Over 13,000 PG Medical Seats Vacant in India: Qualifying Percentile Reduced to Fill Gap
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve in India, the country faces a significant challenge in filling postgraduate (PG) medical seats. Recent reports reveal that nearly 13,000 PG medical seats remain vacant in medical colleges across the nation despite two rounds of counseling. The Ministry of Health, in response to this issue, has decided to reduce the qualifying percentile to zero to address this gap. Let's delve into the details of this development and its implications for medical education in India.
The Current State of PG Medical Seats: India boasts a total of 68,142 PG medical seats, with admissions based on ranking in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination. This year, approximately 2.2 lakh medical graduates appeared for the NEET-PG exam, indicating a strong interest in pursuing advanced medical education.
The Need to Reduce the Qualifying Percentile: Initially, the qualifying percentile was set at 50%, allowing only the top 50% of applicants to participate in counseling and claim seats based on their rankings. However, even after two rounds of counseling, numerous seats remained unfilled. Consequently, the Ministry of Health made the decision to reduce the qualifying percentile to zero.
This move aims to open the doors wider, allowing all medical graduates who appeared for the NEET-PG exams to participate in the counseling process. It is important to note that seats will still be allocated based on merit, ensuring that the most deserving candidates secure these positions.
Vacant Seats in All-India and State Quotas: Reports suggest that 3,000 seats in the all-India quota, along with several seats in state quotas, remained vacant following counseling rounds. The decision to include a larger pool of applicants in counseling is expected to increase the chances of filling these vacant seats.
Addressing the Shortage of Teachers: One notable consequence of vacant seats in specific medical specialties, such as anatomy, microbiology, physiology, and pathology, has been a shortage of teachers for these courses. By increasing the chances of filling these seats, the Ministry of Health hopes to alleviate this shortage and ensure that medical students receive quality education across various specialties.
The decision to reduce the qualifying percentile to zero for PG medical admissions signifies a proactive step by the Ministry of Health to address the issue of vacant seats in medical colleges. It not only provides a broader opportunity for medical graduates to pursue advanced education but also aims to address the shortage of teachers in specific specialties. As India's healthcare system continues to evolve, ensuring a steady supply of qualified medical professionals becomes increasingly crucial, and this move is a step in the right direction.