Several medical organizations have criticized the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for drastically lowering the qualifying cut-off percentile for NEET PG 2025, calling the decision unprecedented and illogical. They warned that this change could impact the quality of postgraduate medical training and raise concerns about the skills of future specialists.
Medical Bodies Oppose NBEMS’ Proposal to lower NEET PG Cut-Off
After the second round of counseling, NBEMS adjusted the qualifying percentiles to deal with vacant seats. Over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats across the country remain unfilled. Under the new criteria, the qualifying percentile for reserved categories has dropped from 40 to zero, allowing candidates with very low scores to join the third round of counseling. For the general category, the cut-off has been reduced from the 50th percentile to the 7th percentile.
Medical groups like the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) have called on the authorities to reverse the decision. In a letter to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, FAIMA president Dr.Rohan Krishnan argued that lowering the cut-off to zero sets a dangerous precedent for medical education in India.
Will reducing cut off lowers exam credibility
FAIMA stressed that NEET PG is a national-level competitive exam that is crucial for postgraduate medical admissions. The association believes that reducing the cut-off to such a low level undermines the credibility and purpose of the exam. It also said that allowing candidates with negative scores into postgraduate training is not justifiable on academic or ethical grounds.
Additionally, the association said this change raises concerns about the quality of future specialists and could threaten patient safety, especially in government and teaching hospitals that serve economically disadvantaged groups.
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