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15 Jan 2026·Source: The Hindu
3 min
Social IssuesSocial IssuesNEWS

NEET-PG Cut-off Lowered After 18,000 Seats Remain Vacant

NEET-PG cut-off reduced to zero for reserved categories after 18,000 seats vacant.

Following the second round of counselling, over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats remain vacant in India. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has revised the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2025 admissions. The qualifying percentile cut-off for the third round of NEET-PG counselling has been reduced to zero for reserved categories and to seven percentile for the general category.

This decision aims to ensure optimal utilization of available seats and expand India's pool of trained medical specialists. The Health Ministry maintains that admissions remain strictly merit-based, determined by NEET-PG rank and candidate preferences.

Key Facts

1.

Vacant Seats: Over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats

2.

NEET-PG Cut-off: Reduced to zero for reserved categories

3.

General Category Cut-off: Reduced to seven percentile

4.

NBEMS: Revised qualifying percentile

5.

NEET-PG 2025 result declared on August 19, 2025

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

GS Paper II: Social Justice, Health, Education

2.

Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

3.

Potential questions on government policies related to medical education

Visual Insights

More Information

Background

The history of medical education in India dates back to ancient times with systems like Ayurveda and Siddha. However, modern medical education, influenced by Western models, began during the British colonial era. The establishment of medical colleges in the 19th century, such as the Calcutta Medical College (1835), marked a significant shift.

Post-independence, the focus shifted to expanding medical education to meet the growing healthcare needs of the population. The Medical Council of India (MCI), now the National Medical Commission (NMC), was established to regulate medical education standards. Over the decades, the number of medical colleges and postgraduate seats has increased substantially, but disparities in quality and distribution remain a challenge.

The evolution of NEET-PG as a single entrance exam aimed to standardize admissions and ensure merit-based selection, addressing concerns about transparency and fairness in the admission process.

Latest Developments

In recent years, there has been a significant push to increase the number of postgraduate medical seats in India to address the shortage of specialists. The government has implemented various schemes to incentivize the establishment of new medical colleges and the expansion of existing ones. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the critical need for a robust healthcare workforce, leading to increased focus on medical education and training.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced reforms to improve the quality of medical education and ensure better distribution of medical professionals across the country. The future outlook involves continued efforts to enhance the infrastructure, faculty, and curriculum of medical colleges, as well as to promote research and innovation in the medical field. Telemedicine and digital health technologies are also expected to play a greater role in medical education and healthcare delivery.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG): 1. NEET-PG is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). 2. The NEET-PG score is used for admission to all postgraduate medical courses in India, including those offered by AIIMS. 3. The recent reduction in the qualifying percentile aims to fill vacant seats and improve the availability of specialist doctors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect as NEET-PG is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), not NTA. Statement 2 is correct as NEET-PG score is used for admission to all postgraduate medical courses, except those under the INI-CET. Statement 3 is correct as the reduction in percentile aims to fill vacant seats.

2. With reference to medical education in India, which of the following statements is NOT correct? A) The National Medical Commission (NMC) regulates medical education and practice. B) The number of government medical colleges is significantly lower than private medical colleges. C) NEET-PG is the single entrance examination for postgraduate medical courses. D) The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is responsible for formulating policies related to medical education.

  • A.The National Medical Commission (NMC) regulates medical education and practice.
  • B.The number of government medical colleges is significantly lower than private medical colleges.
  • C.NEET-PG is the single entrance examination for postgraduate medical courses.
  • D.The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is responsible for formulating policies related to medical education.
Show Answer

Answer: B

The number of government medical colleges is now comparable to, and in some states higher than, private medical colleges due to increased government investment in the sector. The other statements are correct.

3. Assertion (A): Lowering the NEET-PG cut-off percentile can help fill vacant postgraduate medical seats. Reason (R): A shortage of specialist doctors in rural areas necessitates measures to increase the number of trained medical professionals. In the context of the above, which of the following is correct? A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true.

  • A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • B.Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • C.A is true, but R is false.
  • D.A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer

Answer: A

Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why lowering the cut-off can help fill vacant seats. The shortage of specialists is a key driver for such measures.

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