NEET-PG 2025 Negative Cut-off: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the reduction in the qualifying cut-off percentile for NEET PG 2025-26. The matter will be heard this Friday, February 6, 2026. The petition questions the validity of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) notification dated January 13, 2026, which lowered the minimum qualifying percentile to significantly lower marks, including zero and negative scores.
The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, was heard by the Supreme Court after being listed for preliminary consideration. The bench heard the matter, noting concerns regarding vacant postgraduate medical seats, and directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to appear during the next hearing on Friday.
What is the NEET-PG 2025 Cut-off Controversy?
This issue concerns the qualifying cut-off announced for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2025-26 counselling. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which is primarily responsible for conducting the seat allocation and admission process after the NEET-PG exam is conducted by NBEMS, has lowered the minimum percentile requirements across all categories; a move that students and members of the medical community have criticised as a departure from the qualifying standards traditionally applied for postgraduate medical admissions.
