January 14, 2026
The decision to reduce the qualifying cut-off scores for NEET-PG 2025 has drawn strong objections from national medical associations, following a notification issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on 13 January 2026.
According to the NBEMS notice, issued on the directions of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the minimum qualifying percentiles for participation in the third round of NEET-PG 2025–26 counselling have been reduced across categories. The revised criteria allow eligibility at the 7th percentile for General/EWS candidates, 5th percentile for General PwBD, and 0th percentile for SC/ST/OBC candidates, with the corresponding cut-off score for the latter category being minus 40 marks out of 800.
NBEMS clarified that there is no change in NEET-PG 2025 ranks as declared on 19 August 2025 and that candidature remains subject to eligibility verification as per the NEET-PG Information Bulletin.
FORDA Raises Concerns on Merit and Training Standards
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA), in a letter addressed to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare dated 14 January 2026, expressed “profound dismay and disappointment” over the reduction of cut-off scores.
FORDA stated that NEET-PG is intended to ensure merit-based entry into postgraduate medical education and that the sudden lowering of qualifying criteria, without stated academic justification or stakeholder consultation, undermines the credibility of the examination process. The association highlighted that aspirants prepare for years to meet qualifying standards and that such revisions adversely affect confidence in the system.
The letter further stated that diluted qualifying thresholds raise concerns regarding the quality of postgraduate medical training and may affect public trust in the medical profession.
FAIMA Demands Withdrawal of Notification
Separately, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) also objected to the NBEMS notification through a formal representation dated 14 January 2026.
FAIMA described the reduction of the cut-off to zero percentile as unprecedented and stated that permitting candidates with negative marks to qualify for postgraduate medical education cannot be justified on academic or ethical grounds. The association expressed concern regarding implications for patient safety and public health, particularly in teaching and government hospitals.
FAIMA urged the Government of India to withdraw the notification and restore a merit-based qualifying cut-off. The association also stated that it may initiate nationwide protests if corrective action is not taken.
Call for Review
Both FORDA and FAIMA have sought intervention from the Union Health Ministry and have requested a review of the revised cut-off decision in the interest of maintaining standards in postgraduate medical education.