NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Expected Cutoff: Category-Wise Closing Marks for General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS

NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 expected cutoff is predicted to be around 265–285 marks for General category and 200–218 marks for ST category out of 960 total marks, based on NEET MDS 2025 qualifying cutoff trends published by NBEMS.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is expected to release the NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 seat allotment on July 23, 2026 at natboard.edu.in. Round 1 of NEET MDS counselling determines which students secure MDS seats in dental colleges across India. The closing cutoff for Round 1 is typically higher than the minimum qualifying cutoff set by NBEMS, as it reflects actual competition among all qualified students for available seats. Predictions below are based on NEET MDS 2025 qualifying cutoff data and assume a broadly similar exam difficulty and seat matrix for 2026.

• NEET MDS 2026 carries 960 total marks across 240 questions — each correct answer fetches +4 marks and each wrong answer attracts a penalty of −1 mark.
• The minimum qualifying percentile is 50th percentile for General and EWS students and 40th percentile for OBC-NCL, SC and ST students.
• In NEET MDS 2025, the initial qualifying cutoff was 261 marks for General/EWS (50th percentile) and 227 marks for OBC-NCL/SC/ST (40th percentile).
• NBEMS revised the 2025 qualifying cutoff downward in August 2025 to the 30.137th percentile (197 marks) for General/EWS and 20.137th percentile (168 marks) for OBC-NCL/SC/ST.
• Round 1 closing cutoffs are expected to be higher than the qualifying cutoff due to competition for limited MDS seats at government dental colleges.

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NEET MDS 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff — Category-Wise

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score a student must achieve to be declared eligible for NEET MDS 2026 counselling. Students below this mark cannot participate in any round of counselling, regardless of seat availability. NBEMS sets this as a percentile threshold, and the corresponding marks depend on how well the overall test-taking population performs. Based on NEET MDS 2025 patterns, the expected initial qualifying cutoffs for 2026 are:

These are expected figures for 2026 based on 2025 trends and will be officially declared by NBEMS after the NEET MDS 2026 result. If fewer students than expected achieve the qualifying threshold, NBEMS may revise the cutoff downward — as it did in August 2025, when qualifying marks for General/EWS were lowered from 261 to 197 and for OBC-NCL/SC/ST from 227 to 168.

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NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Expected Closing Cutoff

The Round 1 closing cutoff is the score at which all seats in the first round of NEET MDS 2026 counselling are filled. This is higher than the qualifying cutoff, as more students clear the qualifying threshold than there are seats available in Round 1. Students who score above the closing cutoff can reasonably expect a seat in Round 1, while others may need to participate in Round 2 or the Stray Vacancy Round. The expected category-wise Round 1 closing cutoff for NEET MDS 2026 is:

These are predicted values based on NEET MDS 2025 trends and are subject to change. Closing cutoffs for high-demand MDS specialties such as Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pedodontics, and Conservative Dentistry can run 50–100 marks above the general Round 1 closing figures shown here. The official Round 1 closing cutoff will be published on natboard.edu.in on or after July 23, 2026.

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NEET MDS 2025 Cutoff Reference Data

NEET MDS 2025 qualifying cutoff data from NBEMS provides the clearest reference point for predicting 2026 cutoffs. The table below captures both the initial cutoff declared at the time of result and the revised cutoff that NBEMS issued on August 10, 2025:

The 2025 downward revision of 19.863 percentile points was applied uniformly across all categories to ensure sufficient students were available to fill all MDS seats nationwide. Students targeting NEET MDS 2026 counselling should track the official result and any cutoff revision notice on natboard.edu.in, as a similar revision is possible depending on how many students qualify in 2026.

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Factors Affecting NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Cutoff

Several variables shape where the NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 closing cutoff ultimately lands. Keeping these in mind can help you assess your chances more accurately:

• Total MDS seat matrix: If NBEMS approves more MDS seats for 2026 at government or central dental colleges, the Round 1 closing cutoff may ease slightly as more students secure seats in the first round.
• Number of qualified students: A larger pool of students clearing the qualifying threshold intensifies competition for Round 1 seats and pushes the closing cutoff upward.
• NEET MDS 2026 exam difficulty: A harder paper lowers raw scores across the board, which generally brings the closing cutoff down. An easier paper tends to raise it.
• Specialty-wise preference: High-demand specialties like Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Pedodontics consistently have closing marks well above the general category threshold. Less popular specialties may fill at scores closer to the qualifying cutoff.
• Category seat distribution: Reserved seats for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and EWS are allocated separately. The closing cutoff in each category depends on the scores and preferences of applicants in that group, not the General category pool.
• NBEMS cutoff revision policy: If the number of qualified students falls short of what is needed to fill all seats, NBEMS may lower the qualifying threshold — as it did in 2025 — which effectively expands the counselling pool and can soften Round 1 closing marks.