The National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced a significant reduction to the NEET PG 2024 qualifying cut-off percentile, now set at the 5th percentile across all categories for admissions to post-graduate medical courses. This decision follows the exam conducted on August 11, 2024, and aims to provide broader access to medical education during what many deem as challenging times for aspiring medical professionals.
An official statement from the NBEMS reads, "NEET PG 2024 was conducted for admission to MD/ MS/ DNB/ DrNB (Direct six years)/ NBEMS Diploma Courses of 2024-25 admission session." This cut-off modification is part of the continued efforts to streamline admissions under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Under the new guidelines, the revised minimum qualifying criteria for NEET PG 2024 are set as follows:
The official notice warns candidates, "Candidature is purely provisional subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria as prescribed in the NEET-PG 2024 information bulletin," highlighting the importance of compliance.
This year's NEET PG exam took place across 416 venues, spanning 170 cities, with results being announced on August 23, 2024. Each candidate faced 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided over the test duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes, all conducted in English. Such logistical planning aimed to tackle the volatility within medical admissions directly impacting students nationwide.
Accompanying the revised cut-off is the reservation policy of the central government for NEET-PG counselling under the All India Quota (AIQ), which includes SC-15%, ST-7.5%, OBC-27%, EWS-10%, and PwD-5%. These policies aim to promote inclusivity and fairness within the medical education framework.
Looking forward, the NEET PG 2024 counselling process will be conducted online and will involve several steps: registration, choice declaration, seat allotment, and document verification. Candidates eager to participate must register on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal. After paying the registration fee, candidates will be able to declare their preferred colleges and courses, providing them with the autonomy to select their paths.
This multi-step process allows the MCC to allocate seats based on the candidates' declared preferences, the availability of seats, reservation criteria, and other key factors dictifying successful admissions. Notably, this procedure covers 50% of the All India Quota (AIQ) seats, offering considerable opportunities for aspiring PG medical students.
Although the cut-off reduction is welcomed, it also raises questions about the future pathways and policies within medical education. Many stakeholders within the healthcare system, including educators and policymakers, are now paying close attention to how these changes will affect the overall quality and accessibility of medical education across the country.
With this adjustment, the response from the medical community remains to be seen. For now, prospective candidates are encouraged to keep abreast of developments and take note of their individual eligibility as stated clearly within the NEET PG 2024 information bulletin.