If you’ve landed here, you’re probably asking, “How many marks are required in NEET for MBBS in 2026?” That’s a very natural question. I understand those days of tension, hoping the marks would be “enough.” Let us explore what the picture looks like right now, what was in past years, and how you can set a target for the future.
This blog is a roadmap for students who want a detailed explanation on NEET 2026 marks required to get admission in the top medical colleges of India. We will discuss the NEET 2026 cutoff for MBBS in detail for students. This will help in setting realistic targets and making a NEET preparation strategy accordingly. This article is updated with expected NEET 2026 cutoff trends based on 2024–25 data.
NEET 2026 Qualifying Marks for MBBS– Category-wise
For NEET 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to follow the same percentile system as earlier years, to decide the minimum NEET 2026 marks required for MBBS (i.e., to qualify). Here are the expected qualifying percentile and expected marks:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Expected Marks Range (2026) |
| General (UR/EWS) | 50th Percentile | 686 – 144 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 143 – 113 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 143 – 113 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 143 – 113 |
| General-PH | 45th Percentile | 143 – 127 |
| SC/OBC-PH | 40th Percentile | 126 – 113 |
| ST-PH | 40th Percentile | 126 – 113 |
These are the expected cut-offs that are based on the trends analysed from previous year data, and this may vary in the official release that will be made by the NTA.
Important Points About NEET Qualifying Marks
- The marks required in NEET for MBBS at the qualifying level are fairly low compared to what you really need to get into a good college.
- Even if you meet the minimum marks required in NEET for MBBS, getting a seat in a government college is not guaranteed.
- These are estimates based on past trends and predictions; the official information will come after NEET 2026 results.
Qualifying Marks vs Admission Cutoff – Key Difference
Before diving into numbers, let’s clarify:
Qualifying marks / minimum NEET 2026 marks required MBBS: This is the lowest score you must secure just to be eligible for counselling. If you don’t get this, you can’t participate further.
Admission cutoff/marks required in NEET for MBBS in a college: This is higher. This is the mark at which, after ranking, you may actually get a seat in a government or private medical college.
So when people ask how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS, often they mean the admission cutoff (especially for government colleges). But first, you must cross the qualifying marks.
Previous Year NEET Cutoffs for MBBS
To understand how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS, especially in government colleges, seeing past years helps a lot. In NEET 2025, the qualifying range for the general category was 144 to 686 (i.e.144 as minimum), and for the reserved categories it was 133 marks.
In 2025, for government medical colleges, top cutoffs in many states and for top colleges were in the 600+ range for the general category.
| Category | Cutoff percentile | Cutoff score |
| UR/EWS | 50th | 686-144 |
| OBC, SC, ST | 40th | 143-113 |
| UR/EWS-PwD | 45th | 143-127 |
| OBC/SC/St-PwD | 40th | 126-113 |
Some state government colleges had closing marks between 580 and 610 for the general category.
Also, in recent trends, getting beyond 550 marks gives you a competitive shot at many government colleges.
| NEET 2025 Marks | NEET 2025 Rank |
| 686-651 | 1-73 |
| 650-600 | 72-1259 |
| 600-551 | 1260-10658 |
So, from past data, one can say that the number of marks required in NEET for MBBS in government colleges is often far above the qualifying threshold. For lower-tier or more remote government colleges, sometimes cutoffs dip lower, but generally not too close to the qualifying minimum.
Rajasthan Government Medical Colleges – NEET 2025 Opening & Closing Ranks
The table below outlines opening and closing NEET ranks for some Rajasthan Government Medical Colleges based on last year’s counselling. Note that cut-offs may vary depending on college reputation and available seats in each round.
| College Name | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| Sawai Man Singh Medical College | 616 | 2363 |
| RUHS College of Medical Sciences, Jaipur | 2375 | 3572 |
| Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner | 2441 | 4616 |
| Dr Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur | 2799 | 5342 |
| Rabindra Nath Tagore Medical College, Udaipur | 2413 | 6384 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Ajmer | 4076 | 7073 |
| Government Medical College, Kota | 2578 | 7809 |
Expected NEET 2026 Cutoff for Government MBBS Colleges
Based on trends, expert predictions, and what others are saying. The following might be the expectations for 2026:
- For very top government colleges (prestigious ones), general category candidates may need 650 + marks (perhaps even 670–690, depending on difficulty).
- For many good government colleges (state-level ones), the general category closing cut-off might land in the 580-630 zone.
- For OBC / EWS, maybe 530–600, depending onthe state.
- For SC / ST, often 350–500, depending heavily on the state and the number of seats.
- For very few competitive states / remote areas, the general cut-off might slide lower (500–550) if performance is lower in that year.
Predicted NEET 2026 Marks for Government Colleges
The information given below is a projection for NEET 2026, based on the trends from 2024-25.
| Category / Tier | Estimated Marks Range (2026) | Notes / Assumptions |
| Top-tier government college, General (UR) | 650 – 690 | For cities, premier institutions (Delhi, Mumbai, etc), especially under AIQ or top state quotas. |
| Mid-tier government college, General (UR) | 580 – 630 | Many state level medical colleges fall here. |
| Lower-tier / remote government college, General (UR). | 500 – 580 | Many state-level medical colleges fall here. |
| OBC / EWS (mid-tier) | 530 – 600 | In less competitive states or districts, assume moderate performance. |
| SC / ST categories | 350 – 500 (or lower in some states) | Heavy variation depending on state, number of seats, and demand. |
| This is for being eligible to enter counselling, but far below the closing cut-offs. | 135 – 150 marks (or whatever NTA sets). | Depending on the state, reservation, and competition. |
Recommended Target Marks for NEET 2026
Because I’ve followed this cycle for a few years, here is a “personal target ” I’d set if I were sitting NEET 2026 again :
Don’t aim just to cross the minimum. That gives you safety even if the paper is tough. For reserved categories, try to cross 500-550+ as a safe zone (though this varies hugely by state). If you’re targeting a state college in your home state (where competition might be slightly weaker), maybe 580-600+ might suffice, but don’t rely on that.
So in a practical sense, if someone asks how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS 2026, I’d personally aim for at least 600+ in general, and 500+ (or more) for reserved categories, to have a good shot at government colleges.
Minimum NEET Marks for MBBS (Government vs Private Colleges)
Let me outline directly:
- Minimum marks required in NEET for MBBS in a government college (general category): Likely 580-650+, depending on state and college prestige.
- Minimum marks required in NEET for MBBS in private college: This can be lower, often in the 350-500+ range or higher, particularly for general seats.
- Minimum marks required in NEET for MBBS (qualifying level): 144 for general, 133 for reserved (as earlier table).
- Marks required for MBBS in NEET for top government colleges: Often 600+, sometimes 630+ or more.
- Marks required for MBBS in NEET (overall target zone): For safety, 600+ is what many coaches suggest.
Because many aspirants ask how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS in a government college vs private college, you should always aim higher than the minimum.
Factors Affecting NEET 2026 Marks Requirement
Several factors shift the “required marks” upward or downward:
- Difficulty of the paper: If NEET 2026 is harder than previous years, cutoffs may fall.
- Number of candidates/competition: More aspirants tend to push marks higher.
- State availability: More seats ease competition, fewer seats make cutoffs harsher.
- State-wise dynamics: Some states have stronger competition or more medical seats.
- Reservation quotas: Different categories have different cutoff trends.
- Performance of students: If many top reformers appear, the cutoff pushes up.
Because of all this, even though you might see someone saying “you could get a government MBBS with 550 in one state, ” that might not apply in your state.
How to Use NEET 2026 Marks Estimates
If I were advising a friend (or myself) preparing for NEET 2026, I would say:
- Treat the qualifying marks (144,113 etc.) as just the baseline; don’t settle for that.
- Decide on your target college (state government, top medical college, etc.) and see past cutoffs in that area (state-wise).
- Always aim 20-30 marks above what past cutoffs of your target college/ state have been; in simple words, margin matters.
- Keep a backup plan (private college, branch alternatives) if you can’t cross your dream college cutoff.
How Many Marks Are Required in NEET 2026 (Conclusion)?
So, to directly answer your main question, how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS, it depends. But here is a rough summary:
- At the bare minimum, you might need 144 marks (general), 133 marks (reserved) to qualify.
- For government medical colleges, often 580 to 650+ marks(general) might be sufficient, though many private colleges have higher cutoffs too.
- For safety, aim for 600+ marks (general) and 500+ marks (reserved) to increase chances.
Whenever someone asks, how many marks are required in NEET for MBBS in a government college – the accurate answer would be “It depends on where you are, your category, and competition, but shoot for 600+ if possible, to stay in a safe range.”
To find out the exact answer for NEET 2026 marks required out of 720, here is an estimate about the passing marks. The previous year’s data indicates that general category candidates needed scores between 686 and 144 to pass the NEET Exam, whereas SC/ST/OBC candidates have passing ranges of 143 to 113 Marks to qualify for NEET 2026.
For the General category, the qualifying percentile is around the 50th percentile, with expected scores between roughly 135 and 720, while for OBC, SC, and ST categories, the qualifying percentile is about the 40th, with expected scores between approximately 107 and 134. These are only estimations, and official, final cut-off marks will only be published by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in June 2026.
NEET 2026 will be of medium toughness. It will be hard in Physics, moderate in Chemistry, and easy to moderate in Biology. The total exam will be of medium difficulty and can be solved with decent preparation.
No, the fundamental NEET exam pattern has not changed for 2026, but it remains the same as the 2025 pattern, which reverted to the pre-COVID format. Key aspects that have remained the same are 180 compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, a total exam duration of 180 minutes, and the established marking scheme.
To score 500+ in NEET, you must first build a strong foundation. Start by understanding the NEET chapter-wise weightage. Prioritise chapters with higher marks, but ensure you cover recurring topics. Your goal is simple: balance accuracy and speed.
