NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: For All Categories Under AIQ and State Quota
As of February 2025, the NEET maintains a reservation policy that applies to both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical admissions, with recent significant updates affecting PG admissions.
In 2025, NEET UG's 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats are reserved as follows: 27% for OBC, 10% for EWS, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, and a 5% horizontal reservation for PwD across all categories.
In January 2025, the Supreme Court of India ruled that domicile-based reservations for PG medical admissions are unconstitutional, mandating that state quota seats be allocated solely based on NEET PG merit, irrespective of the candidate's state of residence. This decision does not affect existing domicile-based reservations already granted.
NEET Reservation 2025 Category-wise: AIQ 15% Reservation Criteria
15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats – Available in government medical colleges including AIIMS & JIPMER across India (except J&K). If you are from Jammu & Kashmir, you need to opt for AIQ separately during registration.
Horizontal Reservation means that PwD reservations apply across all categories (SC, ST, OBC, General, and EWS).
NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: EWS (Economically Weaker Section)
The NEET continues to implement a 10% reservation for candidates from the EWS category in the 15% AIQ seats. This initiative, introduced in the 2019-2020 academic year, aims to provide equitable opportunities for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
NEET Reservation Eligibility Criteria 2025 for EWS
To qualify for the EWS reservation, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Income Limit: The candidate's family should have a gross annual income below ₹8 lakh.
Asset Ownership: Candidates are ineligible for EWS reservation if their family owns any of the following assets:
5 acres or more of agricultural land.
A residential flat of 1000 square feet or more.
A residential plot of 100 square yards or more in notified municipalities.
A residential plot of 200 square yards or more in areas other than notified municipalities.
Category Specification: The EWS reservation is exclusively for candidates not covered under any other reservation schemes such as SC, ST, or OBC.
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025
Documents Required for EWS Reservation:
Candidates seeking EWS reservation must obtain an "Income and Asset Certificate" issued by a competent authority.
It's important to note that the EWS certificate is typically valid for one year from the date of issuance. Candidates are advised to ensure their certificate is valid at the time of NEET counselling and admission.
Documents Required for NEET 2025
Participating Institutions Offering EWS Reservation:
Central Universities/Institutes:
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
National Institutes:
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
State Government Medical Colleges:
All state government medical colleges across India participating in the 15% AIQ scheme.
NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: PwD (Persons with Disabilities)
NEET provides a 5% horizontal reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) across all categories, including General, SC, ST, OBC, and EWS, in the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. This initiative aims to offer equitable opportunities to candidates with benchmark disabilities in medical and dental education.
NEET Reservation Eligibility Criteria 2025 for PwD
Degree of Disability: Candidates must have a minimum of 40% disability to qualify for the PwD reservation. The disability should be specified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Qualifying Examination:
Candidates should have passed the 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.
PwD candidates must have obtained a minimum of 40% marks in the qualifying examination in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Documents Required for PwD Reservation:
Candidates must obtain a "Certificate of Disability" from one of the designated centers authorized by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This certificate serves as proof of the candidate's disability and eligibility for the reservation.
NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer)
NEET provides a 27% reservation for candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. To be eligible for this reservation, candidates must meet the following criteria:
NEET Reservation Eligibility Criteria 2025 for OBC-NCL
OBC-NCL Status:
Candidates must belong to the OBC category as per the Central List of Other Backward Classes maintained by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). This list is accessible at NCBC website.
It's important to note that state-specific OBC lists may differ; therefore, inclusion in a state list does not guarantee eligibility under the central OBC-NCL category.
Candidates appearing in the state list but not in the central list should select the 'General' category during NEET application.
Non-Creamy Layer Status:
The candidate's family must meet the Non-Creamy Layer criteria, which generally requires that the family's gross annual income does not exceed ₹8 lakh.
This income includes earnings from all sources such as salary, agriculture, business, etc.
Documents Required for OBC-NCL Reservation:
Candidates must obtain a valid OBC-NCL certificate issued by a competent authority. The certificate should clearly state that the candidate belongs to the OBC-NCL category as per the central list and must be in the format prescribed by the Government of India.
NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: SC/ST (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes)
15% of seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category under the All India Quota (AIQ). Whereas, NEET reserves 7.5% of the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
NEET Reservation Eligibility Criteria 2025 for SC/ST
Category Confirmation:
Candidates must belong to the SC/ST category as recognized in the Constitution of India.
Minimum Educational Qualifications:
Completion of 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
A minimum aggregate score of 40% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology is required for SC/ST candidates.
Documents Required for SC/ST Reservation:
SC/ST candidates must possess a valid Caste Certificate issued by a competent authority, verifying their status as a member of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes.
NEET Reservation 2025: List of Authorities Issuing Reserved Category Certificates
Candidates applying for NEET 2025 under reserved categories must possess valid certificates issued by the designated authorities. The table below outlines the reservation categories and the competent authorities responsible for issuing the necessary certificates:
NEET Reservation 2025: 85% State Quota
State quota admissions are governed by state reservation policies. 85% of seats in government colleges are reserved for state-domicile candidates. Domicile refers to your permanent state of residence.
Each state has its own category-wise reservation percentages.
To claim state quota seats (85%), you must be a resident of that state and provide a domicile certificate.
Example: If you are from Maharashtra, you can apply under Maharashtra’s 85% state quota, but not under Tamil Nadu’s state quota.
How to Apply for Reserved Seats?
To claim a reserved seat, candidates must:
Mention their category while filling the NEET 2025 application form.
Upload a valid category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD) issued by the competent authority.
During counselling, provide the original certificate for verification.
Note: Without a valid category certificate, you will be considered under the General category.
Conclusion
NEET 2025 follows a structured reservation policy to ensure equal opportunities for students from different categories. Candidates must carefully check their eligibility and prepare the required category certificates before counselling.
FAQs on NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: For SC, ST, EWS, PwD and OBC Category
1. Who can claim reservation in NEET 2025?
Candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories with a valid certificate can claim reservation.
2. How much is the NEET AIQ reservation for OBC candidates?
OBC-NCL candidates get 27% reservation in AIQ seats in central universities and government colleges.
3. Can I claim State Quota if I am from a different state?
No, State Quota seats are only for domicile candidates of that particular state.
4. How do I prove my OBC/EWS category?
You need to submit a valid OBC-NCL or EWS certificate issued by a competent authority.
5. Is there a separate reservation for female candidates?
Some states have reservation for female candidates, but AIQ does not have a specific female quota.
6. What happens if I don’t submit my category certificate on time?
You will be considered as a General category candidate during counselling.
7. Can I apply under PwD quota if my disability is less than 40%?
No, only candidates with 40% or more disability (as per the RPwD Act) can apply under the PwD quota.
8. What is the NEET reservation for EWS candidates?
EWS candidates get 10% reservation in AIQ seats in central institutions and government colleges.
9. Is there a reservation for NRI students in NEET?
Yes, NRI seats are available in Deemed Universities under the Management Quota.
10. Where can I check my state’s reservation policy?
Check your state’s medical counselling website for specific reservation rules.
11. What is the OBC reservation in NEET?
OBC (Other Backward Classes) candidates get 27% reservation in All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical colleges. However, only OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates are eligible. If your family income is above ₹8 lakh per year, you will not be eligible for OBC reservation.
12. Where can I find the NEET reservation list?
The NEET reservation list includes the category-wise seat distribution for AIQ and State Quota. You can check this list on:
AIQ reservation is available on the MCC website (mcc.nic.in).
State quota reservations can be checked on your state’s medical counselling website.
13. Is there a separate reservation for General category in NEET?
General category students do not have a specific reservation. However, they can apply for EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation, which offers 10% reserved seats for General category candidates with family income below ₹8 lakh per year.
14. What is the NEET reservation percentage for each category?
Here’s the NEET 2025 reservation percentage for AIQ seats:
All India Quota (AIQ) – 15% of government college seats
SC – 15%
ST – 7.5%
OBC-NCL – 27%
EWS – 10%
PwD – 5% (horizontal reservation across all categories)
State Quota (85% of government seats)
Each state has its own reservation rules for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD.
15. What is the total reservation in NEET?
In All India Quota (AIQ) seats, a total of 59.5% of seats are reserved for various categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD). The remaining 40.5% of seats are for General category students.
