In an affidavit cited by LiveLaw, the Union of India said NEET-PG “is not to certify minimum competence,” stating that competence is already established through the MBBS degree. The entrance exam, it said, is meant to generate an inter se merit list for allocating limited postgraduate seats.
The submission comes in response to a writ petition challenging a January 13, 2026 notice issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. The notice reduced the minimum qualifying percentile for the third round of NEET-PG 2025-26 counselling.
Why the NEET-PG 2025 cut-off was reduced
According to the affidavit, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with the National Medical Commission, decided to lower the percentile after a large number of seats remained vacant.
For the 2025-26 academic session, around 70,000 postgraduate seats are available, according to LiveLaw reports. A total of 2,24,029 candidates appeared for the exam. Of the 31,742 seats under the All-India Quota, 9,621 were still vacant after Round 2. The government said 5,213 of those unfilled seats were in government medical colleges, including AIQ and DNB seats.
With the revised percentile, an additional 1,00,054 candidates became eligible for the third counselling round. This takes the total eligible pool to 2,28,170.
The Centre also noted that percentile reductions are not new. Since NEET-PG began in 2017, similar steps have been taken to prevent seat wastage. In 2023, the qualifying percentile was reduced to zero across categories.
Students are licenced MBBS doctors, says Centre
The affidavit stresses that all NEET-PG candidates are already licenced MBBS doctors. To earn that degree, students must complete 4.5 years of training across multiple medical disciplines, followed by a one-year compulsory rotating internship. They must secure at least 50% marks separately in theory and practical exams.
Addressing concerns over patient safety, the government said postgraduate trainees work under “constant supervision of senior faculty and specialists.” Final competence is assessed at the exit stage through MD/MS examinations, where candidates must again secure at least 50% in theory and practical components, without relaxation.
It also pointed out that NEET-PG uses negative marking. As a result, some candidates may score low, zero or even negative marks. Those scores reflect relative performance and exam design, the affidavit said, and cannot be treated as proof of clinical incompetence.
What the Centre said about vacant postgraduate seats and the percentile policy decision
The Centre further submitted that matters of policy are generally outside judicial review unless shown to be arbitrary or unconstitutional, according to LiveLaw.
Postgraduate seats, the affidavit added, represent significant national investment in infrastructure, faculty and hospital facilities. Leaving them vacant would waste resources and reduce specialist capacity.
Even after the percentile cut, seat allotment continues to be based on merit and candidate preference. After Round 3 of AIQ counselling, 2,988 seats remained vacant and will move to the next round.
The Centre has made its position clear. Expanding eligibility does not alter merit ranking, and it does not compromise standards.
