NEET Reservation 2026 Quota for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwD

The NEET reservation policy provides category-based benefits to support students from different backgrounds in medical admissions. Currently, 27% reservation is allotted to OBC candidates and 10% to EWS candidates within the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats during counselling. To avail these benefits, candidates must correctly select their category while filling out the NEET application form.

Earlier, the 15% AIQ seats mainly applied to central institutes and national universities, but reservation policies have expanded over time. For example, Tamil Nadu offers a 7.5% reservation for NEET-qualified students from government schools, giving them better access to medical seats.

There are also special provisions under the central pool quota for victims of terrorist attacks and their families for MBBS and BDS admissions. Candidates from Union Territories may need to submit a self-declaration during the application process to claim reservation benefits. Understanding these rules helps students use NEET reservation advantages during counselling.

Also Visit: NEET 2026 NEET 2026 Registration

NEET Reservation for 85% State Quota Seats

• Under the NEET reservation system, 85% of medical seats are filled through the State Quota, managed by individual State or Union Territory counselling authorities.

• Each State/UT conducts its own counselling process to allocate seats under the 85% state quota.

• A state-wise merit list is prepared based on NEET scores to determine eligibility for admissions.

• Candidates should check the official website of their respective state counselling authority to know the counselling schedule, registration process, and admission guidelines.

• Admission through the state quota depends on meeting the eligibility requirements and reservation rules applicable in that particular State or Union Territory.

NEET Reservation for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats

• Under the NEET reservation system, 15% of medical seats are filled through the All India Quota (AIQ) for admissions across India.

• Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCI, PIO, and Foreign Nationals are eligible to apply for seats under the AIQ.

• To secure admission through the 15% AIQ seats, candidates must participate in online counselling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).

• If any seats remain vacant after completing the AIQ counselling rounds, those seats are transferred to the respective State Quota.

• The AIQ merit list is prepared according to the number of available seats, ensuring that candidates are ranked based on their NEET scores.

• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are now included in the 15% All India Quota counselling, and candidates from these states are no longer required to submit a self-declaration form.

Also Visit: NEET Eligibility CriteriaNEET Exam CentresNEET Dress Code

NEET Reservation for Candidates from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

• Candidates from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are generally not included in the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) scheme.

• As a result, they are usually not eligible for admission under the 15% AIQ seats.

• However, if candidates from these Union Territories wish to participate in AIQ counselling, they must submit an online self-declaration form during the application process.

NEET Reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC)

• NTA and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) have updated the reservation rules for OBC candidates in NEET counselling.

• Under the current policy, OBC candidates belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) are eligible for reservation benefits in medical admissions.

• 27% reservation is allotted to OBC-NCL candidates under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats during NEET counselling.

• Recent changes in the reservation policy are expected to benefit around 2,700 OBC candidates and about 550 EWS candidates in medical admissions.

• Candidates who wish to claim OBC-NCL reservation must correctly select their category in the NEET application form.

• During the counselling process, candidates must submit all required documents related to the OBC-NCL category; otherwise, they will not be eligible to claim reservation benefits.

• Eligible OBC-NCL candidates can avail the 27% reservation quota for MBBS and BDS admissions through NEET counselling.

Reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

• Candidates belonging to the PwD category are eligible for a 5% reservation in medical admissions through NEET.

• To claim this reservation, applicants must meet the rules and eligibility criteria set by the concerned authorities.

• The candidate must have a minimum disability of 40% or more to qualify for the PwD reservation.

• The disability must be assessed according to the guidelines prescribed by the government.

• Candidates must possess a valid Disability Certificate to avail the reservation benefit.

• This certificate should be issued by one of the 14 designated centres approved by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)

• The EWS reservation in NEET was introduced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2019 for NEET-UG admissions.

• Under this policy, 10% of seats are reserved in government medical colleges for candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections.

• The reservation is intended to support students from financially weaker backgrounds who do not fall under other reserved categories.

• Eligibility for the EWS reservation is based on specific criteria set by the government.

• The total annual family income of the candidate should not exceed ₹8,00,000.

• Families owning 5 acres or more of agricultural land are not eligible for EWS reservation.

• Ownership of a residential flat measuring 1000 sq. ft. or more makes the candidate ineligible for this quota.

• Candidates whose families own a residential plot of 100 square yards or more in notified municipalities are not eligible.

• Candidates whose families own a residential plot of 200 square yards or more in areas outside notified municipalities are also not eligible.

• If a candidate’s family meets any of the above property conditions, they cannot claim the EWS reservation benefit.

Authorized Authorities to Issue Income and Asset Certificate for NEET EWS Reservation

• District Magistrate / Additional District Magistrate / Collector / Deputy Commissioner / Additional Deputy Commissioner / First Class Stipendiary Magistrate / Sub-Divisional Magistrate / Taluka Magistrate / Executive Magistrate / Extra Assistant Commissioner

• Chief Presidency Magistrate / Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate / Presidency Magistrate

• Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar

• Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the candidate or their family normally resides

Reservation Criteria for Deemed Universities

• The Directorate General of Health Sciences (DGHS) conducts the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling for NEET admissions, including seats in Deemed and Central universities.

• The counselling process also covers admissions to institutions such as ESIC colleges and AFMS institutes.

• Admission rules and guidelines for the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune are determined by the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

Tamil Nadu Government School NEET Reservation: 7.5% Quota

• The Tamil Nadu government has introduced a 7.5% reservation for students from government schools who qualify in the NEET exam.

• This reservation is included within the existing reservation structure and creates a special category for eligible government school students.

• The initiative was announced by the Tamil Nadu government to support students from government schools in securing medical admissions.

• The reservation mainly benefits students who have completed their education from Class 6 to Class 12 in government schools in Tamil Nadu.

• The decision was taken after observing a decline in MBBS admissions among government school students in recent years.

• To improve student preparedness, the state has also introduced free NEET coaching programmes and is working to align the state board syllabus more closely with the CBSE curriculum.

Reservation for Victims of Terror Attacks

• According to the NEET reservation guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, special provisions are available for victims of terror attacks.

• The Ministry has issued instructions to all states and Union Territories regarding reservation under the central pool for medical admissions.

• Spouses and children of victims of terror attacks can receive reservation benefits for MBBS and BDS admissions after qualifying the NEET exam.

• These reserved seats are provided through the central pool of medical seats.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates eligible under this category may include:

• Children who have been threatened or targeted by terrorist groups.

• Children from families of Kashmir migrants who have lost their livelihood due to terrorism.

• Children whose parent or close family member has lost their life in a terrorist attack.

• Children whose parents or family members became an innocent victim of firing by armed forces during anti-terror operations in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh.

Key Guidelines for NEET Reservation 2026

• The All India Quota (AIQ) does not provide reservation under the Defence quota. However, some states may offer Defence quota reservations through their state counselling process. Candidates should check with their respective state counselling authorities for accurate details.

• Deemed Universities usually conduct their own counselling process for NEET admissions based on their institutional policies.

• The All India Quota does not include seats under the Management quota. However, certain private universities may allocate seats under this category. Candidates should contact the respective institutions for detailed information.

• Students should carefully check their eligibility for reservation under both the All India Quota and State Quota before applying for NEET counselling.