NEET 2026 State Quota Cutoff: Expected Marks, State-Wise Trends & MBBS Chances

After NEET, one of the biggest confusions students face is understanding how much score is actually needed for MBBS, especially when AIQ cutoffs appear very high. The reality is that most government MBBS seats are filled through state quota, not AIQ.

After the cancellation of the 3 May exam by the National Testing Agency, the final cutoffs will now depend on the re-conducted NEET 2026 exam. Earlier trends suggested a moderate paper pattern, but the final difficulty and cutoff levels will be decided based on the re-exam performance. However, the state quota remains the most realistic pathway for MBBS admission due to comparatively lower cutoffs across different states.

Also Read: NEET 2026 Question Paper PDF Download

• Was NEET 2026 Tougher than Expected?
• NEET 2026 Difficulty Level: Tough or Easy? Full Paper Analysis & Trends 

NEET 2026 State Quota Cutoff: AIQ vs State Quota Comparison

The most important concept to understand is the difference between AIQ and state quota cutoffs.

For NEET 2026, state quota cutoffs are expected to be around 50–60 marks lower than AIQ, which makes them a strong backup option if you miss AIQ seats.

• Expected AIQ cutoff (General): 620–680+ marks

• Expected State quota cutoff (General): 550–620 marks (varies by state)

• For private colleges, General category students may get admission around 400–500 marks

NEET 2026 Qualifying Cutoff (NTA vs Admission Cutoff)

Another major confusion is between qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff.

• General Category: 144 (50th percentile)

• OBC/SC/ST Category: 113 (40th percentile)

State Wise NEET Cutoff 2026 MBBS (General Category)

Cutoffs vary significantly across states due to competition, seat availability, and number of applicants.

Also Read: NEET 2026 Paper Analysis

Minimum Marks for State Quota MBBS

To simplify your expectations, here’s a realistic interpretation:

NEET State Rank vs Cutoff Marks

State quota admissions are based on state rank, not All India Rank (AIR).

• Your rank is calculated among students of your state

• Lower state rank = better college

This explains why:

• Same marks → different results in different states

• Example: 580 marks may get a college in UP but not in Delhi

NEET Domicile Quota Cutoff 2026

State quota is also called domicile quota, which means:

• 85% seats are reserved for state residents

• You can apply only in your domicile state

• Low cutoff states cannot be accessed without eligibility

Previous Year State Quota Cutoff NEET

Based on past trends:

• Most states: 540 – 610 marks

• High competition states: 600–630+

• Low competition states: 480–520

NEET 2026 is expected to follow a similar pattern.