The NEET PG 2026 SC/ST cutoff is 226 out of 720 — the 40th percentile — and it is the single number that decides whether a reserved-category candidate enters counselling at all. But qualifying is only the starting line. For SC, ST and OBC candidates the real question is how far a reserved category rank stretches your options across MD, MS, DNB and PG-diploma seats in both the All India Quota and your home state. This guide breaks down the cut-off, how SC/ST reservation actually works in NEET PG counselling, and how far the category ladder can carry you — then points you to a tool that turns your rank into an exact college list.
Your qualifying score gets you in the door; your rank decides the college. The MedAdmit NEET-PG College Predictor takes your rank and SC/ST 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, fees, stipend, bond and an admit-probability, so you plan with real numbers instead of rumours.
What is the NEET PG 2026 SC/ST cut-off score?
For NEET PG the cut-off is set as a percentile and then converted to a score out of 720. In 2026 the qualifying percentiles were the 50th for General/EWS, the 45th for General-PwBD, and the 40th for the SC, ST and OBC categories (including their PwBD candidates). That 40th-percentile line worked out to 226/720. The result was declared by NBEMS on 24 September 2026, with roughly 2.66 lakh candidates in the pool.
| Category | Qualifying percentile | Cut-off score (/720) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th | 262 |
| General-PwBD | 45th | 244 |
| SC / ST / OBC (incl. PwBD) | 40th | 226 |
It is vital to separate three different numbers. Your qualifying cut-off (226 for SC/ST) only makes you eligible to participate in counselling. Your All India Rank and category rank decide which seats you can actually claim. And a college's closing rank — the last rank admitted to a given branch and quota — sits far ahead of the qualifying line and shifts every year, round, college and category. Never treat 226 as a 'college-getting' number; treat it as the entry ticket, then let your rank do the real work.
Clearing 226 is the door — not the college
LockedQualifying only makes you eligible. Enter your SC/ST rank to see the exact MD/MS/DNB colleges that door actually opens, with real closing ranks.
See colleges for my rankHow does SC/ST reservation work in NEET PG counselling?
NEET PG seats are split roughly 50:50 into the All India Quota (AIQ), run centrally by the Medical Counselling Committee at mcc.nic.in, and the State Quota, run by each state's own counselling authority. SC/ST reservation applies in both pools, but the percentages, rosters and eligibility rules differ. In the AIQ, the central reservation matrix applies:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15% of All India Quota seats
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5% of All India Quota seats
- OBC-NCL (central list): 27% — a separate reserved pool
- EWS: 10% — for candidates not covered by SC/ST/OBC reservation
- PwBD: 5% horizontal reservation, applied across every category, including SC/ST candidates with a disability
State quota reservation follows each state's own roster, which can differ sharply from the central pattern — some states carry larger SC/ST shares, sub-categories, local-area or domicile conditions, and their own certificate formats. Always read the current-year prospectus of your state authority; never assume the AIQ percentages apply at home.
| Feature | 50% All India Quota (MCC) | 50% State Quota |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | MCC, mcc.nic.in | Each state's own counselling body |
| SC / ST reservation | SC 15%, ST 7.5% (national) | As per that state's roster (varies) |
| Eligibility | Open to all-India candidates | Usually domicile + state caste certificate |
| Seats covered | Central / deemed institutions + 50% of state govt seats | The other 50% of state govt + state private/quota seats |
| Rounds | Multiple (R1, R2, R3, Stray) | Multiple, state-specific schedule |
One rank, both quotas, one list
The predictor maps your reserved rank across MCC All India Quota AND every state's seats in a single view — so you never miss a pool you were eligible for.
How far does the SC/ST category rank extend your college options?
Here is the core advantage of reservation. In counselling you effectively hold two ranks — your overall All India Rank and your SC/ST category rank — and for each seat the system considers whichever helps you more. Because reserved seats close at a numerically higher (that is, easier) rank than open seats at the same college, a category rank routinely unlocks branches and institutions that would be out of reach on open merit alone.
- You are ranked twice: an overall AIR and a category (SC/ST) rank — counselling uses the better of the two for each seat.
- Reserved seats typically close at an easier rank than the unreserved cut-off at the same college and branch.
- A category rank that misses a clinical branch on open merit can still land it on an SC/ST reserved seat.
- Both the AIQ and the state pool carry their own SC/ST reservation, effectively giving you two reserved chances.
- SC/ST candidates with a disability add 5% horizontal PwBD reservation on top of category reservation.
See exactly how far your category rank reaches
Your SC/ST rank unlocks seats an open-merit rank cannot. Get the personalised list with round-wise closing ranks for your exact category rank.
Which colleges and courses can SC/ST candidates target?
SC/ST candidates can target the full spread of medical PG — clinical MD/MS (such as General Medicine, Paediatrics, Radiodiagnosis, Dermatology, Orthopaedics and OBG), para-clinical and pre-clinical MD, DNB and DrNB (including the direct 6-year DrNB), and PG diplomas where offered. Premier government colleges — the likes of Maulana Azad Medical College, Grant Medical College, Madras Medical College, Osmania Medical College and King George's Medical University — see the sharpest competition, while state government and DNB hospital seats broaden the field considerably. What is realistically in reach depends entirely on your rank, so treat the tiers below as directional only.
- State and central government medical colleges — clinical, para-clinical and pre-clinical MD/MS
- Deemed universities (via MCC) — largely management/NRI-style fees, with limited or no reservation
- DNB and DrNB seats in NBEMS-accredited hospitals and institutes — many carry a monthly stipend
- PG Diploma seats where a state or college still offers them
- Note: AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS PG seats are NOT filled through NEET PG — they use INI-CET, a separate exam
| SC/ST category rank band (indicative) | Typically comes into play for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strong category rank | Sought-after clinical MD/MS at premier government colleges | Sharpest competition; open + reserved seats both realistic |
| Mid category rank | Mix of clinical and para-clinical at state govt / central colleges, plus stronger DNB | Reservation widens choice noticeably |
| Later category rank | Pre/para-clinical MD, PG diploma and DNB hospital seats | Reserved seats reach well beyond where open merit would close |
Two common mix-ups to avoid: AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS admit PG students through INI-CET (a separate exam with its own SC/ST reservation), not NEET PG. And DM/MCh super-specialty seats are filled through NEET-SS, again a different exam. This page — and the predictor — cover NEET PG medical seats only: MD, MS, DNB, DrNB and PG diploma.
Every seat type, matched to your rank
MD, MS, DNB and diploma across government, deemed and hospital seats — each with fees, stipend and an admit-probability calculated for your SC/ST rank.
How should SC/ST candidates plan AIQ vs state quota rounds?
- Register for both MCC All India Quota and your home-state counselling — they run in parallel, and keeping both open costs you nothing.
- Fill a long, honest choice list: order strictly by genuine preference, not by fear of 'wasting' a choice.
- Use later rounds and stray vacancies — reserved seats often free up as higher-ranked candidates upgrade or exit.
- Compare fee and stipend before you lock: government seats are cheapest, deemed/private are far costlier, and many DNB hospital seats pay a monthly stipend.
- Keep your SC/ST caste certificate (in the prescribed central or state format), NEET PG scorecard and other documents ready before round 1 — a wrong-format certificate can cost you a reserved seat.
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Plan your rounds with real closing ranks
Stop guessing which choices are safe. The predictor labels each option safe, target or reach for your SC/ST rank across every round.
Get my round-wise planNEET PG 2026 SC/ST: key facts at a glance
- Result declared: 24 September 2026 (NBEMS)
- SC / ST / OBC (incl. PwBD) qualifying cut-off: 40th percentile = 226/720
- General/EWS cut-off 262; General-PwBD 244 (for context)
- Candidate pool: roughly 2.66 lakh
- Courses: MD, MS, DNB, DrNB (direct 6-year) and PG Diploma
- Counselling: 50% All India Quota (MCC, mcc.nic.in) + 50% state quota, multiple rounds
- AIQ reservation: SC 15%, ST 7.5%; state rosters vary
Turn your 2026 scorecard into a college list
LockedEnter your rank and category once and get an accurate, no-guesswork list across the All India Quota and all states — in about two minutes.
Start my free college listNEET PG SC/ST cutoff 2026: frequently asked questions
What is the NEET PG 2026 cut-off for SC/ST category?
The SC/ST (and OBC) qualifying cut-off for NEET PG 2026 is the 40th percentile, which equals 226 out of 720. The same 226 line also applies to SC/ST/OBC candidates with a disability (PwBD).
Is the SC/ST cut-off the same as the closing rank for colleges?
No. 226/720 is only the qualifying line that lets you enter counselling. A college's closing rank for a branch and quota is a separate, usually much tougher, number that changes every year and round. Check your realistic closing ranks in the NEET-PG College Predictor.
How much reservation do SC/ST candidates get in the NEET PG All India Quota?
In the 50% All India Quota, SC candidates get 15% of seats and ST candidates get 7.5%, with a 5% horizontal PwBD reservation applied across categories. State quota reservation follows each state's own roster and can differ.
Do SC/ST candidates get reservation in the state quota too?
Yes. The 50% state quota carries its own SC/ST reservation as per each state's roster, which may differ from the central AIQ percentages and usually requires state domicile and a state-format caste certificate.
Can an SC/ST candidate get a clinical MD/MS seat on a category rank?
Often, yes — because reserved seats close at an easier rank than open seats. Whether a specific clinical branch is in reach depends on your exact category rank, the college and the round. Enter your rank in the predictor to see which clinical branches are realistic.
What documents do SC/ST candidates need for NEET PG counselling?
Typically your NEET PG 2026 scorecard, a valid SC/ST caste certificate in the prescribed central (for AIQ) or state (for state quota) format, identity proof, and any domicile documents your state authority asks for. Verify the exact list on the official counselling notice.
Is DNB open to SC/ST reservation?
DNB/DrNB seats in government and many institutional settings carry reservation, and several DNB hospital seats also pay a stipend. Reservation in private DNB seats varies. The predictor shows DNB options with stipend and fee context for your rank.
Does AIIMS or PGIMER PG use NEET PG for SC/ST candidates?
No. AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS admit PG students through INI-CET, a separate exam with its own SC/ST reservation and counselling. NEET PG does not cover those institutes.
Are DM/MCh super-specialty seats covered by this cut-off?
No. DM and MCh super-specialty seats are filled through NEET-SS, a different exam taken after your MD/MS. This page and the predictor cover NEET PG medical seats only (MD/MS/DNB/DrNB/diploma).
What happens if I score exactly 226 as an SC/ST candidate?
You qualify and can participate in counselling, but options at that level are limited and lean toward pre/para-clinical MD, PG diploma and some DNB seats. A precise, rank-based college list matters most here — the predictor shows what is realistically reachable.
Can SC/ST candidates also compete for open (UR) seats?
Yes. Reserved-category candidates are considered for open/unreserved seats on their All India Rank as well, and for reserved seats on their category rank — you effectively get the benefit of whichever is better for each seat.
How do I find which colleges my SC/ST rank can actually get?
Use the MedAdmit NEET-PG College Predictor: enter your rank and SC/ST category and get a personalised list of MD/MS/DNB colleges across AIQ and every state, each with round-wise closing ranks, fees, stipend, bond and admit-probability.
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