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7.5% government school quota in Tamil Nadu medical admission
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The 7.5% government school quota is a preferential reservation in Tamil Nadu that sets aside 7.5% of MBBS and BDS seats for students from State Government schools. It runs under the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy on preferential basis to students of Government Schools Act, 2020 (Tamil Nadu Act No.34 of 2020). You still need to qualify NEET-UG in the same year.
Who qualifies
The prospectus for 2026-27 sets two tests:
- You studied from Class VI to Class XII in Tamil Nadu State Government schools.
- You qualified NEET-UG of the same year.
We did not open the Act itself, so we cannot say how it treats edge cases such as government-aided schools. Confirm those with the Act text and the current prospectus before you rely on them.
Which seats it covers
It covers 7.5% of Government seats in government colleges and of Government-quota seats in self-financing colleges, for MBBS and BDS. It is a horizontal reservation: the seats are taken out of each community compartment (OC, BC, BCM, MBC/DNC, SC, SCA and ST), and any seat left unfilled reverts to the general pool.
How counselling treats it
- A separate 7.5% rank list is published.
- Special-category counselling, which includes 7.5%, PwD, sports and ex-servicemen, runs ahead of the general category.
- Tamil Nadu runs the 7.5% and the remaining 92.5% as separate tracks. In 2026 the Selection Committee posted the Round 2 schedules for both on 6 September and the Round 1 allotment files on 15 September.
Proof you need
A bonafide certificate from the school, signed by the Headmaster and countersigned by the Chief Educational Officer, in the format given in Annexure II of the prospectus, covering Std VI to XII. Apply for it early because it needs two signatures. You will also need your nativity certificate and other state quota documents. The Tamil Nadu counselling guide has the full list.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 7.5% quota apply to All India Quota seats?
No. It is part of Tamil Nadu's own counselling. AIQ seats follow central rules.
Can a student of a government-aided school use it?
The prospectus requires Std VI to XII in State Government schools. Whether other school types count is not something we could confirm, so check the Act and the prospectus.
Official sources
- Tamil Nadu Selection Committee: prospectus and 7.5% rank lists.
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- State quotaState quota is the share of medical seats a state fills itself. See what it covers, how it differs from All India Quota and how Tamil Nadu splits 2026-27 seats.
- Nativity certificateA nativity certificate proves you are a native of Tamil Nadu, which the state quota requires. See why a residence certificate is not accepted and who may apply.
- Choice fillingChoice filling is listing the colleges and courses you want, in order, before NEET seat allotment. See how the order drives your seat and how to build the list.
- Tamil Nadu NEET counsellingTamil Nadu MBBS/BDS counselling for 2026-27: seat matrix, nativity rule, 69% reservation, the 7.5% government-school quota, rounds and documents.
- NEET eligibilityNEET-UG eligibility explained: minimum age of 17, Class 12 subjects, the 50/45/40% PCB marks rule by category, attempts, and OCI, NRI and foreign candidates.
More in NEET
- All India Quota (AIQ)All India Quota is the 15% of state government medical seats filled by MCC for candidates of any state. See how it works and Tamil Nadu's 2026-27 seat numbers.
- All India Rank (AIR)NEET All India Rank (AIR) is your position in NTA's national merit list. See how it differs from category and state rank, how ties break and where it is used.
- Choice lockingChoice locking is the step that freezes your college list before seat allotment. Learn what it means, why you cannot edit after it, and mistakes to avoid.
- Deemed universityA deemed university can award its own degrees, and MCC counsels its MBBS seats, not the state. See how it differs from state seats, plus fees and registration.
- Information bulletinThe NEET information bulletin is NTA's official rulebook for each exam cycle. See what it covers, why older bulletins mislead and the 2027 bulletin's status.
- Management quotaManagement quota is a category of private medical seats with higher fees. See the Tamil Nadu 2026-27 share, fees and deposit, and how it differs from NRI quota.
- MCCMCC, the Medical Counselling Committee under DGHS, runs NEET counselling for All India Quota, deemed, central and AIIMS seats. See its steps, rounds and limits.
- MCC security depositThe MCC security deposit is refundable and paid at registration, unlike the fee. See the 2026 reported amounts, Tamil Nadu's deposit rules and when it is lost.