With 497 marks in NEET 2024 , an All India Rank of 214,466 , and an SC category rank of 13,991 , you have a realistic chance of securing an MBBS seat in a government college in Maharashtra through the state quota . Here’s an analysis of your situation:

Chances in Maharashtra:

1. SC Category Advantage : The SC quota in Maharashtra typically has lower cutoffs compared to general or OBC categories. With your rank, there are fair chances of admission in some government medical colleges , particularly those in tier-2 or tier-3 cities .
   
   

2. Late Rounds : Often, SC candidates with similar scores secure seats in later rounds of counseling when some seats remain vacant. Keep an eye on Mop-Up rounds as they often have slightly lower cutoffs.
   
   

3. State Counseling : As you’re in the state quota for Maharashtra, this will likely benefit you, as state quotas generally have more flexible cutoffs compared to All India Quota seats.
   
   Drop Year Consideration:

If you are open to taking a drop and aim to score higher (around 550+), this would improve your chances of getting a seat in a top-tier government medical college . However, since 497 is a good score with fair chances for a government seat in Maharashtra, taking a drop is only advisable if you are committed to substantial improvement.

Recommendation:

• Participate actively in Maharashtra’s state counseling rounds, as you have a strong chance of securing a government seat.
  
  
• Only consider a drop if you feel confident about achieving a significant score increase next year.

Overall, your score and category rank should give you a reasonable shot at a government MBBS seat in Maharashtra this year!

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.