If you applied for a state quota MBBS or BDS seat in Maharashtra through NEET UG 2026, the Round 1 cutoff marks released by the state's CET Cell tell you exactly where you stood and what your realistic options are for the rounds ahead. These cutoffs are not a single number — they vary sharply by category and by whether the college is government or private, so the mark that got someone a government MBBS seat may not even qualify for a look at a different category or college type. Understanding these numbers now helps you decide whether to hold your current allotment, wait for Round 2, or start seriously considering a private or deemed college option. This matters because Maharashtra runs one of the largest state quota MBBS/BDS systems in the country, and getting the interpretation of cutoffs wrong can cost you a seat or a year.
Maharashtra's Round 1 government MBBS cutoff ranged from 384 marks (ST) to 538 marks (Open), so your category and marks together — not marks alone — decide your realistic seat options in the next rounds.
The Round 1 cutoff numbers, category by category
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has declared the Round 1 cutoff marks for NEET UG 2026 state quota admissions to MBBS and BDS courses. These are the minimum marks at which the last candidate was allotted a seat in each category and college type in this round.
For government MBBS seats, cutoffs ranged from 384 marks for the ST category to 538 marks for the Open category. Government BDS cutoffs ranged from 350 marks (ST) to 493 marks (Open). Private college cutoffs were noticeably lower across the board — the highest private MBBS cutoff was 482 marks (Open and EWS), and the highest private BDS cutoff was 366 marks (SBC).
| 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 government and private cutoffs look so different
The gap between government and private cutoffs is not a coincidence — government colleges have far fewer seats relative to demand and much lower fees, so competition pushes the required marks up. Private colleges, with higher fees and larger seat capacity, end up with lower cutoffs because fewer candidates who could afford government fees choose to fill private seats first.
This is why a student scoring, say, 470 marks in the Open category has no chance at a government MBBS seat in Round 1 but is comfortably within range for a private MBBS seat. Aspirants should read cutoffs together with the fee structure of the college, not marks alone, before deciding what to do next.
How many seats were actually filled in Round 1
Out of 8,129 government-quota MBBS seats on offer, 8,065 were filled in Round 1, leaving only 64 seats vacant. These leftover seats are largely reserved for Divyang (persons with disability) and orphan candidates, which is a specific reservation category with its own eligibility norms.
For BDS, 2,444 of 2,517 seats were allotted, leaving 73 vacant, again mostly under the same Divyang/orphan reservation. In total, 10,509 candidates received a seat allotment in this round across both courses.
What allotted candidates need to 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 window running from August 31 to September 4, 2026. Missing this window can mean losing the allotted seat entirely, so this is not a step to delay.
Reporting requires carrying original documents for verification and paying the admission fee, which in Maharashtra's process is done through a demand draft rather than direct online payment. Aspirants should keep the DD ready in advance rather than trying to arrange it on the reporting day itself.
- Report to the allotted college within the specified dates and time (by 5:30 pm)
- Carry all original certificates, NEET scorecard, category and domicile documents as applicable
- Prepare the admission fee demand draft beforehand to avoid last-minute delays
- Confirm with the college helpdesk if any category-specific document (like non-creamy layer certificate) needs re-verification
What this means if you didn't get a seat yet
If your marks were below your category's Round 1 cutoff, this is not the end of the process. State quota counselling runs in multiple rounds, and cutoffs typically ease in later rounds as candidates who got seats elsewhere (in All India Quota or other states) vacate their Maharashtra allotment.
It is worth staying registered for subsequent rounds rather than assuming the door is closed after Round 1. At the same time, candidates close to the private-college cutoffs should start researching private MBBS/BDS college fee structures now, so they are ready to make an informed decision quickly if a seat opens up in the next round.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What was the highest NEET UG cutoff for a government MBBS seat in Maharashtra Round 1?
538 marks, for the Open category. The lowest government MBBS cutoff among the listed categories was 384 marks for the ST category.
Is the private MBBS cutoff always lower than the government MBBS cutoff?
In this round, yes, across every category. The highest private MBBS cutoff was 482 marks, well below the 538-mark Open category cutoff for government seats.
How many MBBS and BDS seats are still vacant after Round 1?
64 MBBS seats and 73 BDS seats remain vacant, both largely reserved for Divyang (disability) and orphan candidates.
What is the deadline for candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 to report?
Allotted candidates must report to their college by 5:30 pm on any day between August 31 and September 4, 2026, with original documents and the admission fee.
Can I still get a seat if I missed the Round 1 cutoff for my category?
Yes. State quota counselling has further rounds, and cutoffs often move as seats vacated by candidates who accept offers elsewhere become available. Stay registered and watch for the next round's schedule.
How is the admission fee paid during reporting?
Through a demand draft, as specified by the CET Cell for this process. Candidates should arrange the DD in advance rather than at the college on reporting day.
If you have a Round 1 allotment in Maharashtra, report to your college within the given window and keep your documents and demand draft ready — this is not a step to leave for the last day. If you're still waiting, track the Round 2 schedule closely, since state quota cutoffs tend to shift once seats vacated by candidates who move to other quotas or states come back into the pool.
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