The Supreme Court has taken notice of a PIL challenging the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences’ decision to significantly lower the qualifying cut-off percentiles for the NEET-PG 2025–26 exam. The Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe has asked for responses from various authorities and scheduled further hearings for February 6. The PIL questions the drastic reduction in cut-offs to extremely low, zero, and negative levels post-results and counseling rounds.
The petition highlights that the cut-off percentiles for General, EWS, SC, ST, and OBC candidates were reduced substantially, allowing even negative scores for some categories. It argues that this reduction is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and violates constitutional articles, posing risks to patient safety and medical education integrity. The move is criticized for diluting merit in medical education and converting NEET-PG into a certification of failure as eligibility.
The petitioners also challenge the alteration of rules mid-selection process, emphasizing the need to maintain professional standards in medical education. They seek the quashing of the notification and restoration of constitutionally acceptable qualifying standards to uphold patient safety and the rule of law.
