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What is the qualifying percentile in NEET?
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To qualify in NEET-UG you need the 50th percentile if you are in the General (UR) or EWS category, the 40th percentile if you are SC, ST or OBC, and the 45th percentile for General-PwBD. SC, ST and OBC candidates with a disability need the 40th. These percentiles decide who is eligible for counselling; they do not decide who gets a seat.
The rule by category
| Category | Qualifying percentile |
|---|---|
| General (UR) and EWS | 50th |
| SC, ST and OBC | 40th |
| General-PwBD | 45th |
| SC, ST and OBC with disability | 40th |
If too few candidates qualify, the Government of India, in consultation with the National Medical Commission, may lower these percentiles for that year. The rule is quoted in the Tamil Nadu MBBS/BDS prospectus for 2026-27.
What it came to in marks
A percentile is converted into a score each year, so the marks change with the paper. These are the lowest qualifying scores in NTA's result press notes as reported by Careers360 and Allen.
| Category | 2024 (revised) | 2025 | 2026 (re-exam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and EWS (50th) | 162 | 144 | 213 |
| OBC, SC and ST (40th) | 127 | 113 | 177 |
The 2026 jump is large: from 144 to 213 for General and EWS. Do not use an old figure as a target, and do not assume next year will look like any of these.
Qualifying is not the same as getting a seat
Qualifying only makes you eligible for counselling. Seats in government medical colleges close at much higher scores, and those closing ranks depend on the quota, the category and the round. We do not quote seat cut-offs here; only the official allotment lists published by MCC and the Tamil Nadu Selection Committee give them. Read NEET cut off for the full distinction, and NEET marks vs rank for how scores become ranks.
Two things people mix up
The qualifying percentile is separate from the 12th-standard rule. You also need 50% (General), 45% (General-PwBD) or 40% (SC, ST, OBC) in Physics, Chemistry and Biology taken together at Class 12. See how much Class 12 marks are needed.
The percentile is also not your percentage. A NEET percentile compares your score with the other candidates; a percentage is marks out of 720.
Official source
The percentile rule and each year's qualifying score ranges are published by the National Testing Agency in its result notices at nta.ac.in and neet.nta.nic.in. Check the latest result notice for the exact figures.
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- NEET cut-offNEET cut-off explained: the 50th and 40th percentile rule, qualifying scores by category for 2024 to 2026, and why admission cut-offs are a different thing.
- NEET marks vs rankHow NEET marks turn into All India Rank: the percentile link, the tie-break order, why one score gives different ranks each year, and how to estimate yours.
- Class 12 marks for NEETTo be eligible for MBBS through NEET you need 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology together in Class 12 (45% General-PwBD, 40% SC, ST, OBC), with examples.
- Score for a government seatThere is no single NEET score for a government MBBS seat. Learn how to read official MCC and Tamil Nadu allotment lists and turn closing ranks into a target score.
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