Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Centre Lowers NEET-SS Cut-Off, Opening Special Stray Vacancy Counselling
The government wants to make it easier for some doctors to join NEET-SS counselling.
It plans to lower the required score level from the 50th percentile to the 30th percentile.
This could allow about 6,000 more candidates to participate.
There are 1,857 super-speciality medical seats still empty.
The government says the change could help fill those seats.
Tamil Nadu will get 40 vacant in-service seats for one week to run its own counselling round.
Any seats still empty will go back to the national counselling pool.
The Medical Counselling Committee will then conduct a special vacancy round within two weeks.
The Centre proposed lowering the NEET-SS qualifying percentile from 50th to 30th.
The change could make approximately 6,000 additional candidates eligible for counselling.
The government reported 1,857 vacant super-speciality seats after the second counselling round.
Tamil Nadu will temporarily receive 40 vacant in-service seats for a one-week state-run stray round.
Remaining Tamil Nadu seats will return to the MCC pool for a special round completed within two weeks.
- Who
- The Centre, the Medical Counselling Committee, NEET-SS candidates, and the Tamil Nadu government.
- What
- The Centre proposed reducing the NEET-SS qualifying percentile from 50th to 30th and organising special vacancy counselling.
- When
- The decision was communicated to the Supreme Court on September 17, 2026; the proposed MCC round must be completed within two weeks.
- Where
- The national counselling process, with a separate temporary arrangement for 40 in-service seats in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- To address 1,857 vacant super-speciality seats remaining after the second counselling round.
- Current qualifying percentile
- 50th percentile
- Proposed qualifying percentile
- 30th percentile
- Vacant seats reported
- 1,857 super-speciality seats
- Additional eligible candidates
- Approximately 6,000
- Tamil Nadu seats
- 40 vacant in-service seats
- Tamil Nadu stray round
- One week
- MCC special round deadline
- Within two weeks