Courses
By Ankit Gupta
|
Updated on 4 May 2026, 15:01 IST
The NEET 2026 cutoff will be announced along with the NEET UG 2026 result. The cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify for the exam. For General category students, the qualifying percentile is expected to remain the 50th percentile, as it has been in previous years.
Students who score equal to or above the NTA NEET cutoff will be considered qualified for NEET UG 2026. After qualifying, candidates can take part in the counselling process for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other medical courses.
The NEET 2026 Cutoff for General Category will be updated after the official result is declared. Until then, students can check the expected cutoff and the Previous years NEET cutoff for General category to understand the likely score range.
The NEET cutoff for General category changes every year. The percentile usually remains the same, but the cutoff marks depend on different factors such as the difficulty level of the paper, total number of candidates, number of seats and overall performance of students.
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Name | NEET UG 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency |
| Category | General / UR |
| Qualifying Percentile | 50th Percentile |
| NEET 2026 Cutoff for General Category | To be released with result |
| Expected NEET Cutoff Score 2026 for General Category | Around 680+ to 145+ |
| Official Cutoff Release | Along with NEET 2026 result |
| Counselling Eligibility | Candidates scoring equal to or above cutoff |
The NEET cutoff 2026 for General category will help students know whether they have qualified for the exam. However, qualifying NEET does not guarantee admission. Admission will depend on rank, seat availability, category, college preference and counselling rules.
The official NTA NEET cutoff will be released only after the NEET 2026 result. Based on past trends, the NEET 2026 cutoff for General category is expected to be around 680+ to 145+ marks.
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | Expected NEET 2026 Cutoff Marks |
| General / UR | 50th Percentile | 680+ to 145+ |
The NTA NET cutoff 2026 for GEN category is expected to remain close to the previous year’s range.
The Previous years NEET cutoff for General category gives students a clear idea of how the cutoff has changed over time. In some years, the cutoff score was high due to easier papers or strong performance by candidates. In other years, the cutoff was lower because of paper difficulty or other exam-related factors.
| Year | General Category Cutoff Score | Number of Qualified General Category Candidates |
| 2025 | 686-144 | 3,38,728 |
| 2024 | 720-162 | 3,33,929 |
| 2023 | 720-137 | 3,12,405 |
| 2022 | 715-117 | 2,82,184 |
| 2021 | 720-138 | 2,39,789 |
From the table, it is clear that the NEET cutoff for General category has not followed one fixed pattern. The highest marks in the cutoff range have often remained close to 720, while the lower qualifying marks have changed every year.
JEE
NEET
Foundation JEE
Foundation NEET
CBSE
The NEET cutoff 2026 for General category is expected to stay competitive. Since lakhs of students appear for NEET every year, the competition for medical seats remains high.
General category candidates should aim for a much higher score than the qualifying cutoff. The qualifying cutoff only makes a student eligible for counselling. For admission to top government medical colleges, candidates usually need a very high score and rank.
| Score Range | What It May Mean for General Category Students |
| 650+ | Strong chance for good government medical colleges, depending on state and rank |
| 600-650 | Good score, but college chances depend on counselling and seat availability |
| 550-600 | May get options in some states or private colleges |
| Below 550 | Admission chances may be limited for General category students |
| Qualifying cutoff only | Eligible for counselling, but admission is not assured |
Also Check: NEET 2026 Expected Rank for 300 to 400 Marks
The NEET 2026 Cutoff for General Category may go high if the competition increases. More students are expected to appear for NEET UG 2026, and this can affect the cutoff.
Some major reasons that can increase the NEET cutoff 2026 are:
| Factor | How It Affects Cutoff |
| High number of applicants | More competition can increase the cutoff |
| Easier question paper | More students score high marks, so cutoff may rise |
| Limited medical seats | Higher competition for each seat |
| Better student performance | If many students perform well, the cutoff can increase |
| Reservation and counselling rules | These can affect category-wise admission trends |
More than 26 lakh candidates are expected to appear for NEET UG 2026. Because of this, the NEET cutoff for General category may remain on the higher side.
Along with the General category, NTA releases cutoff marks for other categories such as OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD. The table below shows the category-wise cutoff trends from 2021 to 2025.
| Category | 2025 Cutoff | 2024 Cutoff | 2023 Cutoff | 2022 Cutoff | 2021 Cutoff |
| General / UR | 686-144 | 720-162 | 720-137 | 715-117 | 720-138 |
| OBC / SC / ST | 143-113 | 161-127 | 136-107 | 116-93 | 137-108 |
| PwD - UR | 143-127 | 161-144 | 136-121 | 116-105 | 137-122 |
| PwD - Reserved | 126-113 | 143-127 | 120-107 | 104-93 | 121-108 |
This trend shows that the NTA NEET cutoff is different for each category. The General category cutoff is usually higher than reserved category cutoffs.
NEET UG 2026 is expected to be held on May 3, 2026. More than 6 lakh General category students are expected to appear for the exam. The final number of registered candidates and test takers will be confirmed after the result or official data is released by NTA.
The number of candidates will play an important role in deciding the NEET 2026 cutoff. If the number of students increases and the paper is moderate or easy, the cutoff may go higher.
Also Check: NEET 2026 Expected Rank for 400 to 500 Marks
The NEET cutoff 2026 will be prepared after checking several factors. These factors help decide the final cutoff marks for each category.
| Factor | Details |
| Difficulty level of NEET 2026 | A tough paper may lead to a lower cutoff |
| Number of candidates | More candidates can increase competition |
| Total medical seats | Fewer seats can push the cutoff higher |
| Highest marks scored | Higher top scores can affect the cutoff range |
| Category of candidate | Cutoff differs for General, OBC, SC, ST and PwD |
| Overall performance | If many students score well, cutoff may rise |
The NEET 2026 Cutoff for General Category will depend on all these factors.
Students can check the important points about the NEET 2026 cutoff below:
| Point | Detail |
| Cutoff release date | Along with NEET UG 2026 result |
| General category percentile | 50th percentile |
| Expected score range | Around 680+ to 145+ |
| Official authority | National Testing Agency |
| Purpose of cutoff | To shortlist qualified candidates |
| Use of cutoff | Required for counselling eligibility |
The NEET 2026 Cutoff for General Category will be released with the NEET UG 2026 result. General category candidates need to score at least the 50th percentile to qualify for the exam. Based on the Previous years NEET cutoff for General category, the expected cutoff for 2026 may be around 680+ to 145+ marks.
Students should remember that the qualifying cutoff is only the first step. To get admission to a good medical college, General category candidates should aim for a much higher score. The final NEET cutoff 2026 will depend on paper difficulty, number of candidates, seat availability and student performance.
No courses found
The NEET 2026 Cutoff for General Category is the minimum score required by General category candidates to qualify for NEET UG 2026. The cutoff will be released by NTA along with the NEET 2026 result. General category students are expected to qualify at the 50th percentile.
The NEET 2026 cutoff for General category is expected to be around 680+ to 145+ marks. However, the official NTA NEET cutoff may change depending on the exam difficulty level, number of candidates, available seats and overall student performance.
No, the NEET cutoff for General category is not the same every year. The qualifying percentile usually remains fixed at the 50th percentile, but the cutoff marks change every year. Students can check the Previous years NEET cutoff for General category to understand the past trend.
NTA will release the NEET cutoff 2026 along with the NEET UG 2026 result. The cutoff will be mentioned in the scorecard/result details. Candidates who meet the NTA NEET cutoff will be eligible to participate in the counselling process.