NEET UG 2026 State-Wise Merit List Released Including Candidates with Negative to Low Scores: Why It Happened, State Counselling Rules, MBBS Chances & Complete Analysis
Several states have started releasing their NEET UG 2026 State Merit Lists for 85% State Quota counselling, and one trend has attracted significant attention—the inclusion of candidates with very low or even negative NEET scores in some state merit lists. While this has surprised many aspirants, experts clarify that being included in a state merit list does not guarantee admission to MBBS or BDS courses. State counselling authorities often publish comprehensive merit lists of registered candidates, whereas actual seat allotment is governed by NEET qualifying criteria, eligibility rules, reservation policy, rank, category and seat availability.
The NEET UG 2026 state merit lists are being released separately by respective counselling authorities, including states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and others, following the declaration of NEET results. These lists are used to conduct admissions under the 85% State Quota, while the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) separately conducts counselling for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ).
NEET UG 2026 State Merit List Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | NEET UG 2026 |
| Admission Basis | NEET UG Score & Rank |
| Merit List Type | State Merit List |
| Counselling Authority | Respective State Authorities |
| Quota | 85% State Quota |
| Current Status | Being Released State-Wise |
| AIQ Counselling | Conducted Separately by MCC |
Why Are Candidates with Very Low or Negative Scores Appearing?
The appearance of candidates with low or negative scores in certain published state merit lists has led to confusion.
However, this does not mean such candidates are eligible for MBBS admission.
Possible reasons include:
States publish the list of all registered applicants for transparency.
Some merit lists are released before final eligibility filtering for seat allotment.
Counselling authorities may include candidates for different categories or courses during preliminary publication.
Inclusion in the PDF does not override the NEET qualifying cutoff prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and admission authorities.
Does Inclusion Mean Admission?
No.
Being listed in the state merit list does not automatically make a candidate eligible for MBBS admission.
Admission depends on:
NEET qualification status.
Applicable qualifying cutoff.
State eligibility criteria.
Reservation policy.
Merit rank.
Counselling participation.
Seat availability.
Candidates must satisfy all prescribed eligibility conditions before they can be allotted a medical seat.
States That Have Started Releasing Merit Lists
According to the latest counselling updates, merit lists or score lists have begun appearing in several states, including:
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Telangana
Arunachal Pradesh
Other states are expected to publish their merit lists according to their individual counselling schedules.
How State Merit Lists Are Prepared
Each state prepares its own merit list using:
NEET UG 2026 score.
All India Rank (AIR).
State domicile or eligibility.
Reservation category.
Candidate registration details.
Verification of submitted documents.
Every state follows its own counselling calendar, although admissions are based on NEET merit.
What Happens After the Merit List?
Once the merit list is released, candidates will participate in:
Online registration verification.
Choice filling.
Choice locking.
Round 1 seat allotment.
Document verification.
Fee payment.
Reporting to the allotted college.
Round 2 and Mop-Up counselling (if applicable).
Who Can Actually Get an MBBS Seat?
A candidate generally needs to:
Qualify NEET UG 2026 as per the prescribed cutoff.
Register for the relevant counselling authority.
Meet domicile or eligibility requirements where applicable.
Participate in counselling.
Secure a rank sufficient for the preferred college and category.
Complete document verification and admission formalities.
Simply appearing in a state merit list is not enough for admission.
Documents Required for Counselling
Candidates should keep ready:
NEET UG 2026 Scorecard.
NEET Admit Card.
Class 10 Certificate.
Class 12 Marksheet.
Category Certificate (if applicable).
EWS Certificate (if applicable).
PwBD Certificate (if applicable).
Domicile Certificate (where required).
Aadhaar Card.
Passport-size Photographs.
Common Reasons for Confusion
Many candidates mistakenly believe that:
Every name in the merit list is eligible for MBBS.
Negative-score candidates will receive government medical seats.
State merit lists replace NEET qualifying criteria.
Registration automatically guarantees counselling eligibility.
In reality, counselling authorities still apply qualification rules, category criteria and seat availability before allotting seats.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
Candidates should:
Download the official state merit list.
Verify their merit rank and personal details.
Follow the counselling schedule issued by their state authority.
Keep all documents ready.
Participate in every eligible counselling round.
Track seat allotment notifications regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are candidates with negative or very low scores appearing in some state merit lists?
Some state authorities publish comprehensive lists of registered candidates before the counselling process is completed. Inclusion in the list does not automatically make a candidate eligible for MBBS admission. Final seat allotment depends on NEET qualification, eligibility and counselling rules.
Can a candidate with a negative NEET score get an MBBS seat?
Under the prescribed counselling rules, candidates must satisfy the applicable NEET qualifying criteria and other eligibility conditions. Merely appearing in a merit list does not guarantee admission.
Who releases the state merit lists?
Each state's counselling authority independently prepares and publishes its own merit list for admissions under the 85% State Quota.
Is the state merit list different from the All India Merit List?
Yes. The All India Merit List is prepared for national-level admissions, while state merit lists are prepared separately by individual states for their own counselling process.
What should candidates do after the merit list is published?
Candidates should verify their details, monitor the official counselling schedule, complete choice filling, participate in seat allotment and finish document verification within the prescribed deadlines.
Final Update
The release of the NEET UG 2026 State-Wise Merit Lists marks the beginning of state medical counselling across India. While reports highlighting the inclusion of candidates with very low or negative scores have generated widespread discussion, aspirants should understand that publication of a merit list is not the same as seat allotment. Admissions to MBBS, BDS and other medical programmes will continue to be governed by the NEET qualifying cutoff, merit rank, reservation policy, domicile requirements and seat availability. Candidates should therefore rely on official counselling notifications, verify their eligibility carefully and actively participate in every counselling round to maximise their chances of securing admission.
