Expert Committee Proposes Major Changes to NEET PG Admission System

Proposed Shift to Rank-Based Merit System

A newly formed 12-member expert committee has put forth a recommendation to overhaul the NEET admission framework. The committee suggests transitioning from the current percentile-based qualifying criteria for NEET PG and NEET SS to a rank-based merit system.

This significant proposal was presented to the Supreme Court on November 3. The committee advocates for admissions to be determined by candidates' ranks instead of the existing percentile benchmarks. Furthermore, it has advised against lowering qualifying standards merely to fill unoccupied postgraduate medical seats. The committee also recommends reducing fees for non-clinical postgraduate programs and exempting students pursuing pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects from service bonds. This proposal has received preliminary approval and is expected to be implemented by 2027, although detailed regulations are still pending.

Context of NEET PG Cut-Off Discussions

The current discussions regarding the NEET PG cut-off have arisen due to past controversies over the repeated lowering of qualifying scores to fill vacant seats during counseling. In 2023, the qualifying percentile was set to zero for all categories, allowing even candidates with negative scores to participate in counseling. In 2024, the cut-off was further reduced to the 15th percentile for General and EWS candidates, and to the 10th percentile for reserved categories. This issue re-emerged during the 2025-26 admission cycle.

On January 13, 2026, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced revised cut-offs for the third round of NEET-PG counseling. The qualifying percentile for General candidates dropped from the 50th to the 7th percentile, while for General-PwD candidates, it fell from the 45th to the 5th percentile. For SC, ST, and OBC candidates, the cut-off was reduced from the 40th percentile to zero, enabling candidates with negative scores to qualify.

Eligibility Amidst Seat Shortages

This decision coincided with a significant number of vacant postgraduate medical seats. Data presented to the Supreme Court indicated that the cut-off reductions allowed an additional 95,913 candidates to qualify for counseling. This drastic lowering of eligibility standards was challenged in the Supreme Court by a petitioner questioning its implications for the quality of postgraduate medical education.

Supreme Court's Response

In May 2026, the Supreme Court proposed the establishment of a mechanism to tackle the ongoing issue of cut-off reductions. A bench led by Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe highlighted that this recurring problem complicates the admission process and leads to vacant seats. The Court expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of lowered qualifying standards on the quality of medical education. In August 2026, authorities informed the Court about the formation of a 12-member committee, headed by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), to evaluate the current admission system and suggest improvements.

Future of the Admission System

The committee's report emphasizes the need for a revamped admission system by 2027. The proposed rank-based approach, along with other recommendations, aims to address persistent challenges in postgraduate medical admissions while ensuring minimum eligibility standards are upheld. The goal of these changes is not only to fill vacant seats but also to enhance the transparency, fairness, and effectiveness of the counseling process, thereby preserving the quality of medical education. However, the final implementation of these changes will depend on further proceedings in the Supreme Court.