January 19, 2026: In a striking move, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has revised the qualifying criteria for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2025 following two rounds of counselling that left a large number of postgraduate medical seats unfilled.
Under the revised rules, the qualifying percentile for general and EWS candidates has been reduced from the 50th to the 7th percentile, resulting in a cut-off score of approximately 103 out of 800. General category candidates with benchmark disabilities now qualify at the 5th percentile (around 90 marks). For SC, ST, and OBC candidates, the cutoff has been reduced to zero percentile, meaning even candidates with negative scores as low as –40 due to incorrect answers can now participate in counselling.
This is the first time in NEET-PG history that reserved category candidates can qualify with a negative score. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from multiple medical associations, including FORDA, FAIMA, and UDF.
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA) described the decision as a betrayal of merit and likened it to a lottery for certain students. In a statement, FORDA said:
“Zero and negative cutoffs mean aspirants who scored below the mean are now eligible for PG seats. This isn't admission; it's a lottery. This isn't merit; it's chaos. This isn't filling vacancies; it's surrendering standards.”
The association also highlighted the logistical and financial burdens faced by candidates:
“Consider a candidate in the top 10%, assigned to a center in Bangalore. Add exam fee, travel, accommodation from Kerala, ranked in the top 10%. Now add three months of uncertainty waiting for results. The financial burden is real. The emotional toll is immeasurable.”
FORDA criticized delays in publishing results, the absence of provisional answer keys, arbitrary disqualifications, and discriminatory center allocations. The association further emphasized that these decisions hurt not only aspirants but also patients:
“India faces a critical doctor shortage. Rural areas lack specialists. Diagnostic delays cost lives. NEET PG 2025's mismanagement didn't just hurt aspirants—it hurt every patient seeking care.”
The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) also expressed “grave concern” over the reduced cutoffs. In a letter to Union Health Minister Shri J. P. Nadda, FAIMA stated:
“NEET-PG is a prestigious, highly competitive national-level examination that serves as the backbone of postgraduate medical admissions in India. Such an unprecedented reduction in the cut-off severely undermines the sanctity, credibility, and purpose of this examination.”
The association warned that lowering educational standards threatens patient safety, particularly for vulnerable populations relying on government hospitals:
“Allowing candidates with negative marks to qualify for postgraduate medical training cannot be justified under any academic or ethical standards. FAIMA strongly condemns this decision by MCC/NBE and urges the Government of India to immediately withdraw this notification and restore a reasonable, merit-based cut-off.”
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, president of the United Doctors Front (UDF), along with others, has approached the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the arbitrary and unprecedented reduction of qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025–26.
The petition challenges the NBEMS notice dated 13 January 2026 and seeks appropriate directions from the Court, including quashing the notification and issuing directives to restore minimum qualifying standards in postgraduate medical education. UDF seeks judicial intervention to ensure fair, transparent, and merit-based admissions.
Medical associations argue that the zero and negative cutoffs not only compromise the quality of future specialists but also set a dangerous precedent for India’s medical education system. FORDA warned:
“The medical community is watching. The courts are watching. The nation is watching. NBEMS & MoHFW must answer for what they have done to India's medical future.”
(Rh/VK)
