Which Medical Colleges Can I Get with 600-650 Marks in NEET 2026? State Quota vs AIQ Guide
Last updated: July 22, 2026
TL;DR: The
600-650mark band is the single most volatile zone in NEET counselling. The same score range secured premier government MBBS seats in2025(when650≈ AIR6,500and600≈ AIR28,000) but locked General-category candidates out of AIQ government MBBS entirely in2024(when650fell to AIR29,000). For NEET 2026, plan against three counselling tracks: AIQ government MBBS (a Scenario B / tough-paper bet for General · safer for SC, ST, OBC, EWS), State Quota in a low-cutoff state like Karnataka · West Bengal · Madhya Pradesh, and a curated private / deemed list (KMC Manipal · Kerala open-quota colleges at₹7.5L/yr) as a financial backup.
A 600-650 score is the most stressful range in the entire NEET ecosystem, because it sits at the boundary where everything depends on factors you cannot control: paper difficulty, your home state, your category, and which counselling round you walk into. The same number that secures a Karnataka government college outright leaves a Rajasthan candidate hunting for management quota. To find out exactly which colleges are realistically open for your specific projected score, category, and domicile, plug your numbers into the NEET 2026 College Predictor to check your admission chances → before the August counselling window opens.
This guide is written for NEET UG 2026 aspirants whose projected scores sit anywhere in the 600-650 band, plus the parents drafting their parallel AIQ and state-counselling lists. It maps the 600-650 range to actual government, semi-government, deemed-university, and private medical colleges across India, separates the high-cutoff states from the cushioned ones, and flags four specific opportunities that competitor articles consistently miss: the RajMES management quota in Rajasthan, Karnataka's government-quota seats inside private colleges, Kerala's open-state private seats, and the MP MMVY scholarship that turns a private seat into a free education. Every number has been cross-checked against National Testing Agency (NTA) result data, Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) AIQ archives, state counselling bodies, and the National Medical Commission's (NMC) 2025-2026 seat register, and the context has been updated for the cancelled 3 May paper and the rescheduled 21 June 2026 Re-NEET.
Key takeaways
- The same
650was AIR29,000in2024and AIR~6,500in2025. Paper difficulty is the entire story. - For General candidates,
600-650is "guaranteed AIQ government MBBS" only in a tough paper. In an easy paper, AIQ closes above650and you must pivot to State Quota or private options. - For SC and ST candidates,
600-650is the elite tier. The same score routinely unlocks newer AIIMS branches (Kalyani · Deoghar · Guwahati · Jammu). - Domicile is decisive. Karnataka and West Bengal cushion this band; Rajasthan and Bihar do not.
- Four overlooked routes: RajMES management quota (
₹8.5L/yr) · Karnataka G-Quota in private colleges (₹1.41L/yr) · Kerala open private seats (₹7.5L/yr) · MP MMVY full-tuition scholarship.
What "600-650 marks in NEET" actually means
The 600-650 band represents roughly the top 2-5% of NEET candidates in a tough year and roughly the top 15-20% in an easy year. The wide range is precisely the problem. NEET allocates seats by All India Rank, not by raw marks, and the rank attached to your 600-650 score is rebuilt from scratch every cycle by the paper's difficulty and the cohort's accuracy distribution. A planning approach that fixes a single "safe score" therefore breaks every other year, which is exactly what happened to the 2024 cohort.
Two specific framings matter for this score band:
- General-category candidate at
600-650: strategic boundary candidate. Outcome depends entirely on paper, state, and counselling round. - SC, ST, OBC, EWS candidate at
600-650: elite-tier candidate. Category-specific closing ranks at premium institutions are well within reach even in inflation years.
The rest of this article is built around that asymmetry, because the right college list for an SC candidate at 620 looks completely different from a General candidate at the same score.
The 600-650 score-to-rank dilemma: inflation vs deflation
The last two NEET cycles are a perfect natural experiment for this band. Same exam, same syllabus, almost opposite outcomes.
NEET 2024 was the hyper-inflation year. An unusually easy paper, grace marks for 1,563 candidates, and a Physics answer-key revision lifting scores for over 4.4 lakh students compressed the rank list. 67 perfect 720s sat at the top (later revised to 17). Down at the 600-650 zone, 650 collapsed to AIR ~29,000 and 600 plummeted to AIR ~80,000. General-category AIQ government MBBS was lost.
NEET 2025 was the great reset. Tighter security, a clean paper, and a markedly tougher Physics section. No candidate scored above 700. AIR 1 was Mahesh Kumar of Rajasthan at 686/720. The 600-650 zone deflated dramatically: 650 ≈ AIR 6,500, 600 ≈ AIR ~28,000. General AIQ government MBBS was suddenly back in reach for the entire band.
Table 1: NEET 600-650 marks-to-rank volatility (2024 vs 2025)
The single most useful exercise you can do with this table is to ask which scenario the 21 June Re-NEET is most likely to resemble. After a paper-leak embarrassment, the realistic answer leans toward Scenario B (a tough, tightly-secured paper). That favours 600-650 candidates significantly, but planning for both is the only honest approach.
NEET 2026 scoring rules and the tie-breaker that decides cutoff clusters
Two pieces of mechanics quietly shape every closing rank below.
Per NTA, NEET UG 2026 is a 180-question compulsory paper (Physics 45 · Chemistry 45 · Biology 90), with +4 for a correct answer, -1 for an incorrect one, 0 for unattempted, and a maximum of 720. The exam runs 3 hours normally; the 21 June 2026 Re-NEET runs 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM, granting 15 extra minutes. The old optional Section A/B format was discontinued in 2025 and is not coming back.
The NTA has completely retired "candidate age" and "application number" as tie-breakers. The current 2025-2026 order resolves ties by Biology marks → Chemistry marks → Physics marks → overall accuracy ratio → Biology accuracy → Chemistry accuracy → Physics accuracy, and finally a computerised draw of lots under an independent expert committee if a tie survives every academic check. Inside a 620-mark cluster where hundreds of candidates can sit on identical scores, your AIR is decided by these tie-breakers. Biology accuracy in particular separates rank bands by hundreds of positions.
The Re-NEET 2026 factor: what changes for a 600-650 plan
The original NEET UG 2026, held on 3 May 2026, was cancelled by the NTA after a paper-leak controversy, with the Central Bureau of Investigation taking up the case. Question sets matching the live paper circulated on WhatsApp and Telegram before the exam, investigations pointed to a multi-state racket, and more than 22 lakh aspirants were affected. The matter has reached the Supreme Court.
Re-NEET 2026 is scheduled for 21 June 2026, with no re-registration, no extra fee, the same pattern, and the same syllabus. Results are expected in July, with MCC counselling now likely to begin only in August 2026. For a 600-650 candidate, the practical implications are:
- Lean Scenario B (tough paper). After a leak, the NTA has strong incentive to set a tightly-guarded, harder paper. That makes
600-650candidates the biggest beneficiaries (your relative rank improves dramatically). - Document early. The August counselling window is short. Category certificates, domicile certificates, EWS income certificates, and disability documentation should be ready before the result drops.
- Plan three parallel college lists. A
620is a different college list in Scenario A versus Scenario B. Drafting both before result day is the only way to act fast in compressed counselling.
AIQ at 600-650: who actually gets in
The All India Quota tells two completely different stories for this score band depending on the paper.
Table 2: 15% AIQ government MBBS closing cutoffs by category (2024 vs 2025)
The numbers above are mid-cycle closing benchmarks; final stray and special-stray vacancy rounds extend the General closing rank slightly deeper (to roughly AIR 27,360 at 525 marks in 2025). Use the table to understand the realistic working cutoff, and remember that late rounds always loosen.
For General · OBC · EWS candidates, the message is harsh but useful: under inflation conditions like 2024, anything below 652 is locked out of AIQ government MBBS entirely. Under deflation like 2025, the same AIQ opens up at 605. The candidate scoring 620 cannot know which version of the cutoff they face until the paper is taken. The only honest plan is to prepare both lists.
The SC and ST exception: 600-650 unlocks elite AIIMS
For reserved-category candidates, this score band is the elite tier, not the borderline zone. The AIQ closing ranks for SC and ST government MBBS sit deeper than 1,30,000 and 1,55,000 AIR respectively. A 600-650 SC candidate ranking inside AIR 30,000-80,000 is therefore far above the closing line, with access to premium institutions that General candidates at the same raw score cannot touch.
Table 3: SC and ST AIIMS opportunities at 600-650 marks (AIQ)
If you are an SC or ST aspirant projecting 600-650, your AIQ choice list should not look like a General-category list. It should anchor on these newer AIIMS campuses, with the established AIIMS branches (Patna · Raipur · Nagpur) layered above as upside attempts.
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State Quota at 600-650: the geographic lottery
If AIQ is the binary "depends on paper" track, State Quota is the "depends on where you live" track. The same 620 is a Round 1 lock in Karnataka and a Round 3 nail-biter in Rajasthan.
Table 4: General-category State Quota closing cutoffs (2024 reference under Scenario A inflation)
The asymmetry is staggering. A Karnataka or West Bengal domicile turns this entire score band into a guaranteed government seat. A Rajasthan or Bihar domicile leaves you with State Quota cutoffs that often exceed the AIQ cutoff. This is the structural disadvantage of being from a "chokehold" state, and it cannot be wished away. It has to be planned around.
The high-cutoff state struggle: RajMES is the loophole
Rajasthan candidates in the 600-650 band miss the regular State Quota almost every year. The competitor articles stop there. They miss a real route: the RajMES management quota seats inside Rajasthan's government society medical colleges. These are government-branded institutions with management-quota seats reserved for state residents, and they close at significantly more accessible ranks than the regular State Quota.
In 2024, RajMES management quota seats closed at roughly AIR 43,537 (≈ 635 marks) for boys and AIR 43,209 for girls. The tuition is higher (₹8.5L-₹9.0L/yr), but the candidate ends up in a government society college with the associated brand and infrastructure, rather than a fully private institution. For a Rajasthan candidate at 635-645 who has been shut out of regular government counselling, this is the most-overlooked legitimate route in north India.
The low-cutoff state haven: Karnataka's G-Quota in private colleges
Karnataka residents have access to another route that almost nobody talks about: Government Quota (G-Quota) seats inside private medical colleges, allocated through KEA's state counselling. Tuition is exceptionally low at roughly ₹1,41,196/yr (effectively ₹1.41L/yr). The closing rank for these G-Quota private seats extends to roughly AIR 86,106 (≈ 597 marks), which makes them a genuine option for Karnataka candidates scoring 600-620 who want premium private infrastructure at near-government fees.
Between the regular Karnataka State Quota government MBBS (closing AIR ~69,000 / ~610 marks) and these G-Quota private seats (closing AIR ~86,000 / ~597 marks), a Karnataka candidate at 600-650 has at least two distinct, affordable, high-quality routes that most predictor tools do not surface clearly.
Private and deemed university options at 600-650
If government MBBS is not realistic in your scenario, the private and deemed pool is far larger and more varied than coaching brochures suggest. The cost spread is genuinely wide, and a thoughtful list is usually 40-60% cheaper than the default Deemed-University suggestions.
Table 5: Premium private and deemed options for 600-650 (open to all states)
Kerala's open-quota secret: the budget winner for 600-650 candidates
Most articles route 620-650 scorers straight to deemed universities at ₹18L-₹22L/yr. That is the lazy answer. The cheaper, higher-quality answer for many candidates is Kerala's open-state private counselling: out-of-state candidates can compete for premium Kerala private colleges (Jubilee Mission, Amala, Pushpagiri, SUT Academy) at tuition fees of ₹7.5L-₹8.5L/yr. The total annual budget after hostel and miscellaneous fees typically lands at ₹9L-₹12L/yr, less than half the deemed-university default.
For a 620-mark candidate who cannot stretch to ₹18L/yr deemed tuition but is willing to relocate to Kerala for 5.5 years, this route is materially better than what most predictors surface.
The MP MMVY scholarship: the loophole that turns private into free
Madhya Pradesh's Mukhyamantri Medhavi Chhatra Yojana (MMVY) scheme fully funds tuition for state-domiciled candidates with NEET AIR under 1.5 lakh who secure admission in government or recognised private medical colleges in MP. The practical effect: an MP-domicile candidate scoring 600-620 who misses the regular State Quota government cutoff but secures a private seat through state counselling can end up paying zero tuition.
This single state scheme converts what looks like a ₹12L-₹15L/yr private liability into a free education for eligible candidates. If you are an MP resident in this score band, the scheme should anchor your counselling plan, not sit as a footnote.
Strategic checklist by score band
A clean band-by-band plan you can run after the 21 June Re-NEET result drops.
For 640-650 candidates
- AIQ: safe under Scenario B (tough paper). Borderline-to-missed under Scenario A.
- State Quota: government MBBS likely in UP, MAH, WB, MP. Closed for regular government in Rajasthan, Bihar; pivot to RajMES management quota in Rajasthan (
635+ ≈ AIR43,537). - Private / Deemed: KMC Manipal and KMC Mangalore are the premium picks. Top Kerala open private (Jubilee Mission, Amala) is in reach at this band.
For 620-639 candidates
- AIQ: Scenario B only. Out of the race under Scenario A.
- State Quota: government MBBS safe in Karnataka, West Bengal, MP, Maharashtra; private routes in UP and Bihar; RajMES management in Rajasthan.
- Private / Deemed: premium Kerala open seats (Jubilee · Amala · Pushpagiri) in reach. UP private open (Sharda · Hind Institute · Rohilkhand) easily accessible. Karnataka G-Quota private at
₹1.41L/yr available for local residents.
For 600-619 candidates
- AIQ: General · OBC · EWS effectively closed. SC and ST candidates remain elite-tier with access to newer AIIMS.
- State Quota: Karnataka General SQ remains accessible (cutoff
~69,000/~610). MP and Maharashtra borderline. North Indian states (UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Kerala) effectively closed for regular government seats. - Private / Deemed: budget-friendly Kerala open seats (SUT Academy at
₹7.5L/yr · KMCT). UP private open (Sharda, Rohilkhand). Karnataka G-Quota private at₹1.41L/yr is the structural advantage for Karnataka residents at this band. - MP MMVY candidates: secure any private MP seat under state counselling and tuition is funded by the state.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I get a government medical college with 600 marks in NEET 2026?
For General candidates, only under a tough-paper scenario like 2025, where 600 ≈ AIR 28,000 and the AIQ cutoff opens up. For SC and ST candidates, yes, comfortably across both scenarios. State Quota in Karnataka, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh also secures government MBBS at 600+ in most years.
Q: Which states have the lowest NEET cutoff for government medical colleges in 2026?
Karnataka (General SQ 69,000 AIR / 610 marks in 2024), West Bengal (40,602 / 635), Madhya Pradesh (48,000 / 615), Maharashtra (~65,000 / 612). Rajasthan, Bihar, Kerala, and Delhi are the highest-cutoff states for 600-650 candidates.
Q: What is the safe score for AIIMS at 600-650 for SC and ST candidates?
SC candidates scoring 600-650 typically secure newer AIIMS branches (Kalyani, Deoghar, Guwahati, Jammu) where SC closing ranks run AIR 22,000-45,000. ST candidates in the same band reach AIIMS Deoghar, Guwahati, and Jammu with closing ST ranks of AIR 60,000-71,000. Both far above the typical AIR for 600-650 reserved candidates.
Q: What are the best private medical colleges for 620-640 marks in NEET 2026?
KMC Manipal (Deemed via MCC, ₹17.8L/yr) at the upper end. Kerala open-state private colleges like Jubilee Mission Thrissur and Amala Institute (₹7.5L/yr) at the budget end. UP private open (Sharda, Rohilkhand) for in-state ease. The Kerala route is the budget winner.
Q: How does the Re-NEET on 21 June 2026 change my 600-650 strategy?
The pattern, syllabus, and seat pool are unchanged. Difficulty risk leans high after the leak, which means Scenario B (tough paper) is more probable than Scenario A. That improves your relative rank significantly if you are in the 600-650 band. Counselling is expected from August, so finish documentation early.
The bottom line
600-650 in NEET is not a "safe score" or an "unsafe score." It is a strategic band whose outcome is decided by paper difficulty, your state, your category, and how disciplined your counselling plan is. The candidates in this band who land government MBBS seats in 2026 will be the ones who built parallel lists across AIQ and State Quota, drafted backup routes through RajMES, Karnataka G-Quota, or Kerala open seats, and checked their MP MMVY eligibility before result day.
Map your projected 2026 score and full eligibility profile to a personalised, scenario-aware college list using the NEET 2026 College Predictor →. Then use the NEET 2026 cut-off target tool to work backward from a specific dream college and set your remaining preparation calendar accordingly. The Re-NEET window from now to August is enough time to turn a 600-650 projection into a confirmed seat, but only if you plan all four tracks (AIQ · State Quota · Private · Scholarship-funded) in parallel.
Official references: National Testing Agency 2024 and 2025 result gazettes and exam bulletins (neet.nta.nic.in) · Medical Counselling Committee All India Quota allotment archives, Rounds 1, 2, 3, Stray and Special Stray Vacancy (mcc.nic.in) · state counselling authorities (KEA Karnataka, RUHS Rajasthan, DME Madhya Pradesh, DGME Uttar Pradesh, CET Cell Maharashtra, WBMCC West Bengal, Kerala CEE) · National Medical Commission seat approvals for the 2025-2026 cycle (nmc.org.in) · Ministry of Health and Family Welfare seat-expansion notifications. Closing ranks reported here reflect mid-cycle benchmarks; final stray vacancy rounds typically extend the closing rank deeper. Private and deemed tuition figures reflect 2025-26 fee disclosures and can change year to year; verify with the institution before counselling.
