Understanding the NEET Reservation System

The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is one of the most popular exams in the Indian subcontinent. Each year, more than 20 lakh students apply for this cut-throat competitive exam, and only 50-60% of students can qualify. The actual process of seeking admission begins once the results are out, as a student’s marks play an important role in deciding the college where they will secure their medical seat. Along with marks, another crucial factor that affects the admission process is the reservation system, which reserves a certain percentage of seats for students who belong to reserved castes, are economically deprived, or have physical disabilities. Currently, the reservation in NEET is complicated, with lots of layers to understand. It can sometimes be confusing for students to find out and understand the NEET UG Admissions details and benefit from them accordingly. In this blog, we have collected and simplified all information related to the NEET reservation system so that you can benefit from it. In case you need further information regarding NEET counselling, you can reach out to top medical education consultancy agencies like Mediplor.

NEET is an entrance examination taken by students for the reward of an undergraduate medical degree called Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). It is the only exam in India through which students can secure admission into medical, dental, and other alternative medicine (like homeopathy/ayurveda) courses in the private and public universities of India. This particular examination is conducted only once a year and has strict guidelines that are expected to be followed by the students.

The NEET reservation system specifically mentions that 15% of the total seats come under the All India Quota. Counseling is supervised by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which allocates these seats to eligible students based on their NEET result and the cut-off for that particular category. Each year, the cutoff changes based on the overall performance of students in the examination. The rest of the 85% of seats are occupied by students who live in the state in which the medical college is situated. They are also called state quota seats and can have their own reservation system, which is different from the one established by the centre.

Importance of reservation in NEET

After a student has qualified for the NEET examination, the strenuous task of NEET counseling begins, through which students get admission into esteemed medical universities all over the country. There are multiple reasons why reservations have been made a part of such an important examination of the country. The said categories have either faced discrimination in the past in terms of career opportunities or are facing difficulties in prospering in today’s world. Ultimately, even if a small group of society struggles to come forward and make progress, the growth/development of the whole country can be hindered. Although every now and then, the policies and people’s views regarding the validation of reservations are questioned, they are aimed at bringing a positive change in society so that the previously wronged and currently deserving candidates can benefit from the reservations. In case you are wondering whether there is women reservation in NEET, then you must remember that there is no reservation in NEET based on gender.

Understanding the Neet Reservation System

The reservation in medical colleges in India for students belonging to different categories is as follows.

Scheduled Castes (SCs)- The SC quota in NEET is around 15%. It is one of the most economically and socially limited classes of India. In the previous year, the cut-off for SCs was a score between 107-136 or 40%.
Scheduled Tribes (STs)- ST reservation in NEET is 7.5% of the MBBS seats are reserved for STs. The minimum marks required for students belonging to this section of society, as previously observed, are between 108 and 120.
Other Backward Classes (OBCs)- Reservation for OBC in NEET is 27%. OBC quota in NEET is also the highest among all other classifications. Previous results show that a student’s merit needs to be between 107 and 136 to be able to apply for this classification.
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)- The EWS category is different from the reservations as it does not take into consideration the castes of the students. It is supposed to benefit those students who are financially unsound and desire leniency in their cut-offs. There is a 10% reservation for NEET candidates. Previously, the EWS category’s cut-off score ranged between 121 and 136.
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)- The students belonging to the PwD category are entitled to a 5% reservation in medical colleges. People with temporary or extremely minor physical inconveniences will not be eligible to apply through PwD. However, permanent impairments or disabilities like loss of speech, hearing problems, psychological problems, or physical conditions that compel a student to use prosthetics or a wheelchair are recognized.

It is strongly advised that students should not rely on the merits written above completely. This data is obtained from cut-offs of the previous year. Each year, new cut-offs are introduced once the NEET entrance exam concludes and the results are out.

The state quota seats dominate the AIQ seats with 85% reservation. Other than students belonging to/residing in the state itself, applicants who are from corresponding states and union territories are also allowed to claim and register for seats. The merit score of your NEET examination is the primary factor that decides your eligibility.

NEET Reservation Criteria for Various States in India

State	Eligibility Criteria
1. Andhra Pradesh	– The distribution of seats is done for local and non-local candidates. Non-locals can claim only 15% of unreserved seats. – Local candidates should have completed school/college in Andhra Pradesh for at least 4 consecutive years. – Locals must have resided in the state for 4 or more successive years. – If an applicant is not a local of the state but has studied there for 7 continuous years, then they are also eligible for the state quota. – Applicants whose lawfully wedded partners are employees of the central/state government, universities, and the public sector.
2.Arunachal Pradesh	Applicant must have – Resided in the state for more than 20 consecutive years, or – Studied in any recognized school in Assam from Class 7 to 12.
3. Assam	Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria: – 80% of seats are reserved for the APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) category. – 20% of seats are for Non-APST candidates, including children of Non-APST State Government employees, Central Government and PSU employees, and others who have lived in Arunachal Pradesh for at least 3 years and passed Class 12 or equivalent from a school in Arunachal Pradesh.
4. Bihar	Applicant’s parents – Should be residents of Bihar, or, – Employees of the Bihar government. They do not necessarily have to belong to the state, or, – Posted in Bihar, but are employed with the central government or a PSU.
5. Chhattisgarh	Candidates must: – Born in Chhattisgarh, or – Hold a domicile status in the state, or – Completed their Class 12 education from an institution affiliated with the Chhattisgarh Board or any other board recognized by the state administration, or – Parent (s) must be employees of the Central Government or the Government of Chhattisgarh and must reside in the state.
6. Goa	Candidates must meet the following domicile rules: – Must have resided in Goa for at least 10 years, or – Their parents or grandparents were born in Goa and should have state residency for at least 5 consecutive years, or, – Must have passed higher secondary from a school recognized by the Educational Board in Goa.
7. Gujarat	Applicant should be: – Either a citizen of India or an Overseas Citizen of India. – Born in Gujarat or hold a domicile in Gujarat. They must have completed Class 10 and 12 from any of the five education boards recognized by the state (Gujarat Board, CBSE, CISCE, ISB, and NIOS), provided their school is located within Gujarat. – Parent/s serving in All India Services, Gujarat Government Services posted outside Gujarat, or in Defense services with Gujarat domicile but stationed outside the state, are eligible. – Born outside Gujarat but completed Class 10 and 12 within the state, must produce domicile certificates. Their parent/s must also be residents of Gujarat. – Born in the UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, are exempt from providing Gujarat domicile proof. – Studied up to Std. 8 in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), as well as those who completed Std. 12 in JNVs outside Gujarat, are eligible.
8. Haryana	Candidate: – – must have lived in Haryana for at least 10 years, or – completed their Class 12 from a recognized school established within Haryana, or – should be bona fide residents of Haryana.
9. Himachal Pradesh	The candidate must be an – An Indian citizen or an NRI/OCI/PIO or a Foreign national candidate. – Must have passed the NEET UG entrance examination. – Should be at least 17 years of age. – Pass 10+2 level education with PCB and English education or equivalent from a recognized board of India. – Must have secured at least 50% marks and 40% marks for reserved category candidates.
10. Jharkhand	S/he – Must be a local or a permanent resident of Jharkhand. They must provide certificates proving their permanent residency issued by competent authorities, or – Be a domicile holder of Jharkhand who has completed Class XII from the Jharkhand Board are also eligible.
11. Karnataka	The candidate must have – Completed Class 12th from schools established within Karnataka and affiliated with the state or Central government. – Residency within the state for a minimum of 7 consecutive years, or studying in any school within Karnataka with at least one parent residing in the state for 7 years. – Proficiency in Kannada, Tulu, or Kodava languages, with parents being permanent residents of Karnataka. – Candidates from disputed Kannada-speaking regions are required to pass the Kannada Language Test. There are certain special provisions for children of Defense Personnel serving for at least 1 year.
12. Kerala	a) Keralite Category: Candidates of Kerala origin and children of All India Service Officers posted in Kerala are eligible for communal reservations or fee concessions. b) Non-Keralite Category I (NK-I): Candidates who have studied in Kerala and have parents working with the Government of India or Government of Kerala, or who have resided in Kerala during their study period. c) Non-Keralite Category II (NK-II): Aspirants not falling under NK-I are eligible only for open quota management seats in private self-financing medical colleges in Kerala.
13. Madhya Pradesh	Only candidates who are legal residents of Madhya Pradesh are eligible for the 85% state reservation in MP NEET. Additionally, the following candidates are also eligible for NEET, who are: – Children of Freedom Fighters, or – Dependents of Defense Personnel, or – Candidates whose parent(s) are Government of India employees and are currently posted in Madhya Pradesh.
14. Maharashtra	Applicants – who have completed secondary or senior secondary level examinations from Maharashtra. – Holding a domicile certificate that proves residence of 10 years or more. – Whose parents are employees of the Indian government or are posted on duty in Maharashtra. -In some cases, preference can be given to applicants whose mother tongue is Marathi or who have birth certificates of the said state.
15. Manipur	Only individuals who are permanent residents or domicile holders of Manipur are eligible to benefit from the 85% state quota reservation.
16. Meghalaya	Candidates must be: – Be a permanent resident of any of the 8 Northeastern states in India, or, – Must have completed their 11th and 12th grades from a school recognized by the state and central governments.
17. Mizoram	Candidates must be a resident Indian national and a permanent resident/domicile of Mizoram, in order to avail the state quota reservation.
18. Nagaland	S/he must be a resident of the state.
19. Odisha	S/he must be a permanent native of Odisha, OR a child of a Civil Service officer serving in Odisha.
20. Punjab	Candidates: – Whose parent(s) served with the Central Government of India, the Punjab Government, or the All India Services have passed away, or – Who are dependents of deceased Central Government employees who were stationed in Punjab for at least two out of three years immediately before their Class XII exams, even if they were temporarily posted outside Punjab during that period, or – Born in Punjab and are children of deceased Defense or Paramilitary Personnel, or – Whose parents are serving as defense personnel stationed in Punjab, or – Has an NRI or Minority quota.
21. Rajasthan	The candidate must be – a certified resident of Rajasthan, or – his/her parent/s must have resided in Rajasthan for at least 10 years, with the candidate studying in the state from classes VIII to XII, or – Their parent/s must be serving or are retired government employees of Rajasthan with a minimum of 3 years of service at the time of online registration, or – must be the natural child of a serving or retired Defense/Para-Military personnel originating from Rajasthan, or – their parents are serving as permanent Defense Personnel who are posted in the state, or – S/he is the child of a Judge of the Rajasthan High Court, not benefiting from similar criteria in any other state.
22. Sikkim	Candidate – must be an Indian citizen and either have been born in Sikkim, have resided in Sikkim for at least fifteen years, or – Have immovable property in Sikkim. – is the wife or minor child of a Sikkim resident, or a former government employee of Sikkim, or is married to a resident of the state.
23. Tamil Nadu	Candidates must be: – bona fide residents of Tamil Nadu, or – have attended school from class 6th to 12th in Tamil Nadu, or – have domicile status of Tamil Nadu but have studied partially or fully outside the state, or – have not applied as natives of any other state besides Tamil Nadu, or – If they are an NRI or a PIO, they need to apply under the management quota, following government rules.
24. Telangana	S/he must be: – residing in Telangana continuously for at least 4 years, or – have been in Telangana for at least 7 consecutive years for academic or other purposes, or – Studied in any school within Telangana for at least 7 years, or – resided in Telangana for at least 10 years, or – have parents who have lived in the state for 10 consecutive years, excluding their years of employment outside the state, or – have a spouse employed in Public Corporations, Central, State, or Government institutions within Telangana.
25. Tripura	Applicant must be a: – Permanent resident of the state, or – have resided in Tripura for a minimum of 10 years before the application deadline, or – an All India Services officer born in the Tripura cadre, or – is a Tripura State Government employee stationed outside the state.
26. Uttar Pradesh	S/he must be – a native of UP, and their father must also be a resident of UP. – whose parent/s have lived in UP for at least 3 years. – whose parent/s work for the Government of India. – Have completed their Class X and XII education in UP. They do not need to provide a domicile certificate, but they need to provide proof of their parent/s’ UP residency.
27. Uttarakhand	Applicant must be a: – Permanent resident of Uttarakhand, and passed Class 10th and 12th from a reputed academic institute in the state, or – are permanent residents or have domicile status of Uttarakhand, but have passed Class 10th and 12th from an institute outside the state.
28. West Bengal	S/he must be : – residing in the state for the past 10 years, or – Passed 10+2 from W.B. and lived in the state for the past 10 years, or – are not residing in the state, but their parents have been living in the state for the past 10 years.

NEET Reservation Criteria for Various Union Territories in India

State/ UT	Eligibility Criteria
1.Andaman & Nicobar Islands	– Candidate must be a domicile holder of this Union Territory.
2. Chandigarh	– If the parents of the applicant are residents of Chandigarh for 5 continuous years right before the child’s NEET application. – Applicants who have studied in an educational institute that comes under the Union Territory of the state (regular mode only). – Applicant whose parents are central/state government employees. – A private organization where the state administration has a stake of 20% or more and the applicant’s parents are employees there. – Certificate from SC and PwD candidates.
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	S/he must be – a resident of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli or Daman and Diu, or – continuously studied from Class 9th to 12th in any recognized school within the union territory.
4. Delhi	Applicants should have passed the senior secondary school examinations from government-approved boards such as JMI, ICSE, or CBSE.
5. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh	The candidate must be a: – domicile of UT of J&K/Ladakh, or – should have passed Class 12 or an equivalent exam from a recognized Board/University from the respective state.
6. Lakshadweep	S/he must be a resident of the union territory of Lakshadweep.
7. Puducherry	S/he has a – parent(s) or guardian (in case of orphaned children), who must have resided in the Union Territory of Puducherry for at least five years before the application date, or – have completed their SSLC/HSC or equivalent exams after studying continuously for five successive years in recognized educational institutions located in Puducherry, while residing there continuously for five years, or – are children of natives of Puducherry who have declared any place in Puducherry as their hometown, or – are children of Central/State Government servants, Defense Personnel, Central Paramilitary Forces, or employees of Public Sector Undertakings substantially owned by the Central Government or Puducherry Administration who have served in Puducherry continuously for a minimum of three years before the application deadline.

NEET Reservation 2025: Complete List of Required Documents

The National Testing Agency demands admissible proof from you so that you can prove that you pass the eligibility criteria for applying through a reservation. They are usually in the form of documents that are signed and attested by government-recognized officials who can confirm your claim. Some of these documents are-

PwD students have to submit a ‘certificate of disability’ that proves they have a locomotor condition. For NEET, only government hospitals can provide you with this
OBC and SC/ST certificate signed by the district Magistrate, collector, etc.
An income certificate signed by a magistrate.

NEET Eligibility: What You Need to Know

If you have a keen interest in knowing whether you are eligible to appear for the NEET or not, then you can go through the essential eligibility criteria required for NEET, that has been given below.

Completion of secondary and senior secondary school from recognized boards.
Students should have studied physics, chemistry, biology, or biotechnology in high school.
Students should have passed these subjects individually and not as an aggregate.
A minimum passing score of 50% in the above-mentioned subjects.
Reserved categories can have an aggregate of 40%.
English is a core language.
There is no limit on the number of attempts that a student can sit for. Unqualified students are eligible to apply again.
Students below 17 years of age cannot register for this exam.
Indian citizens, NRIs, and people of Indian origin are permitted to take the NEET.

Note: After the updated guidelines, students who have not studied biology are also allowed to sit for the NEET examination.

Behind Every Reserved Seat, There’s Smart Guidance — Discover Mediplor

With so many nuances in NEET reservation rules — from OBC-NCL verification to EWS documentation and PwD eligibility — platforms like Mediplor offer invaluable support. Our expert medical education counselors guide students through every stage of the process, ensuring no opportunity is missed due to paperwork or seat reservation in NEET policy. Here’s how we can assist you with MBBS seat reservation and admission for other medical courses.

– Guidance about the NEET Quota System

Our counsellors help students understand the eligibility process and requirements based on their category, and the colleges where they can seek admission. Based on income and assets, we also help students verify whether they qualify for the EWS quota.

– Assistance with Documentation

Our team will help you collect the essential documents required for admission, and also guide you on how to obtain valid certificates from the appropriate authorities. Apart from that, we will also check whether the certificates you submit to us are in the correct format or not, and are the ones prescribed by NTA and the MCC.

– Advice Regarding NEET seat reservation- AIQ, State and Management Quota

We help students understand the intricacies of the NEET seat reservation, and how they should proceed with the admission process, whether they are eligible for the AIQ, state, or management quota. We offer personalized advice on college selection, cutoff analysis, and category-wise seat availability.

– Counseling Support During Admission

Our counsellors will assist you while you fill up the admission forms for various colleges based on your reservation category during the seat allotment rounds, so that you make no mistakes while applying under the NEET reservation quota.

– Real-Time Updates & Notifications

In case there are any changes regarding the reservation in medical seats, our team will give you timely updates for certificate submission deadlines, counseling dates, and result declaration.

– Post-NEET Admission Counseling

After the final results have been declared, Mediplor will help you navigate the MCC counseling for central universities, along with the AIQ and State quota seats, by providing you with counseling for your home state. We ensure that you don’t miss out on reserved seats due to any kind of procedural errors.

Conclusion

Understanding the NEET reservation system will help students of all categories and castes understand and plan their studies accordingly. All central universities, institutes, state universities, private institutions, and other national academics are obliged to follow the reservation policy for SC, ST, OBC, PwD, and EWS categories. If you wish to gain clarity regarding the selection of colleges based on your category and preferred choice of course, and about the NEET reservation list, it is best to contact MBBS admission consultants to understand the category from which you can benefit and get your counseling assistance for the coveted MBBS degree. We, at Mediplor, have helped thousands of students over the years. Our MBBS admission consultants in Delhi have 20 years of experience and can help you in getting admission to top medical colleges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does NEET have reservation?

Yes, there is NEET reservation for various kinds of medical courses like MBBS, BAMS, and BDS, based on your category (UR/SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS).

2. What is the NEET reservation percentage?

The percentage of reservation in NEET is as follows:

For AIQ seats, NEET reservation for OBCs is 27% (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates,
NEET reservation for SC is 15%,
ST quota in NEET is 7.5%,
EWS reservation in NEET is 10%, and
PwD reservation in NEET is 5%.

3. What are the types of quota in NEET?

The different types of quota in NEET are for various categories like General, SC, ST, OBC, PwD, EWS, and for NRI candidates.

4. Is there reservation for girls in NEET?

No, there is no specific gender-based NEET reservation for girls.

5. How many seats are reserved for EWS in NEET?

In NEET, 10% of the total AIQ seats are reserved for EWS.

6. Is there any reservation for general category in NEET?

Yes, you can avail reservation in NEET for general category if your family income comes under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

7. What is UR category in NEET?

In NEET, UR stands for unreserved or the general category, which is for people who do not belong to any of the other reserved categories like SC, ST, and OBC.

8. Does NEET PG have reservation?

Yes, there is reservation in NEET PG, for various categories similar to the NEET UG reservation.

9. What is local quota in NEET?

Local quota in NEET refers to the seats reserved for candidates belonging to a particular state, there is around 85% state quota.

10. What happens if my caste is listed under OBC in my state but not in the central list?

If you’re applying under the All India Quota, then you should know that only castes in the Central OBC-NCL list are valid. If your caste is in the State OBC list but not on the central list, then you can’t claim OBC reservation in AIQ, but you may be eligible to apply under your state quota.

11. What if I don't submit the reservation certificate during counselling?

If you fail to submit a valid certificate, then your claim for the reserved seat will be cancelled, and you will then be considered under the General (UR) category.

12. How does NEET counselling work?

The NEET counselling takes place after the results for the NEET exam have been declared. The counselling takes place through the AIQ and state seats.