Government MBBS Seats Through NEET 2020

The primary difference lies in eligibility and the counselling authority.

• All India Quota (AIQ): Comprises 15% of seats in all government medical colleges. Any student from any state can apply for these seats, and counselling is conducted centrally by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Competition is generally higher.
• State Quota: Comprises the remaining 85% of seats in the government medical colleges of a particular state. These seats are reserved for students who fulfil the domicile criteria of that state. Counselling is conducted by the respective state medical authorities.

As per the government's reservation policy for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) in NEET counselling, the seat distribution is as follows:

• OBC (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer): 27%
• SC (Scheduled Castes): 15%
• ST (Scheduled Tribes): 7.5%
• EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10%
• PwD (Persons with Disabilities): 5% horizontal reservation across all categories.

Government MBBS seats under the 85% state quota are allocated through a state-specific counselling process. After the NEET results, eligible candidates must register for their respective state's counselling. Seats are then allotted based on the student's NEET rank, their category (e.g., SC, ST, OBC, EWS), and the choices of colleges they have filled. Each state has its own domicile rules and reservation policies that apply to this quota.

The cut-off difference exists primarily due to competition and eligibility. The All India Quota (AIQ) is open to students from all over India, creating a much larger and more competitive applicant pool for a limited number of seats (15%). In contrast, the State Quota (85% of seats) is reserved only for students with that state's domicile. This smaller, regional applicant pool often results in a lower cut-off score for the same college compared to the AIQ.

Central and Deemed Universities have a distinct role.

• Central Universities: Institutions like Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Delhi University (DU) have their own reservation policies, but their seats are filled through the MCC's AIQ counselling. Some may have an internal quota for their students.
• Deemed Universities: These are privately managed but have university status. All of their seats (100%) are filled through the MCC's AIQ counselling. While they participate in central counselling, their fees are significantly higher than government colleges.

For NEET 2026, a substantial increase in government MBBS seats is anticipated, potentially adding several thousand new seats. This growth is driven by two main factors:

• Establishment of New Colleges: The government is actively establishing new government medical colleges, particularly in districts that lack them.
• Expansion of Existing Colleges: Existing government medical colleges are increasing their seat intake after getting approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC).

While a high NEET score is crucial, securing a government MBBS seat also depends on several other key eligibility criteria:

• Domicile: To be eligible for the 85% State Quota, you must meet the specific domicile requirements of that state, which can involve residency period or schooling.
• Age Limit: The candidate must be at least 17 years old as of December 31st of the admission year.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed their 10+2 (or equivalent) examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
• Category Certificate: To claim reservation benefits, a valid and updated category certificate (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS) is mandatory.