NEET-PG 2026 Cutoff — Expected Qualifying Score by Category

NEET-PG cutoff is percentile-based, not a fixed raw-mark threshold. The qualifying cutoff for general / UR / EWS is the 50th percentile, for SC / ST / OBC it is the 40th percentile, and for PwD candidates it is the 45th percentile (general-PwD) or 40th percentile (reserved-PwD). NBEMS announces the corresponding raw marks after the exam, which varies by paper difficulty.

NEET-PG 2024 general-category qualifying cutoff was 200 marks (50th percentile out of a maximum of 800). This was significantly lower than 2023's 291 due to a notably harder paper. SC / ST / OBC cutoff was reduced to ~163 marks (40th percentile).

Yes. Qualifying cutoff (percentile-based) is the minimum score to be NEET-PG-qualified. Counselling cutoff is the actual rank/score needed to secure a seat in a specific MD/MS specialty at a specific college, and is much higher. For example, qualifying cutoff in 2024 was ~200; the All India Quota cutoff for clinical MD seats at top government colleges was 600+ marks.

NBEMS first ranks all candidates by their raw score. The score at which 50% of candidates fall below (50th percentile) becomes the general-category qualifying cutoff. 40th percentile = score at which 60% of candidates fall below. Percentile is purely rank-based — a higher raw cutoff doesn't necessarily mean a harder paper, it means more candidates scored well.

Qualifying NEET-PG only makes you eligible for counselling. Securing a clinical MD / MS specialty at a top government college (AIIMS, MAMC, KGMU etc.) typically requires scoring in the top 5–10% — far above the qualifying line. For backup options like government MS Anaesthesia, Radiology in tier-2 cities, or non-clinical specialties, scores closer to the qualifying line can suffice.