“Murder of Merit”: Doctors, medical students oppose NEET PG 2023 revised cut-off

NEW DELHI: Several doctors, medical associations, and medical students condemned the government’s decision to reduce the National Eligibility Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2023 cut off to zero. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wrote to the National Medical Commission (NMC) informing that it has approved the recommendation of reducing the qualifying percentile in NEET PG exam for PG medical admissions to 0th percentile.

While some called the decision “murder of merit”, others feared while this might help fill vacant seats, it will encourage private colleges to make money and will lead to corruption and blocking of seats. Students will high merit might not be able to take admissions while those with less scores and more money will get seats, doctors and aspirants alleged.

Also Read | NEET PG Counselling 2023: MCC to reopen round 3 registration over cut off reduction

IMA national president called he decision disastrous and said in a tweet, “It is disastrous to know announcement by the MOH on NEET PG eligibility mark as Zero. why the hell you conducted the exam? Why do you want to destabilise medicine ? Convert all lapsed seats as Govt seat, in no time all seats will be filled up by meritorious students. Shame.”

It is disastrous to know announcement by the MOH on NEET PG eligibility mark as Zero. why the hell you conducted the exam? Why do you want to destabilise medicine ? Convert all lapsed seats as Govt seat, in no time all seats will be filled up by meritorious students . Shame pic.twitter.com/dkxv8e3mj1

— Prof. Dr. J.A. Jayalal (@jayalal10) September 20, 2023

Tamil Nadu’s DMK party youth wing secretary Udhay Stalin said the decision shows the true nature of the test. He wrote in a tweet, “The notification of @MoHFW_INDIA reducing the NEET PG qualifying percentile to zero shows the true ‘standard’ of the entrance test. The DMK has always said that NEET was imposed by the union government only to benefit the private coaching centres and private medical colleges. Today, we have been proven right. This unjust and biased decision proves that NEET is not a test to identify talent as claimed by the union government, but a screening mechanism to filter out the poor and marginalised students. The fascists supporting NEET at the cost of the lives of our dear children are answerable to this injustice and bias.”

The notification of @MoHFW_INDIA reducing the NEET PG qualifying percentile to zero shows the true ‘standard’ of the entrance test.

The DMK has always said that NEET was imposed by the union government only to benefit the private coaching centres and private medical colleges.… pic.twitter.com/AtJ3koh6hk

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) September 20, 2023

A doctor called it murder of merit and commented, “For becoming a specialist doctor in India you need #ZERO percentile in #NEET PG . MONEY hai to honey hai . Sad state of Indian medical education. If SEATS remains vacant even after round 3 counseling then convert them into govt seats trust me Not even a single seat will remain vacant. The health ministry is helpless is in front of private medical college lobby . Murder of merit by ministry of health and family welfare. Money hai toh honey hai.”

For becoming a specialist doctor in India you need #ZERO percentile in #NEET PG . MONEY hai to honey hai . Sad state of Indian medical education.
If SEATS remains vacant even after round 3 counseling then convert them into govt seats trust me Not even a single seat will remain… pic.twitter.com/av6oDJLWxy

— Dr Manoj Chaudhary (@MK_Chaudhary04) September 20, 2023

“Qualifying percentile for NEET PG being zero is absurd. One has to just appear for the exam and leave it all blank. I am really hoping this is some kind of fake news. Imagine the rich abusing this, just appear, pay crores and get a seat in a private college all without a bare minimum knowledge, crazy!,” said another doctor.

Qualifying percentile for NEET PG being zero is absurd. One has to just appear for the exam and leave it all blank. I am really hoping this is some kind of fake news. Imagine the rich abusing this, just appear, pay crores and get a seat in a private college all without a bare…

— Dr. Anuj (@anujtiwari11) September 20, 2023