Last Updated:November 04, 2026, 12:31 IST

The recommendation to move to rank-based admission system comes amid concerns over the reduction of qualifying cut-offs during NEET-PG counselling.

The Supreme Court is examining the committee’s recommendations. (File Photo)

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has given in-principle approval to a proposal to replace the percentile-based merit system with a rank-based system for admission to postgraduate (NEET-PG) and super-speciality (NEET-SS) medical courses. The proposal is aimed at changing how candidates are ranked for admission and addressing concerns surrounding the existing qualifying and counselling process.

According to a report by LiveLaw, a 12-member expert committee submitted its report to the Supreme Court on November 3, recommending that merit lists for NEET-PG and NEET-SS be prepared on the basis of candidates’ ranks. Under the proposed system, results would indicate candidates’ ranks rather than percentiles.

However, the change has not yet been formally implemented. The NMC is expected to prepare draft regulations and invite comments from stakeholders before taking the proposal forward. The final rules and their implementation timeline are yet to be announced.

The recommendation comes amid concerns over the reduction of qualifying cut-offs during NEET-PG counselling.

In the 2025 admission cycle, the cut-off was lowered during later counselling rounds to fill vacant seats, raising questions about the eligibility criteria and minimum standards for postgraduate medical admissions. The admission cutoff marks was lowered to zero percentile or minus 40 marks for SC, ST, and OBC candidates to fill up the vacant seats.

The expert committee has reportedly emphasised that the system should maintain minimum academic standards and should not allow candidates with inadequate or negative scores to qualify.

The committee has also reportedly suggested other changes to the PG medical admission process. These include reducing fees for non-clinical courses, reviewing service-bond requirements for pre-clinical and para-clinical seats, and addressing differences in stipends between clinical and non-clinical residents.

The Supreme Court is examining the committee’s recommendations. Until the NMC finalises and notifies the regulations, the existing admission framework remains in place. Candidates should refer to official NMC and National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) notices for confirmed updates.

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What changes are proposed for NEET PG and NEET SS admission merit lists?

The National Medical Commission has given in-principle approval to replace the existing percentile-based merit system with a rank-based system for postgraduate and super-speciality medical admissions. Under this recommendation submitted by a 12-member expert committee, results would indicate candidates’ actual exam ranks rather than percentiles.

Why is the expert committee recommending changes to the NEET PG admission process?

The recommendation follows concerns regarding the lowering of qualifying cut-offs during counselling in previous admission cycles to fill vacant seats, which raised questions about minimum academic standards. The committee emphasized that the new framework should maintain standards and prevent candidates with inadequate or negative scores from qualifying.

What additional changes have been suggested for postgraduate medical admissions alongside the rank system?

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The expert committee also proposed reducing fees for non-clinical postgraduate courses, reviewing service-bond requirements for pre-clinical and para-clinical seats, and addressing stipend discrepancies between clinical and non-clinical residents.

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