Low NEET-PG Scores Lead to Medical College Admissions, Raising Quality Concerns

The rules for getting into postgraduate medical courses have changed. The lowest score needed has been made much lower. This means students with very low or even negative scores can now join medical colleges. Many doctors are worried this could affect the quality of care patients receive.
By Newsroom | Medical Admissions, India |

A significant reduction in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) qualifying cut-off marks has led to postgraduate medical seats, including in prominent government institutions, being filled by candidates with exceptionally low, single-digit, and even negative scores. This development, following the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences' (NBEMS) revision of cut-off percentages, has ignited a heated debate across the medical community, raising alarms about potential compromises to medical education standards and patient safety.

NEET-PG cut-off revision sparks debate as candidates with single-digit and low scores secure PG seats in top Telangana medical colleges - 1

Background to the Revision

The NEET-PG examination serves as the primary pathway for admission to postgraduate medical courses nationwide. In a notable shift, the NBEMS, with approval from the central government, revised the qualifying cut-off percentages for the NEET-PG 2025-26 admissions. This move was reportedly aimed at filling a large number of vacant postgraduate seats across various medical colleges.

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NEET-PG cut-off revision sparks debate as candidates with single-digit and low scores secure PG seats in top Telangana medical colleges - 2

  • Revised Percentiles: The cut-off percentiles saw a substantial decrease. For general and EWS candidates, the cut-off dropped from the 50th to the 7th percentile. For General-PwBD candidates, it moved from 45th to the 5th percentile. Crucially, for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates, the cut-off was reduced to the 0th percentile.

  • Eligibility for Counselling: This reduction in cut-offs means that candidates with zero or even negative scores became eligible to participate in the counselling process, particularly for Round 3. The NBEMS clarified that this change was intended to broaden eligibility for counselling and would not alter candidates' original ranks.

Admissions at Unusually Low Scores

The immediate outcome of this revision has been the allotment of postgraduate seats to candidates who achieved remarkably low scores in the NEET-PG exam.

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NEET-PG cut-off revision sparks debate as candidates with single-digit and low scores secure PG seats in top Telangana medical colleges - 3

  • Government College Admissions: Reports indicate that several prestigious government medical colleges, including Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, and Kakatiya Medical College in Telangana, have admitted students with scores ranging from single digits to low double digits.

  • One candidate from the ST category scored 59 marks and secured admission to MD Radiodiagnosis at Gandhi Medical College.

  • Another ST category candidate with 32 marks was allotted an MD Pathology seat at Kakatiya Medical College.

  • A candidate from the SC2 category, with 12 marks, obtained an MD Forensic Medicine position at Osmania Medical College.

  • Broader Trend: Similar admissions have been observed in other government institutions. For instance, a seat for MS Orthopaedics at a government medical college in Rohtak was reportedly filled by a candidate who scored 4 marks out of 800. Other seats were filled at scores like 10 marks in Transfusion Medicine, 11 marks in Anatomy, and even minus 8 marks in Biochemistry, particularly within reserved and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories.

  • Private College Admissions: A candidate who scored just 1 mark out of 800 secured admission to MS Orthopaedics at a private medical college in Hyderabad, shortly after the cut-off revision.

Concerns Over Medical Standards and Patient Safety

The significant drop in admission scores has triggered widespread apprehension among doctors, medical bodies, and educational experts regarding the quality of medical training and the potential implications for patient care.

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NEET-PG cut-off revision sparks debate as candidates with single-digit and low scores secure PG seats in top Telangana medical colleges - 4

  • Undermining Foundational Training: Medical bodies have expressed concern that postgraduate medical education is designed to build advanced clinical expertise, not to compensate for weak foundational knowledge.

  • Risk to Patient Safety: Critics argue that admitting doctors with such low scores could compromise healthcare standards and erode public trust. The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has warned that this could lead to "incompetent doctors" who are "hazardous to people."

  • Erosion of Merit: The move is seen by some as diluting merit and potentially violating standards set by the National Medical Commission Act. Petitioners have approached the Supreme Court, challenging the cut-off reduction and warning of risks to merit and patient safety.

  • Concerns about Private Colleges: FORDA has also raised questions about the role of private medical colleges, expressing worries about potential "seat trading" and suggesting that the policy might primarily benefit private institutions needing to fill their seats.

Expert and Official Perspectives

The revision has prompted considerable discussion and critique from various stakeholders in the medical field.

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  • Breakdown in Education: A senior faculty member at a government medical college described the situation as signaling "a serious breakdown in medical education and workforce planning."

  • Quality and Transparency: FORDA has alleged that the sharp drop in cut-off marks risks the quality and transparency of medical education. Dr. Sharda, FORDA National General Secretary, noted that this issue directly concerns the quality of medical training and could have long-term implications for patient care and the public health system.

  • Access vs. Standards: The debate highlights a deeper structural challenge, balancing the need for increased access to medical education with maintaining rigorous academic and clinical standards.

The controversy has reached the Supreme Court, with Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed challenging the NBEMS's decision to lower the NEET-PG cut-offs. Petitioners argue that this move allows candidates with extremely low or negative scores into counselling, thereby compromising merit and patient safety. The court has issued notices in response to these concerns.

  • Core Issues: The legal challenges center on the perceived dilution of merit, the potential impact on patient safety, and whether the revision aligns with the standards stipulated by relevant medical regulations.

Conclusion

The revision of NEET-PG cut-off marks has undeniably broadened eligibility for postgraduate medical admissions, with the stated aim of filling vacant seats. However, this has led to the admission of candidates with exceptionally low scores into prestigious government and private medical colleges. This situation has ignited a critical debate regarding the foundational quality of medical education, the competency of future practitioners, and the ultimate implications for patient safety and public health. The matter is now under judicial review, indicating the significant concerns raised by the medical fraternity and the public. The ongoing dialogue underscores the tension between increasing medical seat availability and upholding stringent standards for postgraduate medical training.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why were the NEET-PG cut-off scores lowered?
The scores were lowered to help fill many empty seats in postgraduate medical courses. The government and the exam board agreed to this change.
Q: What are the main worries about this change?
People are worried that doctors trained with very low scores might not be skilled enough. This could affect the safety of patients and the quality of medical care.
Q: What is happening now?
Doctors' groups are unhappy, and some people have gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision. The court is looking into the matter.