Archive · 19 Jan 2026
NEET-PG 2025 Cut-off Lowered Amid Seat Vacancies
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has lowered the qualifying marks for the NEET-PG 2025 exam to fill many empty seats in postgraduate medical programs.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) supports this decision, saying it will help more doctors get specialized training and reduce the workload on current doctors.
However, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), the United Doctors Front, and the World Medical Association are against it, arguing that it lowers the standards of medical education and could be risky for patients.
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging this decision, arguing that it violates the principles of merit and procedural fairness.
The government says that admissions will still be based on merit, but the debate continues.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case soon.
NBEMS lowered NEET-PG 2025 qualifying cut-off marks to fill vacant postgraduate medical seats.
General/EWS cut-off reduced from 276 to 103 marks, and SC/ST/OBC cut-off from 235 to 0 percentile.
IMA supports the decision to reduce the stress on current doctors and fill vacant seats.
FORDA, United Doctors Front, and World Medical Association oppose the change, arguing it undermines merit-based selection and medical standards.
A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the decision, with a hearing expected soon.
- Who
- National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), United Doctors Front, World Medical Association, Harisharan Devgan, Dr Saurav Kumar, Dr Lakshya Mittal, Dr Akash Soni
- What
- Lowering of NEET-PG 2025 qualifying cut-off marks
- When
- 13 January 2025, with a PIL filed in the Supreme Court last week
- Where
- India
- Why
- To fill vacant postgraduate medical seats and ensure optimal utilization of resources, but opposed on grounds of violating merit and standards
Supporters of the Change
Opponents of the Change
Purpose of the Change
Supporters of the Change
To fill vacant postgraduate medical seats and reduce the workload on current doctors.
Opponents of the Change
To prioritize filling vacant seats over maintaining merit and minimum standards of competence required in medical education.
Impact on Standards
Supporters of the Change
The change will help more doctors get specialized training without compromising the merit-based selection process.
Opponents of the Change
Lowering eligibility criteria to such levels undermines the purpose of a competitive examination and has implications for patient safety and public health.
Procedural Fairness
Supporters of the Change
The government assures that admissions will remain merit-based through authorized counselling.
Opponents of the Change
The action undertaken by the counselling authority violates procedural fairness as rules of the game cannot be changed mid-stream.
- Original General/EWS Cut-off
- 276 marks (50th percentile)
- Revised General/EWS Cut-off
- 103 marks (7th percentile)
- Original SC/ST/OBC Cut-off
- 235 marks (40th percentile)
- Revised SC/ST/OBC Cut-off
- 0 percentile (as low as -40 marks)
- Vacant PG Seats
- 18,000
- Organizations Supporting the Change
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Organizations Opposing the Change
- Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), United Doctors Front, World Medical Association
- Reason for Change
- To fill vacant postgraduate medical seats
- Petitioners
- Harisharan Devgan, Dr Saurav Kumar, Dr Lakshya Mittal, Dr Akash Soni
- Expected Court Hearing
- Sometime next week, following the Republic Day holiday on January 26
