Negative, single digit scorers allotted MD, MS seats! Doctors decry NEET PG 2025 cutoff

New Delhi: The release of the NEET PG third-round counselling allotments has sparked a nationwide debate, as candidates with negative and single-digit scores secured postgraduate seats in government medical colleges. Medical professionals across the nation have raised concerns that such low marks indicate poor basic medical knowledge and fear that their admission could compromise specialist training and patient safety.

At a time when doctors are already worried that the minimum qualifying standards for NEET-PG have been reduced too much, the fact that candidates with extremely low and even negative scores are getting MD and MS seats in reputed medical colleges has further increased their concerns about the future of medical education in India.

Meanwhile, a list of around 9 such candidates who have allotted postgraduate medical seats despite scoring very low, including negative and single-digit marks out of 800, has gone viral on social media. According to the counselling list that has gone viral on social media, candidates with scores such as -12, -8, -5, 4, 10, and 11 secured seats in branches such as Physiology, Biochemistry, Orthopaedics, General Medicine, OBGYN, and General Surgery at different medical colleges across India.

Among the most cited cases, an MS Orthopaedics seat at a government medical college in Rohtak was allotted to a candidate who scored just 4 marks out of 800. At a government medical college in Tamil Nadu a Physiology seat was allotted to a candidate with minus 12 score, while a premier Delhi medical institution, has seen an Obstetrics and Gynaecology seat go to a candidate with 44 marks, and a General Surgery seat was filled at 47 marks.

What has become concerning is that these candidates were allotted postgraduate seats in not just non-clinical courses, but also include core clinical and surgical branches that are considered the backbone of the medical field.

The situation follows the NBE's decision to sharply lower the NEET-PG qualifying percentiles for the 2025–26 academic session, allowing candidates with extremely low, and in some cases negative, scores to participate in counselling.

NBE in a notice dated 13.01.2026, reduced the minimum qualifying percentile cut-off for counselling of the third round of National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2025-2026 for various categories of candidates. As per the revised qualifying percentiles for NEET-PG 2025, for the academic session 2025-2026, for the General/EWS, General PwBD, SC/ST/OBC(Including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC) categories, the revised qualifying cut-off is 7th, 5th, and 0th percentile, respectively. Therefore, the revised cut-off score after lowering the cut-off percentile is 103 for General/EWS, 90 for General PwBD, and -40 for SC/ST/OBC(Including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC) categories, respectively.

Reaction from the medical fraternity

While doctors admit that empty seats are a problem, they believe the solution should not be lowering standards to an extreme level that could jeopardise the safety of patients.

According to them, postgraduate medical education is not just the next academic step; it is advanced clinical training where doctors learn to perform surgeries, handle ICU cases, and make life-saving decisions. If students who do not have strong basic knowledge enter these courses, it could affect the quality of specialist training and, in the long run, patient safety.

Expressing deep concern over the recent developments in NEET-PG counselling, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences to look into the matter.

The association said, while we acknowledge the administrative challenge of vacant postgraduate seats, especially in certain institutions, the decision to reduce eligibility thresholds to such unprecedented levels raises serious questions regarding academic standards, meritocracy, and long-term patient safety.

"Postgraduate medical training is not merely an academic progression; it is advanced clinical specialization that directly impacts human lives. Entry benchmarks exist to ensure minimum demonstrated competency. When these benchmarks are diluted beyond reasonable limits, it risks undermining public trust in the medical education system," said the association.

Therefore, they urged the government and NBE to maintain a rational and scientifically justified minimum qualifying standard, conduct a transparent review of the factors leading to large seat vacancies and engage medical associations, educators, and public health experts in policy reform discussions.

Demanding the same, Dr Rohan Krishnan, Chief Patron of FAIMA, in a post on 'X' said, "Postgraduate medical training determines who will operate, manage ICUs & make life-saving decisions!! In the current #NEETPG counselling cycle, qualifying cut-offs were reduced to unprecedented levels — with extremely low and even negative scores reportedly becoming eligible for seat allotment!! Vacant seats are a policy challenge — but minimum demonstrated competency cannot be compromised!! India deserves specialists selected on merit and trained with integrity!!"

Similarly, the United Doctors Front (UDF) also shared similar concerns. UDF National President Dr Lakshya Mittal said, "This is the real downfall of medical education in Bharat. The results have revealed a deep, disturbing reality. These candidates will become the future surgeons and specialists of the country. The outcome also indicates that this policy is largely benefiting private medical colleges, where seat filling appears to be taking precedence over merit."

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson IMA MSN, said, "A candidate scoring in negatives is not even close to basics of his medical education and has higher chances of risking patient lives. The clinical seats, including Gynae ortho medicin,e are being sold in crores which is Absolutely mockery of healthcare education. Would you be comfortable in getting treated by someone who scored in the negatives for your family member ?"

Also read- Must be no 'devious reason': Supreme Court directs NBE to explain NEET PG 2025 reduced cutoff

Compromise on Standards?

Medical dialogues recently reported that the MoS Health recently stated in the Parliament that the Government reduced the qualifying percentile for eligibility to NEET PG Counselling 2025 to ensure precious PG medical seats do not remain vacant.

However, several doctors have warned that such a drastic reduction may drastically affect academic standards and could impact patient safety.

According to the doctors, the MD and MS fields require strong basic knowledge, quick decision-making skills, and early hands-on training. In branches like Orthopaedics and other surgical specialities, the doctors pointed out that there is very little scope to make up for weak academic foundations once the course begins.

With these exceptionally low and negative marks, medical experts fear that this could be the downfall of the medical community.

In this regard, Dr Mittal said, "Candidates with negative scores out of 800 have been allotted MD and MS seats, even in premier institutions. These will be the future surgeons and specialists of this country, raising serious concerns about merit and patient safety. The outcome also indicates that this policy is largely benefiting private medical colleges, where seat filling appears to be taking precedence over merit. With state counselling 3rd round & stray rounds still pending, the situation may worsen. Hoping that the Supreme Court will deliver justice through our PIL."

Expressing strong anger over the issue, a doctor in a post on X alleged that lowering the qualifying standards has compromised merit and patient safety, calling it a failure of the system. In the post, the doctor claimed that merit has been “murdered” and medical standards have been weakened, arguing that such decisions could have serious consequences for the future of healthcare in the country.

PIL pending before the Supreme Court

The matter has also reached the Supreme Court, where Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging the decision are currently pending. The Supreme Court of India recently asked the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to file an affidavit explaining why it sharply reduced the qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET PG 2025, stating that the Court must be satisfied that the decision was not taken for any 'devious reason'.

Questioning the basis of the Board’s decision, the Division Bench of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe observed that the issue requires balancing two important concerns. The Bench stated that, on the one hand, there is a concern that medical seats should not remain vacant, while on the other hand, lowering standards excessively may compromise the quality of postgraduate medical education.

United Doctors Front (UDF) National President Dr. Lakshya Mittal, along with others, approached the Apex Court of India seeking directions to quash the NBEMS notification and issue directions to restore and protect minimum qualifying standards in postgraduate medical education, calling the "arbitrary and unprecedented reduction of qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025–26, including zero and negative scores".

The PIL, registered as Diary No. 3085/2026, has been filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India through Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, along with Advocate Adarsh Singh and Advocate-on-Record Neema.

Also read- Doctors' body files plea in Supreme Court challenging NEET PG 2025 reduced cutoff percentile