NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Released: Category-Wise Qualifying Marks & Next Steps

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced the qualifying cutoff for NEET PG 2026 on September 24, 2026. This marks a critical milestone: only candidates who meet or exceed the category-specific percentile threshold can now proceed to counselling for MD, MS, PG Diploma, and DNB seats across India. The cutoff determines eligibility for the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling round managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which allocates 50 percent of India's postgraduate medical seats. Understanding your category cutoff and the next steps is essential to secure your PG seat.

What the NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Means for Your Admission

The cutoff released by NBEMS is the minimum performance threshold you must cross to enter the counselling process. It is expressed as a percentile—a ranking that shows how your score compares to all other test-takers—rather than a fixed raw mark. This percentile-based system ensures fairness: if the exam is harder, the percentile cutoff remains the same, but the raw mark equivalent may be lower. Conversely, if the exam is easier, the raw mark needed to reach that percentile may be higher.

For NEET PG 2026, the cutoff varies by category to reflect India's reservation policy. General and EWS (Economically Weaker Section) candidates must achieve the 50th percentile, which translates to 262 marks out of 720. Candidates with disabilities in the General category need the 45th percentile (244 marks). Reserved category candidates—SC, ST, OBC, and those with disabilities within these groups—must reach the 40th percentile (226 marks). If your score falls below your category cutoff, you are not eligible for counselling, regardless of how close you came.

Category-Wise Qualifying Cutoff Marks for NEET PG 2026

NBEMS has set clear, category-specific thresholds to determine who qualifies. The table below shows the minimum qualifying percentile and its corresponding raw mark out of 720 for each category. These figures are final and apply to all AIQ and state counselling rounds.

How Percentile Differs from Raw Marks in NEET PG

A common source of confusion is the difference between percentile and raw marks. Your raw mark is the actual number of questions you answered correctly, multiplied by the marking scheme. Your percentile, by contrast, is your rank relative to all other candidates: a 50th percentile means you scored better than 50 percent of all test-takers. NBEMS calculates percentiles after the exam is complete, once all scores are known.

The key advantage of a percentile-based cutoff is consistency across exam years. If NEET PG 2026 is harder than NEET PG 2025, fewer candidates will score high raw marks, but the 50th percentile cutoff remains the same—it simply corresponds to a lower raw mark. This protects candidates from unfair disadvantage due to exam difficulty. The exact raw mark that equals the 50th percentile is determined only after all answer sheets are evaluated and scores are finalized.

Who Qualifies for MCC Counselling and What Happens Next

If your score meets or exceeds your category cutoff, you are now eligible for the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee. The AIQ pool comprises 50 percent of all postgraduate medical seats in India—both government and deemed universities. The remaining 50 percent are state quota seats, managed by individual state authorities through separate counselling rounds.

Once you qualify, you must register on the MCC portal when the AIQ counselling schedule is announced. You will fill in your personal details, pay the counselling fee online, and then proceed to the choice-filling stage, where you rank your preferred colleges and specialties. After choice filling closes, MCC will conduct seat allotment based on your rank, choices, and availability. You will then report to your allotted institute within the specified reporting window. Separately, you must also register on your state's counselling portal to participate in state quota rounds.

Documents You Must Carry to Counselling

Both AIQ and state counselling require you to present a specific set of documents at the time of reporting to your allotted college. Missing or incomplete documentation can delay your admission or, in some cases, result in forfeiture of your seat. Prepare and organize these documents well in advance.

• NEET PG 2026 admit card
• NEET PG 2026 scorecard or rank letter
• MBBS degree certificate or provisional passing certificate
• MBBS mark sheets from all professional years (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th year)
• Internship completion certificate
• Permanent or provisional NMC (National Medical Commission) registration certificate
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
• Category certificate (if you belong to SC, ST, OBC, or EWS)
• PwD (Persons with Disability) certificate, if applicable
• Government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license)
• Recent passport-size photographs (typically 4–6 copies)

How to Check Your NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Status

Checking whether you have qualified is straightforward. Visit the official NBEMS website at natboard.edu.in and locate the NEET PG 2026 cutoff notice. Download the PDF, which contains the category-wise qualifying percentiles and marks. Compare your scorecard marks against the cutoff for your category. If your score is equal to or higher than the cutoff, you have qualified. If it is below, you are not eligible for counselling this year.

Keep the downloaded cutoff notice and your scorecard together for reference during counselling registration and at the time of reporting to your college. Many candidates also take screenshots or print copies to avoid any confusion later.

What to Do Now: Your Immediate Action Plan

Now that the cutoff is public, your next steps are clear. First, verify that your score clears the cutoff for your category. If it does, begin preparing for counselling. If it does not, you may explore options such as attempting NEET PG again in the next cycle or considering alternative career paths in medicine.

For those who have qualified, gather all required documents immediately. Organize them in a folder or file so you are not scrambling at the last minute. Keep your scorecard, category certificate (if applicable), and photo ID in a safe place. Monitor the MCC website regularly for the announcement of the AIQ counselling schedule, which typically includes dates for registration, choice filling, and seat allotment. Simultaneously, check your state's medical counselling portal for state quota counselling notifications. Many states conduct their counselling rounds after AIQ, so do not miss the registration deadlines.

Understanding AIQ vs. State Quota Seats

India's postgraduate medical seats are divided equally: 50 percent are All India Quota (AIQ) seats, and 50 percent are state quota seats. AIQ seats are open to qualified candidates from any state and are allotted by the Medical Counselling Committee based on merit and choice. State quota seats are reserved for candidates domiciled in that state and are managed by the respective state's medical counselling authority.

As a qualified NEET PG candidate, you are eligible for both AIQ and state quota counselling. However, you must register separately on the MCC portal for AIQ and on your state's portal for state quota. Some candidates secure seats in AIQ counselling and do not participate in state counselling, while others participate in both rounds to maximize their chances. It is important to understand your state's specific rules and deadlines to avoid missing opportunities.

What Happens If You Did Not Qualify

If your score falls short of the cutoff for your category, you are not eligible for counselling in NEET PG 2026. This does not mean the end of your PG aspirations, but it does require a decision. Some candidates choose to attempt NEET PG again in the following year, using this attempt as a learning opportunity to identify weak areas and improve. Others may explore alternative routes, such as pursuing a PG diploma or considering specialties with lower cutoffs in future cycles. It is advisable to consult with mentors, seniors, or career counselors to weigh your options carefully.

Frequently asked questions

The NEET PG 2026 cutoff is now live, and qualified candidates must act quickly: verify your eligibility, gather all required documents, and monitor the MCC and state counselling portals for the next announcements. The counselling schedule will determine the timeline for registration, choice filling, and seat allotment, so stay alert to avoid missing critical deadlines.