The cutoff score is considered as the lowest possible marks obtained by a candidate to qualify for NEET UG and the subsequent admission process. NEET UG cutoff can be distinguished as the qualifying cutoff and the cutoff for admission. The qualifying cutoff is the minimum qualifying marks required to pass the entrance exam. The admission cutoff for NEET UG is different as it is a benchmark minimum score used to screen the admissions to the various medical seats offered across the country.
The NEET UG cutoff score is based on a number of factors such as the number of seats, the number of candidates who applied for the exam, marking scheme, the difficulty level of the test, and so on. Based on the NEET UG cutoff, the exam conducting authority, National Testing Agency (NTA) will declare the NEET UG result of the candidates as qualified or non-qualified. Further, the top 15% scorers amongst the qualified candidates are directly eligible to participate in the NEET UG counseling process under 15% All India Quota seats. Based on the NEET UG cutoff, the NEET UG rank range for participation in the 15% All India Quota counseling is declared separately. The NEET UG cutoff for admissions will vary from state to state and for each category of students.
To qualify NEET UG 2019, candidates who belong to the General category have to secure a minimum score of 50 percentile in the test, while candidates who belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), the minimum cut off score required is 40 percentile.
NEET UG aspirants can check the score range and the number of candidates qualified after the NEET UG exam is held.
| Category | Qualifying candidates | Score range |
| Unreserved | 6,34,897 | 691-119 |
| OBC | 54,653 | 118-96 |
| SC | 17,209 | 118-96 |
| ST | 7,446 | 118-96 |
| Unreserved and PH | 205 | 118-107 |
| OBC and PH | 104 | 106-96 |
| SC and PH | 36 | 106-96 |
| ST and PH | 12 | 106-96 |
| Category | Qualifying candidates | Score range |
| Unreserved | 5,43,473 | 697-131 |
| OBC | 47,382 | 130-107 |
| SC | 14,599 | 130-107 |
| ST | 6,018 | 130-107 |
| Unreserved and PH | 67 | 130-118 |
| OBC and PH | 152 | 130-107 |
| SC and PH | 38 | 130-107 |
| ST and PH | 10 | 130-107 |
NEET UG follows a common process of counseling implemented in the form of a common central counseling process and state-wise counseling process. To a large extent, this solves the problem of seats remaining vacant in the All India Quota of 15 percent. Due to the implementation of common counseling, it became mandatory for all medical and dental institutions to convey their fee structure before counseling. This helps the selected candidates to decide whether the specific program is affordable or not and accordingly pay the admission fees during counseling directly to the state counseling authority.
According to the Supreme Court order, the reservation criteria are set by the individual institutions, and even minority institutions participate in the state counseling process. This applies to deemed universities as well, admissions to these colleges are processed through centralized counseling by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and is responsible for counseling for the seats reserved under the All India Quota of 15%.
The two-round common counseling process aims at reducing the probability of seats going vacant due to candidates who opt for better choices after they are admitted. Under a new scheme, a candidate who is allotted a seat under All India Quota of 15% will not be allowed to attend any other state counseling process. This makes the candidate less likely to leave the seat that he/she has been allotted in the first place.
NEET UG scores are accepted in:
The NTA takes the responsibility to conduct the entrance test, declare the results and provide the All India Rank to the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India for common counseling. Admission to the 15% All India Quota seats in government medical and dental colleges is carried out by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on behalf of the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) via online counseling. DGCS also conducts counseling for MBBS and BDS seats for all deemed universities, central universities, and minority institutions based on NEET UG merit list. The admission for the 85% State Quota seats in government and private medical and dental colleges is similar to that of 15% All India Quota but is carried out by the Directorate of Medical Education of the concerned state.
Appearing and qualifying in NEET UG does not guarantee that a candidate will have a right to admission in the concerned MBBS and BDS courses. There are few other criteria that need to be fulfilled which include eligibility, rank in the merit list, medical fitness, and many other such criteria prescribed by National Testing Agency, Medical Council of India, respective states, universities, medical and dental colleges.
During common counseling, the eligibility criteria, self-declaration, various documents, and so on, of the eligible candidates are verified as per the norms specified by the respective authorities and/or Medical/Dental Colleges.
