NEET PG 2026 Cut-off: General, SC/ST/OBC Scores Drop; PwBD Cut-off Rises to 244
NBEMS has released the NEET PG 2026 qualifying cut-offs on natboard.edu.in. The General/EWS cut-off has dropped to 262 marks (out of 720), down from 276 last year. The SC/ST/OBC cut-off has also fallen sharply, to 226 from 255. But the General PwBD cut-off has moved in the opposite direction — up to 244 from 235 — so this isn't a uniform drop across categories, despite how it's been framed elsewhere.
NEET PG 2026 Cut-off: Category-Wise Comparison
| Category | Qualifying Percentile | 2026 Cut-off (out of 720) | 2025 Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th | 262 | 276 |
| General PwBD | 45th | 244 | 235 |
| SC / ST / OBC (including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC) | 40th | 226 | 255 |
The General/EWS cut-off has fallen for two straight years now — it was 302 in 2021, dropped to 275 in 2022, rose slightly to 291 in 2023, then 276 in 2025, and now 262 in 2026.
Why the Comparison Isn't as Simple as It Looks
NEET PG 2026 was conducted for a total of 720 marks, while the 2025 exam was out of 800 — a change in the maximum score, not just the cut-off. That matters, because a lower raw cut-off doesn't automatically mean it's easier to qualify. Expressed as a percentage of total marks:
| Category | 2026 (out of 720) | 2025 (out of 800) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 36.4% | 34.5% |
| General PwBD | 33.9% | 29.4% |
| SC / ST / OBC | 31.4% | 31.9% |
Once you account for the lower total marks, the General/EWS and General PwBD cut-offs are actually higher as a share of total marks this year, not lower — and the SC/ST/OBC cut-off, which shows the biggest raw-number drop, is only marginally lower in percentage terms. This is a straightforward recalculation from the published figures, not an official NBEMS statement.
Qualifying Cut-off vs. Admission Cut-off — What's the Difference
The qualifying cut-off is the minimum score and percentile needed to be eligible for counselling at all — it doesn't guarantee a seat. The admission cut-off is different: it's the actual score or rank at which candidates secure a specific course and college during counselling, and it varies by college, speciality, category, seat quota, number of available seats, candidate preferences, and counselling round. Qualifying cut-offs can also shift from year to year depending on candidate performance and the difficulty of that year's exam.
What Happens Next
Individual scorecards and the answer key are expected around October 1, 2026.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will conduct online counselling for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) PG medical seats, all deemed-university seats, and seats at specified central universities/institutions; state authorities handle their own state-quota seats separately.
MCC counselling registration dates and fees haven't been announced yet — candidates should watch the official MCC portal for the notification.
Once registration opens, candidates will need to keep documents ready: NEET PG scorecard/rank details, admit card, MBBS degree or provisional certificate, MBBS marksheets, internship completion certificate, medical registration certificate, a valid photo ID, date-of-birth proof, recent photographs, and category/PwBD/NRI certificates where applicable.
After registration, candidates fill and lock their choice of colleges and courses before MCC processes allotments.
Official Website
Candidates should check cut-offs and results only through the official NBEMS website: natboard.edu.in.