NEET Reservation Policy 2025: Check Criteria for OBC, EWS, SC, ST

Hafsha Qureshi

Updated on - Nov 14, 2024

NEET Reservation Policy 2025 stipulates reservations under the All India Quota (AIQ) scheme as: 27% reservation to OBC, 15% reservation to SC, 10% reservation to EWS, and 7.5% reservation to ST. These mandates have been set by the Union Government.

The NEET reservation applies to central universities and state universities as well. The NEET reservation policy is advantageous for thousands of OBC, EWS and candidates from other underprivileged sections of society. The candidates from the reserved categories writing NEET 2025 can check the parameters and apply accordingly.

NEET Reservation Policy 2025 for 15% AIQ

As per the NEET reservation policy 2025, the reservation under 15% All India Quota is 27% for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10% for Economically Backward Section (EWS). Initially, the NEET reservation was introduced for 15% for SC and 7.5% for ST candidates.

Besides, the NEET reservation criteria was not introduced for state-run MBBS or Dental colleges at the first stage; only central universities had the power to exercise the reservation. Nevertheless, the NEET reservation criteria have evolved, and both state and central universities can participate. In addition, OBC and EWS candidates from all around the country can take admissions under the AIQ scheme.

Here are some parameters for admissions:

• The counseling for 15% of seats available for admission is conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on behalf of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for all government medical and dental colleges.
• The 15% seats for admissions do not apply to colleges based in J&K.
• According to the NEET reservation policy 2025, the remaining seats apart from the 15% AIQ will be filled by candidates from unreserved categories based on their performance in the exam.

NEET Reservation Criteria 2025 for EWS

The NEET-UG reservation quota for the Economically Backward Section was introduced by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from the year 2019.

• 10% of the seats are reserved for candidates from EWS quota in government medical colleges for candidates from economically backward backgrounds.
• However, there are certain NEET reservation criteria for the EWS quota:
  • Candidates with a family income of more than INR 8,00,000 are eligible for the EWS quota.
  • Candidates with possession of 5 acres of land and above are not eligible.
  • Further, if the candidate possesses 5 acres of land or above cannot apply from EWS.
  • Residential plots of 1000 sq ft and above or residential plots of 100 or 200 sq yards and above mentioned by the municipalities are not eligible.

Also Read: NEET Cut Off for SC Category

Institutes Participating in NEET EWS

Here are the institutes that actively participate in the admission process of NEET for EWS quota:

• Central University/Institutes
• National Institutes
• State Government Medical Colleges

List of Colleges Participating in NEET Reservation Criteria (EWS) 2025

Here is the list of colleges that grant admission to NEET candidates through the EWS quota. However, candidates from the general or unreserved category can also participate in admission.

• Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
• University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
• Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
• Medical College of RML Hospital, New Delhi

Also Read: NEET Cut Off Marks for Government Colleges

NEET Reservation Policy for Candidates with Disability

Candidates with benchmark disabilities are liable to participate in the admission process of NEET through a 5% reservation. Further, this right is provided to the candidates under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016.

Nevertheless, candidates from this category need to submit their disability certificate issued by any of the following boards:

• Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata
• Madras Medical College, Chennai
• Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai
• Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh
• Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
• SMS Medical College, Jaipur
• AIIMS, Nagpur, Maharashtra
• Goa Medical College, Goa
• Govt. Medical College, Agartala
• Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
• All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai (for Locomotor Disability only)

Also Read: BDS Cut off 2025 for Government Colleges

OBC Reservation in NEET 2025

MCC and NTA have published the new OBC Reservation in NEET 2025. The guidelines for new OBC Reservation in NEET 2025are mentioned below:

• They benefit the 2700 OBC and 550 EWS candidates
• At the time of NEET 2025 counselling rounds, aspirants must fill their respective categories to benefit from the OBC-NCL reservation
• During the NEET 2025, students must make sure that the required documents are handy. Otherwise, the students will not be taken as eligible candidates for the OBC Reservation in NEET 2025.
• OBC-NCL aspirants get the benefit of a 27% reservation under OBC Reservation in NEET 2025 by getting admitted to MBBS and BDS colleges

NEET Reservation Policy for 85% State Quota Seats

The state counselling authorities will set the NEET reservation criteria for state quota seats. Moreover, all the states have their separate state reservation policies. Nonetheless, NEET reservation policy 2025 is governed by various indigenous categories under state rule.

Besides, the state reservation policy may not match the NEET reservation policy 2025, as the state counselling authorities govern the admission process for the government and dental colleges in the state.

Also Read: NEET Cutoff for BDS 2025

NEET Reservation Policy for NEET Deemed/Central Universities & ESIC Colleges

Directorate General of Health Services arranges the counselling for the Deemed/Central universities, ESIC college and AFMS institutes. The NEET reservation criteria are applied for admissions here.

NOTE: Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Ministry of Defence, Government of India lays down rules and regulations for admission to AFMC, Pune.

Documents Required To Claim NEET 2025 Reservation

Candidates from the reserved categories are requested to produce the relevant documents to NTA to support applying for the reserved quota. If there is a failure to produce the necessary documents, the candidates will be barred from claiming the NEET reservations. However, the candidates will be still eligible to apply from the unreserved quota and will be provided admission based on merit.

Nonetheless, here is the list of Nodal Authorities for distinguished categories:

Read More: NEET Admission Form

Other Categories for Reservation in NEET 2025

There are other reservations in NEET 2025 available for the aspirants. Aspirants must add their category carefully while filling out the NEET application form 2025. The other categories available for reservation in NEET 2025 are mentioned below:

• Previously mentioned criteria under 15% AQI seats. They are eligible only for admissions to national institutes or central universities.
• The TN government has approved the proposal of a 7.5% reservation for the candidates who are from government schools in TN state medical colleges after qualifying for NEET.
• Terror attack victims like spouses and children also have a special chance to reserve for MBBS and BDS admissions. These seats are reserved under the central pool of seats for medical admissions.
• Aspirants of Union Territories should sign a self-declaration form while filling in their application form for NEET 2025 to avail of the reservation benefits.