Government reviews zero-percentile NEET PG rule amid concerns over medical education quality

The Union Health Ministry is reviewing the zero-percentile eligibility rule for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) admissions following concerns over medical education standards and vacant postgraduate seats across the country.

According to reports, the government is considering introducing a minimum 40th percentile cut off for postgraduate medical admissions instead of the current zero-percentile policy implemented during NEET PG 2025 counselling. Officials are also discussing additional counselling rounds based on the number of seats remaining vacant.

Zero-percentile rule introduced to fill vacant PG seats

The zero-percentile rule was introduced earlier to address thousands of vacant postgraduate medical seats after counselling rounds. Earlier, under the directions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) lowered the NEET PG qualifying percentile for several categories.

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Under the revised criteria, the qualifying percentile for the NEET PG for general category candidates was reduced from the 50th percentile to the 7th percentile, while reserved category candidates became eligible at zero percentile.

However, despite relaxing the eligibility criteria, around 1,140 postgraduate medical seats reportedly remained vacant during the 2025-26 academic session. This has triggered fresh debate over the effectiveness of the policy and its possible impact on healthcare quality.

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Doctors’ bodies raise concerns

Several doctors’ associations and medical experts have criticised the repeated lowering of NEET PG cutoffs, arguing that it may dilute medical education standards and affect patient care in the long term.

Medical associations, including the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) and Federation of Doctors Associations (FORDA), had also opposed the decision earlier this year and called for the withdrawal of the revised cutoff notification.