Medical Community Outraged as NEET PG 2025 Cut-Off Hits Zero Percentile
The medical community is expressing strong outrage over the recent announcement for NEET PG 2025. Authorities have reduced the qualifying cut-off to zero percentile for reserved categories. This decision effectively means candidates scoring as low as minus 40 marks can now qualify for postgraduate medical seats.
Not the First Time for Negative Scores
This controversial move is not unprecedented. In 2023, the Medical Counselling Committee similarly lowered the cut-off to zero percentile for all categories. At that time, the equivalent score was also minus 40. However, the committee did not openly disclose this equivalence during their announcement.
Analysis of NEET scores revealed the reality. Zero percentile meant that fourteen candidates with zero marks qualified. Thirteen candidates with negative marks also made the cut. The candidate with the lowest score of minus 40 out of 800 marks qualified as well.
Current Statistics Show Similar Pattern
The 2025 scenario mirrors the 2023 situation. Currently, 126 candidates have scored zero or less in their NEET PG exams. Zero percentile indicates that these candidates represent the lowest scoring group. One candidate has again received the lowest possible score of minus 40.
Government's Previous Stance Contradicts Current Action
Interestingly, the government took a completely different position in July 2022. Three students had filed a petition seeking lower cut-offs. The government responded in court with a clear statement. They emphasized that maintaining minimum qualifying percentiles was essential. This requirement ensured minimum educational standards for professional courses.
The court considered the government's argument carefully. They ultimately dismissed the petition. The ruling emphasized that lowering medical education standards involved matters of life and death. Medical professionals must maintain certain competencies to protect public health.
Official Justifications and Regular Practice
In 2023, government officials provided justification for their decision. They described the zero percentile cut-off as a one-time measure. The goal was to fill vacant postgraduate seats that remained unoccupied. However, this temporary solution has now become a regular feature.
Every year, cut-offs are being lowered to increasingly abysmal levels. This pattern raises serious questions about educational standards and selection processes.
Broader Context of Medical Admissions
Approximately two lakh to two point three lakh students appear for NEET PG annually. They compete for over seventy thousand postgraduate seats. This includes about fifty-seven thousand MD and MS seats. The remaining seats are for DNB and PG diploma programs.
Despite this competition, many seats in private medical colleges remain vacant. The primary reason is exorbitant fee structures. Clinical subjects in numerous private institutions charge fees running into crores. Most candidates cannot afford these astronomical amounts.
Commercial Considerations Take Priority
Lowering the cut-off significantly expands the pool of qualified candidates. This increases the chances of finding candidates with substantial financial resources. These individuals can afford private college fees regardless of their academic performance.
Dr. PV Ramesh, former principal health secretary of Andhra Pradesh, strongly criticized this approach. He tweeted that lowering NEET PG qualifying marks to such levels is driven solely by commercial considerations. This decision effectively reserves postgraduate medical seats for the wealthy in private medical colleges.
Dr. Ramesh described these institutions as commercial fiefdoms. He called the situation shameful and demanded condemnation as unadulterated corruption. His comments reflect growing concerns about the commercialization of medical education.
Implications for Medical Education Quality
The ongoing reduction of qualifying standards has serious implications. Medical education requires rigorous training and high competency levels. Doctors handle critical health situations where knowledge directly impacts patient outcomes.
When selection criteria drop to accepting negative scores, questions arise about future medical professionals' capabilities. The medical community continues to debate whether filling seats should compromise educational standards.
