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The National Medical Commission (NMC) has given in-principle approval to a proposal to replace the existing percentile-based qualifying system for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) and NEET Super Speciality (NEET-SS) examinations with a rank-based merit system.

The proposed change could bring significant changes to postgraduate medical admissions, particularly following concerns over repeated reductions in qualifying cut-offs to fill vacant medical seats.

According to a LiveLaw report, the proposal was submitted to the Supreme Court on November 3, 2026, through a report prepared by a 12-member expert committee constituted on the court's recommendation. The committee has suggested that candidates' examination performance should be reflected through ranks rather than percentile scores.

The NMC is currently working on regulations to implement the proposed framework. Draft regulations will be prepared after consultations with relevant stakeholders. However, the new system has not yet been formally implemented, and the existing admission rules will remain applicable until further notification.

NEET-PG and NEET-SS Rank-Based Merit System: Key Highlights

• Regulatory Authority: National Medical Commission (NMC)

• Examinations: NEET-PG and NEET-SS

• Proposed Change: Replacement of percentile-based qualification with rank-based merit

• Committee: 12-member expert committee

• Report Submitted: November 3, 2026

• Court: Supreme Court of India

• Main Objective: Improve merit assessment and postgraduate medical admissions

• Counselling Authority: Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)

• Current Status: In-principle approval; regulations awaited

Supreme Court Examines Proposal After NEET-PG Cut-Off Controversy

The development follows a petition challenging the reduction of qualifying percentile requirements for NEET-PG 2025-26 admissions.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard the matter. The petition raised concerns about the substantial reduction in qualifying thresholds during the third round of NEET-PG counselling.

The court has adjourned the proceedings to examine the expert committee's recommendations and allow the concerned parties to submit their responses.

The proposed rank-based merit system comes amid repeated reductions in qualifying cut-offs to fill vacant postgraduate medical seats.

NEET-PG 2025-26: Category-Wise Qualifying Cut-Off Reduction

During the third round of NEET-PG 2025-26 counselling, the qualifying percentile was reduced significantly across different categories.

The changes reported were as follows:

• General and EWS: The qualifying requirement was reduced from the 50th percentile, corresponding to 276 marks, to the 7th percentile, corresponding to 103 marks.

• General PwBD: The qualifying threshold was lowered from the 45th percentile (255 marks) to the 5th percentile (90 marks).

• SC, ST and OBC: The qualifying requirement was reduced from the 40th percentile (235 marks) to zero percentile (-40 marks).

These reductions triggered concerns about the academic standards required for admission to postgraduate medical programmes.

Petitioners argued that allowing candidates with negative marks to qualify could affect the quality of medical education and raise concerns about patient safety.

The expert committee has also recommended that qualifying requirements should not be relaxed to an extent that candidates with extremely poor or negative examination performance become eligible for postgraduate medical seats.

NEET-PG Counselling May See Changes in Admission Timelines

Apart from recommending a rank-based merit system, the expert committee has proposed several measures to improve postgraduate medical counselling and reduce vacant seats.

The recommendations include:

• Reduced gaps between counselling rounds: The time between successive counselling rounds should be shortened to make the admission process more efficient.

• Fixed examination and admission schedules: A predictable timetable should be established for examinations and postgraduate admissions.

• Verified seat information: Medical colleges may be required to submit verified details of available seats before counselling begins.

• Digital counselling: The Medical Counselling Committee is working towards a more digitised counselling process with minimal human intervention.

• Improved transparency: The proposed changes aim to reduce procedural discrepancies and improve accountability in seat allocation.

These measures are intended to make postgraduate medical admissions more organised and transparent.

MCC May Introduce Freeze and Float Options

The proposed changes to the MCC counselling portal also include two options for candidates: Freeze and Float.

These options are intended to provide candidates with greater flexibility during the seat-allotment process.

1. Freeze Option

Under the Freeze option, candidates who accept their allotted seats will confirm their admission and be required to physically report to the respective medical institution as instructed.

2. Float Option

Candidates selecting the Float option will be able to accept their allotted seats online while retaining the opportunity to participate in subsequent counselling rounds for possible seat upgradation.

The proposed mechanism is expected to simplify the counselling process and give candidates more flexibility when considering available postgraduate medical seats.

Committee Recommends Fee Relief for Non-Clinical PG Courses

The expert committee has also recommended measures to encourage medical graduates to choose preclinical and paraclinical postgraduate specialities.

These courses often receive less preference than clinical specialities, resulting in vacant seats in several postgraduate medical programmes.

The proposed recommendations include:

• Reducing fees for non-clinical postgraduate medical courses.

• Exempting candidates pursuing preclinical and paraclinical courses from service bond requirements.

• Introducing measures to make these specialities more attractive to medical graduates.

The recommendations aim to improve admissions to less-preferred postgraduate specialities and address the issue of vacant medical seats.

NMC Regulations Awaited on Proposed NEET-PG Merit System

The expert committee's recommendations have been placed before the Supreme Court, while the NMC has given in-principle approval to the proposed rank-based merit framework.

However, the regulatory process is still underway. The commission is expected to prepare draft regulations after consulting relevant stakeholders.

If implemented, the proposed system could change how merit is assessed in NEET-PG and NEET-SS admissions. It may also influence qualifying requirements and the broader postgraduate medical counselling process.

For now, candidates should continue following the existing examination and counselling guidelines. Any change in merit calculation, qualifying criteria or seat-allotment procedures will become applicable only after the competent authorities issue formal notifications.

Source – NMC Proposes Rank Instead of Percentile System for Admission to PG, SS Courses