NEET UG 2026 480 ST carries a clear edge for ST candidates: 480 marks corresponds to an expected percentile of 92–95 and an overall All India Rank (AIR) estimated around 85,000–1,05,000 . This places ST category rank roughly in the 3,400–5,200 band, making government MBBS seats realistically reachable in several states.
NEET UG 2026 480 ST — Percentile and qualifying threshold
A score of 480 is well above the ST qualifying cutoff set at the 40th percentile (107 marks) , so candidates are eligible for both AIQ and state quota counselling. The National Testing Agency (NTA) publishes official marks-vs-rank PDFs from previous years that support these projections. The marks band 460–500 maps to percentile 91–94 , classed as a "Good ST" score.
NEET UG 2026 480 ST — Expected rank and seat chances
Projected overall AIR for 480 marks is 85,000–1,05,000 ; projected ST rank is 3,400–5,200 . With ST reservation in AIQ at 7.5% , many state government colleges remain within reach depending on the state seat matrix and domicile rules. States offering better chances at this score include Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and several Northeast states.
What you can realistically expect for MBBS and backups
Chances for MBBS under ST quota are moderate to good but vary by state and college seat matrix. If your priority is a government MBBS seat, focus counselling on state quota rounds where local ST reservations often improve access. Keep backup options ready: BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS and B.Sc Nursing are commonly suggested alternatives for ST candidates around this score.
Immediate steps for candidates with 480 marks
- Confirm your eligibility and ranks using official NTA marks-vs-rank PDFs and the AIQ/ST merit lists.
- Check your state’s ST seat matrix and domicile rules before choosing counselling rounds.
- Prepare choices prioritising states with higher ST seat shares (Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Northeast).
- Keep AYUSH and dental options in your preference list as practical backups.
Official authority: rely on the National Testing Agency (NTA) for final marks vs rank tables and All India/State merit lists. As projections show, 480 marks for ST candidates is a competitive score that secures counselling eligibility and offers a reasonable path to government medical seats under reservation, subject to state-specific seat availability and counselling outcomes.