Supreme Court Scrutinizes NEET-PG 2026 Cut-off Reduction: "Concerned About Education Quality"
Supreme Court Questions "Zero Percentile" Move: "Satisfy Us on Quality," Tells Centre
On February 24, 2026, the Supreme Court of India expressed serious concerns regarding the Central Government's decision to drastically lower the qualifying cut-off for NEET-PG 2025-26. A bench of Justices noted that reducing the threshold virtually to "non-existence" could adversely affect the quality of postgraduate medical education in the country.
Revised NEET-PG 2025-26 Cut-off Comparison
| Category | Original (Percentile) | Revised (Percentile) | Revised Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th | 7th | 103 / 800 |
| General PwBD | 45th | 5th | 90 / 800 |
| SC / ST / OBC | 40th | 0th | -40 / 800 |
The Centre’s Defense
- All candidates are already qualified doctors with recognized MBBS degrees.
- Postgraduate training is a structured 3-year supervised program.
- The move was necessary to fill over 9,600 vacant seats to prevent wastage.
The Supreme Court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 24, 2026, requiring the Centre to provide a detailed justification for this reduction.
In summary, the court’s decision will determine whether filling vacant seats takes precedence over maintaining academic rigour for medical specialists in India.
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MonishMonish is an education writer covering exams, student rights, academic awareness, and other education-related topics, with practical guidance for students.