NEET-PG Qualifying Marks Slashed Dramatically to Fill Vacant Seats
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences made a controversial decision on January 13. They significantly lowered the qualifying cut-off marks for NEET-PG 2025. This move aims to fill thousands of vacant postgraduate medical seats across India.
The General and Economically Weaker Section cut-off dropped from 276 marks to just 103 marks. That represents a shift from the 50th percentile down to the 7th percentile. For SC, ST, and OBC candidates, the reduction proved even more drastic.
Zero Percentile Threshold Creates Unprecedented Eligibility
SC/ST/OBC candidates now face a zero percentile threshold instead of the previous 235 marks at the 40th percentile. This change makes candidates with scores as low as minus 40 out of 800 eligible for counselling. The decision followed a formal request from the Indian Medical Association.
Nearly 18,000 postgraduate medical seats remained unfilled after the second round of counselling in December 2025. Government officials stated they want optimal utilisation of these valuable educational resources. They aim to expand India's pool of trained medical specialists through this measure.
Medical Community Divides Over Controversial Decision
The Indian Medical Association strongly supports the cut-off reduction. IMA president Dr. Dilip Bhanushali called it a welcome move that ensures no seats go vacant. The association argues that vacant seats create undue stress and excessive workload for existing resident doctors.
"All candidates are already MBBS-qualified doctors," the IMA maintains. "Expanding eligibility does not dilute academic standards but simply allows more doctors to enter specialized training."
Meanwhile, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association vehemently opposes the revision. FORDA calls the decision arbitrary and unprecedented. They warn it undermines the credibility of the medical profession and the sanctity of merit-based selection.
Critics Voice Concerns About Medical Standards
Dr. Neeraj Bedi, former medical superintendent at a private medical college in Bhopal, expressed strong reservations. "Imagine a surgeon who couldn't even score zero on an exam now becoming a specialist with a score of minus 40," he said. "Vacant seats do not justify compromising medical education."
FORDA specifically alleges that the slash favours private medical colleges. They claim these institutions can now fill seats with lower-scoring candidates at exorbitant fees. This prioritizes institutional profits over student welfare according to the resident doctors' federation.
Different Priorities Drive Opposing Viewpoints
The two organizations prioritize different aspects of India's healthcare system. The IMA focuses on systemic capacity and views empty seats as infrastructure failure. They believe filling these seats will reduce strain on current medical resources.
FORDA concentrates on professional integrity instead. They fear lowering eligibility bars devalues rigorous doctor preparation. The federation worries about eroding public trust by allowing what they call subpar candidates to manage critical patient care.
Government Maintains Merit-Based Admission Process
Government officials emphasize that admissions remain strictly merit-based despite the lowered cut-offs. Admissions continue to be determined by original NEET-PG ranks and candidate preferences. Allotments only occur through authorized counselling mechanisms.
A higher-ranked doctor always receives preference over a lower-ranked one during the allotment process. Eligibility for counselling does not guarantee admission, which depends on several factors:
- Seat availability across government and private colleges
- Candidate preferences for specializations and institutions
- The formal allotment process through authorized channels
The debate continues as medical communities grapple with balancing seat utilization against educational standards. India's healthcare system faces the challenge of expanding specialist training while maintaining rigorous medical education quality.
