NEET BDS CAT-1 (Category 1) Cutoff in Karnataka
Colleges
37
Most Competitive
93,065
Least Competitive
10,04,412
Years
2023-2025
What is CAT-1 (Category 1)?
Category 1 in Karnataka covers the most socially and educationally backward communities among the Other Backward Classes (OBC). This category carries a 4% reservation in state quota seats. Category 1 communities are identified by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes as those facing the greatest socio-economic disadvantage among non-SC/ST groups. Unlike Categories 2A through 3B, the creamy layer exclusion does not apply to Category 1 candidates. Candidates must submit a Caste/Income Certificate issued by the jurisdictional Tahasildar. Fee exemption at government and aided institutions is available for Category 1 candidates whose family annual income does not exceed Rs 1.50 lakh, as per the Karnataka Backward Classes Welfare Department scheme.
The CAT-1 (Category 1) category has cutoff data available across 37 dental colleges in Karnataka. This data covers 3 years of counselling from 2023 to 2025. Closing ranks for this category range from 93,065 (most competitive) to 10,04,412 (least competitive).
The most competitive colleges for CAT-1 (Category 1) in Karnataka are: Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore (average closing rank 1,36,634), ESIC Dental College (average closing rank 1,40,759), Dayanand Sagar College of Dental Sciences, Bangalore (average closing rank 1,49,783), SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad (average closing rank 1,58,521), KLE Society's Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore (average closing rank 1,58,694). These colleges consistently attract candidates with the lowest NEET All India Ranks in this category.
Across the 37 colleges with CAT-1 (Category 1) data: 18 have tightened their cutoffs over the period, 7 have relaxed, and 12 remain stable. Based on the available data, CAT-1 (Category 1) seats in Karnataka are trending harder to secure.
Cutoff ranks often shift between counselling rounds as seats open up. Among colleges with CAT-1 (Category 1) data, Rajarajeswari Dental College & Hospital, Bangalore showed the largest movement: the closing rank went from 1,32,831 in Round 1 to 9,65,423 in later rounds, a gap of 8,32,592 ranks. On average, final-round cutoffs were 3,53,039 ranks higher than Round 1 cutoffs for this category.
For CAT-1 (Category 1) candidates targeting Karnataka: cutoffs have been tightening across most colleges, so aiming for a rank below 1,02,372 gives a reasonable buffer for top-tier options.