Guwahati: More than 1,600 candidates from Meghalaya qualified in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2026, while the state continues to have a limited number of MBBS seats in its government medical colleges.
According to data released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), 1,658 of the 3,425 candidates from Meghalaya cleared the examination, recording a qualification rate of about 48.4 per cent.
Although the number of successful candidates was slightly lower than last year’s 1,681, the state’s performance remained broadly similar despite a tougher examination and higher qualifying cut-offs at the national level.
Bakhambok Anthony Thabah emerged as Meghalaya’s highest-ranked candidate, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 14,455 with a 99.26791 percentile.
Assam also recorded a strong performance this year, with Shubh Prasad securing AIR 133, the best rank among candidates from the Northeast.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan recorded one of the country’s highest NEET qualification rates at nearly 69 per cent and has a large network of medical colleges and coaching institutes.
Meghalaya has 144 MBBS seats at NEIGRIHMS and Shillong Medical College. These are shared under the state quota, the Northeast quota and the All India Quota, leaving only a limited number available under the state quota.
With 1,658 candidates qualifying this year and only 144 MBBS seats available in the state, many candidates are expected to compete through the All India Quota or seek admission to private medical colleges and institutions outside Meghalaya.
Admission is also expected to be more competitive this year following the increase in the national NEET qualifying cut-off.