NEET Reservation & Category -

NEET 2025 Reservation & Category: EWS, OBC, SC/ST, PwD, Category Changes

This comprehensive guide addresses key questions about NEET 2025 reservation policies and category-related queries for medical admissions in India. It covers the reservation criteria for EWS, OBC, SC/ST, seat reservations for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and the possibility of changing categories during counseling. Based on the latest National Testing Agency (NTA) guidelines as of June 14, 2025, this guide aims to help medical aspirants understand eligibility, quotas, and documentation requirements for MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses.

36. What is EWS, OBC, SC/ST Reservation in NEET?

The NEET 2025 reservation policy provides specific seat quotas for candidates from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to ensure equitable access to medical education. These reservations apply to the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical and dental colleges, as well as seats in central universities, ESIC colleges, and AFMS institutes. For the 85% State Quota, reservation policies vary by state but generally align with central guidelines. Below is a detailed breakdown of each category’s reservation criteria, eligibility, and benefits, based on the Government of India (GOI) regulations and NTA guidelines.

[](https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/neet-reservation-criteria)[](https://www.embibe.com/exams/neet-reservation-criteria/)

Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Reservation:
- Quota: 10% of seats in AIQ and central universities (introduced in 2019 via the 124th Constitutional Amendment).
- Eligibility:
  - Applies to General category candidates not covered under SC, ST, or OBC reservations.
  - Family annual income must be below ₹8 lakh, including all sources (salary, business, agriculture, etc.).
  - Family must not own:
    - 5 acres or more of agricultural land.
    - Residential flat of 1,000 sq. ft. or above.
    - Residential plot of 100 sq. yards or above in notified municipalities.
    - Residential plot of 200 sq. yards or above in non-notified areas.
- Documentation:
  - Income and Asset Certificate issued by a competent authority (e.g., Tehsildar, District Magistrate).
  - Certificate must be valid (typically issued on or after April 1, 2024, for NEET 2025 counseling).
  - If unavailable during application, candidates can upload a declaration in lieu of the certificate, but the original must be presented during counseling.
- Benefits:
  - ~550 EWS candidates benefit annually under AIQ.
  - Lower cutoffs compared to General-Unreserved (e.g., 580-600 marks for EWS vs. 610+ for General in AIQ).
  - No age or attempt relaxation (unlike SC/ST/OBC).
- Example: A General category candidate with a family income of ₹6 lakh/year and no significant assets can claim EWS reservation, securing a seat with ~580 marks in a government college.
Other Backward Classes (OBC) Reservation:
- Quota: 27% of seats in AIQ and central universities (extended to state colleges under AIQ since 2021).
- Eligibility:
  - Applies to OBC-Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) candidates listed in the Central List of OBCs by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
  - Family annual income must be below ₹8 lakh, excluding income from Class I/II government posts or equivalent high-ranking positions.
  - OBC-Creamy Layer candidates (income >₹8 lakh or parents in high-ranking posts) are treated as General-Unreserved (UR).
- Documentation:
  - OBC-NCL certificate issued by a competent authority (e.g., Tehsildar).
  - Certificate must align with the Central List and be valid for 2025 counseling.
- Benefits:
  - ~2,700 OBC candidates benefit annually under AIQ.
  - Lower cutoffs (e.g., 550-580 marks for OBC vs. 610+ for General in AIQ).
  - Age relaxation (up to 3 years) and additional attempt benefits in some cases.
- Example: An OBC-NCL candidate with a family income of ₹7 lakh/year and a valid certificate can secure a seat with ~560 marks in a government college.
Scheduled Castes (SC) Reservation:
- Quota: 15% of seats in AIQ and central universities.
- Eligibility:
  - Candidates must belong to castes listed in the Central Government’s SC schedule.
  - No income criteria; reservation is caste-based.
- Documentation:
  - SC caste certificate issued by a competent authority (e.g., District Magistrate).
  - Verified during counseling.
- Benefits:
  - Lower cutoffs (e.g., 420-490 marks for SC in AIQ).
  - Age relaxation (up to 5 years) and additional attempt benefits.
  - Reduced application fees for NEET 2025 (₹900 vs. ₹1,000 for General).
- Example: An SC candidate with 450 marks can secure a government MBBS seat under AIQ or state quota.
Scheduled Tribes (ST) Reservation:
- Quota: 7.5% of seats in AIQ and central universities.
- Eligibility:
  - Candidates must belong to tribes listed in the Central Government’s ST schedule.
  - No income criteria; reservation is tribe-based.
- Documentation:
  - ST caste certificate issued by a competent authority.
  - Verified during counseling.
- Benefits:
  - Lower cutoffs (e.g., 420-490 marks for ST in AIQ).
  - Age relaxation (up to 5 years) and additional attempt benefits.
  - Reduced application fees (₹900).
- Example: An ST candidate with 430 marks can secure a government MBBS seat under state quota.
Reservation in State Quota:
- Quota: Varies by state but typically mirrors AIQ: 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 27% OBC-NCL, 10% EWS (where applicable).
- Eligibility: Candidates must meet state domicile criteria (e.g., studied 10th/12th in the state or parents’ residency proof).
- Examples:
  - Tamil Nadu: 69% combined reservation for OBC/SC/ST, plus 7.5% for government school students.
  - Karnataka: ~2,338 state quota seats with similar category-wise reservations.
- Cutoffs: Lower than AIQ (e.g., 520-550 for OBC, 400-450 for SC/ST in state quota).
Special Reservations:
- 5 MBBS seats for wards of COVID-19 warriors (central pool).
- Seats for spouses/children of terror attack victims (central pool).
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) has defense quota seats.
Key Points:
- Total Seats: ~1,18,190 MBBS, 27,868 BDS, 52,720 AYUSH seats, with ~7,918 MBBS seats under AIQ.
- Beneficiaries: ~1,500 OBC and 550 EWS candidates benefit under AIQ annually.
- Cutoffs: Reserved categories have lower cutoffs (e.g., 110-140 marks to qualify vs. 140-150 for General).
- Documentation: Candidates must submit valid certificates during NEET application and counseling. Without valid documents, candidates are treated as General-UR.
- Application: Candidates must select their category during NEET 2025 registration (February 2025) and upload relevant certificates.

SEO Tip: For NEET 2026, ensure valid EWS/OBC/SC/ST certificates are ready before registration (likely February 2026). Check neet.nta.nic.in for updated reservation criteria and nodal authorities for certificate issuance.

[](https://www.embibe.com/exams/neet-reservation-criteria/)

37. Is There Any Seat Reservation for PwD Candidates?

Yes, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates are eligible for a 5% horizontal reservation across all categories (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST) in NEET 2025 for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses. This reservation is provided under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, ensuring equitable opportunities in medical education. Below is a detailed overview of PwD reservation criteria, eligibility, and benefits.

[](https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/pwd-certificate-for-neet)[](https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/neet-reservation-criteria)

Quota:
- 5% of seats in each category (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST) under both 15% AIQ and 85% State Quota (horizontal reservation).
- Applies to government, private, and deemed universities, including AIIMS, JIPMER, and ESIC colleges.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must have a benchmark disability of at least 40% as per National Medical Commission (NMC) and Dental Council of India (DCI) norms.
- Disabilities covered include:
  - Physical disabilities (e.g., locomotor disability).
  - Visual impairment (40% or more).
  - Hearing impairment (40% or more).
  - Specific learning disabilities, mental illnesses, or other disabilities listed under the RPwD Act, 2016.
- Candidates must be certified by one of the 15 NTA-designated Disability Assessment Boards, such as:
  - Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.
  - All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai.
  - Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata.
  - Madras Medical College, Chennai.
Documentation:
- PwD Certificate: Issued by an authorized Disability Assessment Board, confirming at least 40% disability.
- Validity: Typically valid for 5 years; permanent certificates are issued if the disability is non-variable.
- Certificate must be uploaded during NEET 2025 application and verified during counseling.
Benefits:
- Reservation: 5% seats within each category (e.g., a General-PwD candidate competes for 5% of General seats).
- Lower Cutoffs: General-PwD candidates need 45th percentile (~125-140 marks in 2025) vs. 50th percentile for General (~140-150 marks).
- Exam Concessions:
  - Compensatory time (1 extra hour for the 3-hour exam).
  - Scribe facility for candidates with severe disabilities.
- Fee Relaxation: Reduced NEET application fee (₹900 vs. ₹1,000 for General).
- Example: A General-PwD candidate with 500 marks and a valid PwD certificate can secure a government MBBS seat under the 5% General-PwD quota.
State Quota:
- PwD reservation policies vary by state but generally offer 5% horizontal reservation.
- Candidates must meet state domicile criteria and submit PwD certificates as per state guidelines.

NEET 2025 Reservation & Category: EWS, OBC, SC/ST, PwD, Category Changes

36. What is EWS, OBC, SC/ST Reservation in NEET?

37. Is There Any Seat Reservation for PwD Candidates?

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