NEET PG Cutoff 2026: Qualifying Percentile, Minimum Qualifying Marks & Branch-Wise Opening-Closing Ranks
The NEET PG Cutoff is the minimum benchmark score established by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) in accordance with National Medical Commission guidelines. Only candidates who secure equal to or above the qualifying percentile cutoff are deemed qualified and eligible to participate in the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) AIQ counselling and State Quota PG medical admissions.
NEET PG 2026 Qualifying Cutoff Scores & Percentiles
The official qualifying percentiles and corresponding cutoff marks out of 720 for NEET PG 2026 are tabulated below:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile Criteria | Cutoff Score (Out of 720) | Eligibility Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th Percentile | 262 Marks | Qualified for Counselling |
| General - PwBD | 45th Percentile | 244 Marks | Qualified for Counselling |
| SC / ST / OBC (including PwBD) | 40th Percentile | 226 Marks | Qualified for Counselling |
Key Factors Determining NEET PG Cutoff
- Total Number of Test Takers: Over 200,000 medical graduates compete for seats, directly influencing percentile distribution.
- Difficulty Level of the Exam: Higher proportion of complex clinical vignettes, image questions, and time-bound sections modulates raw cutoff marks.
- Availability of PG Seats: The total number of MD, MS, DNB, and Diploma seats approved by the NMC for the academic session.
- Reservation Policies: Statutory reservation allocations for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, and PwBD categories across AIQ and State Quotas.
Multi-Year NEET PG Qualifying Cutoff Trends
| Category | 2026 Cutoff (out of 720) | 2025 Cutoff (out of 800) | 2024 Cutoff (out of 800) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS (50th Percentile) | 262 | 291 | 272 |
| General - PwBD (45th Percentile) | 244 | 274 | 257 |
| SC / ST / OBC (40th Percentile) | 226 | 257 | 238 |
Qualifying Cutoff vs. Admission Cutoff
Securing the qualifying cutoff guarantees eligibility to apply for counselling, but does not assure a seat in clinical branches. Top clinical specialties like Radio-diagnosis, Dermatology, General Medicine, Paediatrics, and Orthopaedics in premier government institutions (e.g., MAMC New Delhi, KGMU Lucknow, Seth GSMC Mumbai) generally close within the top 500 to 3,500 All India Ranks.