Andhra Pradesh applies approximately 60% reservation in medical admissions, split across Backward Classes (29%), Scheduled Castes (15%), Scheduled Tribes (6%), and EWS (10%). Below is the full category list used in AP NEET counselling. The state also implements a 33% horizontal reservation for women across all categories.
Category codes used in AP counselling
| Code | Category | Reservation % |
|---|---|---|
| OC | Open Category (General/Unreserved) | ~35% (after all reservations) |
| BCA / BC-A | Backward Class A | 7% |
| BCB / BC-B | Backward Class B | 10% |
| BCC / BC-C | Backward Class C | 1% |
| BCD / BC-D | Backward Class D | 7% |
| BCE / BC-E | Backward Class E | 4% |
| SC1 | Scheduled Caste Group 1 (most backward) | 1% |
| SC2 | Scheduled Caste Group 2 (Madiga group) | 6.5% |
| SC3 | Scheduled Caste Group 3 (Mala group) | 7.5% |
| ST | Scheduled Tribe | 6% |
| EWS | Economically Weaker Section | 10% |
Two additional category codes appear for specific institutions:
- ANGLO: Anglo-Indian (1 reserved seat at Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada)
- MINORITY: Muslim Minority quota at Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Kadapa
SC sub-categorisation (introduced 2025)
AP is among the first states to implement Scheduled Caste sub-classification in medical admissions. Prior to 2025, SC was a single undivided category with 15% reservation. From 2025 onwards, SC is split into three groups under the “Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Rules, 2025” (GO No. 7, dated 18.04.2025):
- SC1 (1%): Most backward SC communities
- SC2 (6.5%): Madiga group and related communities
- SC3 (7.5%): Mala group and related communities
The total SC reservation remains 15%, but seats are now distributed among these three sub-groups. In 2025 MQ files, Roman numeral variants (SCI, SCII, SCIII) are used.
How to determine your category
Your category is determined by the community certificate issued by the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) of your area.
- OC: If your community does not appear in any reserved category list
- BCA through BCE: Per the AP Backward Classes list (five sub-groups A through E, each with distinct communities)
- SC1/SC2/SC3: Per the AP Scheduled Castes list with sub-classification. Your specific SC group is indicated on the community certificate
- ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list for Andhra Pradesh
- EWS: Requires an EWS certificate from the Tahsildar certifying family income below ₹8 lakh per annum (per central EWS criteria; verify against latest AP government order) and that you do not belong to any reserved category
For Management Quota, non-AP candidates from other states may have “OBC” listed as their category (using their central OBC certificate). This applies only to B1 (all-India) seats.
Seat vacancy conversion
When reserved category seats go unfilled, they convert back to the general (OC) pool. Specifically:
- Unfilled BC/SC/ST/EWS seats revert to OC after all rounds of counselling are exhausted
- Within SC sub-categories, unfilled SC1 seats do not automatically transfer to SC2 or SC3; they revert to the general SC pool first, then to OC if still unfilled
This conversion happens after each round’s allotment.
Horizontal reservations (applied across all categories)
These quotas cut across vertical categories and apply within each:
| Quota | Reservation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 33% | Applied across all categories |
| PH (Persons with Disabilities) | 5% | Minimum 40% disability |
| CAP (Children of Armed Forces Personnel) | 1% | |
| NCC (National Cadet Corps) | 1% | |
| PMC (Police Martyrs’ Children) | 0.25% |
Gender codes in allotment data: “G” means the seat is open to all genders; “F” means the seat is restricted to female candidates only.
MRC (Meritorious Reserved Candidate) tag
AP uses a unique tracking label called MRC. When a reserved category candidate (BC/SC/ST) secures an open category seat purely on merit (their AIR is good enough to qualify without reservation), their allotment is tagged “MRC.” This does not change their category; it indicates they filled an OC seat through merit rather than reservation.
How AP categories differ from AIQ categories
| AP state counselling | AIQ equivalent |
|---|---|
| OC | UR (Unreserved) |
| BCA through BCE | OBC (AIQ uses a single OBC category; AP splits into 5 sub-groups) |
| SC1/SC2/SC3 | SC (AIQ uses undivided SC) |
| ST | ST |
| EWS | EWS |
| ANGLO | No equivalent |
| MINORITY | No equivalent (institution-specific) |
If you hold both an AP community certificate and an OBC/SC/ST certificate valid for central purposes, you can use each in its respective counselling. Your AP category certificate applies in state counselling; your central certificate applies in AIQ counselling through MCC.
AP does not have an MBC (Most Backward Class) equivalent like Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. All backward classes are grouped under BC-A through BC-E.