NEET MDS 2026 Expected Cutoff: Category-wise Closing Ranks for General, OBC, SC, ST and EWS

The expected NEET MDS 2026 qualifying cutoff for General category students is approximately 451–480 marks out of 960, with AIQ closing ranks anticipated in the range of 1 to 1,000 based on NEET MDS 2024 and 2025 counselling trends.

NEET MDS 2026 is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for admission to Master of Dental Surgery programs across India. The official cutoff will be released by NBEMS after result declaration on natboard.edu.in. Until then, you can use expected cutoffs based on previous year patterns to assess your eligibility and plan your AIQ counselling choices.

• NEET MDS 2026 qualifying percentile for General and EWS: 50th percentile
• Qualifying percentile for OBC, SC, and ST students: 40th percentile
• Expected General category cutoff score: 451–480 marks out of 960
• AIQ counselling covers 15% of government dental college MDS seats
• Counselling authority: NBEMS via natboard.edu.in
• NEET MDS 2026 counselling is expected from July 18, 2026 onwards

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NEET MDS 2026 Qualifying Cutoff Expected

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile you must score in NEET MDS 2026 to be eligible for counselling. Students who fall below this threshold are not considered for any MDS seat allocation under AIQ or state quota. NBEMS sets this percentile category-wise as per central reservation policy. Based on the pattern followed in NEET MDS 2023, 2024, and 2025, the expected qualifying cutoff for NEET MDS 2026 is given below.

These score ranges are expected estimates based on NEET MDS 2024 and 2025 qualifying cutoff data. The official cutoff will be published by NBEMS along with the result on natboard.edu.in.

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NEET MDS 2026 Category-wise AIQ Closing Ranks Expected

The AIQ closing rank is the rank of the last student allotted a seat in a given category during NEET MDS counselling. AIQ covers 15% of MDS seats in government dental colleges and 100% of seats in central institutions such as AIIMS and central universities. The expected category-wise AIQ closing ranks for NEET MDS 2026, based on 2024 and 2025 trends, are as follows:

These ranks are expected estimates based on NEET MDS AIQ counselling data from 2024 and 2025. Actual closing ranks will vary with the final seat matrix, total number of students who qualify, and choices filled during NEET MDS 2026 counselling rounds.

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NEET MDS 2026 Specialty-wise Expected Closing Ranks

Closing ranks in NEET MDS AIQ counselling differ widely by specialty. High-demand branches such as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, and Prosthodontics consistently attract top-ranked students, while branches like Public Health Dentistry and Oral Medicine tend to remain accessible at comparatively relaxed ranks. The table below shows expected AIQ closing ranks for General category students across major MDS specialties, based on 2024–2025 AIQ counselling patterns:

These are expected closing ranks for General category AIQ seats based on 2024–2025 trends. For OBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories, closing ranks in each specialty are typically more relaxed due to reserved seats across branches. Students should exercise choices strategically during counselling to maximise their chances of a preferred specialty.

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Previous Year NEET MDS Cutoff Trends

Reviewing the NEET MDS qualifying cutoff over recent years helps you estimate what to expect in 2026. The General category qualifying score has shown a gradual upward trend, reflecting increased competition. The table below compiles the approximate qualifying cutoff scores from NEET MDS 2023 to 2025 for quick reference:

The consistent upward movement in cutoff scores across all categories indicates rising competition year on year. For NEET MDS 2026, a similar or marginally higher cutoff than 2025 is expected, provided the exam difficulty remains comparable.

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Factors Affecting NEET MDS 2026 Cutoff

The NEET MDS 2026 cutoff and AIQ closing ranks are shaped by multiple variables. Knowing these helps you interpret the expected data and plan your counselling strategy better.

• Total AIQ seats available: An increase in MDS seats at government colleges directly relaxes closing ranks across all categories.
• Exam difficulty: A tougher paper depresses absolute marks and lowers the qualifying score threshold; an easier paper does the opposite.
• Number of qualified students: More students clearing the qualifying percentile increases the competition pool and tightens AIQ closing ranks.
• Category-wise reservation: OBC, SC, ST, and EWS students compete within their reserved quota, resulting in more accessible closing ranks within each category compared to the General pool.
• Choice filling trends: If most students prioritise high-demand specialties, closing ranks for those branches tighten sharply while less-popular specialties remain open at higher ranks.
• New MDS colleges or seat additions: Any addition of seats approved by the Dental Council of India before the 2026 seat matrix is finalised can ease overall closing ranks.