NEET-PG cut-off row: Exam doesn’t certify competence, says Centre; SC says will examine impact on quality | India News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court docket on Monday stated it will examine whether or not the sharp discount within the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2025-26 would have an effect on requirements in postgraduate medical schooling.Justice Narasimha noticed that whereas the Union was justified in stating that NEET-PG was not an entry-degree MBBS examination and that candidates are already certified docs, the court docket would nonetheless have to contemplate the impact of drastically reducing the cut-off.“Adversely affecting the quality of schooling is what we’re extra involved, greater than something. Greater than something, it’s concerning the quality. You will should fulfill us that the discount of the cutoff so drastically, nearly bringing it to zero and non-existence… Although you’re justified in saying that this isn’t like entry into MBBS, this is sort of a submit-commencement. It stands on a distinct footing as a result of those that apply are already docs. However nonetheless within the context of competitors, we will should replicate,” he stated.Defending its resolution, the Centre informed the court docket that NEET-PG didn’t certify minimal competence. “NEET-PG is to not certify minimal competence, which stands established by the MBBS qualification itself of the candidates however to generate an inter se advantage listing for allocation of restricted postgraduate seats,” the Union stated in its affidavit. It added that NEET-PG scores mirrored relative efficiency and examination design and “can’t be construed as determinative of medical incompetence”.The authorities additional stated issues about affected person security had been misplaced, as all candidates admitted to postgraduate programs are already licensed MBBS docs and are legally allowed to practise. Throughout postgraduate research, they work beneath fixed supervision of senior school.It additionally stated the choice to cut back the percentile was taken by the Ministry of Well being and Household Welfare and the Nationwide Medical Fee because of a big quantity of vacant seats. Round 70,000 postgraduate seats had been accessible for 2025-26, with over 2.24 lakh candidates showing. After Spherical 2, 9,621 all-India quota seats remained vacant.A plea has challenged a January 13, 2026 discover issued by the Nationwide Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences lowering the qualifying percentile for the third spherical of NEET-PG 2025-26 counselling.Below the revised standards, the minimal qualifying percentile for unreserved candidates was decreased from the fiftieth percentile to the seventh percentile. For unreserved individuals with disabilities candidates, it was decreased to the fifth percentile. For Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Different Backward Lessons candidates, the percentile was decreased to zero.