The MD radiotherapy cutoff for NEET PG 2026 is one of the most searched numbers among candidates eyeing an oncology career — and the honest answer is that there is no single figure. MD Radiation Oncology (also called MD Radiotherapy) is a broad clinical specialty offered through NEET-PG, and its closing rank swings sharply by institute, seat type, category and state. With India's cancer burden rising and new cancer-care centres opening, this branch draws steadily growing interest at moderate — not brutal — competitiveness. This guide breaks down where the seats are, what ranks and fees to expect, the scope after the degree, and exactly how counselling works, so you can convert your 2026 rank into a real, personalised college list.
Stop guessing your MD Radiation Oncology chances. Enter your NEET-PG rank and category in the free MedAdmit NEET-PG College Predictor to get a personalised list of MD/MS/DNB colleges across MCC All India Quota AND every state — each with round-wise closing ranks, annual fees, stipend, bond and an admit-probability. No outdated PDFs, no guesswork.
What does an MD in Radiation Oncology (Radiotherapy) actually do?
Radiation oncology is the branch of medicine that treats cancer using high-energy radiation. An MD Radiotherapy resident spends three years learning to plan and deliver curative and palliative radiation — running teletherapy on linear accelerators, brachytherapy, treatment planning, radiation physics and radiobiology — while managing cancer patients alongside surgical and medical oncology teams. It is a hands-on clinical specialty with long-term patient relationships, not a purely technical or reporting branch.
- Plan and deliver external-beam radiotherapy (linear accelerators) and brachytherapy for a wide range of cancers.
- Work in multidisciplinary tumour boards with surgical and medical oncology.
- Learn radiation physics, radiobiology, treatment planning, imaging for planning and palliative care.
- Manage cancer patients end-to-end, including follow-up and symptom control.
- Duration: a 3-year MD (or 3-year DNB / DrNB-equivalent at accredited cancer hospitals).
MD Radiotherapy vs MD Radiodiagnosis: not the same branch
This is the single most common mix-up. MD Radiodiagnosis (Radiology) is about diagnosing disease with imaging and is one of the most competitive branches in NEET-PG. MD Radiation Oncology (Radiotherapy) treats cancer with radiation and typically closes at far more accessible ranks. Both are MD branches under NEET-PG, but they are completely different careers.
| Aspect | MD Radiation Oncology (Radiotherapy) | MD Radiodiagnosis (Radiology) |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Treats cancer with radiation therapy | Diagnoses disease using imaging |
| Patient contact | High — long-term cancer care | Mostly imaging/reporting & procedures |
| Typical competitiveness | Moderate — more accessible ranks | Very high — among the toughest |
| Exam route | NEET-PG (MD/DNB) | NEET-PG (MD/DNB) |
| Work setting | Cancer centres, radiotherapy depts | Any hospital / diagnostic centre |
Turn your NEET-PG 2026 rank into a real college list
LockedEnter your rank and category once and see the exact MD/MS/DNB colleges you're in range for — radiation oncology included — across AIQ and every state.
Find my colleges by rankWhat is the MD radiotherapy cutoff for NEET PG 2026?
First, clear the qualifying bar. For NEET-PG 2026, NBEMS set the qualifying cut-offs at 262/720 for General and EWS, 244/720 for General-PwBD, and 226/720 for SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD). Qualifying only makes you eligible for counselling — the branch-and-college closing rank is a separate, much more competitive number. Radiation oncology closing ranks are typically moderate: premier cancer institutes fill early in the low thousands (General AIQ), while broader government radiotherapy departments, private/deemed MD seats and DNB seats extend to far more accessible ranks. The bands below are indicative of past-year trends only — not an official 2026 cutoff — so verify your exact numbers in the predictor.
| Seat / institute type | Indicative General AIQ closing-rank band* | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Premier cancer institutes (govt, AIQ) | Low thousands | Fill earliest — highest prestige & case load |
| Govt medical college radiotherapy dept (AIQ) | Mid–high thousands | Broader availability; later rounds help |
| State-quota government seats | Varies widely by state | Domicile + state category are decisive |
| Private / deemed university MD seats | More accessible ranks | Higher fees offset the lower rank needed |
| DNB Radiation Oncology (cancer hospitals) | Most accessible | Separate NBEMS merit list |
See the exact radiation oncology closing rank for your profile
Skip the indicative bands. Get round-wise closing ranks for MD Radiotherapy at each college that matches your rank and category — AIQ and state.
Which colleges offer MD Radiation Oncology in India?
MD Radiotherapy seats sit in two kinds of places: dedicated cancer institutes and regional cancer centres, and the radiotherapy/radiation-oncology departments inside general government and private medical colleges. Dedicated cancer institutes usually offer the heaviest patient load and the strongest training, which many residents value more than a college's overall ranking.
- Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) — e.g. Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
- State cancer institutes — e.g. Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru; Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad; Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai.
- Radiotherapy departments in government medical colleges across almost every state.
- Private and deemed-university medical colleges with radiation oncology MD seats.
- Cancer hospitals accredited by NBEMS for DNB Radiation Oncology.
- Note: AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS admit their PG seats through INI-CET — a separate exam — not NEET-PG.
| Institute / type | Location | Indicative counselling route |
|---|---|---|
| Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology | Bengaluru, Karnataka | MCC AIQ and/or Karnataka state |
| Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | MCC AIQ and/or Kerala state |
| Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | MCC AIQ and/or Tamil Nadu state |
| Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | MCC AIQ and/or Gujarat state |
| Govt medical college radiotherapy depts | Across India | MCC AIQ + respective state authority |
| Cancer hospitals (DNB seats) | Pan-India | NBEMS (NEET-PG merit) |
Get your personalised MD Radiation Oncology college list
One list, every option: MCC All India Quota plus each state's radiation oncology seats, filtered to the colleges you can realistically get — participation confirmed per college.
MD radiotherapy fees and resident stipend: what to expect
Fees swing dramatically by seat type. Government medical colleges and regional cancer centres are the most affordable; private and deemed universities charge the most; DNB at cancer hospitals sits in between. All residents draw a monthly stipend, but the amount is set by the state (or hospital, for DNB) and varies widely. The bands below are indicative — confirm the exact tuition, stipend and any service bond for each college in the predictor before you lock a choice.
| Seat type | Indicative annual tuition* | Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| Govt medical college / cancer institute | Lowest — nominal | State resident-doctor stipend |
| Private medical college (MD) | Moderate–high | Usually paid; varies by college |
| Deemed university (MD) | Highest | Often lower / varies |
| DNB (cancer hospital) | Low–moderate | Hospital-paid stipend |
Compare radiotherapy fees, stipend and bond side by side
See annual fees, monthly stipend and service-bond terms for every MD/DNB radiation oncology seat you match — so there are no surprises after allotment.
How competitive is a radiation oncology rank?
Radiation oncology is best described as moderately competitive. It is well within reach for mid-range NEET-PG scorers who miss out on radiology, dermatology or clinical branches, yet the top cancer institutes still close at strong General AIQ ranks in the low thousands and fill fast in the first counselling round. Practically, that means a smart choice-filling order — premier institutes first, then broader government departments, then DNB and private/deemed as backups — matters as much as your raw rank. The predictor tags each option as safe, target or reach so you fill choices in the right sequence.
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Check my admit chancesWhat is the scope and salary after MD Radiation Oncology?
The long-term driver is real: India's cancer caseload is rising and cancer-care infrastructure is expanding, so demand for trained radiation oncologists keeps growing. Career paths span government and private cancer centres, medical-college faculty roles, and fast-growing private oncology chains. Be clear-eyed too — opportunities cluster in metros and larger centres, so early-career roles often open up in tier-2 and tier-3 cities and private networks, and case volume during residency matters more than a college's overall brand. For candidates genuinely drawn to oncology, the training is deeply rewarding and the skill set is future-proof.
- Radiation oncologist at government or private cancer hospitals and RCCs.
- Faculty / academic radiation oncology in medical colleges.
- Private oncology chains and multi-specialty hospitals expanding cancer care.
- Sub-specialisation later via NEET-SS (DM/MCh) — a separate super-speciality exam, not part of NEET-PG.
- Research, clinical trials and roles in advanced radiotherapy technology.
Plan your specialty by scope, city and institute type
LockedFilter matched colleges by state, city and government vs private, and weigh radiation oncology against your other in-range branches — all from your rank.
Match colleges to my goalsHow does NEET-PG counselling work for radiotherapy seats?
MD/MS/DNB seats are filled through two parallel channels: 50% All India Quota, conducted by the MCC (mcc.nic.in), and 50% state quota, run by each state's own counselling authority. Both are multi-round (Round 1, Round 2, mop-up and stray). DNB Radiation Oncology seats at cancer hospitals are allotted on the NEET-PG merit list via NBEMS. Remember that AIIMS/PGIMER/JIPMER/NIMHANS radiation-oncology PG seats go through INI-CET, a separate exam — they are not part of NEET-PG counselling.
- Qualify NEET-PG 2026 (General/EWS 262, General-PwBD 244, SC/ST/OBC incl PwBD 226 out of 720).
- Register separately for MCC AIQ counselling and for your state's counselling.
- Fill and lock your college + branch choices — order matters more than most candidates realise.
- Track round-wise seat allotment; use later rounds and mop-up for radiation oncology vacancies.
- Complete document verification and report to the allotted institute.
MD Radiation Oncology after NEET PG 2026: FAQ
What is the MD radiotherapy cutoff for NEET PG 2026?
There's no single number. You must first clear the qualifying cut-off (262/720 General & EWS, 244 General-PwBD, 226 SC/ST/OBC incl PwBD), then the college-wise closing rank decides admission. Premier cancer institutes close in the low thousands (General AIQ, indicative), while broader government, private/deemed and DNB seats are far more accessible. Check your exact numbers in the NEET-PG College Predictor.
Is MD Radiation Oncology the same as MD Radiotherapy?
Yes. MD Radiation Oncology and MD Radiotherapy are the same broad specialty — a 3-year MD focused on treating cancer with radiation. Colleges may list it under either name.
What rank do I need for MD Radiation Oncology?
It varies by institute, category and state. As an indicative guide, top cancer institutes need strong General AIQ ranks in the low thousands, while government radiotherapy departments, private/deemed seats and DNB seats open at more accessible ranks. Enter your rank in the predictor for a personalised, college-by-college answer.
How is radiation oncology different from radiology (radiodiagnosis)?
Radiology (MD Radiodiagnosis) diagnoses disease with imaging and is far more competitive. Radiation oncology (MD Radiotherapy) treats cancer with radiation and generally closes at more accessible ranks. They are different careers, both under NEET-PG.
Which are the top MD Radiation Oncology colleges in India?
Dedicated cancer institutes such as Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (Bengaluru), Regional Cancer Centre (Thiruvananthapuram), Cancer Institute (WIA) Adyar (Chennai) and Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, plus radiotherapy departments in many government medical colleges. AIIMS/PGIMER seats are via INI-CET, a separate exam.
How many MD Radiotherapy seats are there in India?
Seats are limited but growing, spread across MCC AIQ, state quota, private/deemed and DNB at cancer hospitals. Exact seat counts change every year with the seat matrix — the predictor shows the live options that match your rank.
What are the fees for MD Radiotherapy?
Government colleges and cancer institutes are the most affordable; private and deemed universities charge the most; DNB sits in between. Because figures vary widely, confirm each college's exact annual tuition and any bond in the predictor.
What stipend do MD Radiation Oncology residents get?
Residents draw a monthly stipend, but the amount is set by the state (or hospital, for DNB) and varies significantly. The predictor lists the indicative stipend per college so you can compare before choosing.
Can I do DNB Radiation Oncology instead of MD?
Yes. DNB Radiation Oncology is offered at NBEMS-accredited cancer hospitals through the NEET-PG merit list, runs about three years, and is a recognised qualification. It often opens at more accessible ranks than a government MD seat.
Is radiation oncology a good branch after NEET PG 2026?
For candidates drawn to oncology, yes — rising cancer cases and expanding cancer-care centres support long-term demand, and the rank needed is moderate rather than brutal. Just note that opportunities cluster in metros and larger centres, so early roles may be in tier-2/3 cities or private chains.
How does NEET-PG counselling work for radiation oncology seats?
Seats fill through 50% All India Quota (MCC) and 50% state quota (each state's authority), across multiple rounds; DNB seats go via NBEMS. INI-CET institutes (AIIMS/PGIMER/JIPMER/NIMHANS) are separate. Register for both AIQ and state counselling and fill your choices in a safe-to-reach order.
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