Check the NEET Reservation Criteria 2025 for SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwD Categories

NEET serves as the sole national-level entrance exam for undergraduate medical admissions in India. NEET 2025 result scores enable candidates to pursue admission in more than 1 lakh MBBS seats and 27,868 BDS seats and 52,720 AYUSH seats and 603 BVSc & AH seats in India's medical and dental education institutions. The NEET 2025 reservation criteria function in strict accordance with instructions by the Government of India.

NEET UG provides seat selection benefits to 1,500 OBC candidates together with 550 EWS candidates under the new reservation system. Scheduled Caste candidates receive a 15% seat reservation in addition to OBC, EWS and Persons with Disabilities candidates who get 5% and Scheduled Tribe candidates who secure 7.5%. Candidates for medical education must choose their particular reservation category during their application for NEET 2025 registration. Complete details on the NEET Reservation Criteria 2025 including the documents required and other relevant things are detailed in this article.

NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: All India Quota (AIQ)

Online counseling will distribute 15% of medical seats as part of All India Quota (AIQ) for NEET 2025. The AIQ quota system includes seats for Indian Citizens and Non-Resident Indians, Overseas Citizens of India, Persons of Indian Origin, along with Foreign Citizens who want to study in the educational institutions. The vacant AIQ counseling positions will shift to the quotas controlled by individual states.

The AIQ reservation percentages are as follows:

These reserved seats ensure equitable access to MBBS and BDS programs in both government and private medical colleges.

Read More: What Documents are Required for NEET Counselling 2025?

NEET Reservation Criteria for 85% State Quota Seats

The admissions through the 85% State Quota will proceed through state and Union Territory (UT) counseling systems using ranked merit lists. Each state together with its UTs will establish independent counseling sessions to allocate these seats. Candidates who are seeking admission from the state quota should stay up to date regarding the scheduling and applications of the counselling process. Only those students who satisfy the eligibility criteria and adhering to the reservation policy will seek admission to the medical college under state quota.

NEET Reservation 2025 Criteria Category-wise (OBC / EWS / PwD)

Reservation for Victims of Terror Attacks in NEET 2025

Guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare became available to states and Union Territories about agreeing on special admissions for terror attack victim families for NEET. The purpose of this reservation plan is to offer educational assistance to terrorism victims so they can access medical education opportunities. Solicitors belonging to families affected through terrorist incidents are eligible for medical college admission if they fulfill the following NEET eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Criteria:

These are the requirements to participate in MBBS and BDS central reserve admission pool:

• The category includes those children who are directly assaulted or singled out as targets by terrorist organizations .
• The children affected by the livelihood loss of their Kashmiri migrant family.
• Medical admission programs exist for children who experienced a terrorist attack claim the life of either their parents or an important family member.
• Children fall under this category if their parents or closest family member lost their lives by armed forces while conducting counter-terrorism operations in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Read More: Best NEET Mock Test Series 2025

NEET Reservation Criteria 2025: Required Documents

All candidates applying under reserved categories must present their necessary documents to authorities during NEET 2025 counseling to confirm their eligibility status. Candidates need the following main set of documents for their NEET 2025 reservation applications:

• Candidates need to present their SC/ST/OBC Certificate issued by the correct authorities for verifying their category membership.
• Candidates need an EWS Certificate when they apply under the Economically Weaker Section category.
• To authenticate disability status PwD Certificate gets issued from medical authorities.
• In order to demonstrate financial eligibility for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and EWS candidates the Income Certificate serves as a requirement.
• Aadhar Card: A mandatory document for identity verification of all candidates.

Candidates need to check that each document meets the specifications of the conducting authorities while being valid and up to date.

Read More: NTA New Rules for NEET 2025

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q 1: What are the documents required for (OBC/ SC/ ST/ PwD / EWS) NEET Reservation Criteria 2025?

Ans: Students who apply in reserved categories for NEET 2025 need to submit particular documentation when participating in counseling. OBC-NCL candidates must submit an OBC-NCL certificate from an authorized authority and must present an income certificate based on guidelines. To prove eligibility for admission SC/ST candidates should present their caste certificates. Aligning with Indian rules both EWS candidates need to present their EWS certificate with an accompanying Income and Assets Certificate. To enroll in the programs PwD applicants need their disability certificate that should be validated by one of the 15 medical boards which confirms a benchmark disability of at least 40 percent. Each candidate needs to possess their Aadhar Card or a different recognized official identification document to verify their identity during the process.

Q 2. What is the NEET 2025 reservation criteria for AIQ seats?

Ans: Total seats in government medical and dental colleges is 15% of their combined total through All India Quota (AIQ) which reserves seat placement according to Government of India policies. The All India Quota (AIQ) distribution of reserved seats includes 15% for Scheduled Castes along with 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes and 27% for Other Backward Classes-National Creamy Layer and 10% for Economic Weaker Sections along with 5% reserved for Persons with Disabilities. The admission guidelines based on these reservation categories apply to every state and territory of India except Jammu & Kashmir unless the state chooses to join AIQ counseling.

Q 3. Is it necessary to have a domicile certificate for NEET reservations?

Ans: Each state follows its own specific requirements regarding domicile-based seat reservations in medical education thus students need to verify the guidelines of their state authority.

Q 4. How many seats are reserved for SC / ST category under AIQ quota?

Ans: The 15% All India Quota including AIQ distributes 15% of seats for Scheduled Caste students and 7.5% of seats for Scheduled Tribe candidates. All government medical and dental colleges which take part in AIQ counseling process must keep seats reserved under this system.

Q 5. How many seats are reserved for OBC category under AIQ quota?

Ans: Candidates who belong to the Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) under the All India Quota system should claim NEET admission through the 27% reservation. The reservation system allocates 27% of seats for OBC-NCL candidates in all central government-run medical institutions including AIIMS, JIPMER along with other colleges that receive central funding. The reservation applies to private medical colleges only when state quota policies specify exceptions to this practice. The specific accreditation from a qualified authority must be documented by candidates to verify their reservation status as an OBC-NCL.