NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: Check Category-Wise Reservation, Eligibility, and Documents Required

THE NEET Reservation 2025 plays an important role in the seat allotment process of more than 1.09 lakh MBBS seats expected in government and private institutions in India.

In which around 16,000 seats are reserved under the 15 %AIQ, with the remaining 85% seats filled through counselling at the state level.

• According to the AIQ policy for NEET Reservation 2025, candidates from the OBC–Non-Creamy Layer will get 27% reservation, SC will get 15%, ST will get 7.5%, and candidates from the EWS will be given 10% of AIQ seats.
• Also, 5% of all candidates' seats are horizontally reserved for PWD Candidates, who belong to the general, SC, ST, OBC and EWS categories.

In NEET 2024, approximately 20.87 lakh candidates appeared for almost 1.09 lakh MBBS seats. Reservation against the 15% AIQ included 27% OBC, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, and 10% EWS, and 85% seats were allocated according to state-wise quotas.

NEET 2025 Seat Matrix

The NEET UG 2025 examination will provide admission to more than 1.09 lakh MBBS, 27,000+ BDS, and 52,000+ AYUSH seats in India.

These seats are distributed among the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and 85% State Quota, on which NEET reservations are made as per central and state regulations, respectively.

The following is the expected seat matrix:

Check the latest updates related to NEET 2025:

• NEET 2025 Documents Required
• NEET Scholarship 2025

NEET 2025 Reservation Criteria

The NEET Reservation Criteria shows how the seats are divided across different categories in both AIQ and State Quota. The NEET Reservation criteria are based on the requirements based on the constitution and the government policies to get equal access for socially and economically backwards candidates.

How to Claim a Reservation in NEET 2025

For claiming a reservation in NEET, the candidates should belong to a reserved category and should provide valid certificates in the counselling process. Reservation is applied in both 15% AIQ and 85% State quota seats during the seat allotment process.

Candidates have to properly select the category in the NEET application form and have to do proper document verification during the counselling.

• Select Correct Category: Candidates should select their proper category (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD) while they are filling the NEET Application form.
• Valid Certificates: They should have valid certificates from the competent authorities of the caste/income or the disability.
• Uploading: Candidates have to upload and submit the scanned copies of the certificate during the registration for MCC or state counselling.
• Verification: Candidates have to carry original certificates for the physical verification process during various counselling rounds.
• Category-wise choice: During the submission of college preference, candidates should consider their reservation benefits and category-wise cutoff.

NEET Reservation List

The NEET UG follows a reservation policy which is based on the Government of India guidelines under 15% AIQ and 85% state quota seats by individual states.

The reserved seats are distributed between different categories like SC, ST, OBC-NCL and PwD to ensure equal access to medical education in India.

NEET Reservation List Under AIQ

NEET Reservation Chart

NEET Reservation for Girls

In NEET, there is no reservation based on tender, but some state medical colleges and their institutions offer some reservation for female candidates under the state quota.

These reservations were formed to promote women in medical education, and they can vary as per the state policies and institutional norms.

NEET 2025 Category-wise Reservation

The NEET Reservation UG 2025 policy for the 15% AIQ is regulated by the central government to ensure fair access to medical education. A specific percentage of AIQ seats is reserved for each category, while the rest of the 85% State Quota seats are governed by state-level reservation rules.

The category-wise allocation is given below:

NEET Reservation for General Category 2025

NEET Reservation for EWS 2025

NEET Reservation for OBC 2025

NEET Reservation for SC 2025

NEET Reservation for ST 2025

NEET Horizontal Reservation for PWD 2025

What is the reservation for NEET 2025?

In NEET 2025, AIQ seats have the central reservation policy as follows:

• 27% for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)
• 15% for SC
• 7.5% for ST
• 10% for EWS
• 5% horizontal reservation for PWD across each category

Is the state quota removed in NEET UG 2025?

No, the state quota is not removed in NEET UG 2025. The 85% State Quota seats are intact and are occupied by respective state counselling authorities based on domicile, category, and rules of local reservation.

Only 15% of the seats are available under the AIQ.

NEET 2025 Reservation for NRI Candidates

In NEET 2025, NRI candidates are eligible for NRI quota seats in private and deemed medical colleges. These candidates do not belong to conventional NEET Reservation categories such as SC, ST, OBC, or EWS, but can apply for seats especially reserved for NRIs.

The admission and NEET Reservation process for NRI candidates is different and involves the submission of documents required to establish their NRI status.

NEET Reservation Percentage

The NEET Reservation for 15% AIQ seats in NEET UG 2025 is as per central government norms to ensure equitable representation of reserved categories. Also, 5% seats in each category are reserved for PWD candidates under horizontal reservation.

What is a caste certificate for NEET 2025?

A NEET 2025 caste certificate is a valid certificate issued by an appropriate authority that confirms the SC, ST, or OBC status of a candidate.

The certificate is required for candidates who want admission from NEET Reservation category seats.

The certificate should be issued within a limited period (generally within a year) and should be presented at the time of counselling to take advantage of the reservation.

Documents Required for NEET Reservation

To take NEET reservation 2025 under the different categories, candidates need to provide valid and current documents during counselling.

Documents proving the candidate's eligibility for reserved seats have to be issued by a proper authority. If documents are not provided, the reserved seat claim might be cancelled.

Colleges Accepting NEET 2025

All the medical and dental colleges in India will accept NEET 2025 scores for admission into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other allied medical courses.

More than 600 medical colleges and 300 dental colleges are part of the NEET admission system, including deemed universities and central, as well as private colleges and government colleges.

NEET Reservation 2025- Quota for Deemed Universities

For Deemed Universities, the DGHS conducts the AIQ Counselling, including seats in medical colleges like ESIC and AFMS institutes. AFMC admissions also follow specific rules and procedures set by the Ministry of Defence.

Here's a table summarizing the reservation system for deemed universities under NEET:

Candidates must be careful while selecting their category during filling out the NEET application form. Incorrect information or failure to submit the required certificates will lead to disqualification from the reserved category benefits.

NEET Reservation 2025- Important Points to Remember

• Document Verification: Ensure all certificates are properly verified and submitted. Documents such as caste certificates, income certificate and disability certificates must be from an authorized official.
• Counseling Process: The counseling process may vary from state to state. Always stay updated to the NEET counseling dates and procedures announced by MCC or the state counseling agency.
• Self-Declaration Form: Applicants from J&K, Ladakh or specific categories may be required to submit a self-declaration form or provide additional documents.
• EWS Applicants: Make sure you meet the criteria for an EWS resrvation by providing the appropriate certificate issued by the concerned authorities.