Archive · 15 Jan 2026
NEET-PG 2025 Cutoffs Lowered to Fill Vacant Seats
There are many empty seats for doctors to study more in special areas.
The people in charge decided to make it easier for doctors to get these seats by lowering the marks needed.
This way, more doctors can study and help with healthcare.
The marks for general category students went from 50 to 7, and for special groups, it went to 0.
This means almost anyone who took the test can now try for these seats.
The decision was made to use all the available seats and not waste them.
It's like opening more spots in a class so more students can join.
However, some doctors and groups are worried that this might lower the quality of medical education and affect patient safety.
The government and some doctors' groups support this change because they think it will help hospitals have more doctors and improve healthcare.
But other doctors' groups are against it because they think it might make the doctors less qualified.
Over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats were vacant across 541 medical colleges.
NBEMS significantly lowered NEET-PG 2025 cutoffs to fill these seats, with the unreserved category cutoff reduced from 50th to 7th percentile (103 out of 800) and reserved categories to 0th percentile (-40 out of 800).
This measure aims to prevent seat wastage and address the shortage of specialist doctors, allowing candidates scoring as low as -40 out of 800 to be eligible.
Admissions remain merit-based, with no provision for direct or discretionary admissions.
The decision has sparked backlash from the medical community, with concerns over the dilution of standards and potential impact on patient safety, while the IMA supports the move as necessary to fill vacant seats and strengthen healthcare services.
- Who
- National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), Federation of Doctors Association (FORDA)
- What
- Lowered NEET-PG 2025 cutoffs to fill vacant seats
- When
- 13 January 2026
- Where
- India
- Why
- To prevent seat wastage and address the shortage of specialist doctors
- Vacant Seats
- 18,000
- Medical Colleges
- 541
- Unreserved Category Cutoff
- Reduced from 50th to 7th percentile (103 out of 800)
- Reserved Categories Cutoff
- Reduced to 0th percentile (-40 out of 800)
- Request Date
- 12 January 2026
- Notice Date
- 13 January 2026
- Lowest Possible Score for Admission
- -40 out of 800
- General PwBD Category Cutoff
- Reduced to 5th percentile (90 out of 800)
Sources
NEET-PG seat cutoffs slashed as specialist doctors' vacancies pile up
Cut-off reduced for PG medical seats as 18,000 remain vacant after 2nd counselling
Medical Community Raises Concerns Over NEET-PG Cut-Off Reduced To Zero For Reserved Categories
Can a -40 score make a specialist?
MCC NEET PG 2025 Round 3 Counselling Registration Begins Today At mcc.nic.in; Check Key Details Here
CEE Kerala Reopens NEET PG 2025 Round 3 Registration After Cut-off Reduction; Details Here
NEET PG cut-off: Medical community calls out ‘illogical move’ of lowering scores to minus 40
Explained: Why the Health Ministry lowered the NEET PG cut off
Why NEET-PG Cut-off Percentiles Have Been Revised
Medical Seat Paradox: Why NEET PG Cut-Offs Are Being Reduced While Seats Still Remain Empty
