Quick Answer: NEET 2026 for Tamil Nadu students: Exam typically in May 2026, results in June, Tamil Nadu counselling July–August. Tamil Nadu government medical college cutoff (OC): 580–600+. Tamil Nadu has quota-based seat reservation — state quota (85% of seats via Tamil Nadu counselling) and All India Quota (15% via NMC counselling). Tamil Nadu also has 7.5% reservation for government school students in state quota.
NEET 2026 Basics for Tamil Nadu
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Pen and paper (offline) |
| Duration | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Total Marks | 720 (180 questions × 4 marks each) |
| Negative Marking | -1 per wrong answer |
| Subjects | Physics (45Q), Chemistry (45Q), Biology (90Q) |
| Qualifying Score (OC Tamil Nadu) | Minimum 50th percentile (approx 180+ marks) |
| Government Medical College Cutoff (OC TN) | 580–600+ (varies by college and year) |
Tamil Nadu Medical Seats and Quotas 2026
| Quota | % of Seats | Counselling | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Quota (85%) | 85% | Tamil Nadu MEL counselling | Typically lower than AIQ |
| All India Quota (15%) | 15% | NMC / MCC counselling | Higher (national competition) |
| Government School Reservation (7.5%) | 7.5% within state quota | Tamil Nadu counselling | Lower cutoff — significant advantage |
NEET 2026 Preparation Strategy for Tamil Nadu Students
- Biology is 50% of NEET: Prioritise Biology — 90 questions, most marks from NCERT Biology chapters
- NCERT mastery is mandatory: 80–90% of NEET questions come from NCERT text — read every line
- Previous year papers: Solve 10 years NEET papers — pattern recognition is key
- Mock tests: Minimum 20 full NEET mock tests in exam conditions before the real exam
- Coaching: Strong Tamil Nadu NEET coaching in Chennai (Allen, Narayana, RACE Chennai) and Coimbatore
The 7.5% Government School Reservation — Massive Advantage
Since 2021, Tamil Nadu reserves 7.5% of state quota MBBS seats for government school students. This means government school Class 12 students who qualify NEET compete in a smaller pool with effectively lower cutoffs — government school students with 490–520 NEET scores have secured government MBBS seats that regular quota needs 580+. This reservation is a transformational policy for Tamil Nadu students from government schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MBBS seats are available in Tamil Nadu government medical colleges?
Tamil Nadu has approximately 2,600–2,800 MBBS seats in government medical colleges (Madras Medical College, Kilpauk, Chengalpet, Rajiv Gandhi, etc.). With 7.5% government school quota, approximately 200 seats are reserved for government school students. Private medical college seats are 5,000+ but at private fee (₹50 lakh–1.5 crore).