Doctors demand NEET SS Counselling 2025 cutoff reduction, round 3 clarity

New Delhi: Ahead of the Round 2 allotment for NEET SS 2025 counselling, a doctors' body has requested the Union Health Ministry to direct the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to reduce the qualifying cutoff before the counselling and clearly announce whether a third round or stray vacancy round will be conducted.

In a representation to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 15.04.2026, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), which represents the collective voice of resident doctors across India, said candidates are worried not just about whether the cut-off will be reduced, but when the decision will be communicated. The association pointed out that the current NEET SS 2025 counselling guidelines mention only two rounds, with no clarity on a third round or stray vacancy round.

The association said that if these seats remain unaddressed, it will result in large-scale wastage of super speciality seats, a situation detrimental to both medical education and public health in the country.

Highlighting past reduction over the years, FORDA said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) have consistently reduced the cut-off percentile when seats remained vacant post counselling round.

The association explained the pattern. In 2022 and 2023, the reduction of 20 percent was done before the second or special round, while in 2024, the cut-off was brought down to zero, and a third round was conducted. However, for 2025, no such reduction has been announced so far, and the announcement of the third round is not mentioned in the guidelines.

"This clearly demonstrates that cut-off reduction is not an exception but a predictable, necessary, and expected policy measure to ensure optimal utilisation of super speciality seats. In 2022 and 2023, this reduction was carried out proactively, before the second/special round, enabling candidates to plan their participation accordingly. In 2024, a third round was conducted with the cut-off reduced to zero," FORDA said.

Core Grievance

Putting forward the grievances of the candidates, FORDA emphasised that candidates' concern is not merely about whether a cut-off reduction will happen, but about when it is communicated.

"The NEET SS 2025 counselling guidelines mention only two rounds, with no provision for a third round or stray vacancy round — creating a fundamentally unjust situation," it said.

The association said that if a third round is planned, it should have been disclosed in the prospectus itself, as candidates have already made critical and often irreversible decisions on seat preferences and upgrade options without this information, which compromises the fairness of the process.

Similarly, it stated that if no third round is planned, the cut-off reduction must be implemented before the Round 2 allotment, in line with the 2022 and 2023 precedent, to ensure that seats do not go vacant when they can still be filled.

In the representation, FORDA submitted that timely and clear communication regarding the cut-off policy and number of counselling rounds is essential to ensure that candidates can make informed decisions, in keeping with the standards of fairness and transparency befitting a national examination of this stature.

Specific Demands

FORDA has asked the Ministry to direct the MCC and NBEMS to reduce the cut-off before Round 2 allotment, in line with the 2022 and 2023 precedents. It also sought immediate clarification on whether a third round or a stray vacancy round will be conducted.

"If a third round or stray vacancy round is planned, it must be officially notified at the earliest so that candidates can make informed decisions during Round 2. Retroactive announcement after Round 2 is both unfair and contrary to established practice," it said.

Further, FORDA demanded that all eligible candidates, including those who opted "No" for upgradation in Round 1, should be allowed to participate in Round 2, especially since new seats have been added. It also called for unfilled Tamil Nadu state quota seats to be shifted to the All India Quota before Round 2 to ensure maximum seat utilisation.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Meet Ghonia, General Secretary FORDA, said, "Lack of transparency and delay in cut-off reduction for NEET SS 2025 is risking large-scale seat wastage and unfair outcomes for candidates. Established norms must be followed, and the cut-off should be reduced before Round 2 with clear, advanced communication. We urge authorities to act immediately to protect merit and ensure no super speciality seat goes vacant."

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