NEET PG Cut-Off Lowered: Nearly 1 Lakh More Candidates Eligible

Top Summary

• What happened: The NEET PG cut-off was lowered to 0 percentile, making 95,913 additional candidates eligible for counselling.
• Why it matters: This significantly expands the pool of eligible doctors for postgraduate medical programs.
• What changes for people: More candidates now have the opportunity to pursue postgraduate medical education.
• Who is affected: Aspiring doctors, medical colleges, and the healthcare system are all affected.

Supreme Court Review

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) informed the Supreme Court about the impact of the revised cut-off. A bench of justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe is reviewing the decision.

The court had requested an affidavit explaining the motive behind lowering the cut-offs. Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput is representing the petitioners.

NBEMS Response

NBEMS clarified that the Public Interest Litigation challenging the January 13, 2026, notice is 'misconceived'. According to NBEMS, a total of 2,24,029 candidates qualified under the new criteria, compared to 1,28,116 previously.

This resulted in 95,913 additional eligible candidates.

Any interference at this stage would directly affect these candidates, who are not parties before the Court, and on that ground alone, the petition deserves dismissal.

High Court Ruling

An earlier challenge in the Delhi High Court, *Sanchit Seth vs National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences & Ors*, addressed the same notice. The High Court declined to interfere with the decision.

The court stated that concerns about public health risks were 'unfounded'. It found no perversity in the decision-making process.

Category-wise Impact

NBEMS presented category-wise data to the Supreme Court. The data highlights the increase in eligible candidates across different categories.

• General: 41,918 additional candidates
• OBC: 32,664 additional candidates
• SC: 13,710 additional candidates
• ST: 7,621 additional candidates

In total, 2,30,114 candidates appeared for NEET PG 2025.

Petition Details

The petition alleges that lowering the percentile endangers public health. It also claims that it promotes mediocrity and violates constitutional obligations.

NBEMS argues that these claims lack factual foundation.

Revised Eligibility

Once the cut-off percentile was revised, a total of 2,24,029 candidates qualified under the new criteria, compared to 1,28,116 under the earlier threshold, thereby resulting in 95,913 additional eligible candidates.

Category-wise data:

• Candidates Appeared: 230,114
• Qualified Earlier: 128,116
• Qualified Revised: 224,029
• Additional Qualified: 95,913

Next Hearing

The petition is listed for hearing on February 23, 2026. The Supreme Court will further review the matter.

What to Watch Next

The Supreme Court's decision on February 23, 2026, will determine the future of NEET PG counselling. The court will consider the arguments presented by both sides and the potential impact on the healthcare system.