NMC NEET PG: In a move that has triggered widespread discussion across the medical education community, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved a zero percentile cut-off (-40 marks) for reserved category candidates in NEET PG 2025. The decision, aimed at addressing persistent seat vacancies in postgraduate medical courses, marks one of the most significant relaxations in recent years.
What Has Changed?
According to the revised qualifying criteria:
- General category candidates must still meet the 7th percentile
- General PwBD candidates require 5th percentile
- SC/ST/OBC and PwBD under reserved categories now have a 0 percentile qualifying cut-off or (-40 score)
This effectively means that reserved category candidates with even the lowest scores are now eligible to participate in counselling for PG medical seats.
Why Was This Decision Taken?
For several years, thousands of PG medical seats, especially in non-clinical and peripheral institutions, have remained vacant. Despite multiple rounds of counselling and reduced cut-offs, many seats went unfilled, raising concerns about:
Join NEET PG News 2025 - Wastage of national medical infrastructure
- Shortage of specialists in government hospitals
- Financial losses to medical colleges
Regulators argue that allowing zero percentile eligibility is a temporary corrective measure to ensure seats are filled and healthcare manpower is strengthened.
What Supporter’s Say:
Supporters of the move believe the decision is pragmatic rather than ideological. They point out that:
- Eligibility does not guarantee admission-competition during counselling still exists
- PG training involves rigorous exams and exit assessments
- Many seats lie vacant not due to lack of ability, but lack of willingness to join certain branches or locations
From this perspective, the policy is seen as a last-mile solution, not a dilution of medical education.
Critics’ Concern: Lowering the Bar?
However, critics warn that a zero percentile cut-off sends a dangerous signal. Their concerns include:
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- No minimum academic benchmark: A zero percentile cut-off removes even the basic competency filter in a national-level medical entrance exam, raising questions about the purpose of standardized testing.
- Wrong message to future aspirants: Repeated cut-off relaxations may encourage complacency, signaling that failure will eventually be adjusted.
- Avoidance of structural reform: Instead of improving UG teaching quality, assessment standards, or working conditions in PG training, authorities are choosing what critics call a “shortcut.”
- Impact on patient safety and clinical competence
- Psychological demotivation for candidates who narrowly missed higher cut-offs.
- Loss of exam credibility: If even zero scores qualify, NEET PG risks being seen as a formality rather than a meaningful national screening exam.
Several doctors and faculty members argue that failure should be addressed through systemic academic reform, not by eliminating minimum benchmarks altogether.
What This Means for NEET Aspirants
For aspirants, the message is mixed:
- The qualifying cut-off may be zero, but PG seats will still go to higher-ranked candidates
- Popular clinical branches will remain highly competitive
- The move does not change the difficulty level of NEET PG or final examinations
