Supreme Court to Hear Challenges to NEET-PG Cut-Off Cuts on April 28
India's Supreme Court will examine pleas contesting the sharp drop in qualifying percentiles for the NEET-PG 2025-26 exam on April 28. The decision addresses widespread vacancies in postgraduate medical seats despite thousands of qualified candidates. This hearing pits concerns over merit and patient safety against the government's push to fill healthcare infrastructure.
Petitioners Contest Lowered Standards
A public interest litigation filed by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput labels the cut-off reduction arbitrary and unconstitutional, violating equality and life rights under Articles 14 and 21. The plea argues that permitting zero or negative percentiles after results and two counselling rounds undermines NEET-PG's role as a national merit filter. Senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan emphasized during a brief hearing that enough candidates already qualified to occupy all seats, with vacancies stemming from high fees rather than shortages.
Government Defends Move to Fill Seats
The Union Health Ministry justifies the adjustment after expert reviews, citing around 70,000 available postgraduate seats for 2025-26, including 31,742 under All India Quota, where 9,621 stayed vacant post-second counselling round. Nationwide, nearly 20,000 seats risk going unfilled, prompting the change that added over 100,000 candidates for third-round eligibility without shifting relative merit. The affidavit from Directorate General of Health Services frames this as a policy choice under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, noting past precedents like 2023's zero percentile across categories.
Counterarguments and Court Restraint
Supporting the Centre, senior advocate D.S. Naidu maintained that lowered cut-offs preserve standards since all candidates hold MBBS qualifications. The National Board of Examinations clarified its limited role in conducting exams and releasing results per directives, with the January 13 notification enabling 95,913 more for counselling. Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe deferred merits, having earlier issued notices to key bodies; a Delhi High Court ruling in Sanchit Seth upheld similar reductions, dismissing safety and merit dilution fears.
Implications for Medical Education and Care
NEET-PG serves as the gateway to specialized training amid India's doctor shortage, balancing seat utilization with competence thresholds. Critics warn of eroded training quality risking public health, while proponents stress infrastructure demands in underserved areas. The verdict could set precedents for exam policy tweaks, influencing how India addresses persistent PG vacancies without compromising professional rigor.
