If you or your child applied through the Maharashtra state quota for NEET UG 2026, the Round 1 cutoff marks released by the state's CET Cell are the first real signal of where your rank stands against actual seat allotment. The Open category cutoff came in at 538 marks for government MBBS seats and 493 marks for government BDS seats, while private college cutoffs settled noticeably lower across categories. Because Maharashtra runs one of the largest state quota systems in the country, with thousands of MBBS and BDS seats filled through its own merit list, these numbers matter well beyond the state's borders as a benchmark for how competitive this admission cycle is. This piece breaks down the category-wise cutoffs, what the seat allotment numbers reveal, and what students should do next.
Maharashtra's Round 1 state quota cutoffs ranged from 538 (Open, government MBBS) down to 274 (ST, private BDS), so aspirants should check their exact category and college-type row rather than going by one headline number.
Round 1 cutoff marks: category by category
The CET Cell's Round 1 list shows a wide spread between categories and between government and private colleges. Government seats generally carry higher cutoffs than private seats within the same category, since government colleges are typically preferred first for their lower fees and better perceived infrastructure.
The table below lists the marks needed for each reserved category to secure a seat in Round 1, separately for MBBS and BDS, and separately for government and private colleges.
| Category | MBBS (Government) | MBBS (Private) | BDS (Government) | BDS (Private) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 463 | 437 | 425 | 348 |
| ST | 384 | 358 | 350 | 274 |
| VJA | 494 | 477 | 460 | 333 |
| NTB | 477 | 453 | 451 | 344 |
| NTC | 521 | 472 | 471 | 340 |
| NTD | 535 | 479 | 466 | 350 |
| OBC | 533 | 476 | 480 | 350 |
| SBC | 534 | 479 | 484 | 366 |
| SEBC | 529 | 462 | 474 | 331 |
| EWS | 513 | 482 | 471 | 355 |
| OPEN | 538 | 482 | 493 | 352 |
Why the gap between government and private cutoffs matters
For MBBS, the Open category government cutoff (538) is about 56 marks higher than the private cutoff for the same category (482). This gap exists because far more students prefer government colleges for cost reasons, so government seats fill up with higher-scoring candidates first, pushing lower scorers into private seats that are still vacant.
A similar but smaller pattern shows up in BDS, where the government Open cutoff (493) sits well above every private BDS cutoff, including the highest private BDS cutoff of 366 for the SBC category. This tells aspirants with moderate scores that a private BDS seat may be realistically within reach even if a government MBBS or BDS seat is not.
How many seats were actually filled in Round 1
Out of 8,129 MBBS seats available under the state quota, 8,065 were allotted in Round 1, leaving 64 seats vacant. These remaining seats are reserved for Divyang (persons with disability) and orphan candidates, categories that often see fewer eligible applicants in the first round.
For BDS, 2,444 of 2,517 available seats were filled, leaving 73 vacant seats, again largely tied to the same reserved categories. Overall, 10,509 candidates received a seat allotment in this round across both courses.
What allotted candidates must do now
Candidates who have been allotted a seat in Round 1 must report to their allotted college in person by 5:30 pm, within the reporting window running from August 31 to September 4, 2026. Missing this window can mean forfeiting the seat, so this is not a step to leave for the last day.
Reporting requires carrying original documents for verification and paying the admission fee through a demand draft, as the CET Cell has specified. Aspirants should confirm the exact list of documents and the fee amount with their allotted college in advance, since requirements can vary slightly by institution type (government, private, or minority college).
- Carry all original certificates used during document verification, not just photocopies.
- Prepare the admission fee demand draft in the format and amount specified by the allotted college.
- Report within the stated window and time; late reporting can risk seat cancellation.
- Keep multiple copies of the allotment letter and fee receipt for future counselling rounds if needed.
What this means if you were not allotted a seat
Candidates who did not receive a Round 1 seat, or who want to try for a better college, still have further rounds ahead in the state counselling calendar. Vacant seats from Round 1, including those unfilled in reserved categories, along with any seats vacated by candidates who do not report, will be pooled into subsequent rounds.
Since cutoffs typically ease in later rounds as higher scorers lock into colleges and move out of the pool, candidates close to but below the Round 1 cutoff for their category should stay in the process rather than assume the seat is out of reach.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What was the highest Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Round 1 cutoff for government MBBS?
538 marks, for the Open category. This was the highest cutoff across all categories and college types in Round 1.
What was the lowest cutoff in Round 1?
274 marks, for the ST category in private BDS colleges, which was the lowest cutoff across the full list.
Is the private college cutoff always lower than the government cutoff for the same category?
Yes, in this Round 1 list, every category's private college cutoff (for both MBBS and BDS) was lower than its government college cutoff, because government seats are preferred first.
How many MBBS and BDS seats are still vacant after Round 1 in Maharashtra?
64 MBBS seats and 73 BDS seats remain vacant, all reserved for Divyang (disability) and orphan candidates.
What is the deadline to report for an allotted seat?
Candidates must report to their allotted college by 5:30 pm, within the window from August 31 to September 4, 2026, carrying original documents and the admission fee as a demand draft.
If I missed the Round 1 cutoff for my category, is my admission chance over?
No. Vacant and surrendered seats move into later counselling rounds, and cutoffs in those rounds are typically lower than in Round 1, so candidates should continue participating.
Aspirants allotted a seat in this round should focus on completing document verification and fee payment well within the reporting window rather than the last hour. Those still waiting should track the CET Cell's schedule for subsequent rounds closely, since seat vacancies and lower cutoffs typically open up further chances as counselling progresses.
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