Why was the cutoff of NEET PG reduced? -Those with 40 score and 0 percentile will get admission.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has taken a big decision. Now the qualifying cut-off of NEET-PG 2025 has been reduced. This decision has been taken after more than 18,000 post graduate seats remained vacant across the country. NEET-PG cutoff for General and EWS category has been reduced from 50 to seven percentile. Whereas the percentile of SC/ST and OBC category has been reduced from 40 to zero. If a student of general category is disabled, his percentile will now be 5 instead of 45.

Now the qualifying percentile for reserved category has been reduced to zero. Due to negative marking, the cut-off score has been fixed at -40 out of 800. This means that students scoring minus 40 marks can also take part in the admission counseling and take admission. Earlier the cut-off score was 235. Whereas the earlier cut-off score of General and EWS was 276. Now it has been reduced to 103. The cut-off has been reduced from 50th percentile to just 7. The cut-off score for disabled candidates of general category has been reduced from 255 to 90.

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Why did the government reduce the cutoff?

According to officials, about 24 lakh students had given the NEET-PG examination in 2025. However, due to high cut-off, thousands of seats remained vacant. There are 65,000-70,000 seats for Post Graduate Medical across the country. But currently one out of every seven seats is vacant. On January 12, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda. There was a demand for amendment in the cut-off.

It is known that even after two phases of counselling, the seats are not filled. In this regard, the Union Health Ministry and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences had sought a report. Even after two rounds of counselling, it was decided to reduce the cut-off if seats remained vacant.

Admission will be based on merit

The government argues that the purpose of reducing the cut-off is to ensure proper utilization of available seats. Sources said such seats remaining vacant undermines efforts to improve healthcare delivery and leads to wastage of precious educational resources. News agency PTI quoted sources as saying that admissions will be completely based on merit. Allotments will be made only through the authorized counseling system and no direct or arbitrary admissions are allowed.

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Why oppose the decision?

The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) protested against the government’s move. Chief Patron of the organization, Dr. Rohan Krishnan said that the percentile has been reduced to zero. He said that we have to think whether we are producing good doctors or degree holders.

Dr. Rohan Krishnan said, ‘NEET-PG percentile has been reduced again. This time it has been reduced to zero percentile. This means that anyone who scores -40 on the exam and does not attempt any questions is eligible to become a clinician in the country. They can participate in surgery and are eligible to practice medicine in the country. I think it is very sad and it has become a trend that every year they are reducing the NEET percentile. This is because they want to fill seats in private medical colleges. We have to think whether we are producing degree holders or good doctors?