NEET Cut-Off for MBBS in Russia: What Score Do You Need?
There is no separate NEET cut-off for MBBS in Russia. To study in Russia and practise in India you must qualify NEET-UG, and the qualifying marks are the cut-off. In NEET-UG 2026 that was 213 out of 720 for general and EWS candidates and 177 for OBC, SC and ST. This post gives the numbers by category, the trend since 2021 and what to do if your score is near the line.
In short: a Russian medical university does not publish a NEET cut-off of its own. What counts for India is the NTA's qualifying score: in NEET-UG 2026 it was 213/720 (50th percentile) for general and EWS, 194 for general and EWS PwBD (45th percentile) and 177 (40th percentile) for OBC, SC and ST. In 2025 the general mark was 144, so the line moves a lot from year to year. A NEET result is valid for three years. Below the qualifying mark, a Russian degree will not let you practise in India.
NEET cut-off for MBBS in Russia in 2026
The NMC requires every Indian citizen who wants a primary medical qualification abroad to qualify NEET-UG. The NMC treats the NEET result as the eligibility certificate for a foreign MBBS. So the NEET cut-off for MBBS in Russia is simply the NEET qualifying cut-off: the minimum marks that put a candidate at the 50th percentile (general and EWS), the 45th percentile (general PwBD) or the 40th percentile (OBC, SC, ST and their PwBD groups).
The NTA declared the NEET-UG 2026 result on 16 July 2026, after the exam of 3 May was cancelled following a paper leak and held again on 21 June. About 22.8 lakh candidates registered for the re-exam, 19.99 lakh appeared and about 11.21 lakh qualified. The qualifying marks, as reported by Careers360 from the NTA result, were:
| Category | Qualifying percentile | 2026 minimum (of 720) | 2025 minimum (of 720) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and EWS | 50th | 213 | 144 |
| General and EWS, PwBD | 45th | 194 | 127 |
| OBC | 40th | 177 | 113 |
| SC | 40th | 177 | 113 |
| ST | 40th | 177 | 113 |
The jump from 144 to 213 is large, but it is not a change in the rule. The percentile stays the same; the marks follow how the whole group scored. Careers360 reports that the qualifying marks rose in every category and gives no cause for it.
NEET qualifying cut-off: the trend since 2021
| Year | General and EWS minimum |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 138 of 720 |
| 2022 | 117 of 715 |
| 2023 | 137 of 720 |
| 2024 | 164 of 720 |
| 2025 | 144 of 720 |
| 2026 | 213 of 720 |
If you read an older article that says "the NEET cut-off for Russia is 50 percentile" or "about 130 marks", it is describing an earlier year. Do not plan on a fixed number. Look at the year of your own result.
Is there a separate cut-off for Russian universities?
No. Russian state medical universities admit foreign students mainly on documents: passport, Class 12 certificates, the NEET score card and a medical certificate. Some hold an online interview or a short test in biology and chemistry. We did not find a published NEET mark that a Russian university uses to rank Indian applicants, and a higher score does not lower the tuition fee. If an agent or a university website quotes you a "university-wise NEET cut-off", ask for the document it comes from.
A higher score still helps, in a practical way. A student with a high NEET score has usually a stronger base in biology and chemistry, and the first two years of the Russian course are anatomy, histology, biochemistry and physiology. Students with a weak science base should plan extra study in the first year and a university with good teaching support. Look at the FMGE pass rate by university and the ranking of Russian medical colleges before you decide.
Check your NEET score for Russia
Send your score, category and Class 12 marks; we tell you if you qualify and which universities to shortlist.
How long is a NEET score valid for Russia?
The NMC says a NEET result is valid for three years from the date it is declared. So a student who qualified in 2025 with the 2025 cut-off holds a valid result for admission in 2026 and 2027, and a 2026 qualifier can use the result up to 2029. We read the rule as meaning that the cut-off of the year of your result applies to you, not the cut-off of the year you join. To be safe, get written confirmation from the university and, if you have any doubt, from the NMC before you pay the first fee.
Your NEET result will be checked again when you apply for FMGE: the NBEMS information bulletin asks candidates admitted on or after May 2018 to upload the NEET-UG score card, together with proof that they met the age and Class 12 Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English marks rule at the time of joining. If you claim a category relaxation, you must also upload the caste certificate. Keep the community certificate you used for NEET with your other originals.
What else you need besides the NEET score
- Class 12: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, with at least 50% in PCB (40% for reserved categories).
- Age: at least 17 on 31 December of the admission year. See MBBS age limit and eligibility.
- Passport valid for the whole visa period, and attested documents. See how admission works and NORKA attestation.
What to do if your NEET score is close to the cut-off
If you are just above the line, you are eligible, but you are also unlikely to get an Indian government seat. Be honest about the plan. Choose a university where the English group is taught in English for all six years, where the FMGE results have been above the Russian average for several years, and where you can afford the full six years of fees. Our post on MBBS in Russia vs India explains when to wait for another NEET attempt instead.
If you are just below the line, a Russian MBBS will not count in India. Do not accept an offer of "admission without NEET". A degree obtained that way will not let you appear for FMGE. Options are a repeat year, a different course or a different country. The result guide NEET 2026 result: what next goes through them.
NEET Cut-Off for MBBS in Russia: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NEET cut-off for MBBS in Russia?
It is the NTA's qualifying score of the year. In NEET-UG 2026 it was 213 out of 720 for general and EWS candidates, 194 for general PwBD and 177 for OBC, SC and ST. Russian universities do not publish a higher cut-off of their own that we could find.
Can I get MBBS in Russia with a low NEET score?
Yes, if you have qualified. Any score at or above your category's qualifying mark is enough to be eligible. A low qualifying score does not reduce the fee or the FMGE risk, so choose the university carefully.
Is MBBS in Russia possible without NEET?
You can be admitted, but the degree will not let you practise in India. The NMC requires NEET-UG for anyone who joined a foreign medical course on or after May 2018. We advise against any offer of admission without NEET.
Is the NEET 2025 score valid for admission in 2026?
According to the NMC, a NEET result is valid for three years from the date of declaration. A 2025 result should therefore stand for admission in 2026 and 2027. Ask the university to confirm in writing that it accepts it.
Why did the NEET cut-off rise from 144 to 213 in 2026?
The percentile stayed at 50 for general candidates. The marks are set by the score distribution of the group that sat the exam, so a higher-scoring group moves the line up. Careers360 reports the rise in every category but does not name a cause, and we have seen no official explanation.
Sources: NMC general information page (NEET requirement for primary medical qualification abroad, three-year validity); NTA NEET-UG 2025 and 2026 qualifying cut-offs as reported by Careers360 (July 2026); Deccan Herald and other press reports on the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam of 21 June 2026; AglaSem, ALLEN and Collegedunia for the 2021–2024 cut-offs; NBEMS FMGE Information Bulletin, October 2026 (paras 4.7.2, 4.7.3). Checked October 2026; the NTA's own notice was not opened.