In fact, the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) significantly reduced the cut-off for NEET PG counseling on January 13. The revised qualifying criteria came into effect for the third round of counseling of NEET-PG 2025–26. Now candidates scoring in minus are also being given admission in high-risk clinical specialties and core clinical medical courses.
12th students got medical seat in NEET
In the third counseling round of NEET PG, the cut-off has become so low that even those who score minus marks out of 800 are getting a seat in a government medical college. Physiology seat in a government medical college in Tamil Nadu was given to the one who scored -12 marks. The surprising admissions on law marks are as follows-
| branch | Law Score (out of 800) |
| physiology | -12 |
| biochemistry | -8 |
| orthopedics | -4 |
| transfusion medicine | 10 |
| Anatomy | 11 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 44 |
| general Surgery | 47 |
Revised cut-off of NEET PG
For General and EWS candidates, the qualifying percentile has been reduced from 50th to 7th percentile, reducing the cut-off score from 276 to 103. For General PwD candidates, the cut-off has been reduced from 45th to 5th percentile, reducing the score from 255 to 90. The most shocking change is for SC, ST and OBC categories, where the qualifying percentile has been reduced from 40th percentile to zero percentile. This means even those who score minus 40 out of 800 can do medical postgraduation.
Central government’s cut-off is different from the case of 2022
This cut-off is completely contrary to the government’s decision of July 2022 cut-off. When a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court demanding to reduce the cut-off of NEET PG. The Central Government had then argued that a minimum qualifying percentage was necessary to maintain the education level. The court also agreed with the Centre’s argument and warned that reducing the standard of medical education can have a dangerous impact on the society, because it is a matter of life and death of people.
In the latest case, the Center and NBEMS have argued to the Supreme Court for not leaving 18,000 seats vacant. However, the Supreme Court has expressed surprise over the qualifications of doctors and the low cut-off and has sought answers on the medical education standards. The next hearing is likely to be held in March. At present, no ban has been imposed on the NEET PG counseling process.
