The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test - Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2024 cut-off has been officially reduced to the 5th percentile for all categories, according to the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). This decision follows the conclusion of the stray vacancy round of NEET PG counselling 2024, opening doors for additional admissions for students who previously did not meet the necessary criteria.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is set to initiate new counselling rounds to accommodate these candidates. This cut-off revision marks the second time this year the NEET PG cut-off has been adjusted. Back in January, the MCC reduced the cut-off to 15 percentile for General category candidates and to 10 percentile for those from reserved categories.
The change stems from a directive by the Delhi High Court, sparked by petitions from NEET PG aspirants who were campaigning for lower qualifying scores. The Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) also advocated to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, requesting government intervention on the issue, arguing unfilled postgraduate medical seats exacerbate resource scarcity within the healthcare system.
The official notice from NBEMS elaborated, “Following the previous announcement made by NBEMS on January 6, 2025, and based on directives from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the minimum qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2024 has been revised to the following.” The specifics of these revisions aim to address the challenges posed by unoccupied medical posts and meet the increasing demands of healthcare delivery.
With this latest reduction, many more candidates now stand to gain eligibility for postgraduate studies, following earlier worries about insufficiently filled medical training programs. The NEET-PG 2024 examination was conducted earlier this year on August 11, and results were released on August 23.
Consequently, the MCC's upcoming announcements are highly anticipated, with hopes to increase the number of available seats for aspiring medical professionals. Aspirants who earlier fell short of the original cut-off will be relieved, as the modification creates fresh opportunities for postgraduate admissions.
This decision arrives during a time when medical services are under heightened scrutiny due to global health concerns spurred by the pandemic, making the efficient integration of qualified healthcare professionals even more important.