With NEET 2026 approaching, one of the biggest questions on every aspirant's mind is: what will the qualifying cutoff be? Let's look at the data.
Historical NEET Cutoffs (2019-2025)
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 144 | 113 | 113 | 113 |
| 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 |
Our 2026 Predictions
Cutoffs have fluctuated — 2024 saw a peak at 162 (General) but 2025 dropped to 144. Based on this pattern, we predict:
- General/EWS: 140-165 marks (50th percentile cutoff)
- OBC: 110-130 marks (40th percentile cutoff)
- SC/ST: 110-130 marks (40th percentile cutoff)
Key Factors for 2026
- Expected candidates: 23-24 lakh (steady growth)
- Seats: MBBS seats have increased to ~1.1 lakh, which should slightly ease competition
- Paper pattern: Expected to follow the same 720-mark format
What This Means for You
If you're scoring above 165 in mock tests, you're likely safe for qualifying. But remember, the real competition is not about qualifying — it's about getting a rank good enough for your target college. Top AIIMS seats need 650+, government MBBS needs 550+, and private MBBS starts around 400-450.