NEET-PG Counselling Overhaul: Expert Panel Proposes Rank-Based Merit List, Drops Percentiles

Medical postgraduate admissions in India are set for a major shake-up as an expert committee has recommended scrapping the percentile system in favour of a pure rank-based merit list for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) and NEET-Super Speciality (SS) counselling.

The 12-member expert committee disclosed the proposed transition in its report submitted to the Supreme Court on Tuesday. According to the framework, future results will only display candidate ranks, completely doing away with percentile specifications. The National Medical Commission (NMC) granted in-principle approval to the overhaul during its meeting on September 23, subsequently communicating the shift to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) via an official letter dated October 1. The apex commission is currently in the process of finalising the new regulations.

Protecting Exam Sanctity and Minimum Standards

The Supreme Court is currently examining multiple petitions challenging the Centre's decision to drastically slash qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025. Under those revised criteria, the qualifying score for general category candidates dropped from 276 to 103, while SC, ST, and OBC category cut-offs plummeted from 235 down to minus 40.

Addressing these lowered thresholds, the expert panel emphasised that the sanctity of national competitive examinations must be firmly preserved. The report cautioned that minimum qualifying standards in postgraduate medical education should not be diluted to a point where candidates showcasing grossly inadequate or negative performance become eligible for admission, warning that high-stakes entrance tests risk being reduced to mere administrative formalities.

Broader Reforms Recommended for Medical Residency

Beyond counselling mechanics, the panel's comprehensive recommendations tackle systemic challenges within the healthcare sector. The committee has advocated for the removal of salary disparities between residents in clinical and non-clinical branches, alongside dedicated incentives to encourage qualified doctors to serve in rural and underserved areas.

With the NMC yet to officially roll out the finalised regulations, the proposed transition marks a decisive step towards streamlining medical admissions and restoring rigorous academic benchmarks across postgraduate training programmes nationwide.