Concerns Over NEET PG 2025 Cut-Off Reduction

Background on the Decision

New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations (NBE) has recently reduced the qualifying cut-off for the NEET PG 2025 admissions, raising significant concerns among doctors. This change allows candidates who scored as low as -40 marks to be eligible for admission into highly competitive clinical specialties, which many believe undermines the principle of merit.

In a notice issued on January 13, 2026, the NBE announced the reduction of the minimum qualifying percentile cut-off for the third round of counseling for NEET-PG 2025-2026 across various candidate categories. According to the notice, the result for NEET-PG 2025 was declared on August 19, 2025, and the adjustment followed directives from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Revised Qualifying Percentiles

The revised qualifying percentiles for the academic session 2025-2026 are as follows:
– General/EWS: 7th percentile
– General PwBD: 5th percentile
– SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC): 0th percentile

Consequently, the cut-off scores have been adjusted to 103 for General/EWS, 90 for General PwBD, and -40 for SC/ST/OBC candidates.

Reactions from the Medical Community

Strong Opposition to the Cut-Off Reduction

The medical community has voiced strong opposition to the NBE’s decision to lower the cut-off. Dr. Rohan Krishnan, Chief Patron of the FAIMA Doctors Association, expressed frustration, stating that such drastic reductions in qualifying cut-offs effectively dismantle merit. He questioned the purpose of a national merit exam if standards are diluted to such an extent.

Dr. Krishnan emphasized the need for maintaining rigorous standards in medical education, suggesting that authorities should either conduct an additional exam or address the issue of inflated PG seats in sub-standard private colleges.

Concerns About Integrity and Standards

Further elaborating on the implications of the cut-off reduction, Dr. Krishnan remarked that allowing candidates with -40 marks to qualify for clinical seats raises serious questions about the integrity of the system. He argued that healthcare should not be treated as a business model, especially in institutions lacking adequate faculty and infrastructure.

Another doctor echoed Dr. Krishnan’s sentiments on social media, criticizing the decision as a disrespect to diligent students who invest years of hard work to secure a PG seat. The sentiment among many in the medical community is that the current system prioritizes financial gain over genuine educational merit.

Broader Implications and Concerns

Impact on Future Medical Professionals

Comments from various professionals highlight a growing concern that the reduction in qualifying criteria could lead to a future crisis of unskilled doctors. A user on X (formerly Twitter) expressed disillusionment with the educational system, questioning the logic of qualifying candidates with negative scores and lamenting the impact on dedicated aspirants.

Dr. Deepak Aanjna outlined a satirical yet grave perspective on the process, suggesting that candidates with significant financial resources could bypass genuine learning and still secure seats in prestigious specialties.

Official Guidelines and Compliance

The NBE’s notice clarified that the NEET-PG 2025 rank remains unchanged and highlighted that candidates must still meet eligibility criteria as outlined in the NEET-PG 2025 Information Bulletin. It emphasized the importance of verifying credentials during the admission process and warned against any unfair practices during the examination.

For further details, candidates are encouraged to stay updated through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) website.

Conclusion

The decision to lower the NEET PG 2025 cut-off has sparked intense debate within the medical community. Many advocate for a reevaluation of the criteria to ensure that merit remains a cornerstone of medical education and practice in India.