For the general category, the expected closing marks for Kerala NEET UG 2026 in top government medical colleges range from 590 to 660 marks out of 720, based on 2024 and 2025 counselling trends.
Kerala conducts NEET UG-based state counselling through the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala). Government medical colleges in the state attract intense competition, and the general category cutoff has risen consistently year on year. With NEET UG 2026 results expected in June 2026, students can use previous-year closing marks to assess their college chances before counselling begins.
- Exam total marks: 720 (NEET UG)
- Top colleges like GMC Thiruvananthapuram and GMC Kozhikode had closing marks above 630 in 2025 for the general category.
- Expected 2026 general category cutoff for top government colleges: 648–660 marks out of 720.
- The minimum qualifying percentile for general category students is the 50th percentile in NEET UG.
- State counselling is conducted by CEE Kerala at cee.kerala.gov.in.
| Direct Link to Kerala NEET UG 2026 Counselling – CEE Kerala (Activates After Result) |
Kerala NEET UG 2026 General Category Cutoff Overview
The Kerala NEET UG cutoff for the general category is the closing score at which open merit seats fill in government medical colleges during CEE Kerala counselling rounds. This is separate from the NEET UG qualifying cutoff — the minimum percentile set by NTA to be eligible for counselling, which is the 50th percentile for general category students.
CEE Kerala prepares a state merit list using NEET UG scores. General category (state merit) seats go to students who meet Kerala domicile or study-in-Kerala eligibility criteria and do not fall under any reserved category. Seats are allotted in multiple rounds — Round 1, Round 2, and the Mop-Up Round.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala) |
| Official Portal | cee.kerala.gov.in |
| NEET UG Total Marks | 720 |
| General Category Qualifying Percentile | 50th percentile |
| State Quota | 85% of total government college MBBS seats |
| Counselling Rounds | Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round |
Previous Year General Category Cutoff (2024 and 2025)
Reviewing previous-year closing marks is the most reliable way to estimate what score is needed for a specific college. The table below shows approximate closing marks for general category (state merit) students in Kerala government medical colleges for 2024 and 2025. Closing marks represent the lowest score at which a seat was allotted in the final counselling round for that year.
| Government Medical College | 2025 Closing Marks (Approx.) | 2024 Closing Marks (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Thiruvananthapuram | 641 | 624 |
| GMC Kozhikode | 636 | 616 |
| GMC Thrissur | 627 | 608 |
| GMC Kottayam | 619 | 602 |
| GMC Alappuzha | 615 | 598 |
| GMC Ernakulam | 608 | 592 |
| GMC Manjeri | 597 | 580 |
| GMC Palakkad | 590 | 573 |
Expected General Category Cutoff 2026
Based on 2025 closing marks and the year-on-year upward trend, the expected general category cutoff for Kerala government medical colleges in 2026 is 585–660 marks out of 720. Top-tier colleges are expected to close above 648 marks, while less competitive government colleges may close around 590–610 marks.
Closing marks have risen by approximately 10–17 marks per college annually over the past two years. If NEET UG 2026 is slightly easier than 2025, competition will intensify further and the upward shift could be steeper. Students scoring above 640 marks can expect strong chances at multiple Kerala government colleges.
| College Tier | Expected General Category Closing Marks 2026 |
|---|---|
| Top Government Colleges (Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode) | 648–660 |
| Mid-Tier Government Colleges (Thrissur, Kottayam, Alappuzha) | 618–642 |
| Other Government Colleges (Ernakulam, Manjeri, Palakkad) | 585–612 |
College-wise Expected General Category Cutoff for 2026
The table below provides college-wise expected closing marks for the general category in Kerala government MBBS colleges for 2026. All figures are estimates based on 2025 counselling trends and should not be treated as official or confirmed cutoffs.
| Government Medical College | Expected Closing Marks 2026 (General Category) |
|---|---|
| GMC Thiruvananthapuram | 648–660 |
| GMC Kozhikode | 640–652 |
| GMC Thrissur | 630–642 |
| GMC Kottayam | 622–634 |
| GMC Alappuzha | 618–630 |
| GMC Ernakulam | 610–622 |
| GMC Manjeri | 600–612 |
| GMC Palakkad | 590–602 |
Factors Affecting Kerala NEET UG 2026 Cutoff
The actual closing marks in 2026 will depend on several variables. Students should keep these in mind when setting score targets:
- NEET UG 2026 difficulty level: A tougher paper lowers average scores and can push the cutoff down. An easier paper raises competition and pushes it higher.
- Number of qualified students: More students crossing the NEET qualifying percentile means greater competition for the fixed number of state quota seats.
- Total seat intake: Any increase in government college MBBS seat strength in Kerala can ease competition and lower the cutoff marginally.
- Reservation matrix: Open merit seats for the general category are fixed; changes in reservation policy can affect how many seats are available in this pool.
- Round-wise variation: Closing marks in Round 1 are the highest. Round 2 and the mop-up round may see lower cutoffs as unfilled seats open to students with lower scores.
- Choice filling patterns: Consistently high demand for GMC Thiruvananthapuram and GMC Kozhikode keeps their cutoffs at the top of the list every year.
Kerala NEET UG 2026 General Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected general category cutoff for Kerala NEET UG 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected general category closing marks for top Kerala government medical colleges in 2026 are 648–660 out of 720. For other government colleges, the expected range is 585–612 marks. All figures are estimates and not confirmed official cutoffs.
Ques. Who prepares the state merit list for Kerala NEET UG counselling?
Ans. The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala) prepares the state merit list using NEET UG scores. Students can access the merit list and counselling schedule on the official portal at cee.kerala.gov.in.
Ques. What is the minimum NEET score needed for a general category student to get a government MBBS seat in Kerala?
Ans. Based on past counselling data, general category students typically need at least 585–600 marks out of 720 to have a realistic chance at a Kerala government college. For top colleges like GMC Thiruvananthapuram, scores above 640 are generally required.
Ques. Does the cutoff differ across counselling rounds in Kerala?
Ans. Yes. Round 1 closing marks are the highest. Round 2 and the mop-up round may have slightly lower cutoffs at some colleges as unfilled seats become available to students with lower NEET scores.
Ques. Are there separate cutoffs for SC, ST, and OBC categories in Kerala NEET UG?
Ans. Yes. CEE Kerala maintains separate rank lists and cutoffs for reserved categories including SC, ST, OBC, and EWS. General category students compete only for open merit seats and are not eligible for reserved category seats.
Ques. When will the official Kerala NEET UG 2026 cutoff be released?
Ans. The official cutoff is published after each counselling round on cee.kerala.gov.in. It is typically made available a few weeks after NEET UG 2026 results are declared, which is expected in June 2026.
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