NEET PG Cut-off 2026: 262/720, and Every Reduction Since 2022

Qualifying is not admission

NBEMS sets the cut-off as a percentile of the candidates who appeared: the 50th percentile for General and EWS, the 45th for General-PwBD, and the 40th for SC, ST and OBC (including their PwBD candidates). The score at that percentile becomes the cut-off. A candidate at or above it may register for counselling; whether they get a seat, and which one, depends on their rank, the seats, their choices and the rounds. Our rank-to-college guide covers that part.

The result notice also says who uses these cut-offs. MCC counsels the All India 50% quota, deemed universities, central universities and DNB seats. For state-quota seats, each state draws its own merit list under its own eligibility rules and reservation policy from the raw data NBEMS sends. A state cannot admit someone who has not qualified NEET-PG, but its merit list is its own.

Every official cut-off, 2022 to 2026

Where the table says "percentile" without a score, the NBEMS notice printed only the percentile. The 2024 result notice printed percentiles only; that year's exam was held in two shifts. The 2023 reduction set the qualifying percentile to zero for every category, which means every candidate who appeared qualified.

The reductions, one by one

Each year from 2022 to 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wrote to NBEMS to lower the qualifying percentile after counselling had begun, and NBEMS issued a notice with the new cut-off. The 2025 notice (13 January 2026) says ranks do not change; only the line of who qualifies moves, so more candidates can register for the later rounds.

The pattern is clear in the record: a reduction in each of the four years before 2026, and each one came after one or more MCC rounds had run. The 2025 reduction was for Round 3, and MCC told the states on 7 January 2026 to wait for the revised-percentile schedule. That is history, not a promise. Nothing in any 2026 notice says the 2026 cut-off will be lowered, and we do not forecast it. If you are just below a 2026 cut-off, the honest position is that you are not qualified today, and the NBEMS notice board is where a change would appear.

How the percentile is calculated

Two practical points follow. First, you cannot work out your own percentile from public data, because NBEMS does not publish how many candidates are at or below each score; your scorecard carries the figure. Second, the cut-off score depends on everyone else. If the 2026 paper had been harder or easier, the 50th-percentile score would have moved with it. That is why a cut-off in marks is not comparable across years, even before the scale changed from 800 to 720.

We print both appeared counts because they differ by 20 and neither notice explains the gap. The later notice, the result notice, splits the total by date, which is the more specific figure; the press note was written on exam day.

What the cut-off means for your next step

If you are at or above your category's 2026 cut-off, you can register for MCC counselling when it opens and for your state's counselling under its own rules. MCC had published only one 2026 document by 30 September 2026: a notice that the PwD assessment portal for Round 1 opens on 1 October 2026. The 2026 schedule, bulletin and seat matrix were not out.

If you are below it, three things are worth knowing. Scorecards are downloadable only for six months from the result, so save yours even if you do not plan to use it. The candidate-wise answer key comes through your NBEMS login on or after 1 October 2026, which lets you check your responses against the key. And the result is valid only for the 2026-27 admission session; it does not carry over to 2027.

Nothing here is legal or admission advice. For your own case, write to NBEMS through its communication portal or call its helpline (011-45593000, as printed in the 24 September 2026 result notice), and for counselling read the MCC bulletin for your round.

What is the NEET PG 2026 cut-off?

262 out of 720 for General and EWS (50th percentile), 244 for General-PwBD (45th percentile), and 226 for SC, ST and OBC including their PwBD candidates (40th percentile), per the NBEMS result notice of 24 September 2026.

Has the NEET PG 2026 cut-off been reduced?

No reduction had been notified as of 30 September 2026. Reductions were notified for 2022, 2023, 2024 (twice) and 2025, each after counselling had begun.

Does qualifying NEET PG guarantee a seat?

No. The cut-off only makes you eligible to take part in counselling. Seats depend on rank, choices, reservation and the rounds.

How is the NEET PG percentile calculated?

Percentile = 100 × (number of candidates with a total score at or below yours) ÷ (total number of candidates who appeared), as defined in the NBEMS bulletin.

Why was the 2025 reserved-category cut-off minus 40?

After the Ministry lowered the SC, ST and OBC qualifying percentile to zero for Round 3, NBEMS printed the matching score as -40 out of 800 (notice of 13 January 2026). With negative marking a score can be below zero.

Can I compare the 2026 cut-off with 2025?

Not directly. 2026 was marked out of 720 and 2025 out of 800, and in any year the cut-off is a percentile of that year's own candidates.

How long can I download my NEET PG 2026 scorecard?

For six months from issue. Scorecards are available on or after 1 October 2026 through your NBEMS login, and NBEMS says requests after the window will be rejected.