How NEET AIQ categories and reservation work
All India Quota counselling through MCC follows the central government’s reservation policy, not your state’s. If you qualified for NEET UG and plan to participate in MCC counselling, your reservation category for AIQ is determined by the central government’s classification, which can be different from your state-level category. This guide explains the AIQ categories, how they map (or don’t) to state categories, and where reservation applies across different MCC seat types.
The five vertical categories in AIQ
MCC recognizes five vertical reservation categories for All India Quota seats at government colleges, central universities, ESIC, and AIIMS/JIPMER:
| Category | Abbreviation | Reservation % | Seats in 2025 (AIQ govt only, ~8,159 MBBS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open / Unreserved | UR | 40.5% | ~3,304 |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | OBC-NCL | 27% | ~2,203 |
| Scheduled Castes | SC | 15% | ~1,224 |
| Economically Weaker Sections | EWS | 10% | ~816 |
| Scheduled Tribes | ST | 7.5% | ~612 |
These five categories add up to 100% of AIQ government college seats. The percentages follow Article 15(4), Article 15(5), and Article 16(4) of the Indian Constitution, plus the 103rd Constitutional Amendment for EWS.
PwD: the horizontal reservation
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD, also written PwBD) have a 5% horizontal reservation that cuts across all five vertical categories. This means 5% of UR seats, 5% of OBC-NCL seats, 5% of SC seats, 5% of ST seats, and 5% of EWS seats are set aside for PwD candidates.
To qualify for PwD reservation in MCC counselling, you need:
- Minimum 40% benchmark disability
- A disability certificate issued by one of MCC’s 16 designated assessment centres across India (not from any other hospital or medical board)
The disability categories recognized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 include locomotor disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and specific learning disabilities, among others. The 5% horizontal reservation was increased from the earlier 3% under this Act.
PwD disability certificates are accepted only from MCC’s 16 designated assessment centres. Certificates from other hospitals or medical boards will be rejected at verification, even if the disability percentage meets the 40% threshold.
In our AIQ cutoff data, PwD cutoffs appear as separate categories: OPEN-PWD, OBC-PWD, SC-PWD, ST-PWD, and EWS-PWD.
The central OBC list versus state OBC lists
This distinction causes the most confusion. For AIQ counselling, MCC uses the central government OBC list maintained by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). Your state may classify you under a different category entirely.
Concrete examples:
Maharashtra: Categories like VJ (Vimukta Jati), NT-B (Nomadic Tribes B), NT-C, NT-D, and SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) exist only in Maharashtra’s state reservation. These categories have no equivalent in AIQ. If your caste appears in the central government OBC list, you participate as OBC-NCL in MCC counselling. If your caste is not on the central list, you participate as UR regardless of your Maharashtra category.
Karnataka: The state uses GM (General Merit), 2A (OBC Group A), 2B (OBC Group B), 3A, 3B, SC, ST, and Category 1. For MCC counselling, a candidate categorized as 2A or 2B in Karnataka would check the central OBC list. If listed, they participate as OBC-NCL; if not, as UR.
The non-creamy layer criterion also differs between state and central definitions. For MCC counselling, you need a Non-Creamy Layer certificate as per the central government’s income threshold (currently Rs 8 lakh per annum). Your state may use a different income limit for its own counselling.
Where these reservations apply
Not all MCC seats carry the same reservation policy. The distribution depends on the institution type:
| Institution type | SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS reservation? | PwD reservation? |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ seats at government colleges (8,651) | Yes (central policy) | Yes (5% horizontal) |
| AIIMS campuses (1,700 MBBS) | Yes (central policy) | Yes |
| JIPMER + IMS-BHU (479 MBBS) | Yes (central policy) | Yes |
| ESIC (474) | Yes (central policy) | Yes |
| Central universities (1,272) | Yes (central policy) | Yes |
| Deemed universities (13,939) | No | No |
Deemed universities are the exception. Their 13,939 seats (the single largest block under MCC) carry no SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD reservation. Admission is on NEET merit, with separate quota types: General/Paid (merit-based), NRI, and minority quotas (Jain or Muslim) at select institutions. If you belong to a reserved category, your reservation gives you no advantage at deemed universities through MCC.
Deemed university seats (13,939 in 2025) carry zero reservation. Your SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD status provides no advantage there. All candidates compete on NEET merit for General/Paid seats, regardless of category.
Seat types in AIQ cutoff data
Beyond reservation categories, MCC uses seat types that reflect the institutional quota structure. Our cutoff analyzer shows these as separate filters. The 16 seat types in our AIQ data:
| Seat type code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AI | All India Quota (standard AIQ at government colleges) |
| OS | Open Seat (AIIMS/JIPMER/Central) |
| DU | Delhi University quota |
| IP | IP University quota |
| AMU | AMU institutional quota |
| ESI | ESIC quota |
| CW | Children/Wards of ESIC employees |
| CW-DU | Children/Wards (Delhi University) |
| CW-IP | Children/Wards (IP University) |
| NRI | NRI quota (deemed universities) |
| NRI-AMU | NRI quota at AMU |
| FC | Foreign Category |
| DP | Defence Personnel quota |
| JMQ | Jain Minority Quota (select deemed) |
| MMQ | Muslim Minority Quota (select deemed) |
| PUD | Puducherry quota (JIPMER) |
When using our cutoff analyzer, filter by both category (OPEN, OBC, SC, etc.) and seat type (AI, OS, etc.) to find the closing rank relevant to your situation.
Determine your central government category now, before counselling begins. Check the SC, ST, and OBC lists at the relevant ministry websites. If you qualify as OBC-NCL, get a fresh non-creamy layer certificate referencing the central government threshold (Rs 8 lakh per year).
How to determine your MCC category
Step by step:
- Check if your caste or community appears in the central government SC list for your state (published by the Ministry of Social Justice). If yes, you are SC.
- Check the central government ST list. If listed, you are ST.
- Check the central government OBC list maintained by NCBC (ncbc.nic.in). If listed AND your family income is below the non-creamy layer threshold (Rs 8 lakh/year), you are OBC-NCL.
- If you do not fall into SC, ST, or OBC-NCL, and your family income is below Rs 8 lakh/year with no agricultural land above 5 acres and no residential flat above 1,000 sq ft, you may qualify for EWS.
- If none of the above apply, you are UR (General/Open).
Your state-level category is irrelevant for this determination. A candidate who is NT-D in Maharashtra state counselling may be UR in MCC counselling if NT-D is not on the central OBC list. Both categories are valid simultaneously but apply to different counselling tracks.
FAQ
My caste is OBC in my state but not on the central OBC list. Can I still get OBC-NCL reservation in AIQ?
No. For MCC counselling, only the central government OBC list applies. If your caste is not on that list, you participate as UR (General) in AIQ, even if your state grants you OBC status for state counselling. The two lists are maintained independently.
Check the central government OBC list at ncbc.nic.in before assuming your state-level OBC status applies to MCC counselling. Many state categories (VJ, NT, SEBC in Maharashtra; 2A, 2B in Karnataka) have no equivalent in the central list.
Do I need separate certificates for MCC and state counselling?
Typically yes. MCC requires certificates as per central government format. Your state counselling authority may require state-format certificates. For OBC-NCL, the Non-Creamy Layer certificate for MCC must reference the central government income threshold. Some states accept central-format certificates, but check your state’s specific requirements.
Is there any reservation at deemed universities through MCC?
No. Deemed university seats filled through MCC have no SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD reservation. All candidates compete on NEET merit for General/Paid seats. NRI and minority quotas (Jain, Muslim) at specific institutions are separate from merit-based reservation.
What is the difference between PwD and PwBD?
PwBD stands for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, which is the legal term under the RPwD Act, 2016. PwD (Persons with Disabilities) is the commonly used abbreviation. In MCC counselling, both terms refer to the same 5% horizontal reservation requiring minimum 40% benchmark disability certified by an MCC-designated centre.
Can an EWS candidate also claim OBC-NCL reservation in AIQ?
No. These are mutually exclusive vertical categories. You participate under one vertical category only. If you qualify as both OBC-NCL and EWS, choose the one that gives you a better chance based on cutoff trends. Generally, OBC-NCL (27% reservation) has more seats than EWS (10%), so OBC-NCL cutoffs are slightly more relaxed.
OBC-NCL reservation (27%) covers nearly three times as many seats as EWS (10%). If you qualify for both, OBC-NCL typically offers better odds. Check recent cutoff trends for your target colleges before deciding which category to register under.