NEET Reservation Criteria

The NEET Reservation criteria now include a 27% OBC and 10% EWS reservation within the 15% All India Quota Seats (AIQS) during Counselling, benefitting 2,700 OBC and 550 EWS students. Candidates must accurately indicate their category in the NEET Application form to qualify for reservation.

Previously, the 15% AIQS criteria applied only to National institutes or Central universities. The Tamil Nadu government has approved a 7.5% reservation for NEET-qualified students from government schools.

Victims of terror attacks, including spouses and children, have reserved seats for MBBS and BDS admissions within the central pool. Candidates from Union Territories must sign a self-declaration form during NEET 2024 application to avail reservation benefits. Adherence to these criteria is crucial for NEET Reservation eligibility.

1.0Reservation Criteria for 85% State Quota Seats

A Merit List will be published, and 85% of seats under the state quota will be filled through individual state/Union Territory Counselling processes.

Each state/Union Territory will conduct its own counselling to facilitate admissions under the 85% State Quota.

To obtain information regarding the dates and procedures for State Counselling, candidates are advised to reach out to their respective state counselling authorities.

NEET candidates can access details about the NEET State-wise Counselling process and dates.

Admission under the state quota is contingent upon satisfying the eligibility criteria and adhering to the reservation policy applicable in the specific State or Union Territory where the student is seeking admission.

2.0Reservation Criteria for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats

For 15% All India Quota Seats, Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCI, PIO, and Foreign Nationals are eligible. To take admission via AIQ, candidates must take part in Online Counselling for NEET conducted by MCC.

Any remaining vacant seats after the conclusion of counselling rounds for All India Quota (AIQ) will be transferred to State Quota seats.

The number of names on the merit list will precisely match the available seats in the All-India Quota.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will now participate in 15% All India Quota Counselling and will not require the submission of a self-declaration form.

3.0Reservation for Candidates from UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Candidates from J&K and Ladakh have opted out of the All-India Scheme hence they are not eligible for 15% AIQ seats.

However, to apply for 15% AIQ seats counselling candidates must submit an online self-declaration.

4.0Other Backward Classes (OBC) Reservation

The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) have announced the revision of the OBC quota/reservation. Previously, the 27% reservation in 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats exclusively applied to OBC candidates. However, starting this year, OBC-Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) candidates will also be considered within the OBC reservation for these seats.

• Approximately 2700 OBC and 550 EWS candidates will now benefit from recent changes in reservation criteria. For NEET 2024 Counselling rounds, candidates seeking OBC-NCL reservation must explicitly indicate their category in the NEET application form.
• During the NEET 2024 Counselling application process, candidates should meticulously gather and provide all necessary documents. Failure to do so will render them ineligible for reservation benefits.
• OBC-NCL candidates are entitled to a 27% reservation quota when seeking admission to MBBS and BDS colleges.

5.0Reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

Candidates falling under the PwD category are eligible for a 5% reservation when seeking admission to medical colleges. To avail this reservation, candidates must adhere to the specified rules and conditions established by the relevant authority.

For eligibility, the minimum degree of disability should be 40% or more, and the assessment of disability must follow the guidelines laid out by the government. Additionally, candidates must have a valid "Certificate of Disability."

The Disability Certificate must be obtained from one of the 14 designated centers specified by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

6.0Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced the EWS quota in NEET-UG admissions in 2019, providing 10% reservation in jobs and education for candidates falling under this category.

This reservation specifically allocates 10% of seats in government medical colleges for individuals from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Eligibility for the NEET 2024 EWS reservation is determined by specific criteria:

• Family annual income not exceeding ₹8,00,000.
• Ownership of 5 acres of agricultural land or more.
• Possession of a residential flat measuring 1000 sq. ft. or more.
• Ownership of a residential plot measuring 100 sq. yards or more in notified municipalities.
• Ownership of a residential plot measuring 200 sq. yards or more in areas other than the notified municipalities.

It's important to note that candidates whose families own any of the mentioned criteria will not be eligible for the EWS reservation. 

Authorized Entities for Issuing 'Income and Asset Certificate' for NEET 2024 Reservation:

• District Magistrate/Additional District Magistrate/ Collector/ Deputy Commissioner/Additional Deputy Commissioner/ 1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional Magistrate/ Taluka Magistrate! Executive Magistrate/ Extra Assistant Commissioner
• Chief Presidency Magistrate/Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate/ Presidency Magistrate
• Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar
• Sub-Divisional Officer or the area where the candidate and/or his family normally resides

7.0Reservation Criteria for Deemed Universities

The responsibility for conducting the All-India Quota (AIQ) Counselling for NEET 2024, including seats in Deemed/Central universities, lies with the Directorate General of Health Sciences (DGHS).

The list of institutions covered by this process also includes ESIC college and AFMS institutes.

Rules and regulations for admission to the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune are established by the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Ministry of Defence and Government of India.

8.0TN Government Schools NEET Reservation: 7.5% Quota Allocation

As per the NEET 2023 Counselling reports, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet has approved a 7.5% reservation for students from government schools in the state's medical colleges who qualify in NEET exam. This additional quota will be incorporated within the existing reservation framework, essentially creating a specialized category within the existing quotas.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami of Tamil Nadu has announced the state government's commitment to securing reservations for government school students who successfully clear the NEET examination.

The decision to implement reservations for NEET-qualified students from government schools in TamilNadu stems from the observed annual decline in MBBS admissions from these institutions. Despite this trend, the reservation will specifically benefit students who completed their education (Classes 6 to 12) in a government school within Tamil Nadu.

The state is currently making temporary efforts to align its state board syllabus with the CBSE curriculum. Additionally, the state has proactively launched a program to offer complimentary medical coaching for NEET preparation.

9.0Reservation for Victims of Terror Attacks

As per the NEET Reservation Criteria 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has communicated with chief secretaries of all states and UTs, providing guidelines on Quota for Victims of Terror Attacks.

As per the guidelines, spouses and children of victims of terror attacks are eligible for reservations in MBBS and BDS colleges after successfully clearing NEET.

The reserved seats for these individuals fall under the central pool designated for medical admissions.

Eligibility Criteria: 

Candidates eligible for the central pool of MBBS and BDS seats include:

• Children who have faced the threat of terrorism or are targeted by terrorist organizations.
• Children from families of Kashmir Migrants who have lost their livelihood.
• Children from families where a parent or direct family member has lost their life due to an act of terrorism.
• Children from families where a parent or direct family member has become an innocent victim of firing by armed forces while dealing with terrorism in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

10.0Important Points to Remember in NEET Reservation

• The All-India Quota does not allocate reservations for Defence quota candidates. Nevertheless, certain states may have provisions for reservations under the Defence quota in NEET. Candidates are advised to reach out to their respective state counselling authorities for specific details.
• Deemed Universities conduct independent counselling sessions for NEET Reservation 2024.
• All India Quota does not consider the Management Quota, but private universities may reserve some seats under this category; contact the specific institute for information.
• Candidates are advised to verify their eligibility for reservation under both All India and state quota seats before applying.

11.0NEET Reservation 2024: Issuance of Reserved Category Certificates

NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) extends reservation facilities to candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and economically backward sections. To avail of these benefits, candidates are required to present their caste certificates. The issuance of these certificates is facilitated by specific authorities assigned to each category. The designated authorities for certificate provision are as follows: