NEET PG 2026 cut-off lowest in 6 years: Experts explain the big drop

The NEET PG 2026 results were declared on September 24, giving lakhs of medical graduates their ranks and scores, but one number immediately stood out: the qualifying cut-off.For General and EWS candidates, the cut-off is now 262 marks, corresponding to the 50th percentile. It is 244 marks for General PwBD candidates and 226 for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates from these categories.That makes 2026 particularly notable when the qualifying scores are placed alongside the previous six years. This year's cutoff has been the lowest since 2021 for all categories.YearGeneral/EWSGeneral-PwBDSC/ST/OBC, including PwBD202130228326520222752602452023291274257202450th percentile45th percentile40th percentile20252762552352026262244226Experts explain what may be driving the decline, and what does that fall actually tell us about NEET PG and the students appearing for it? THE CUT-OFF HAS FALLEN, BUT THE PERCENTILE HASN’TThe first thing experts point out is that the qualifying percentile itself has not changed in 2026. General/EWS candidates still need the 50th percentile, while the threshold remains 45th percentile for General PwBD and 40th percentile for SC, ST and OBC candidates.Dr Rohan Krishnan, chief patron and co-founder of FAIMA Doctors Association, says the lower score should not automatically be seen as an easier route into postgraduate medical education. “This year’s fall in the NEET-PG cut-off should not simply be interpreted as an easier route to postgraduate medical education,” he said.According to him, the changing examination pattern, tougher competition and the growing number of coaching options have created a different preparation environment for medical students.“Instead of helping students build conceptual clarity, multiple sources, conflicting strategies and excessive study material can leave them confused about what and how to prepare,” Krishnan said.FROM MBBS CLASSROOMS TO COACHING NOTESThat dependence on coaching, he says, is also linked to the quality of undergraduate medical education.“If the foundation during MBBS is not strong, students become increasingly dependent on coaching during their NEET-PG preparation,” Krishnan said.The result, he argues, can become a cycle of more coaching, more study material and more competition without necessarily improving conceptual understanding.Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson of the IMA Junior Doctors Network, cautions against reading the lower qualifying score as evidence of lower competence among doctors.“The cut-off is influenced by the exam’s difficulty, candidate performance, score distribution, number of candidates and available seats,” he said.THE SEAT QUESTIONFor Gaurav Bhagat, founder of Gaurav Bhagat Academy, the cut-off also needs to be viewed against the availability of postgraduate seats. He pointed to more than 18,000 PG seats reportedly remaining vacant in the previous counselling cycle.He said authorities had lowered qualifying percentiles to widen the eligible pool and reduce seat wastage.The larger question, therefore, is not simply why the qualifying score has reached 262, but what happens after candidates cross that threshold.As Bhagat puts it, “Education must ultimately build knowledge, judgement, adaptability and real-world readiness and not simply optimise for an examination threshold.”- Ends