Rank-based merit list to replace percentile for NEET PG: Panel to SC

NEW DELHI: Medical postgraduate admissions could see a major change, with the National Medical Commission (NMC) giving in-principle approval to replace the existing percentile-based system with a rank-based system for NEET-PG and NEET-Super Speciality (SS) counselling.A 12-member expert committee constituted to review the NEET-PG admission and counselling process told Supreme Court in its report on Tuesday that the commission is working on a new regulation under which only ranks would be declared and percentile marks would no longer be specified.The proposal received in-principle approval at the NMC's meeting on Sept 23, according to a letter dated Oct 1, 2026, from the NMC secretary to the director general of health services (DGHS). The commission is yet to finalise the regulation.SC is examining various petitions challenging Centre's decision to drastically reduce the qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025. Under revised criteria, the qualifying score for general category was reduced from 276 to 103, while that for SC/ST/OBC categories was brought down from 235 to minus 40.The report was filed after detailed deliberations and consideration of suggestions made by senior advocate Maninder Singh, who is assisting the Supreme Court as amicus curiae."NMC is in process of issuing new regulations, which are yet to be finalised wherein only rank-based system for NEET PG & SS counselling will be adopted; no percentile marks will be declared in results; only ranks will be given to candidates. A letter dated Oct 1 has been written by secretary, NMC to DGHS informing proposal for changing existing percentile-based system to a rank-based merit system for NEET-PG and NEET-SS which is under consideration by the Commission. The panel has accorded in-principle approval for proposed change with a view to address the issues arising from the existing system," the report said.On reduction of minimum qualification, the report said, "sanctity of NEET examinations should be maintained and minimum qualifying standards in postgraduate medical education is not diluted to the extent of permitting candidates with grossly inadequate or negative performance to become eligible for admission; the significance of competitive examinations should not be reduced to an administrative formality."It also suggested that there should be no salary discrimination between residents of clinical and non-clinical branches and incentives should be given to doctors to work in rural areas.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.