Supreme Court Asks NBEMS to Explain Large Drop in NEET-PG 2025-26 Cut-Offs
On Friday, the Supreme Court directed the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to explain its decision to significantly lower the qualifying marks for NEET-PG 2025-26.
A bench consisting of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe ordered NBEMS to file a formal statement (affidavit). The court has scheduled the next hearing for two weeks from now.
Finding a Balance in Medical Education
The court noted the difficulty in balancing seat availability with educational standards. The judges observed that while they want to ensure medical seats do not go to waste, there is also pressure to lower cut-offs when candidates do not apply.
“The argument will be that standards are being lowered, while the counter-argument is that seats are being wasted. A balance must be found,” the bench remarked during the proceedings.
Concerns Over Lowering Standards
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, argued that marks for postgraduate medical admissions should not be lowered except for very specific reasons. He emphasized that standards for PG medical education must remain strict.
This follows a previous move by the court on February 4, when it issued notices to the Union of India, NBEMS, and the National Medical Commission regarding this issue.
Details of the Cut-Off Reduction
The NBEMS recently lowered the qualifying scores because more than 18,000 postgraduate medical seats remained vacant across India. The changes include:
- Reserved Categories: The cut-off was reduced from the 40th percentile to zero. This change could allow candidates with very low scores to participate in the third round of counseling.
- General Category: The cut-off was reduced from the 50th percentile to the 7th percentile.
The Legal Challenge
The Supreme Court is hearing this case following a petition filed by social worker Harisharan Devgan and several doctors. They argue that reducing the cut-offs violates constitutional rights under Article 14 and Article 21.
The petitioners claim that eligibility rules should not be changed after the selection process has already started. They noted that students prepared and made career plans based on the original qualifying marks. Furthermore, the petition states that medical education should not be treated as a business and that authorities must prevent the lowering of professional standards.
Also Read : Rupee Hits 90.70 Against US Dollar After 36 Paise Drop
