Lok Sabha Question No. 5686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Admission in NEET PG-2025
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Thiru Thanga Tamilselvan

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH MARCH, 2026

## ADMISSION IN NEET PG-2025

## 5686. THIRU THANGA TAMILSELVAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the National Board of Examinations in Medical Science (NBEMS) has recently reduced the qualifying percentile to zero for candidates in reserved categories enabling even those who scored as low as minus 40 marks out of 800 in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate)/ NEET-PG 2025 to participate in the 3rd round of the ongoing counselling process for postgraduate medical admissions;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any protests or complaints from sections of the medical fraternity as it reflects a worrying decline in academic standards in medical education;

- (d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the total number of such reserved categories students who scored as low as minus 40 marks out of 800 in the NEET-PG 2025 who have secured admission across the Country as on date, college-wise and State/UT-wise?

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

(a) to (e): The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducts counselling for postgraduate medical courses in accordance with the scheme laid down by the Hon ' ble Supreme Court of India. The NEET-PG counselling conducted by MCC covers 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 100% seats of Central/Deemed Universities across the country. Further, counselling for the State quota PG seats and seats in private medical colleges is conducted by the respective State counselling authorities.

The decision to revise the qualifying percentiles was taken following the completion of Round-2 counselling by MCC wherein it was reported that out of 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, consistent 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:

| Category      | Revised Minimum Qualifying Criteria   |
|---------------|---------------------------------------|
| UR/EWS        | 7th Percentile                        |
| UR - PwD      | 5th Percentile                        |
| SC / ST / OBC | 0th Percentile                        |

Representations have been received from few stakeholders against the reduction in percentile for NEET-PG 2025. However, representations for further reduction of cut-off percentile in view of vacant seats in medical colleges have also been received. The MCC has informed that no candidate scoring -40 marks has been allotted a seat under any category in the All India Quota.

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