NEET UG 2026 Reservation policy follows central government norms for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS and PwBD categories, applicable across All India Quota seats (state quota reservation percentages may vary by state).
NEET 2026 — Reservation Categories & Percentages
| Category | Reservation % | Details |
|---|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | 27% | Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer). Certificate from Central Govt. list. |
| SC | 15% | Scheduled Caste. Certificate from competent State authority required. |
| ST | 7.5% | Scheduled Tribe. Certificate from competent State authority required. |
| EWS | 10% | Economically Weaker Section. Annual family income < ₹8 lakh. Income certificate required. |
| PwBD (PwD) | 5% | Persons with Benchmark Disability. Horizontal reservation across all categories. Certificate from Medical Board as per NEET bulletin format. |
| NRI / OCI | Special | Separate NRI quota seats in Private Colleges. OCI holders treated as NRI. Seats outside 15% AIQ. |
| Kashmiri Migrant | Special | As per state policies and Supreme Court directions. |
How Reservation Works in Counselling
Reservation operates as horizontal (PwBD — applies as a percentage cut across every other category) and vertical (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS — separate reserved seat pools with their own qualifying percentile and merit list). A reserved-category candidate can also compete for unreserved/General seats if their rank qualifies — reservation only guarantees a minimum share, it never restricts a candidate to reserved seats alone.
Certificates Required by Category
| Category | Certificate Required |
|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | Non-Creamy Layer certificate from the Central Government list, issued within the validity period specified in the NEET bulletin |
| SC / ST | Caste/Tribe certificate issued by a competent State authority |
| EWS | Income & Asset certificate confirming family income below ₹8 lakh/year, issued by a competent authority |
| PwBD | Disability certificate from a Medical Board, in the format specified in the NEET UG 2026 Information Bulletin |
State quota reservation percentages (for OBC/SC/ST/EWS) can differ from the central AIQ percentages shown above — always check your own state’s official counselling notification for state-specific reservation rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Documents required: NEET 2026 Scorecard/Result, Class 10 certificate (DOB proof), Class 12 marksheet and pass certificate, Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS if applicable), PwBD certificate (if applicable), Domicile certificate (for state quota), Aadhar card or govt. photo ID, recent passport photographs, Transfer Certificate (TC), Character Certificate, Medical Fitness Certificate, and Income Certificate (EWS candidates).
All India Rank (AIR) is the overall rank among all NEET 2026 candidates regardless of category. Category Rank is the rank within a specific category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD). The Category Rank is used for state quota and reserved category seat allotment. Both ranks are printed on the NEET scorecard. AIQ counselling uses AIR for General seats and Category Rank for reserved seats.