New Delhi: A steep reduce in NEET-PG qualifying requirements has led to postgraduate medical seats in govt colleges being crammed at shockingly low scores – together with in high-risk medical specialties – triggering alarm throughout the medical fraternity, studies Anuja Jaiswal.
The affect was stark in third-round PG counselling, the place candidates secured seats in govt medical colleges with scores starting from single digits to double digits, spanning each medical and non-clinical disciplines. Even premier establishments and core medical branches noticed seats being allotted to candidates with such scores.
An MS orthopaedics seat at a govt institute in Rohtak was allotted to a candidate with simply 4 marks out of 800, whereas obstetrics and gynaecology at a premier Delhi medical faculty went to a candidate who scored 44 marks. A normal surgical procedure seat was crammed at 47 marks.
Eradicating cut-offs altogether dangers affected person security, says doc
This indicators a severe breakdown in medical training and workforce planning,” stated a senior school member at a govt medical faculty. “Orthopaedics has historically been among the many most demanding surgical specialties. Filling it at near-zero scores is an indication not of weaker college students however a system underneath extreme pressure.”
This occurred following the sharp decreasing of NEET-PG qualifying requirements by Union well being ministry for the 2025–26 educational session, with drastically decreased cut-offs throughout classes permitting candidates with extraordinarily low — and even adverse — scores to qualify.
The impact was seen throughout disciplines. Seats have been crammed at 10 marks in transfusion medication, 11 marks in anatomy, and minus 8 marks in biochemistry, many underneath reserved and PwD classes. Whereas the revised cut-offs ensured that seats didn’t stay vacant, docs warn the coverage dangers buying and selling competence for comfort.
“Permitting surgical and medical branches to be crammed at zero or near-zero percentile represents a severe erosion of requirements,” stated a senior physician at a govt medical faculty. “Marks as little as 4, 11, 44 or 47 out of 800 level to an absence of fundamental aptitude. Eradicating cut-offs altogether straight dangers affected person security.”
The present coverage marks a pointy shift from govt’s earlier stand. In July 2022, opposing a plea to decrease NEET-PG cut-offs in Delhi HC, Centre had argued that minimal qualifying percentiles have been important to take care of training requirements. The courtroom agreed, warning that decreasing medical training requirements might “wreak havoc on society”, as medication concerned issues of life and demise.
Defending the current framework, a senior well being ministry official stated PG seats are allotted strictly underneath revised eligibility guidelines, and competence is meant to be ensured by coaching and exit exams, not entry cut-offs alone. Colleges are licensed by regulators and are answerable for failing unsuitable candidates, the official stated.
Medical educators, nonetheless, say the development displays deeper structural issues — fast seat enlargement with no matching rise in skilled school, overcrowded lecture rooms and eroding bedside expertise. “With out sturdy school, sturdy exit exams and a system to weed out unsuitable candidates, anybody who enters medication finally will get a level,” stated a senior academician.
College members say the implications are already seen. Many postgraduate college students arrive with out sturdy theoretical foundations, medical expertise or self-discipline. Strain to move college students, weak exit mechanisms and over-reliance on on-line studying have additional diluted coaching high quality.
“Simple entry has decreased seriousness even at top establishments,” stated one other physician on situation of anonymity. “Numbers are rising, however coaching high quality is falling — and that poses long-term dangers to affected person care.”
Docs warning that the department of drugs doesn’t reveal its failures instantly. Gaps in coaching at present could floor years later, when these docs practise independently — with severe implications for affected person security and public belief in the healthcare system.
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