Tamil Nadu Doctors Association Voices Strong Opposition to NEET PG 2025 Cut-Off Changes
The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association has come out strongly against a recent decision by the National Board of Examinations. The board plans to reduce the qualifying cut-offs for NEET PG 2025 to zero percentile for certain categories. This move comes just ahead of the third round of counselling for postgraduate medical seats.
What Does Zero Percentile Mean for Candidates?
Setting the cut-off at zero percentile effectively means candidates from SC, ST, and OBC categories could qualify with scores as low as negative forty marks. Association officials express deep concern over this development. They argue it threatens the core principles of merit-based selection in medical education.
Dr K Senthil, the president of the association, explained the situation clearly. He pointed out a key difference between undergraduate and postgraduate exams. "Lakhs of students appear for the undergraduate NEET," Dr Senthil said. "But for PG courses, the seat-to-candidate ratio is much tighter, roughly one seat for every three applicants."
Defending Meritocracy and Patient Safety
The association firmly believes cut-off scores must stay at reasonable levels. They insist this is crucial even if some postgraduate seats remain unfilled. "Maintaining standard thresholds protects meritocracy," Dr Senthil emphasized. "More importantly, it safeguards patient safety by ensuring only qualified doctors advance."
He linked the issue of vacant seats directly to financial barriers. Many high-scoring candidates simply cannot afford the steep fees charged by private medical colleges. This often leaves seats empty despite qualified applicants.
Fears Over Private College Admissions
The doctors worry the lowered cut-offs will primarily benefit private institutions. These colleges could then fill their seats with any eligible candidate, regardless of academic performance. Dr Senthil stated this outcome would defeat the entire purpose of the NEET examination system.
"The NEET exam exists to standardize entry and ensure quality," he added. "Drastically reducing cut-offs undermines that goal."
Official Justification and a Proposed Solution
Officials from the National Board of Examinations have defended their decision. They claim the change will not harm meritorious candidates. High-scoring students, they argue, will not be placed below lower-scoring peers in private colleges if they can pay the fees.
However, the Tamil Nadu doctors association proposes a different path forward. They have called for the complete removal of negative marking in future NEET PG exams. This step, they believe, would significantly reduce stress for candidates without compromising on selection standards.
The debate highlights a growing tension in India's medical education landscape. Balancing seat fill rates with academic rigor and equitable access remains a complex challenge for policymakers and educators alike.
