Supreme Court Examines Controversy Over NEET-PG Qualifying Cutoff Reduction

The Supreme Court is reviewing a plea against the drastic reduction of qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025-26 by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. The changes have prompted concerns over fair standards and potential violations of Articles 14 and 21.

The Supreme Court has requested responses from the Centre and other involved parties regarding a plea challenging the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences' (NBEMS) decision to significantly lower NEET-PG 2025-26 qualifying cut-off percentiles. This move comes in response to over 18,000 vacant postgraduate medical seats.

The NBEMS's decision reduces the qualifying percentile to zero from 40 for reserved categories, raising issues about candidates with low scores participating in further rounds of counseling. The general category cutoff was reduced from 50 to seven percentile, prompting the hearing.

The plea, filed by several petitioners including social worker Harisharan Devgan, argues that altering eligibility criteria post-selection process commencement violates Articles 14 and 21. It emphasizes maintaining standards in PG medical education while opposing the commercializing of the process. The court will hear the case on February 6.

(With inputs from agencies.)