Understanding category-wise NEET cutoffs is crucial for your counselling strategy. Here's a detailed analysis of how cutoffs differ across categories and what to expect in 2026.
Qualifying Cutoffs: 2019-2025
| Year | General/EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 144 (50th %ile) | 113 (40th %ile) | 113 (40th %ile) | 113 (40th %ile) |
| 2024 | 162 | 127 | 127 | 127 |
| 2023 | 137 | 107 | 107 | 107 |
| 2022 | 117 | 93 | 93 | 93 |
| 2021 | 138 | 108 | 108 | 108 |
| 2020 | 147 | 113 | 113 | 113 |
| 2019 | 134 | 107 | 107 | 107 |
Key Observations
- General cutoff is ~25% higher than reserved category cutoffs
- OBC, SC, ST cutoffs are nearly identical in most years
- 2024 saw the highest cutoffs (162 General) but 2025 dropped to 144
- The gap between categories has remained steady at ~27-35 marks (27 in 2019, 31 in 2025)
What Category-wise Cutoff Means for College Admission
The qualifying cutoff is just the minimum to be eligible. The real category impact is on college-level cutoff ranks:
Example: Top Government College
| Category | Typical Closing Rank | Approx. Score Needed |
|---|---|---|
| General | 10,000 | 620+ |
| OBC | 15,000 | 590+ |
| SC | 50,000 | 480+ |
| ST | 1,00,000 | 400+ |
2026 Predictions by Category
- General/EWS qualifying cutoff: 140-165 marks
- OBC qualifying cutoff: 110-130 marks
- SC/ST qualifying cutoff: 110-130 marks
Strategy for Reserved Category Students
- Don't aim for just the qualifying cutoff — aim for the highest score possible
- Compete with yourself: A better rank means a better college, regardless of category
- Explore all counselling options: AIQ + state quota + management quota
- Research category-specific cutoffs: Some colleges have significantly better cutoffs for OBC/SC/ST
Use our Rank Predictor to see your category-specific predicted rank, and the College Predictor to find colleges matching your category cutoff.