NEET-PG Cut-Off Drastically Reduced in Karnataka, Registration Surge Follows
In a significant development for medical education, Karnataka has witnessed a substantial increase in registrations for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses following a dramatic reduction in the qualifying percentile. Official data reveals that 2,357 additional students have registered for NEET-PG counseling in the state after the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences implemented sweeping changes to the cut-off criteria.
Revised Percentile Thresholds Spark Controversy
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has implemented unprecedented reductions across all candidate categories. For general and economically weaker section candidates, the qualifying percentile has been slashed from the 50th percentile (276 marks out of 800) to just the 7th percentile (103 marks). This represents one of the most substantial reductions in recent medical examination history.
For general candidates with benchmark disabilities, the threshold has been lowered even further—from the 45th percentile (255 marks) down to the 5th percentile (90 marks). Most controversially, for candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, the cut-off has been reduced to zero percentile, theoretically allowing students with negative scores as low as -40 marks out of 800 to qualify for postgraduate medical courses.
Registration Numbers and Seat Availability
Prior to these changes, Karnataka had recorded 14,400 student registrations for NEET-PG counseling. The revised cut-offs have prompted an additional 2,357 registrations, bringing the total to 16,757 aspiring medical professionals vying for postgraduate positions. Across the state, there are 4,823 postgraduate medical seats available, including 1,645 seats specifically allocated for the third round of counseling.
Supreme Court Intervention and Quality Concerns
The Supreme Court of India has announced it will examine whether these dramatically lowered cut-offs might compromise the quality of medical education in the country. This judicial review comes amid growing concerns from various quarters about the potential impact on educational standards.
While many educators and medical professionals have expressed apprehension about the qualifications of students admitted under these new parameters, others argue the reductions are necessary to address the persistent problem of vacant postgraduate seats in medical institutions.
Divergent Perspectives from Education Experts
"NEET-PG serves as a competitive examination designed to establish inter se merit order among candidates," explained one prominent educationist. "Therefore, reducing the percentile threshold is acceptable as long as vacant seats need to be filled. However, a broader debate is required about whether NEET-PG should even exist in its current form."
The educationist further noted: "The National Medical Commission had previously proposed implementing a national exit test intended to standardize final examinations and teaching methodologies, potentially replacing NEET-PG entirely. Unfortunately, this initiative has been postponed indefinitely for unspecified reasons."
Medical College Administrators Voice Practical Concerns
A chairman of a prominent medical college provided insight into the ground realities: "Despite these significant percentile reductions, pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects continue to experience substantial vacancy rates. While overall student intake has increased considerably, most candidates still prefer clinical specialties, leaving foundational medical disciplines underfilled."
The administrator added a provocative perspective: "Perhaps we should consider eliminating cut-offs entirely in future years. The current situation resembles a white elephant—these vacant seats create enormous financial burdens for medical colleges due to the substantial operational costs involved in maintaining educational infrastructure for unfilled positions."
This ongoing debate between ensuring adequate medical professional supply and maintaining educational quality standards continues to evolve, with the Supreme Court's forthcoming examination likely to shape future medical education policies across India.
