Cut-off Reduced to Zero Percentile
Strongly opposing the National Board of Examinations (NBE) decision to reduce the qualifying cut-off percentile for the National Eligibility Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2025 to zero percentile, doctors’ bodies have written to the Union Health Ministry seeking immediate intervention. They have termed the move a serious blow to meritocracy and a threat to patient safety.
Doctors’ Bodies Raise Alarm
The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have urged Union Health Minister J P Nadda to reverse the decision, warning that allowing candidates with negative scores to pursue postgraduate medical education will compromise the quality of future specialists.
NBE Notification Explained
In a notification dated January 13, 2026, NBE stated that the minimum qualifying percentile for counselling of the third round of NEET-PG 2025–26 had been reduced following directions from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The results of NEET-PG 2025 were declared on August 19, 2025.
Revised Percentiles and Scores
As per the revised criteria, the qualifying cut-off stands at the 7th percentile for General/EWS candidates, 5th percentile for General PwBD, and 0 percentile for SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD). This translates to cut-off scores of 103, 90, and minus 40 respectively, making candidates with negative marks eligible for PG admissions.
Concerns Over Merit and Safety
Doctors have expressed concern that such candidates could gain admission to highly sought-after clinical specialties, potentially working in premier institutions. According to them, this dilution of standards risks producing underqualified specialists, directly impacting patient care and public health.
FAIMA Warns of Protests
FAIMA’s Chief Patron, Dr Rohan Krishnan, described the decision as “disheartening” and alleged that it was aimed at filling vacant seats in private medical colleges charging exorbitant fees. He warned that if corrective action is not taken, FAIMA would be compelled to launch nationwide protests in consultation with resident doctors and medical associations.
FORDA Calls It a Blow to Meritocracy
In a joint statement, FORDA President Dr Devaunshi Kaul and General Secretary Dr Meet Ghonia said NEET-PG is a merit-based gateway to specialist training and that arbitrary dilution without consultation erodes public trust. FORDA has sought the constitution of a high-level committee comprising NMC, NBE and resident doctor representatives to review and standardise cut-off policies.
Demand for Immediate Rollback
Both associations have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notification and restoration of a reasonable, merit-based cut-off. They warned that lowering standards merely to fill seats sets a dangerous precedent for medical education in India and could irreversibly damage the credibility of the healthcare system.
