NEET PG 2023 Eases Entry: Health Ministry Considers Lowering Cut-Off Percentile

In a significant development, officials from the Union Health Ministry announced the reduction of the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2023 to zero. This change aims to broaden the pool of qualifying candidates without compromising the merit-based admission system for postgraduate (PG) medical courses. The officials clarified that admission will continue to be based on merit, with only those scoring the highest marks securing a spot in PG medical courses. This transparent counseling process seeks to eliminate alleged backdoor entries, ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all aspirants.

Merit-Based Admissions Remain Intact

It is important to emphasize that this adjustment in the qualifying percentile does not mean a dilution of merit-based admissions. Those who achieve the highest scores will be eligible for admission to their preferred courses and colleges through a transparent counseling process. The officials dismissed speculations that students with a zero percentile could become specialist doctors, emphasizing that only the top-performing candidates would secure admissions.

Addressing Vacant PG Medical Seats

Currently, there are 68,142 PG medical seats available across the country. In previous years, candidates with scores above the 50th percentile were eligible for the NEET PG counseling process. However, even with this criterion, some seats remained vacant, both under the all-India quota and the state quota.

In the ongoing academic year, approximately 13,000 seats out of the 68,000 seats available still haven't been claimed. This move to reduce the qualifying percentile to zero aims to address this issue by allowing more candidates to participate in the counseling process and fill the vacant seats.

Ensuring No Seats Remain Vacant

The decision to reduce the qualifying percentile aligns with court rulings and recommendations to ensure that no medical seats remain vacant. The authorities have emphasized that this change will increase the pool of qualifying candidates, but ultimately, only as many students will be admitted as there are available PG seats in the country. This ensures that the admission process remains merit-based and competitive.

Filling Non-Clinical Branch Seats

One of the anticipated benefits of this adjustment is the increased likelihood of filling seats in non-clinical branches such as anatomy, microbiology, physiology, and pathology. These branches often saw vacancies due to fewer students choosing them. With this new policy, more candidates will have the opportunity to secure admissions in these fields, reducing the annual vacancy rate of 7,000 to 10,000 seats.

Official Notice and Transparency

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) under the Directorate of Health Services, Government of India, officially announced the reduction of the qualifying percentile to zero on September 20, 2023. This move underscores the commitment to transparency and fairness in the admission process for PG medical courses.

The decision to reduce the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2023 represents a significant step towards ensuring that all available medical seats are filled and that aspiring medical professionals have an equitable chance to pursue their careers. It upholds the merit-based admission system while broadening access to medical education across various specialties and branches.