CNET Passing Marks 2026: Category Wise, Cutoff, General, OBC, SC, ST, PwD, UP, Pwd

Securing a seat in top government and private nursing colleges across Uttar Pradesh requires clearing the Common Nursing Entrance Test (CNET). Conducted by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University (ABVMU), Lucknow, this exam is the single gateway for courses like BSc Nursing, Post Basic BSc Nursing, and MSc Nursing.

However, simply appearing for the exam is not enough. Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks specified by the university to participate in the online counseling process. Understanding the specific CNET passing marks for your category is crucial to evaluating your chances of admission for the 2026 academic session.

What are CNET Qualifying Marks?

The CNET passing marks represent the minimum percentile a candidate needs to score to be considered "qualified" for the admission process. ABVMU defines these benchmarks based on guidelines from the Indian Nursing Council (INC).

It is important to note that matching the minimum passing percentage or percentile makes you eligible for counseling, but securing a seat in elite government institutions like KGMU or SGPGI depends entirely on your relative merit rank and the final cutoff lists.

UP CNET Category-Wise Passing Marks 2026

The entrance examination comprises 200 multiple-choice questions, with each question carrying 1 mark. There is no negative marking in the exam. The qualifying criteria are structured on a percentile basis, varying significantly across different social and medical categories.

Factors Influencing the CNET 2026 Cutoff

While the minimum qualifying percentile remains constant as per university rules, the actual cutoff marks required to get a seat in preferred colleges fluctuate every year. The primary factors driving these changes include: 1. Number of Applicants: A higher volume of registrations increases competition, pushing the competitive score higher for government seats.
2. Question Paper Difficulty: If the exam shifts towards a higher difficulty scale, the raw score corresponding to the required percentile generally drops.
3. Seat Matrix: Any addition of new nursing seats or colleges across Uttar Pradesh directly impacts the closing ranks during counseling rounds.

What Happens After Qualifying CNET?

Candidates who score above or equal to their category's passing marks are shortlisted for the online counseling rounds. The allocation process is strictly merit-based, where candidates lock their preferred choices of colleges.

For those targeting top-tier state medical colleges, aiming significantly higher than the baseline passing score—ideally above 130+ marks for the General category—is highly recommended to secure smooth allotment in the initial rounds.