Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
India plans rank-based merit system for NEET-PG and NEET-SS
India’s National Medical Commission has approved in principle a rank-based system for counselling after the NEET-PG and NEET-SS medical entrance exams.
Under the proposed system, candidates would see their ranks, not percentile marks, in results.
The change follows concerns over lowered qualifying cut-offs for NEET-PG 2025, including a revised threshold of minus 40 for reserved-category candidates.
A panel told the Supreme Court that minimum standards should be maintained so candidates with very poor scores do not qualify for admission.
The commission has not finalised the rules, and the Supreme Court is considering petitions about the cut-off reductions.
The reforms are targeted for the 2027 counselling cycle, subject to final rules and approvals.
The proposals also include digitising counselling and sharing exam results with state counselling authorities.
The National Medical Commission has given in-principle approval to replace percentile-based counselling for NEET-PG and NEET-SS with a rank-based system.
Under the proposal, results would show candidates’ ranks but not percentile marks.
The regulations are not final, and the NMC says it will wait for the Supreme Court’s final directions before proceeding.
The reforms are targeted for the 2027 counselling cycle, subject to finalisation and necessary approvals.
The proposal comes as the Supreme Court examines challenges to reduced NEET-PG 2025 qualifying cut-offs.
- Who
- The National Medical Commission and an expert panel reviewing postgraduate medical admissions.
- What
- They propose replacing percentile-based NEET-PG and NEET-SS counselling with a system that declares ranks only.
- When
- The proposal received in-principle approval on September 23, 2026. Implementation is targeted for the 2027 counselling cycle.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The panel said the change aims to address issues with the existing system. An official said the reforms would reduce counselling time.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The NMC gave in-principle approval to the proposed change at a meeting.
The NMC secretary wrote to the director general of health services about the proposal.
The expert panel’s recommendations were reported to the Supreme Court in a report and an affidavit.
- Proposed system
- Rank-based counselling; results would declare ranks only
- Examinations covered
- NEET-PG and NEET-SS
- Target cycle
- 2027 counselling, subject to finalisation and approvals
- NEET-PG 2026 candidates
- 265,980
- Postgraduate medical seats for 2026-27
- 63,177
2 sources
What people are saying
NMC is in process of issuing new regulations, which are yet to be finalised wherein only rank-based system for NEET PG & SS counselling will be adopted; no percentile marks will be declared in results; only ranks will be given to candidates.
We have made these reforms in the interest of the candidates...The new reforms will also reduce the counselling time and which will subsequently help candidates to start their academic session on time.
The proposal in principle is approved. However, we will wait for the court’s final directions to go ahead for the new reforms, once that happens the next process is to get stakeholders suggestions for the implementation of reforms.