NEET UG 2025 Reservation Policy Explained: Category-Wise Benefits
Introduction
The NEET UG 2025 examination is one of the most competitive entrance tests in India, offering admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses. With lakhs of aspirants applying every year, the reservation policy for NEET UG 2025 plays a crucial role in ensuring equal opportunities for candidates from different categories. The NEET UG 2025 reservation rules, which offer reserved seats for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates, are implemented at both the State Quota and All India Quota (AIQ) levels. The NEET UG 2025 reservation rules, which offer reserved seats for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates, are implemented at both the State Quota and All India Quota (AIQ) levels. In this article, we will explain the NEET UG 2025 reservation policy and how it benefits students category-wise.
NEET UG 20252025 Reservation in All India Quota (AIQ)
Under the 15% AIQ seats, the Government of India has defined specific reservation benefits for candidates:
- 15% seats for Scheduled Castes (SC)
- 7.5% seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- 27% seats for Other Backwards Classes (OBC-NCL)
- 10% seats for Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
- 5% seats for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) (within each category)
These reservations apply to government medical colleges across India under the AIQ.
NEET UG 20252025 Reservation in State Quota
For the 85% state quota seats, each state follows its own reservation rules based on the state government’s policies. Candidates must fulfil the domicile requirements to avail the benefits under the state quota reservations. The distribution usually includes:
- SC, ST, and OBC-NCL categories (as per state laws)
- EWS quota in many states
- PwD quota (minimum 40% disability required)
- Special categories in some states, like children of ex-servicemen, freedom fighters, or sports quota
Students should always check the state-specific NEET UG 2025 counselling guidelines to know the exact reservation percentage.
Benefits of NEET UG 2025 Reservation Policy
The reservation system in NEET UG 2025 provides several advantages:
- Ensures equal opportunities for candidates from socially and economically weaker backgrounds.
- Helps in increasing diversity in medical education across India.
- Reduces the gap between general and reserved categories in terms of seat allocation.
- Provides financial relief as reserved candidates may have lower cut-off scores and easier access to government colleges.
- Empowers PwD students with 5% reservation in every category.
Important Points to Remember
- Candidates must produce valid caste/category certificates issued by a competent authority to claim reservation.
- For OBC reservation, only candidates from the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) are eligible.
- The EWS quota applies to students whose family income is less than ₹8 lakh per year and who do not fall under the SC/ST/OBC categories.
- PwD candidates need to provide a disability certificate as per the guidelines of the National Medical Commission (NMC).
Conclusion
The NEET UG 2025 reservation policy is designed to create a level playing field for students across India. With category-wise benefits such as SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD reservations, it ensures that talented students from all backgrounds get the opportunity to pursue medical education. Aspirants appearing for NEET UG 2025 must carefully check their eligibility under the reservation rules and prepare their documents in advance for counselling. Understanding these benefits can make the admission process smoother and help candidates secure a seat in their dream medical college.