NEET SS Counselling: 6,000 more candidates qualify as Centre lowers cut-off to 30th percentile

The Centre on September 17 informed the Supreme Court that it has agreed to reduce the qualifying percentile for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Super Speciality (NEET-SS) seats from the existing 50th percentile to 30th percentile for special stray vacancy round. In a note filed before the Supreme Court, the Centre said 1,857 super speciality seats remained vacant even after completion of NEET SS counselling round 2.

The Centre said the matter was reconsidered in consultation with the concerned stakeholders. It decided to lower the qualifying percentile to ensure that the available super speciality seats do not remain vacant and that the available training capacity is utilised optimally.

The central government, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, told the apex court that the reduction in the qualifying percentile would make approximately 6,000 additional candidates eligible to participate in the special stray vacancy round.

According to the Centre, this move would create a candidate pool of around three times the number of vacant seats, i.e. approximately 6,000 eligible candidates against 1,857 vacant seats.

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders concerning Tamil Nadu and considering the circumstances, 40 vacant in-service seats in the state would be reverted to the Tamil Nadu government. With this, the state can conduct and complete its own stray vacancy round for these seats within one week.

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Special stray vacancy round

Any seats that remain vacant after the state’s stray vacancy round would be added to pool of vacant seats with Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). The committee would conduct and complete a special stray vacancy round for these seats, along with the other vacant super speciality seats, within two weeks.

Expressing concern over the large number of super speciality seats remaining vacant every year, the Supreme Court had earlier directed the Centre to reconsider its decision against lowering the qualifying percentile for NEET-SS seats .

The Centre’s submission was made in a plea challenging the “premature diversion” of 152 vacant super speciality seats earmarked for in-service government doctors in Tamil Nadu to the all-India quota.

(With PTI inputs)