 marks, while for General PwBD, it may be around 260–290 marks. These are expected qualifying marks only, and the score required for top branches like Radiology, Dermatology, and General Medicine is generally much higher.For candidates who want a good government medical college, a score of 500+ marks is generally considered competitive, especially for clinical branches. Top branches may require 530–550+ marks, whereas private and deemed colleges may provide seats at comparatively lower scores, depending on the counselling round and quota.
| Category | Expected Qualifying Percentile | Expected Qualifying Marks (Out of 800) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50th Percentile | 295 – 310 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 260 – 275 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 260 – 275 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 260 – 275 |
| PwD (General) | 45th Percentile | 275 – 290 |
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FAQs
Ans: The NEET PG cutoff is the minimum qualifying score or percentile required to become eligible for counseling.
Ans: The cutoff is released by NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences).
Ans: No, it is different for General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwBD categories.
Ans: No, it simply qualifies you to participate in the counseling process. Admission depends on rank, branch, and seat availability.
Ans: Yes, the cutoff may be revised during later counseling rounds if seats remain vacant.
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Conclusion
The NEET PG cutoff is an important factor that every aspirant should understand while planning for postgraduate medical admission. It not only decides eligibility for counseling but also gives a clear idea of the score or rank needed for different colleges and branches. Since the cutoff changes every year based on competition, exam difficulty, and seat availability, candidates should regularly check official updates and use previous years’ trends as a reference.