The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has defended its decision to reduce the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2025 to zero for candidates in reserved categories, citing the need to fill unoccupied postgraduate medical seats across India. The move, announced on January 13, 2026, has sparked a debate within the medical community over academic standards, meritocracy, and the utilisation of medical education resources.

Context of the Decision

NEET-PG, or the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate medical courses, serves as the gateway for admission to MD, MS, and diploma programmes in medical colleges across India. Conducted by NBEMS, the exam ensures merit-based selection of candidates for postgraduate medical training. The 2025 exam was held on August 3, with results declared on August 19, 2025.

Following the first two rounds of counselling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) in October–December 2025, over 18,000 PG medical seats remained vacant. Faced with high vacancy rates, NBEMS decided to reduce the qualifying percentile for the general category from the 50th to the 7th percentile, and for SC, ST, and OBC candidates to zero, thereby allowing all MBBS graduates, regardless of exam score, to participate in the third round of counselling.

According to NBEMS officials, the measure aims to ensure optimal utilisation of PG medical seats, increase the number of trained specialists, and address the shortage of medical professionals in India. With a total of 80,291 PG medical seats for the 2025–26 academic year, the authorities argue that leaving thousands of seats unfilled would undermine both national healthcare needs and the effective use of educational resources.

NBEMS Rationale

A senior NBEMS official explained, “All candidates appearing in NEET-PG are already MBBS graduates, having completed a recognised medical degree and compulsory internship. They are fully qualified medical practitioners eligible for postgraduate training. Reducing the qualifying percentile does not dilute merit or academic standards but enables already-qualified MBBS doctors to be ranked and considered for admission, ensuring fair competition and optimal utilisation of available seats.”

Officials also noted that cut-off reductions are not unprecedented. In 2023, the Union Health Ministry had lowered the qualifying percentile to zero across all categories under similar circumstances. “Reduction in cut-off percentile has been adopted in previous academic years and has proven effective in preventing seat wastage while maintaining academic standards,” a second NBEMS official said.

Opposition from the Medical Fraternity

Despite these explanations, the decision has drawn criticism from various medical groups, who argue that it reflects a decline in academic standards:

• The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) expressed “grave concern” over the cut-off reduction, urging the Union Health Minister, JP Nadda, to withdraw the NBEMS notice and “restore a reasonable, merit-based cut-off.” FAIMA warned that lowering standards to fill vacant seats, particularly in private medical colleges, could set a harmful precedent for India’s medical education system.
• The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) called the move “unilateral” and argued that it undermines meritocracy, transparency, and public trust in medical education.

Several doctors voiced concerns that candidates with extremely low NEET-PG scores—some even scoring negative marks—would now be eligible for postgraduate medical courses. NEET-PG 2025 comprises 200 multiple-choice questions, with +4 marks for correct answers and -1 for incorrect answers, meaning candidates from reserved categories could now enter the counselling process with scores as low as -40.

Support from Medical Professionals

Conversely, some sections of the medical community, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), welcomed the decision.

• IMA National President Anilkumar J Nayak stated, “NEET-PG is primarily a merit list for admission to PG medical courses, not a test of overall doctor quality. All MBBS graduates are already allowed to practice medicine. The PG course is where they gain specialty knowledge and hands-on training, so this measure does not compromise the quality of medical education.”
• Dr. Manish, a reserved-category doctor working at a central government hospital in Delhi, argued that the focus on reserved candidates was misplaced, highlighting that the cut-off percentile for general category candidates was also lowered. He emphasised that all MBBS graduates must study rigorously and clear their MD/MS exams to become specialists, regardless of their NEET-PG scores.

Broader Implications

The decision to lower cut-offs comes at a critical juncture in India’s healthcare sector:

• There is a growing shortage of specialists, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. Filling vacant PG seats is essential to expand healthcare capacity.
• The pivot towards inclusivity ensures that candidates from reserved categories are not disadvantaged by the stringent cut-offs in a system where some medical colleges remain underutilised.
• However, critics argue that consistently lowering cut-offs could erode confidence in the merit-based selection system and set a precedent that may be misused in future academic years.

The Road Ahead

The MCC is expected to announce the schedule for the third round of NEET-PG 2025 counselling shortly. All candidates who meet the revised percentile criteria—including those scoring extremely low marks—will now be eligible to participate.

Officials have reassured that the academic integrity of PG courses will be maintained, as all candidates must undergo rigorous training and evaluation during the three-year MD/MS programmes. Meanwhile, debates continue in professional circles and social media, with discussions focusing on balancing meritocracy, equity, and healthcare workforce requirements.

As the third round of counselling approaches, the government and medical bodies face the challenge of filling vacant seats without compromising educational standards, a delicate balance in India’s complex medical education landscape.

Key Takeaway: The NBEMS decision to lower NEET-PG 2025 cut-offs to zero for reserved-category candidates aims to prevent seat wastage and address specialist shortages, but it has sparked debate over meritocracy, quality standards, and fairness in medical education.

Would you like me to make a detailed explainer showing how reserved-category candidates could enter with negative scores and why that is legally allowed?