In a move that has sparked widespread concern within the medical community, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has significantly reduced the qualifying cut-off for NEET PG 2025, following directions from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The decision aims to fill nearly 9,000 vacant postgraduate medical seats across the country.
Under the revised criteria, the qualifying percentile for General and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates has been lowered from the 50th to the 7th percentile. For General Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD), the cut-off has been reduced from the 45th to the 5th percentile. For Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates, the qualifying percentile has been brought down from 40 to zero.
As a result, the corresponding cut-off score for SC, ST and OBC candidates has been fixed at minus 40 out of 800, owing to negative marking in the examination. A score of minus 40 would be obtained by candidates who answered a significant number of questions incorrectly. Despite this, such candidates will now be considered eligible for admission to postgraduate medical courses.
The decision has triggered strong reactions from doctors and medical associations. A Delhi-based doctor, who completed his postgraduation two years ago, questioned the implications of the move. “So, a person who did not know the correct answer to several questions is supposed to then save someone’s life? How can I show confidence in a person who scored negative marks in an entrance exam that thousands of people clear every year?” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Dr Rohan Krishnan, Chief Patron of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), said the repeated lowering of standards was alarming. “The NEET PG percentile has once again been reduced, and this time it has been brought down to zero percentile. This means that even candidates who have scored minus 40 in the examination are now eligible. Despite this, they are considered eligible to become clinicians in this country,” he said.
Dr Krishnan further warned that such candidates would be allowed to participate in surgeries and practise medicine. “This has become a trend. Every year, the percentile is reduced to fill seats, particularly in private medical colleges,” he added.
Patients have also voiced concerns. The sharp reduction in NEET PG 2025 cut-offs has once again ignited debate over merit, patient safety and the long-term impact on the country’s healthcare system.