NEET PG 2027: No lowering of eligibility standards to fill vacant medical PG seats; here’s what the committee recommends

A 12-member expert committee, constituted to review the NEET admission system, has recommended replacing the existing percentile-based qualifying system for NEET PG and NEET SS with a rank-based merit system.

Significant news has emerged regarding admissions for NEET PG students in medical colleges. A 12-member expert committee, tasked with reviewing the NEET admission system, has proposed shifting from the current percentile-based qualifying system for NEET PG and NEET SS to a rank-based merit system. In a report submitted to the Supreme Court on November 3, the committee suggested that candidates should be considered for admission based on their rank rather than the existing percentile-based eligibility criteria. The committee further advised against lowering qualifying standards solely to fill vacant postgraduate medical seats. Additionally, it has proposed reducing fees for non-clinical postgraduate courses and exempting students who opt for pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects from service bonds. This proposal has received 'in-principle' approval and is slated for implementation in 2027; however, the detailed rules are yet to be finalized.

Why has the issue of the NEET PG cut-off been raised now?

This recommendation follows controversies surrounding the repeated lowering of the NEET PG qualifying cut-off to fill vacant seats during the counseling process. In 2023, the qualifying percentile was reduced to zero across all categories, making even candidates with negative scores eligible for counseling. Subsequently, in 2024, the cut-off was lowered once again—to the 15th percentile for General and EWS candidates, and to the 10th percentile for reserved category candidates. This issue resurfaced during the 2025-26 admission cycle. On January 13, 2026, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) released revised cut-offs for the third round of NEET-PG counseling. The qualifying percentile for General category candidates was reduced from the 50th percentile to the 7th percentile. For General-PwD (Persons with Disabilities) candidates, it was lowered from the 45th percentile to the 5th percentile, while for SC, ST, and OBC candidates, it was reduced from the 40th percentile to zero. This revised criterion allowed even candidates with negative scores to qualify.

Candidates became eligible despite a shortage of seats

This decision was taken at a time when a large number of postgraduate medical seats remained vacant. According to data presented before the Supreme Court, this reduction in cut-offs made an additional 95,913 candidates eligible for counseling. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court by a petitioner, who questioned whether such a drastic lowering of eligibility standards was consistent with maintaining the quality of postgraduate medical education.

What is the Supreme Court's stance?

In May 2026, the Supreme Court suggested establishing an institutional mechanism to address the recurring issue of lowering cut-offs. A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe noted that this problem arises repeatedly during admission cycles, causing difficulties for candidates and resulting in vacant seats. The Court also expressed concern regarding the impact of lowering qualifying standards on the quality of medical education. Subsequently, in August 2026, the authorities informed the Court that a 12-member committee had been constituted under the leadership of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS). The panel was tasked with examining the existing admission system, identifying its shortcomings, and proposing actionable solutions.

Recommendation to overhaul the admission system by 2027

A 12-member committee, led by the Director General of Health Services, has submitted its report. A key highlight of this report is the recommendation to implement changes to the admission system starting in 2027. The proposed rank-based system—along with other recommendations—aims to resolve recurring challenges in postgraduate medical admissions while upholding minimum eligibility standards. The objective of these changes extends beyond merely filling vacant seats; it seeks to make the counseling process more transparent, fair, and effective, all while maintaining the quality of medical education. However, the final decision regarding these changes to the admission system in 2027 will depend on further proceedings by the Supreme Court.