NMC Considers Introducing Percentage-Based Cutoff System for NEET UG Admissions

A major overhaul in NEET-UG admissions is under consideration, with a proposal to replace the current percentile-based eligibility system with a percentage-based model. Submitted to the National Medical Commission, the plan recommends that admissions to medical and dental colleges be determined by actual marks instead of relative rankings. Dr Aruna Vanikar noted that the change aims to ensure minimum academic competency, as the existing percentile system can allow candidates with low scores to qualify if overall performance trends lower in a given year, reports Economic Times.

Currently, over 20 lakh candidates appear for NEET-UG annually, with nearly half qualifying, raising concerns about the size and quality of the eligible pool. A percentage-based cutoff would introduce a fixed benchmark, potentially reducing the number of qualified candidates while improving standards. With the National Testing Agency set to conduct NEET-UG 2026 on May 3 and registrations expected to exceed 26 lakh, the reform could intensify competition and shift preparation strategies toward maximizing absolute scores rather than improving relative rank.