Understand NEET Reservation Policy 2026 for AIQ, State Quota, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwD, and NRI categories. Check seat percentages, eligibility rules, participating institutes, and documents required for medical admission.
The NEET Reservation Policy 2026 aims to provide equality in admission to MBBS/BDS courses to students belonging to socially, economically, and physically backward classes. The reservation policy is implemented by the National Medical Commission (NMC), National Testing Agency (NTA), Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), and state counselling authorities.
Knowing the differences in 15% AIQ, 85% State Quotas, domicile criteria, and benefits for various categories is paramount for getting admission in government, private, as well as deemed universities for medical studies in India.
What Is the NEET Reservation Criteria 2026?
The criteria for the reservation categories in NEET 2026 remains the same as the previous year. It applies to 15% AIQ and 85% State quota seats.
- 15% AIQ seats follow a uniform central reservation policy across India
- 85% State Quota seats are governed by individual state rules and domicile conditions
| Quota Type | Seats Covered | Reservation Policy |
| All India Quota (AIQ) | 15% of total seats | Central reservation rules |
| State Quota | 85% of total seats | State-specific policies |
| Deemed / Private Colleges | Varies | Limited or no caste reservation |
| Central Institutes (AIIMS/JIPMER) | 100% | Same as AIQ |
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What Is the NEET Reservation Policy 2026 for 15% All India Quota (AIQ)?
The 15% AIQ seats are allocated through centralized counseling organized by DGHS on behalf of the MCC. The seats are available in all government medical and dental colleges in the country, except in Jammu & Kashmir, unless the colleges opt in.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwD | 5% (Horizontal) |
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What Is the NEET Reservation Criteria 2026 for EWS Candidates?
The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota reserves 10% of seats for financially weaker candidates from the General category.
| Eligibility Parameter | EWS Reservation Criteria |
| Reservation Percentage | 10% of total seats |
| Applicable Category | General (Unreserved) only |
| Annual Family Income | Less than ₹8,00,000 |
| Agricultural Land Ownership | Must be less than 5 acres |
| Residential Plot (Municipal Area) | Less than 1000 sq ft |
| Residential Plot (Non-Municipal Area) | Less than 100–200 sq yards |
| Asset Ownership Condition | Candidate must not own assets exceeding prescribed limits |
| Certificate Requirement | Valid EWS Income & Asset Certificate issued by a competent authority |
| Certificate Validity | Must be valid for the current financial year |
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Which Institutes Participate in NEET EWS Reservation?
EWS reservation is applicable across central, national, and state government medical colleges participating in NEET counselling.
| College Name | Location |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College | New Delhi |
| UCMS | New Delhi |
| VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital | New Delhi |
| IMS BHU | Varanasi |
| RML Hospital Medical College | New Delhi |
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What Is the NEET Reservation Policy for Candidates with Disabilities (PwD)?
Candidates with benchmark disabilities are eligible for 5% horizontal reservation under NEET 2026, as per the RPwD Act, 2016. PwD reservation applies across all categories (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) and requires certification from authorised medical boards.
Recognised Medical Boards for PwD Certification
Candidates must obtain certificates only from approved centres such as:
- AIIMS Nagpur
- VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
- Grant Medical College, Mumbai
- Madras Medical College, Chennai
- IMS BHU, Varanasi
How Is OBC Reservation Implemented in NEET 2026?
OBC reservation is applicable only for candidates falling under the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) category.
- "27% reservation as per AIQ.
- Mandatory OBC-NCL certificate required. Should be within 1 year.
- Applicable for MBBS & BDS Admission.
- Misunderstood documents cause deprivation of the reservation benefit.
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What is the NEET Reservation Policy for 85% State Quota Seats?
The 85% State Quota seats are managed by individual state counselling authorities and follow state-specific reservation and domicile rules.
Key Features of State Quota Reservation
- Domicile is mandatory
- Reservation percentages differ by state
- Includes state-specific categories and sub-quotas
- Management and NRI quotas exist in private colleges
What Is the NEET Reservation Policy for Deemed Universities and Central Institutes?
The 85% State quota seats are handled by the respective state counseling authorities and are subject to state rules regarding reservation and domicile.
- Main Features of State Quota Reservation
- Domicile: Mandatory
- Reservation percentages may vary from state to state
- Contains state-specific categories and sub-quotas
- Management and NRI quotas are available in private colleges
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Which Documents Are Required to Claim NEET 2026 Reservation Benefits?
Candidates must submit valid and original documents during counselling to claim reservation benefits.
Documents Required for NEET Reservation 2026
| Category | Required Document |
| SC / ST | Valid caste certificate |
| OBC-NCL | Recent OBC-NCL certificate |
| EWS | Income & Asset certificate |
| PwD | Disability certificate (≥40%) |
| State Quota | Domicile certificate |
| NRI | Passport & NRI proof |
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What Are the Other Reserved Categories in NEET 2026?
In addition to categories considered standard, NEET 2026 also includes:
- 7.5% reservation in govt school children in Tamil Nadu
- Central Pool provides seating for terror attack victims
- Union Territory candidates (requiring own declaration)
- NRI quota in private and deemed colleges
Conclusion
NEET Reservation Policy 2026 is very crucial in handling the admission process in India's medical institutions. Although 15% AIQ seats are allocated according to a central policy, the remaining 85% State Quota is allocated according to each state's policy, making it necessary for a candidate to know both.
Proper category selection, valid documentation, and awareness regarding the quota restrictions can go a long way in securing admissions for medical colleges.
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NEET 2026 reservation ensures fair MBBS/BDS admissions. -
Policy covers 15% AIQ (central rules) and 85% State Quota (state rules). -
EWS quota is 10% for General category, income below ₹8,00,000. -
AIQ seats are managed by MCC; State Quota by state authorities.
