NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is the primary medical entrance exam for students in India who want to pursue MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses. The NEET reservation criteria 2025 play an important role in ensuring that students from different categories get fair opportunities in medical colleges. The reservation system follows government guidelines and applies to both All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota seats.
The category-wise seat allocation in NEET is done based on caste, economic status, and special categories like persons with disabilities. Candidates who fall under the SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories get a specific percentage of reserved seats in government and some private colleges. Understanding the NEET admission process 2025 is crucial for students, as it involves counselling, document verification, and seat allotment.
In this blog, we will discuss the detailed NEET seat reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS, NEET AIQ and state quota seats, and the complete NEET counselling and admission process.
NEET Reservation Criteria 2025
The NEET reservation criteria 2025 are following the reservation policies of the Indian government. Seats are being allocated in two broad categories:
- All India Quota (AIQ)—15% of total seats in government colleges
- State Quota—85% of the state government college seats
The AIQ reservation is for all the medical colleges in India, with the exclusion of Jammu & Kashmir. The remaining 85% of state quota seats are reserved for those candidates who are from that specific state.
Following is the percentage of reservations for various categories under AIQ:
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 5% (within each category) |
Apart from AIQ, states also follow their own reservation policies for NEET seat distribution for reserved categories in state quota seats.
Category-wise Seat Allocation in NEET
The category-wise seat allocation in NEET follows strict guidelines. Here’s how seats are divided:
1. NEET Seat Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS
- SC (Scheduled Caste) candidates get 15% of AIQ seats.
- ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates get 7.5% of AIQ seats.
- OBC (Other Backward Classes, Non-Creamy Layer) candidates get 27% of AIQ seats.
- EWS (Economically Weaker Section) candidates get 10% reservation.
2. NEET AIQ and State Quota Seats
- AIQ covers 15% of all government medical college seats.
- State quota covers 85% of government medical college seats and follows state-specific reservation rules.
- Deemed universities, private colleges, AIIMS, and JIPMER follow separate rules.
3. NEET Seat Distribution for Reserved Categories
- The 5% PwD reservation applies within each reserved category.
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) and central universities have separate seat allocations.
NEET Eligibility Under Reservation
To claim a reservation under NEET eligibility, candidates must:
- Provide valid category certificates issued by the government.
- Belong to the non-creamy layer (for OBC candidates).
- Meet the minimum qualifying marks set for their category.
- Apply under the correct category during registration.
Candidates who fail to provide proper documentation will be considered under the unreserved category.
NEET Counselling and Admission Process
The NEET counselling and admission process is conducted in multiple rounds. Here’s how it works:
MCC Counselling for AIQ (15%)
- Conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
- Centralised counselling for government, deemed, and central universities.
State Quota Counselling (85%)
- Conducted by the respective state authorities.
- Follows state reservation policies.
Steps in the NEET Admission Process 2025
- Registration for counselling.
- Choice filling and locking preferred colleges.
- Seat allotment based on NEET rank, category, and preferences.
- Document verification for reserved category candidates.
- Reporting to the allotted college for final admission.
NEET Category-wise Seat Matrix
The NEET category-wise seat matrix varies each year. Here’s a general breakdown:
| Category | AIQ Seats (Approx.) | State Quota Seats (Approx.) |
| General (UR) | 40% | Varies by state |
| SC | 15% | Varies by state |
| ST | 7.5% | Varies by state |
| OBC | 27% | Varies by state |
| EWS | 10% | Varies by state |
| PwD | 5% within each category | 5% within each category |
Each year, MCC and state authorities release a detailed seat matrix before counselling begins.
NEET Government and Private College Seats
- Government Colleges: Adhere to the NEET reservation rules 2025 strictly.
- Private Colleges: Less number of reserved seats; most have seats under the management quota.
- Deemed Universities: Do not adopt the AIQ reservation system.
- Students who are targeting private colleges should verify personal college reservation policies.
Common Mistakes in NEET Exam
Most students commit common errors while preparing for and giving the NEET exam. Refrain from them in order to enhance your possibility of securing a good rank:
- Not adhering to a study schedule: Most students neglect a well-planned timetable.
- Overlooking NCERT books: The majority of NEET questions are from NCERT textbooks.
- No revision: Periodic revision is necessary to recall relevant topics.
- Not practicing mock tests: Solving previous year papers and mock tests is essential.
- Time management: Incomplete papers are the result of poor time management.
- Guesswork: There is negative marking in NEET, so guessing can lower your score.
- Weakening weak subjects: Most students work on only their strong subjects.
- Not carefully reading the question: Most students misunderstand questions and lose marks.
FAQs
1. What is the NEET reservation criteria 2025 for AIQ seats?
The NEET reservation criteria for 2025 for AIQ are 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC-NCL, 10% for EWS, and 5% for PwD in each category.
How is category-wise seat allocation in NEET done?
NEET seat allotment by category adheres to government reservation policies, distributing seats in the form of AIQ (15%) and State Quota (85%), with certain quotas for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates.
How is the NEET admission process 2025 for reserved categories conducted?
The NEET admission process 2025 involves registration, choice filling, seat allotment, document verification, and final admission reporting based on category-wise reservations under AIQ and State Quota.
What is the document needed for SC/ST/OBC/EWS seat reservation in NEET?
The candidate requires a valid caste certificate, an income certificate (for EWS/OBC-NCL), a PwD certificate (if required), and other documents while counselling for seat reservation verification during NEET.
What is the allotment of NEET AIQ and state quota seats?
NEET AIQ (15%) is counselled by MCC, whereas state quota seats (85%) are allocated by respective state authorities according to state reservation policies and eligibility norms.
