Proposal to shift from percentile to percentage based eligibility in NEET for MBBS admissions submitted to NMC

New Delhi: A proposal has been submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to bring a major change in NEET-UG examination for MBBS admissions by replacing the current percentile-based system with a percentage-based eligibility criterion, recent media reports have stated . 

As per a recent TOI report, the proposal suggests that admissions to medical and dental colleges be based on the percentage of marks obtained in NEET-UG rather than relative percentile rankings.

This means that if the proposal gets approved, then aspirants would need to secure a fixed minimum percentage of marks in NEET-UG to qualify. This is reported to aim at improving the quality of entrants to medical education. 

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At present, eligibility is decided through percentile scores, where candidates qualify based on relative performance. However, this system can sometimes allow students with lower marks to qualify.

Currently, students must score at least 50% in Class 12 and qualify in NEET-UG through percentile rankings. Each year, over 20 lakh candidates appear for the exam, and around 10 lakh qualify.

The number of applicants is expected to increase further, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) likely to conduct NEET-UG 2026 on May 3, where registrations may cross 26 lakh.

Speaking to TOI, Dr Aruna Vanikar, former president of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) at NMC, informed , "The change is intended to ensure minimum academic competency among candidates. At present, eligibility is determined by percentile, where candidates qualify based on relative performance. This often allows even those with low marks to qualify if overall scores are low."

Explaining the rationale behind the shift, Vanikar said, "A percentage-based system would introduce a fixed cutoff based on actual marks. We proposed moving to a percentage. There is a possibility that it may be considered. With a percentage, the number of eligible candidates may come down, but the quality improves. Unlike the percentile system, where a fixed proportion qualifies each year, a percentage-based cutoff would mean eligibility varies depending on performance."

TOI sources said that "The proposal is being viewed as a move to ensure only candidates meeting a minimum benchmark enter the admission pool. If implemented, the shift could significantly shrink the number of eligible candidates, intensifying competition for limited seats. It would also push students to focus on achieving higher absolute scores, irrespective of exam difficulty."

The proposal is currently under consideration, and a final decision is awaited.

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