NEET PG 2026 result out, qualifying cutoff lowest in six years
The NEET PG 2026 result has been declared with the qualifying cutoff at its lowest level in six years, though experts say this does not mean seats are easier to get.
The result for NEET PG 2026 has been declared, with candidates now able to check their marks and rank. The qualifying cutoff is drawing the most attention, as it has come down to its lowest level in the past six years.
The cutoff for General and EWS candidates has been set at 262 marks. For the General PwBD category it is 244 marks, while for SC, ST and OBC candidates it is 226 marks.
Although the marks are lower, the qualifying percentile has not changed much. The 50th percentile for General and EWS, the 45th percentile for General PwD, and the 40th percentile for SC, ST, OBC and other PwD candidates remain the same as before.
Comparing with previous years, in 2021 the cutoff for General and EWS was 302 marks, for General PwBD it was 283, and for SC, ST, OBC (including PwBD) it was 265 marks. In 2022 this fell to 275, 260 and 245 marks respectively. In 2023 it rose slightly to 291, 274 and 257 marks. In 2024 the cutoff was fixed by percentile rather than marks, that is the 50th, 45th and 40th percentile. In 2025 the cutoff was 276, 255 and 235 marks, and now in 2026 it has come down to 262, 244 and 226 marks.
Experts say a lower cutoff should not be taken to mean it has become easier to get a postgraduate medical seat this year. According to Dr Rohan Krishnan, chief patron and co-founder of the FAIMA Doctors Association, the changing exam pattern, rising competition and growing number of coaching options have affected students' preparation. He said that because of different sources, students often do not understand what and how exactly to study, and that a strong grounding in basics during MBBS is essential, since students with a weaker base end up depending more on coaching.
Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson of the IMA Junior Doctors Network, said the cutoff depends on several factors, such as how difficult the paper was, how candidates performed, how the marks were distributed, how many candidates appeared for the exam and how many postgraduate seats are available. He said that if the exam was tougher or students' performance was lower than the previous year, the marks required could be lower even if the percentile stays the same, so a lower cutoff score does not directly mean students are less capable.
This time a major change has been made regarding the answer key and recorded responses in NEET PG. For the first time, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences will give candidates complete details of the question ID, the correct answer, their own submitted answer and the marks obtained. According to an NBEMS notice, the answer key will be made available by October 1, 2026, which candidates will be able to view using their login details. Even after the result, candidates will be able to compare their answers with the official answer key.
