NEET 2026 EWS Category Cutoff: Expected Qualifying Marks and Percentile

NEET 2026 EWS category qualifying cutoff is expected to fall between 140 and 165 out of 720 marks, corresponding to the 50th percentile — the same threshold that applies to the General (UR) category.

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation has been part of NEET admissions since 2019, giving EWS-certified students access to 10% of All India Quota (AIQ) MBBS and BDS seats. To receive a valid NEET 2026 scorecard and participate in counselling, EWS students must clear the same qualifying percentile as General category students. Knowing where the cutoff is likely to land helps you plan your target score and assess admission chances in government medical colleges under AIQ.

• NEET 2026 EWS qualifying percentile: 50th percentile (same as General/UR category).
• Expected NEET 2026 EWS qualifying marks: 140–165 out of 720, based on 2020–2024 trends.
• EWS seats in AIQ: 10% of the 27% AIQ pool in government medical and dental colleges.
• EWS-PH qualifying percentile: 45th percentile; expected marks: 118–130 out of 720.
• Official NEET 2026 cutoff will be published by NTA alongside the result, expected in July 2026.

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EWS Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff

Two separate cutoffs matter for EWS students, and confusing them is a common mistake.

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile NTA requires for a valid NEET scorecard. Scoring below this means you cannot apply for admissions in any category. For EWS students this sits at the 50th percentile — identical to the UR/General threshold. The admission cutoff is the closing rank at which the last EWS seat fills in each college during AIQ counselling, run by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). This varies by college, course, and counselling round, and is always a better (lower) rank number than the qualifying cutoff alone would imply.

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Previous Year NEET EWS Qualifying Cutoff Trends

The 50th percentile benchmark for EWS has been constant since 2019. However, the raw marks that correspond to this percentile shift each year based on how difficult the paper is. The table below captures the confirmed qualifying marks for EWS and General students from 2020 to 2024:

The qualifying marks have ranged from 117 to 164 over five years. A single easy exam year can shift the threshold by 30–40 marks. The EWS-PH category, held to the 45th percentile, consistently sees qualifying marks roughly 25–35 marks below the EWS General figure.

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Expected NEET 2026 EWS Cutoff Marks and Percentile

Based on the five-year trend above, here are the expected qualifying cutoff marks for EWS students in NEET 2026. These are estimates based on historical data and are not confirmed figures.

If the NEET 2026 paper follows moderate difficulty, the EWS qualifying marks are expected around 155–165 out of 720. A tougher paper would bring this closer to 130–145. Your qualifying percentile threshold of 50th stays fixed regardless — only the corresponding marks change.

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NEET EWS AIQ Closing Ranks — Previous Year Reference

Clearing the qualifying cutoff is only the first step. For AIQ MBBS admissions, you need a competitive rank within the EWS pool. EWS seats make up 10% of the 27% AIQ allocation in government medical colleges. The following closing ranks are based on NEET 2024 AIQ counselling data and are provided as a reference for gauging competition. These are indicative figures based on 2024 trends and not confirmed NEET 2026 data.

EWS closing ranks are often more favourable than UR closing ranks at the same college since you compete only against other EWS-certified students. The exact NEET 2026 AIQ EWS closing ranks will be determined during MCC AIQ counselling after the result is released.

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Factors Affecting NEET 2026 EWS Cutoff

The EWS qualifying cutoff (percentile) is fixed at 50th by NTA policy. What actually moves is the marks corresponding to that percentile, and the admission closing ranks. Several factors drive both:

• Paper difficulty: A tougher paper compresses scores in the middle of the distribution, lowering the raw marks at the 50th percentile. An easier paper does the reverse.
• Total number of test-takers: NEET 2026 is expected to see over 22 lakh registrations. A larger candidate pool affects score distribution and the rank corresponding to a given score.
• Number of EWS-certified applicants in counselling: More EWS students registering for AIQ counselling directly increases competition for EWS seats and tightens admission closing ranks.
• AIQ seat matrix: Any increase in MBBS seats at central or deemed government colleges under AIQ expands EWS availability and can ease admission closing ranks.
• Supreme Court or policy decisions: Changes to EWS income or asset criteria, or any reservation-related judicial orders issued before counselling, could alter the eligible pool.