Choosing the right postgraduate medical branch is one of the most crucial decisions in a doctor’s career. Every year, thousands of MBBS graduates appear for NEET PG with the hope of securing a seat in their preferred MD or MS specialization. However, understanding NEET PG cut off branch wise is essential to make realistic choices during counseling.
At The Doctors Guardian, we regularly guide students through NEET PG counseling, branch selection, and admission strategy. This comprehensive blog explains NEET PG cut off trends, branch-wise score expectations, category-wise qualifying criteria, and how revised cut offs impact your admission chances.
What Is NEET PG Cut Off?
NEET PG cut off refers to the minimum score or percentile required to become eligible for postgraduate medical counseling. There are two important aspects of cut off:
- Qualifying Cut Off – Minimum percentile required to participate in counseling
- Branch Wise Cut Off – Actual score/rank required to get a specific MD/MS branch in a particular college
While qualifying cut off decides eligibility, branch-wise cut off decides admission possibility.
Revised NEET PG 2025 Qualifying Cut Off (Official)
As per the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2025 was officially reduced to ensure optimal seat utilization. This revision plays a major role for students with lower scores who were previously ineligible NBEMS_20261666556565.
Category-Wise Revised Qualifying Cut Off
| Category | Original Percentile | Revised Percentile | Revised Score (Out of 800) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th | 7th | 103 |
| General PwBD | 45th | 5th | 90 |
| SC / ST / OBC (Including PwBD) | 40th | 0th | -40 |
Important note:
The rank remains unchanged, only eligibility criteria have been relaxed
Why Branch Wise NEET PG Cut Off Matters
Branch-wise cut off helps students understand:
- Which specialization is achievable at their score
- Whether government or private college is possible
- Chances of admission in clinical vs non-clinical branches
- Need for management or NRI quota
Without analyzing branch-wise trends, students often make unrealistic choices during counseling.
Factors Affecting NEET PG Branch Wise Cut Off
NEET PG cut off for each branch depends on multiple factors:
- Difficulty level of the exam
- Total number of candidates
- Number of seats available
- Demand for specific branches
- Category of the candidate
- Government vs private college
- State quota vs All India quota
Highly clinical branches naturally have higher cut offs.
NEET PG Branch Wise Cut Off Overview
Below is a general branch-wise cut off range, based on recent admission trends, counseling data, and expert analysis by The Doctors Guardian.
NEET PG Cut Off for Clinical Branches
MD General Medicine
General Medicine consistently remains the top choice for NEET PG aspirants.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 5,000 (Govt colleges)
- Score Range: 550–650+
- Private Colleges: 450–550
This branch demands one of the highest cut offs every year.
MS General Surgery
A highly preferred surgical branch with strong demand.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 8,000
- Score Range: 500–620
- Private Colleges: 420–520
Cut off varies significantly by institution and state.
MD Pediatrics
Pediatrics is popular among students seeking long-term clinical practice.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 10,000
- Score Range: 480–600
- Private Colleges: 400–500
MD Radiology
Radiology has become one of the most competitive branches.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 2,000
- Score Range: 600–680
- Private Colleges: 520–600
Radiology seats are limited, which drives cut offs very high.
MD Dermatology
Dermatology is in extremely high demand due to lifestyle balance.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 3,000
- Score Range: 580–660
- Private Colleges: 500–580
MD Anesthesiology
A critical branch with increasing demand.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 20,000
- Score Range: 420–520
- Private Colleges: 350–450
MD Orthopedics
Preferred by students inclined toward surgical practice.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 12,000
- Score Range: 460–580
- Private Colleges: 400–500
MD Obstetrics & Gynecology
Always in demand due to clinical exposure and scope.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 10,000
- Score Range: 480–600
- Private Colleges: 420–520
NEET PG Cut Off for Paraclinical Branches
MD Pathology
A popular paraclinical branch with stable cut off.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 50,000
- Score Range: 300–420
- Private Colleges: 250–350
MD Pharmacology
Suitable for academic and research-oriented students.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 70,000
- Score Range: 260–360
MD Microbiology
Preferred for teaching and lab-based careers.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 65,000
- Score Range: 280–380
MD Community Medicine (PSM)
A non-clinical yet respected branch.
- Expected Rank Range: Under 80,000
- Score Range: 240–340
NEET PG Cut Off for Non-Clinical Branches
MD Anatomy
Lowest cut off among MD branches.
- Expected Rank Range: Up to 1,00,000
- Score Range: 200–300
MD Physiology
Chosen mainly for academic roles.
- Expected Rank Range: Up to 90,000
- Score Range: 220–320
MD Biochemistry
Low competition and wide availability.
- Expected Rank Range: Up to 1,10,000
- Score Range: 180–280
Impact of Revised NEET PG Cut Off on Admissions
The reduction in qualifying percentile has:
- Increased eligibility for counseling
- Opened opportunities for low-score candidates
- Improved seat utilization
- Benefited SC/ST/OBC candidates significantly
However, branch-wise cut off remains competitive, especially for clinical branches
Government vs Private College Cut Off Difference
Government colleges:
- Higher cut offs
- Limited seats
- Intense competition
Private colleges:
- Lower cut offs
- Management quota options
- Higher fees but better availability
The Doctors Guardian helps students evaluate both options transparently.
How The Doctors Guardian Helps You Secure MD/MS Admission
At The Doctors Guardian, we provide:
- Branch-wise cut off analysis
- Personalized counseling
- College shortlisting based on score
- State and AIQ counseling guidance
- Management and NRI quota assistance
- End-to-end admission support
Our expert counselors ensure that students make safe, strategic, and informed choices.
NEET PG Cut Off Branch Wise – FAQs
NEET PG branch-wise cut off refers to the minimum score or rank required to secure admission in a specific MD or MS specialization during counseling. While qualifying cut off only decides whether a candidate is eligible to participate in counseling, branch-wise cut off reflects the actual competition for each branch. Clinical branches such as Radiology, General Medicine, and Dermatology usually have much higher cut offs compared to non-clinical branches due to higher demand and limited seats.
NEET PG branch-wise cut off is influenced by several factors including the difficulty level of the exam, number of candidates, availability of seats, and popularity of a particular specialization. Government medical colleges generally have higher cut offs due to limited seats and high competition. Reservation categories, state quota, and All India quota also affect the final cut off for each branch.
Yes, qualifying cut off and branch-wise cut off are completely different. Qualifying cut off is the minimum percentile required to become eligible for NEET PG counseling. Branch-wise cut off, on the other hand, is the score or rank at which a particular MD or MS branch closes during counseling. Many candidates qualify NEET PG but fail to get admission in their preferred branch due to high competition.
MD Radiology, MD Dermatology, and MD General Medicine consistently have the highest NEET PG cut offs. These branches are in high demand due to better work-life balance, earning potential, and career growth. MS Orthopedics, MS General Surgery, and MD Pediatrics also have high cut offs, especially in government medical colleges.
Yes, private medical colleges generally have lower branch-wise cut offs compared to government institutions. This is mainly due to higher seat availability and the presence of management quota seats. However, popular clinical branches such as Radiology and Dermatology still require good scores even in private colleges, while non-clinical branches have relatively lower score requirements.
Category reservation plays a significant role in determining NEET PG branch-wise cut off. SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates generally have lower qualifying percentiles and lower branch cut offs compared to General category candidates. However, competition within reserved categories can still be intense for high-demand branches and top medical colleges.
Getting a highly demanded clinical branch with a low NEET PG score is difficult, but not impossible. Candidates may explore private colleges, management quota seats, or relatively less competitive clinical branches such as Anesthesiology or Psychiatry. Cut offs may also drop in mop-up or stray vacancy rounds if seats remain vacant. Proper counseling plays a crucial role in such cases.
Yes, NEET PG branch-wise cut offs often change during different counseling rounds. As candidates upgrade their seats or withdraw from counseling, new vacancies are created, which can lead to lower cut offs in later rounds. Mop-up and stray vacancy rounds generally show the maximum drop, especially in private colleges and non-clinical branches.
Previous year NEET PG branch-wise cut offs are helpful for understanding trends but should not be treated as fixed benchmarks. Cut offs vary every year depending on exam difficulty, number of candidates, and seat availability. They provide a rough idea of competition levels but should always be combined with current-year data and expert guidance for accurate decision-making.
The Doctors Guardian provides expert NEET PG counseling based on your score, rank, category, and financial planning. Our team analyzes branch-wise cut off trends, shortlists suitable colleges, and assists throughout all counseling rounds. We also guide students through management and NRI quota admissions with complete transparency, helping them secure the best possible MD or MS seat.
Final Words
Understanding NEET PG cut off branch wise is the foundation of successful postgraduate admission planning. While qualifying cut off decides eligibility, branch-wise cut off determines your actual future specialization.
With revised qualifying criteria and evolving competition, expert guidance is more important than ever. The Doctors Guardian remains committed to helping aspiring doctors secure the right branch, right college, and right career path.
