NEET UG Cutoff 2026 – State-Wise Closing Ranks

NEET UG Cutoff 2026: A Complete Guide

Every year, lakhs of aspirants track the closing ranks published after each counselling round to understand where they stand. The NEET UG Cutoff 2026 reflects the minimum rank at which a candidate secured admission in a particular college and category during the previous round, and it changes after every round as seats fill up. Rather than relying on a single fixed number, think of it as a moving benchmark that narrows down college by college, quota by quota, as counselling progresses.

Why the Closing Rank Changes Every Round

Admissions are conducted round-wise — Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy — and the last rank admitted in each round becomes that round's closing figure. A college that closed at rank 40,000 in Round 1 may close much higher or lower in Round 2 depending on how many admitted candidates upgrade to a better college and vacate their seat. This is why comparing round-wise data, rather than a single average, gives a far more realistic picture of your admission chances.

How State-Wise Cutoff 2026 Differs From All India Counselling

All India Counselling, conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee, covers 15% of government seats plus all deemed and central university seats, and it is open to candidates from any state. State counselling authorities, on the other hand, manage the remaining 85% state quota and private college seats, and eligibility is usually restricted to domicile holders of that state. Because the applicant pool, reservation policy, and number of seats differ from state to state, the same NEET score can translate into very different admission chances depending on which counselling you're comparing it against — which is exactly why we've broken the data down state by state below.

Factors That Influence the Closing Rank

• Number of seats and new colleges: More seats generally push the closing rank higher (more lenient) the following year.
• Category and quota: General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD candidates each have separate cutoffs within the same college.
• Domicile requirements: State quota seats are typically reserved for residents, which affects competition levels.
• Exam difficulty and total applicants: A tougher paper or fewer aspirants in a given year can shift ranks noticeably.
• College reputation and location: Established institutes in metro cities usually close at lower (tougher) ranks than newer colleges.

How to Use This Data to Plan Your Counselling Choices

Start by comparing your own rank against last year's closing figures for the round you're entering, keeping in mind that ranks tend to loosen slightly with each subsequent round. It also helps to shortlist a realistic mix of "ambitious," "likely," and "safe" colleges rather than relying on a single institute. If you haven't finalised your category or state domicile documentation yet, our NEET UG eligibility criteria 2026 guide walks through what's required before you register, and our step-by-step counselling process guide covers document verification, choice-filling, and seat allotment timelines in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions