NEET PG rank-based system: Can zero and negative scorers still get seats?

The NMC has approved a proposed shift to rank-based NEET-PG admissions from 2027. But minimum marks, category-wise eligibility, zero scores, and vacant seats remain key questions awaiting clarity in the final regulations.NEET-PG's new rank-based system: What changes for cut-offs, counselling and colleges (AI-generated image)New Delhi,Nov 4, 2026 09:57 ISTThe National Medical Commission (NMC) has given in-principle approval to a proposal to replace the percentile-based qualifying system for NEET-PG with a rank-based merit system from 2027. The proposal, which also covers NEET-SS admissions, follows concerns over repeated reductions in qualifying cut-offs and delays in postgraduate medical counselling.The proposed shift could change how candidates qualify for postgraduate medical admissions. However, several questions concerning minimum marks, category-wise eligibility, low scores and vacant seats remain unanswered. Here is what the proposal could change, why it has been recommended and what medical aspirants and colleges still need clarity on.THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONSWhile the proposed shift signals a change in how merit will be determined, it does not yet explain every aspect of the admission process. The final regulations will need to address several questions before aspirants can understand how the revised system will work.These are the questions the NMC must answer:Will there be a minimum marks requirement, irrespective of rank? Candidates may still need to secure a minimum score to become eligible, even if admissions are determined through ranks.Will candidates with zero or negative marks be automatically excluded? The question assumes importance following the sharp reduction in qualifying cut-offs during the previous admission cycle.Will category-wise eligibility thresholds continue? It remains unclear whether separate qualifying requirements for General, EWS, SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates will be retained..Will the last candidate admitted be determined purely by the number of available seats? The regulations must clarify whether admissions will continue down the merit list until all available seats are filled.Will the rank-based system apply to both NEET-PG and NEET-SS? Although the proposal covers both examinations, the operational details of implementing the system across the two admission processes remain to be specified.What happens when seats remain vacant even after all eligible candidates have been exhausted? The final rules will need to explain whether such seats will remain vacant or whether any additional admission mechanism will be considered.Until these questions are addressed through formal regulations, aspirants should treat the proposed changes as recommendations rather than final admission rules.WHAT IS CHANGING IN THE ADMISSION SYSTEM?At present, candidates must meet a specified percentile to become eligible for postgraduate medical counselling. The proposed system would instead use candidates' ranks to determine merit for admission. As reported by LiveLaw, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has proposed the change following recommendations from a 12-member expert committee constituted by the Centre.The NMC has approved the proposal in principle, and draft regulations will be issued after consultations with stakeholders.The proposal is not yet a final rule. Its implementation will depend on the regulations being framed and further proceedings in the Supreme Court, where the committee's report was submitted on November 3.WHY HAS THE CHANGE BEEN PROPOSED?The debate over NEET-PG eligibility intensified after the qualifying cut-offs for the 2025-26 admission cycle were reduced sharply to fill vacant seats.The qualifying threshold for General and EWS candidates was lowered from the 50th percentile, or 276 marks out of 800, to the seventh percentile, or 103 marks.For General PwBD candidates, it fell from the 45th percentile to the fifth percentile. For SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates in these categories, it was reduced from the 40th percentile to zero, equivalent to minus 40 marks.The reductions made thousands of additional candidates eligible for counselling and triggered petitions questioning whether such low qualifying thresholds could affect standards in postgraduate medical education.The Centre has argued that NEET-PG is meant to prepare a merit list for allocating limited postgraduate seats, while basic medical competence is established through the MBBS qualification.Petitioners, however, have raised concerns about candidates with very low or negative scores becoming eligible.The expert committee has recommended that minimum qualifying standards should not be diluted to the extent that candidates with grossly inadequate or negative performance become eligible.WHAT COULD CHANGE FOR STUDENTS?A rank-based system could make the admission process more straightforward by placing candidates on a common merit list. LiveLaw reported that the committee expects the change to reduce the time gap between the second and third rounds of postgraduate counselling.The MCC is also working to digitise the counselling process with minimum human intervention. Under proposed portal changes, candidates would be divided into 'Freeze' and 'Float' categories. Those accepting a seat under the Float option would be able to complete certain steps online, including the process of moving to an upgraded seat.Candidates would also be required to pay fees only once, at the institution where they finally take admission.The committee is considering KYC or biometric verification to prevent candidates from appearing in entrance examinations merely to block seats. It is also examining the feasibility of sharing examination results online with state counselling authorities.WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MEDICAL COLLEGES?Colleges could see changes in how their available seats are reported and verified before counselling begins.The NMC has been included in the counselling software as a stakeholder, allowing it to contribute to the seat matrix and help streamline the process.The committee has also recommended a more structured timeline for examinations, counselling and approvals related to starting new courses or increasing seats.Separately, Hindustan Times reported that the panel has recommended lower fees for non-clinical postgraduate courses, revised stipends for medical residents, no salary discrimination between clinical and non-clinical branches, and incentives for doctors willing to work in rural areas.These recommendations are intended to make less-preferred courses more attractive and address the problem of vacant seats.For students, however, the key point is that the rank-based system is still a proposal. The final regulations will determine how ranks are used, what qualifying standards remain and when the revised admission process takes effect.- Ends