Understanding the NEET 2025 cutoff is key for students planning MBBS admissions. These cutoffs show the minimum marks and percentiles needed to qualify and proceed to counseling. The year’s cutoff reflects exam difficulty and candidate performance.
For instance, General/EWS candidates needed between 144 and 686 marks (50th percentile), while OBC/SC/ST candidates needed 113–143 marks (40th percentile). Physically challenged candidates in UR/EWS needed 127–143 marks (45th percentile), while OBC/SC/ST PwD required 113–126 marks (40th percentile). These are the floor marks—meeting them lets you enter counseling, but admissions require higher scores, especially for government MBBS seats.
Let’s explore the detailed breakdown and government/private college expectations, plus important advice to guide your NEET journey.
What Is NEET 2025 Cutoff?
The NEET cutoff is the minimum qualifying score a candidate must get to be eligible for counseling and MBBS/BDS admissions. The cutoff changes every year based on the exam’s difficulty level, number of students, and seat availability.
Category-Wise NEET 2025 Cutoff (Updated)
Here are the final cutoffs as per category:
| Category | Percentile | Score Range (out of 720) |
| UR / EWS | 50th | 686-144 |
| OBC, SC, ST | 40th | 143-113 |
| UR / EWS – PwD | 45th | 143-127 |
| OBC / SC / ST – PwD | 40th | 126-113 |
This means broad-category students needed at least 144 marks, while reserved categories could qualify starting from 113. The inclusion of percentiles ensures fairness even when exam difficulty varies.
Minimum Marks to Get MBBS Admission in 2025
Qualifying cutoffs simply allow you to enter the therapy. To actually get an MBBS, especially in government colleges, you need much higher marks.
- Government Colleges (AIQ): UR/EWS students generally need 620–680+ marks. OBCs often need 590–610, while SC/ST require 500–550.
- State Quota cuts a bit: UR/EWS might get seats with 520–620, OBC with 510–590, and SC/ST with 420–500.
- Private Colleges usually admit UR/EWS candidates around 500–550, and OBC/SC/ST candidates from 420–500 depending on the state and college reputation.
While qualifying marks are low, admissions providers expect significantly more for actual seat allocation.
NEET 2025 Cutoff for Government MBBS Colleges
Government MBBS seats under the 15% All-India Quota (AIQ) and 85% State Quota require strong NEET scores.
- AIQ (UR/EWS): typically 620–680+
- OBC: around 590–610
- SC/ST: 500–550
Under State Quota, government colleges accept slightly lower scores. Some state medical colleges may admit SC/ST students with 420–500, depending on seat availability. This year is notable. In Gujarat, fewer students qualified (only ~50k vs. 57k last year), so cutoffs are expected to dip. Also, no student cleared full marks, and the top scorer’s AIQ rank didn’t need full marks—both signs of a tougher exam leading to lower admission thresholds
NEET 2025 Cutoff for Private MBBS Colleges
Private medical colleges are more flexible with NEET scores.
- General category: typically 500–610 for top private colleges
- OBC: around 480–600
- SC/ST: 380–550, varying by institution and state
For example, private colleges in Maharashtra and Karnataka often admit UR students with 520–590 and OBC students with 510–550. A coaching expert from Nashik reports private college cutoffs around 450
NEET 2025: Percentile-Wise Safe Score Range
Looking at percentiles helps you understand rank strength and MBBS chances.
- 99–100 percentile: 680–720 marks—top government colleges
- 95–98 percentile: 620–679 – strong government/top private
- 85–94 percentile: 550–619 – mid-tier private or government state quota
- 70–84 percentile: 480–549 – private colleges, possible state government
- 50–69 percentile: 350–479 – more in BDS, AYUSH, paramedical
In Nashik, students with 615 and 607 marks scored 99.5+ percentile; a coach predicted government cutoff near 500, private near 450.
Why Did Cutoffs Drop in NEET 2025?
The NEET 2025 cutoffs dropped compared to last year, and many students were surprised by this change. There are multiple reasons behind this drop, mostly related to the exam’s difficulty, fewer top scorers, and how percentiles are calculated.
- Tougher Exam Paper: NEET 2025 was tougher, especially in Physics. Many students found the Physics section lengthy and confusing. Even top students couldn’t attempt all questions accurately. Because of this, overall scores were lower.
- No Full Marks This Year: Unlike last year, no student scored 720/720 in NEET 2025. The top scorer got less than 715. This naturally pulled down the highest and average scores, leading to lower cutoffs.
- Fewer Qualified Candidates: The number of students who cleared the minimum cutoff this year is lower than last year. For example, some states like Gujarat saw a drop of more than 7,000 qualified students.
- Percentile-Based Evaluation: NEET uses percentile scoring, which means your score is judged based on how others performed. If overall scores are lower, the same percentile now equals fewer marks. So, even if the cutoff percentile stayed the same, the marks required to meet it dropped.
- High Competition, But Fewer Top Scores: NEET 2025 had lakhs of students, but fewer of them scored in the 650+ range. This created more room for mid-range scorers to qualify and attend counseling.
In short, NEET 2025 was harder, and that made it easier to qualify based on marks. But competition for top MBBS seats remains high.
Important Tips After NEET 2025 Cutoff
Once the NEET 2025 results and cutoff are out, the next steps are very important for students who wish to get MBBS admission. Scoring the cutoff does not guarantee a seat, but it means you’re eligible to participate in the counseling process.
Here are some tips to follow after qualifying:
- Understand Your Score
Compare your NEET score with the cutoff for your category. Check where your score fits in the AIQ (All India Quota) and state quota ranks. - Get Ready for Counselling
Register for AIQ counselling conducted by MCC and for your state counselling through the respective authorities. Keep documents ready—NEET scorecard, admit card, category certificate (if applicable), and domicile proof. - Research Colleges Based on Score
Look up the previous year’s closing ranks for both government and private colleges. Make a realistic list of colleges where your marks are competitive. - Choose the Right Options
During counseling, don’t just fill top colleges. Add mid- and lower-ranked colleges as backup options. Some good private colleges also offer decent education and infrastructure. - Prepare for Backup Plans
If your score is not enough for MBBS, be ready to choose alternatives like BDS (Dental), BAMS (Ayurveda), BHMS (Homeopathy), BPT (Physiotherapy), or Nursing. - Stay Updated
Counseling involves multiple rounds, including mop-up and stray vacancy rounds. Stay alert and keep checking official websites for updates. - Don’t Lose Hope
Many students secure MBBS seats in later rounds or through state quota despite low initial ranks. Keep trying and attend every round seriously.
Being smart and prepared after the NEET cutoff helps you make the most of your performance—even if you didn’t get a top score.
Conclusion
NEET 2025 cutoffs reflect a challenging exam and fewer top scores, making them slightly more accessible than previous years. Still, government MBBS seats demand marks in the 600s, while private colleges open doors around 500+. Reserved categories benefit from lower barriers to counseling. Percentile conversion helps predict ranges, but actual seat allotment depends on state-level factors and seat matrices. Be ready with backup plans like AYUSH or BDS, and prepare well-rounded choices for counseling—your persistence matters.
FAQs
What is the minimum NEET cutoff for General category?
General (UR/EWS) candidates must score at least 144 marks in NEET 2025 to qualify. This score is based on the 50th percentile and makes them eligible for counseling.
Can SC/ST students get MBBS with 430 marks?
Yes, SC/ST students scoring between 420 and 500 marks can get MBBS seats through state quota or private medical colleges, especially in states with lower closing ranks and more seats.
Is 500 marks enough for Private MBBS?
In most states, 500+ marks is good enough for admission in private MBBS colleges, especially under the management quota or reserved categories, depending on the state’s seat availability.
Why are government college cutoffs higher?
Government MBBS colleges offer high-quality education at lower fees, so they are in high demand. This makes cutoffs rise, often requiring 600 or more marks to get admission.
What are good backup options after NEET?
If MBBS isn’t possible, students can explore BDS (Dental), BAMS, BHMS, Nursing, or Paramedical courses. These fields offer great career scope in the healthcare sector too.











