Pro Tip: If you are aiming for top-tier institutes like AIIMS Delhi or MAMC, you should target nothing less than 705–715 due to the extreme "score inflation" seen in recent years.

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3. The 15% All India Quota (AIQ) vs. 85% State Quota

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Your chances of admission depend heavily on which counseling path you take.

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15% All India Quota (AIQ)

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Managed by the MCC, this allows students from any state to apply for seats in any GMC across India. Because the pool of candidates is national, the cutoff is much higher. Usually, a General category student needs 620+ to feel safe here.

 

85% State Quota

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Reserved for students with domicile in that particular state. In states like Assam, Chhattisgarh, or Odisha, the cutoff can be lower, sometimes allowing General category students to get a seat at 560–580 marks. However, in high-competition states like Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the state quota cutoff is often nearly as high as the AIQ.

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4. State-Wise Expected Cutoffs for 2026

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While exact marks depend on the 2026 paper's difficulty, here are the historical trends for General category seats under State Quota:

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• High-Cutoff States (Target 630+): Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar.

• Moderate-Cutoff States (Target 590–610): Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat.

• Low-Cutoff States (Target 550–575): Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh.

 

5. Minimum Marks for Top Medical Colleges

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If your dream is a "Platinum" college, the minimum marks required are significantly higher than the average GMC.

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• AIIMS New Delhi: Top 50 AIR (Expected marks: 715+)

• VMMC & Safdarjung, Delhi: Closing Rank ~130-150 (Expected marks: 705+)

• King George’s Medical University (KGMU): Closing Rank ~1600 (Expected marks: 680+)

• Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai: Closing Rank ~400-600 (Expected marks: 690+)

 

6. Factors Affecting the 2026 Cutoff

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Why do the "minimum marks" keep increasing every year?

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1. Aspirant Inflation: Over 24 lakh students are expected to appear in 2026.

2. Paper Difficulty: If the Physics or Chemistry section is easier, the cutoff can jump by 15–20 marks.

3. New GMCs: The government frequently adds new medical colleges, which adds seats and helps lower the cutoff slightly.

4. Preparation Quality: With the rise of quality online coaching, more students are scoring in the 600+ range than ever before.

 

7. What to do if you score below the GMC Cutoff?

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If you fall short of the 600-mark barrier, you still have excellent options:

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• BDS (Dentistry): Government dental seats are often available at 450–550 marks.

• BAMS/BHMS: Ayurvedic and Homeopathic government seats usually close around 350–500 marks.

• MBBS Abroad: You can study in NMC-approved colleges in Russia or Georgia with just the qualifying marks (150-170).

• Private Medical Colleges: If you have the budget, seats are available at lower scores, but fees are high.

 

Conclusion

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To guarantee an MBBS seat in a Government Medical College in 2026, a General category student should not aim for the "minimum." Instead, set a target of 650+ in your mock tests. This provides a buffer against paper difficulty and negative marking.

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NEET 2025 Expected Cutoff for Govt. vs Private Medical Colleges

This video provides a detailed state-wise analysis of the latest NEET cutoff trends to help you set a realistic target for your 2026 preparation.

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8. NEET 2026 Expected Marks vs Rank (AIQ)

 

The following table is a predictive model based on 2024 and 2025 trends. It shows how the same score can result in different ranks due to "rank inflation"—where more students score higher marks each year.