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NEET 2026 Category-Wise Breakdown: Why OBC-NCL Holds the Largest Share of Qualifiers

OBC-NCL leads NEET 2026 qualifiers with 5.12 lakh candidates. Full category-wise breakdown of General, SC, ST, EWS and PwBD qualifiers inside.
authorImageChetali Baghel16 Jul, 2026
NEET 2026 Category-Wise Breakdown

Of the 11.21 lakh candidates who qualified in NEET (UG) 2026, category-wise data published by NTA shows a clear pattern that has held steady across recent years — OBC-NCL candidates form the single largest qualifying bloc.

Category-Wise Qualified Candidates in NEET 2026

Category

Qualified Candidates

OBC-NCL

5,12,014

General

2,91,133

SC

1,59,296

Gen-EWS

95,026

ST

63,716

PwBD

3,666

PwD

303

Registered vs Appeared vs Qualified (2026)

Category

Registered

Appeared

Qualified

OBC

9,52,249

8,43,032

5,12,014

SC

3,45,519

3,04,115

1,59,296

ST

1,51,366

1,29,957

63,716

General

6,65,036

5,69,098

2,91,133

EWS

1,65,573

1,53,693

95,026

Why OBC-NCL Leads in Absolute Numbers

OBC-NCL has consistently registered the highest number of candidates of any category since at least 2019, when it recorded 6,77,544 registrations against 5,34,072 for General category candidates. By 2026, OBC-NCL registrations had risen to 9,52,249 — reflecting both population share and a qualifying percentile threshold of 40th percentile (vs 50th for General/EWS), which is comparatively more accessible.

Category-Wise Qualifying Percentile Criteria (2026)

  • UR/EWS: ≥50th percentile (715–213 marks)

  • OBC / SC / ST: ≥40th but <50th percentile (212–177 marks)

  • UR/EWS & PwBD: ≥45th but <50th percentile (212–194 marks)

  • OBC/SC/ST & PwBD: ≥40th but <45th percentile (193–177 marks)

What This Means for Counselling

With category-wise reservation applied during MCC and State counselling, the sheer size of the OBC-NCL qualified pool (5.12 lakh) versus available seats will keep competition intense within that category specifically, even though the qualifying percentile threshold is comparatively lower than General/EWS.

 

NEET 2026 Category-Wise Breakdown FAQs

Which category has the most NEET 2026 qualifiers?

OBC-NCL leads with 5.12 lakh qualified candidates, the highest of any category in NEET (UG) 2026.

What is the NEET 2026 qualifying percentile for OBC candidates?

OBC candidates need to score at or above the 40th percentile but below the 50th percentile (212–177 marks range) to qualify.
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