The MS Orthopaedics cut-off in NEET-PG 2026 is the number every future orthopaedic surgeon is chasing, and it is one of the toughest in the country, because Orthopaedics is a premium, high-demand surgical branch with limited seats. NBEMS declared the NEET-PG 2026 result on 24 September 2026, and with roughly 2.66 lakh candidates in the race, a strong rank is what separates an Orthopaedics seat from a near-miss. This guide walks you through the indicative cut-offs, top MS Ortho colleges, seat routes, fees, stipend and scope, then shows you how to turn your rank into an exact, personalised college list.
Stop guessing from generic cut-off tables. The MedAdmit NEET-PG College Predictor (/predictors/neet-pg/college) takes your rank and category and returns 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 for your exact rank.
First, separate two things people constantly confuse. The NEET-PG qualifying cut-off is the minimum score you need just to enter counselling. The closing rank is the last rank at which an Orthopaedics seat was actually filled at a given college in a given round, and for Orthopaedics that bar is far more demanding than the qualifying line. The official NEET-PG 2026 qualifying scores are below.
| Category | Qualifying cut-off (/720) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 262 |
| General-PwBD | 244 |
| SC / ST / OBC (including PwBD) | 226 |
Clearing this qualifying line is only the entry ticket. For a competitive surgical branch like Orthopaedics, the closing rank at good government colleges sits far ahead of the qualifying bar, and it keeps moving every round as candidates freeze, float and upgrade. That is exactly why a single fixed cut-off number is misleading, you need the closing rank for your rank, in the current year.
Your matched colleges
LockedQualifying cut-off only gets you into counselling; the closing rank is what decides your Orthopaedics seat. See the round-wise closing rank against your exact rank in the College Predictor.
Check My Closing RankThere is no single rank for MS Orthopaedics. It depends on your category, whether you are competing in the 50% All India Quota or your state's 50% quota, your domicile, and how many seats exist that year. The bands below are indicative only, meant to set expectations, they are not official numbers and they shift every round and every year. Treat them as a starting map, then verify your real position in the predictor.
| Seat / route | General-category competitiveness (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Premier INIs (AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER) via INI-CET, not MCC | Extremely competitive, among the very lowest ranks |
| Top government colleges via 50% All India Quota (MCC) | Highly competitive, indicatively low-to-mid five figures |
| Other government & state-quota colleges | Indicatively mid-to-higher five figures |
| Deemed & private colleges | Wider access at higher ranks, driven by fees |
| DNB Orthopaedics (hospital-based) | Widens options beyond MS seats |
- Category (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwBD) and the reservation that applies to you
- Quota: the 50% All India Quota versus your home-state 50% quota
- Counselling round: ranks drift across R1, R2, R3 and stray/mop-up
- Domicile and state-specific eligibility rules
- Seat additions or reductions announced by NMC that year
- How aggressively higher-ranked candidates freeze, float or upgrade
Wondering whether your rank lands a government Orthopaedics seat or a private one? Enter your rank and category and find out instantly, no guesswork.
These institutes are widely regarded for Orthopaedics training, surgical volume and faculty; this is a reputation list, not an official ranking. One crucial caveat: AIIMS, PGIMER and JIPMER admit through INI-CET, a separate entrance exam, so they are not filled through your NEET-PG rank or MCC All India Quota counselling.
- AIIMS New Delhi and other AIIMS (via INI-CET)
- PGIMER Chandigarh (via INI-CET)
- JIPMER Puducherry (via INI-CET)
- Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi
- Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai
- King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow
- Grant Medical College & Sir JJ Hospital, Mumbai
- Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
- Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
- Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal
Pick your branch
These are the big names, but which of them, and which DNB hospitals, are realistic for your rank? Get your personalised, rank-matched college list instead of a generic top-10.
MS Orthopaedics seats are split across two big pipelines: the 50% All India Quota run centrally by MCC (mcc.nic.in), and the 50% state quota run by each state's own authority. On top of that sit deemed universities, DNB and DrNB Orthopaedics seats in teaching hospitals, and the separate INI-CET institutes. Recent NMC expansion added one of the largest batches of new PG Orthopaedics seats of any branch, so the exact matrix changes year to year, which is why current-year data matters more than last year's list.
| Route | Who runs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 50% All India Quota | MCC (mcc.nic.in) | AIQ government seats + deemed + central universities + DNB |
| 50% State Quota | Each state's counselling authority | State government and private-college seats under state rules |
| INI-CET | AIIMS New Delhi | AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER (separate from NEET-PG merit) |
| DNB / DrNB Orthopaedics | NBEMS (via MCC) | Teaching-hospital seats, MS-equivalent for practice |
Every kind of seat, one rank
All India Quota, state quota, deemed, DNB, the predictor searches every route at once and shows exactly where your rank fits across MCC and all states.
Money matters as much as rank in Orthopaedics. Government seats are the most affordable and usually carry the strongest stipends, while deemed and private colleges can cost many times more and their stipends vary widely, sometimes considerably lower or irregular. The ranges below are indicative, for orientation only, always verify the exact figure for the specific seat you are considering before you lock a choice.
| College type | Annual fees (indicative) | Monthly stipend (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Government (AIQ / state) | Lowest, often modest per year | Typically the strongest |
| DNB (hospital-based) | Usually lower than deemed | Varies by hospital |
| Deemed university | Highest, can run into tens of lakhs | Often lower / variable |
| Private college | High | Varies widely |
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See which colleges your rank can get you
Fees and stipend can differ by tens of lakhs between two Orthopaedics seats. See the exact fees, stipend and bond attached to the seats your rank can actually get.
See Fees & StipendThe scope after MS Orthopaedics is strong and broad. Orthopaedic and trauma surgery is one of the highest-earning clinical fields in private practice, and it opens a clear ladder into super-specialisation. A quick, accurate note: DM and MCh are pursued via NEET-SS, a separate super-speciality exam, not through NEET-PG. Here is where the degree can take you.
- Consultant orthopaedic & trauma surgeon in government, corporate or trust hospitals
- Super-specialisation via MCh in Spine Surgery, Joint Replacement & Reconstruction, Paediatric Orthopaedics or Hand Surgery (very few seats nationally)
- FNB fellowships in Arthroplasty, Spine, Sports Medicine and Hand & Microvascular Surgery (limited vacancies)
- High-volume private practice and dedicated joint-replacement / arthroscopy centres
- Academics, teaching and research posts in medical colleges
- Overseas fellowship and practice pathways
- Register on the MCC portal (mcc.nic.in) for All India Quota, and on your state authority's portal for the state quota
- Fill and lock your choices, ordering colleges and Orthopaedics seats carefully by preference
- Seat allotment is published round-wise (R1, R2, R3, stray/mop-up)
- Report to the allotted college and complete document verification within the deadline
- Use freeze, float or upgrade to chase a better Orthopaedics seat in later rounds
- Do build a rank-wise shortlist before choice-filling opens, don't improvise on deadline day
- Do include realistic safe, target and reach Orthopaedics seats
- Don't ignore DNB Orthopaedics, it is MS-equivalent for practice and widens your options
- Don't confuse INI-CET institutes (AIIMS/PGIMER/JIPMER) with MCC All India Quota seats
- Do check fees, stipend and bond before locking a private or deemed seat
- Don't rely on last year's ranks alone, verify current-year data in the predictor
Your matched colleges
LockedTurn all of this into a plan: a Safe / Target / Reach shortlist with an admit-probability against every Orthopaedics seat for your rank and category.
Get My Admit ProbabilityWhat was the MS Orthopaedics closing rank in NEET-PG?
It varies every year and every counselling round. As an indicative pattern, top government seats close at much lower ranks than private, deemed or DNB seats, and reserved categories close at more relaxed ranks. For the exact round-wise closing rank against your own rank and category, use the College Predictor rather than a fixed number.
What rank do I need for a government MS Orthopaedics seat?
There is no single fixed rank. It depends on category, quota (All India versus state), domicile and that year's seat matrix. General-category government Orthopaedics seats are competitive, while reserved categories close at relaxed ranks. The predictor shows your realistic government options based on your actual rank.
Is MS Orthopaedics harder to get than MD General Medicine?
Orthopaedics is among the most sought-after surgical branches and is generally very competitive, often ranking alongside the most in-demand clinical specialities. Exact competitiveness shifts each year, so compare live closing ranks in the predictor before assuming.
Is DNB Orthopaedics equal to MS Orthopaedics?
For clinical practice and further training within India, DNB Orthopaedics is recognised as equivalent to MS Orthopaedics. DNB adds a large number of hospital-based seats and can widen your options. The predictor includes DNB seats in your personalised list.
Can I get AIIMS Orthopaedics through NEET-PG and MCC?
No. AIIMS, PGIMER and JIPMER admit through the INI-CET exam, which is separate from NEET-PG and MCC All India Quota counselling. Your NEET-PG rank drives MCC AIQ, deemed, DNB and state-quota seats, which is what the predictor focuses on.
How many MS Orthopaedics seats are there in India?
MS Orthopaedics has several hundred seats nationally, and combined with DNB Orthopaedics the total runs into the low thousands; NMC also added a large batch of new PG Orthopaedics seats recently. Exact current-year seat counts change with each notification, so verify college-wise in the predictor.
What are MS Orthopaedics fees in government versus private colleges?
Indicatively, government seats are the most affordable (often modest annual fees), while deemed and private colleges can cost tens of lakhs per year, with clinical branches like Orthopaedics among the higher-fee courses. The predictor lists the exact annual fee attached to each seat.
What stipend do MS Orthopaedics residents get?
Stipends vary widely. Central and government institutions typically pay the most, while some private and deemed colleges pay less or on irregular schedules. The predictor shows the stipend attached to the specific seats you can get, so you can compare before locking choices.
What is the scope after MS Orthopaedics?
Strong: as a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, in high-volume private practice, or through super-specialisation via MCh (Spine, Joint Replacement, Paediatric Orthopaedics, Hand) and FNB fellowships (Arthroplasty, Spine, Sports Medicine). Seats in these super-specialities are limited and competitive.
What is the NEET-PG 2026 qualifying cut-off?
The NEET-PG 2026 qualifying scores are 262/720 for General and EWS, 244/720 for General-PwBD, and 226/720 for SC, ST and OBC including PwBD. Clearing this only makes you eligible for counselling; your rank then decides your Orthopaedics seat.
Should I choose All India Quota or state quota for Orthopaedics?
Both matter. The 50% All India Quota (via MCC) opens colleges nationwide, while your home-state 50% quota often gives domicile candidates a rank advantage. Compare your realistic seats in both routes in the predictor before deciding where to fill choices.
How do I know which MS Orthopaedics colleges I can actually get?
Enter your NEET-PG rank and category in the MedAdmit NEET-PG College Predictor. It returns a personalised list of MD/MS/DNB colleges across MCC All India Quota and every state, each with round-wise closing ranks, fees, stipend, bond and an admit-probability, accurate and specific to you.
Get your college list now
MS Orthopaedics is one of the most competitive surgical branches, go in with an exact, data-backed list, not guesswork. Enter your rank and category now.
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