NEET UG 2026 cutoff surges, students fear government medical seats may slip despite 600 marks
The steep rise in NEET-UG qualifying cutoffs has some medical aspirants worried about their chances of getting seats in government medical colleges. Students have expressed frustration with the higher cutoffs after retests, with many questioning whether scores between 500 and 600 would be enough to meet this year’s entry requirements.Aspirants say the increase has created uncertainty, especially for students who have spent years preparing for the exams. Many people pointed out that despite years of preparing for the exam, their scores have not improved significantly, while many first-time takers have achieved high scores after re-exams.• Rickshaw driver’s grandson becomes first person from Bihar to crack NEET UG, advises aspirants to stay consistent
Eligibility cutoffs see big jump across categories
The minimum qualifying marks for NEET-UG have increased significantly from last year. The cutoff for General and EWS categories has increased from 144 to 213 points, while that of OBC, SC and ST categories has increased from 113 to 177 points.
Students say the sudden increase in qualifying scores adds to the stress of the admissions process. They also pointed out that the proportion of general category candidates among eligible students has dropped by about 3% compared to last year.
Aspirants seek clear admission opportunities
Some students have expressed concerns about the impact of high scores on admissions to government medical schools. They question how candidates who score around 500 to 600 points will compete when more students move into higher-scoring groups.Students said that the re-examination has played a role in raising their scores, with many candidates scoring close to 700 points. Some candidates also questioned why their scores had not improved despite three years of preparation, especially when some students thought the retest papers were easier.
CBSE advisory group receives stress-related queries
The rise in cutoffs has led to a spike in inquiries from the CBSE advisory panel. Counselors have received numerous calls from students seeking guidance on enrollment possibilities and future options.CBSE consultant Dr Pramod Kumar said the highest number of inquiries were from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He added that most students are concerned about increased eligibility deadlines and uncertainty about admissions.Individual experts in the tutoring room received more than 100 calls a day, and many students expressed stress about the results after years of preparation.
Experts explain impact on medical admissions
NEET preparation expert Aditya explains that the increase in the eligibility cut-off indicates that more students have secured higher marks compared to previous years. He said the change could affect admissions requirements, particularly to public medical schools.Competition for government medical seats is expected to become fiercer and even candidates with 600 marks may face uncertainty during the admission process, he said.
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