NEET 2026 Cutoff: With the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) acting as the final gatekeeper for prospective doctors, competition for medical seats in India has reached an all-time high in 2026. The qualifying percentage is unchanged, but the actual admission cutoffs for top government universities have significantly increased as a result of an increasing number of applicants more than 2.5 million each year and improved preparation levels nationwide.
For students in 2026, the difference between the two primary counseling quotas is crucial. Because it combines the best talent from each state into a single merit list, the All India Quota (AIQ) is the most competitive.
On the other hand, although this varies greatly by location, the 85% State Quota provides a marginally easier route for locals. States like Karnataka or West Bengal may give government seats at significantly lower score ranges, whereas "High-Risk States" like Delhi, Rajasthan, and Kerala frequently see State Quota cutoffs that are almost as high as the national average.
The "clustering" of high scores is what drives the inflation of the 2026 cutoff. A single mark difference can now cause a rank shift of thousands due to the widespread availability of high-quality coaching and digital tools. As a result, even a score of 650, which was before thought to be "safe" for admission to any elite university, may now only ensure a spot in a tier-2 or newer government medical college in states with low demand.
List Of Medical Colleges That Have the Highest NEET Cutoffs in India
The Indian universities that routinely require the highest ratings are highlighted in the following table. The AIQ (General Category) closing ranks, which represent the most competitive entrance point, are the basis for these numbers.
| Rank | College Name | City | Expected Closing AIR (AIQ) | Safe Score (Out of 720) |
| 1 | AIIMS New Delhi | New Delhi | 1 – 50 | 715+ |
| 2 | VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital | New Delhi | 50 – 140 | 710+ |
| 3 | Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) | New Delhi | 50 – 150 | 710+ |
| 4 | JIPMER Puducherry | Puducherry | 100 – 280 | 705+ |
| 5 | AIIMS Jodhpur | Jodhpur | 200 – 450 | 700+ |
| 6 | Seth GS Medical College | Mumbai | 150 – 500 | 700+ |
| 7 | Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) | New Delhi | 250 – 600 | 695+ |
| 8 | BJ Medical College | Ahmedabad | 200 – 600 | 695+ |
| 9 | AIIMS Bhubaneswar | Bhubaneswar | 300 – 700 | 690+ |
| 10 | King George's Medical University (KGMU) | Lucknow | 300 – 900 | 685+ |
Analysis of the 2026 Cutoff Landscape
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The "Delhi Factor": Colleges in the capital (AIIMS, MAMC, VMMC, LHMC, UCMS) remain the most difficult to secure. Because of the high concentration of coaching hubs and local competition, even the State Quota cutoffs in Delhi often mirror the national AIQ cutoffs.
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AIIMS Dominance: While AIIMS Delhi is the pinnacle, "tier-1" AIIMS branches (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Rishikesh, and Bhubaneswar) now close well before traditional state-run colleges like Madras Medical College or Medical College Kolkata.
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Rank Inflation: In 2026, the "clustering" effect is more pronounced. Scoring 680 marks might secure a top-tier state college, but it may no longer guarantee a seat in the top 5 national institutions through AIQ due to thousands of students scoring in the 670–700 range.
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Quota Variations: The ranks vary considerably for reserved categories (OBC, EWS, SC, and ST). For instance, AIIMS Delhi closes at a rank of about 50 for general candidates, while it might reach about 250 for OBC candidates and about 1,000 for SC candidates.
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