Lok Sabha Question No. 2397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Reduction of Cost for NEET PG 2025
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Com. Selvaraj V, Shri Subbarayan K

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2397 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 th FEBRUARY, 2026

## REDUCTION OF COST FOR NEET PG 2025

## 2397. COM. SELVARAJ V: SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has decided to reduce the cut off for NEET PG 2025 to zero percentage level on the ground that thousands of seats in medical colleges are lying vacant, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of vacant seats in Government medical colleges and private medical colleges separately;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the majority of seats are vacant in private medical colleges where the fees run into crores which most candidates cannot afford;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the Government's reaction thereto;
- (e) whether the Government's attention has been drawn to the opinion of the former principal health secretary of Andhra Pradesh Dr. P.V. Ramesh that this decision is shameful and must be condemned as unadulterated corruption; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with the Government's reaction thereto?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (f): The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducts counselling for postgraduate medical courses as per the scheme laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. NEET PG counselling conducted by MCC covers 50% All India Quota seats and 100% seats of Central/Deemed Universities across the country. Counselling for State quota PG seats is conducted by the respective State Governments and counselling for private medical colleges comes under the purview of State counselling authorities.

The decision to revise the qualifying percentiles follows the completion of Round-2 counselling by MCC wherein it was reported that of the 29,476 seats offered by MCC for counselling, 9,621 seats remained vacant. Further, as counselling for 50% seats is conducted by respective state authorities, it was assessed that approximately 20,000 seats(including DNB seats) were vacant after two rounds. Hence, conistent with past academic years which had proven effective in ensuring maximum seat utilisation, the Government reduced the qualifying percentile for eligibility to PG Counselling 2025 to ensure precious PG medical seats do not remain vacant. The revised qualifying percentiles for NEET PG 2025 are as under:

-  UR Category: Eligibility reduced to above 7 percentiles
-  UR-PwD Category: Eligibility reduced to above 5 percentiles
-  SC / ST / OBC Categories: All candidates declared qualified

The fee structure for medical courses in Government and private medical colleges varies across States and is determined in accordance with the guidelines issued by the respective State Fee Regulatory Authorities. The fee structure in Government medical colleges is subsidized in order to enhance accessibility. Also, guidelines for the determination of fees and other charges in respect of 50% of seats in private medical institutions and deemed-tobe universities were framed under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 10 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and were issued by the National Medical Commission on 03.02.2022. However, these guidelines have been challenged before various courts and the matter is currently sub judice.

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