A 12-member expert panel has proposed a NEET-PG rank-based merit system from 2027, replacing the percentile rule. On November 3, 2026 the Centre told the Supreme Court. The National Medical Commission has approved the move in principle.
The report was placed before Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe. Harisharan Devgan versus Union of India is the case. Its number is W.P.(C) 136 of 2026.
What is the NEET-PG rank-based merit system?
A NEET-PG rank-based merit system gives every candidate a rank instead of a percentile cut-off. The panel wants it for NEET-SS too. NEET-SS is the Super Speciality exam that fills DM and MCh seats.
A percentile decides who qualifies today. That floor fell to zero for SC, ST and OBC candidates in 2025-26. Rank lists have no percentile floor.
The National Medical Commission has cleared the shift in principle. NMC is the body that regulates medical education in India. Its draft regulation goes out for stakeholder comments first.
Scorecards would then show a pure rank. The Medical Counselling Committee could fix a rank limit for each round in advance.
How low did the NEET-PG 2025-26 cut-offs fall?
The General and EWS cut-off dropped from the 50th percentile to the 7th. In marks that is 276 down to 103, out of 800.
The revised notice came from NBEMS on January 13, 2026. NBEMS is the board that conducts the exam. Orders came from the Union Health Ministry on January 9, 2026.
| Category | Old percentile | Old marks | New percentile | New marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and EWS | 50th | 276 | 7th | 103 |
| General PwBD | 45th | 255 | 5th | 90 |
| SC, ST and OBC, including PwBD | 40th | 235 | 0 | minus 40 |
The bottom row is the one that reached the Supreme Court.
Why 95,913 extra candidates chased 2,980 vacant seats
The cut-off drop made 95,913 more candidates eligible. NBEMS gave that figure in its counter-affidavit before the Supreme Court in February 2026.
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MCC then announced 2,980 clear vacancies for the final stray round. Allotment ran on February 21, 2026.
That is about 32 extra eligible candidates for every one of those 2,980 empty seats. CampusFeed calculated the ratio from the NBEMS and MCC figures.
The Centre has told the Supreme Court the drop was about seat wastage, not diluted standards.
What else did the panel recommend to fill vacant PG seats?
Lower fees on non-clinical PG courses head the list. Anatomy and Biochemistry are two such subjects.
Pre-clinical and para-clinical candidates would be freed from service bonds. A service bond ties a new doctor to government service for a fixed period.
KYC and biometric checks were proposed at the exam itself. These target candidates who sit only to block a seat.
The report asks NMC, NBEMS and NTA to publish verified seat numbers before counselling opens. NTA is the National Testing Agency.
MCC should fix one counselling schedule for each academic year and course. The panel wants the Supreme Court to ratify it.
Courses lying empty for two to three years running could be discontinued.
One change starts this academic year. The MCC portal will split candidates into Freeze and Float. Freeze candidates report in person, Float candidates accept online.
Payment then happens once, at final admission.
Fees kam hui to non-clinical PG lena theek rahega?
The fee cut and the bond waiver are proposals, not rules. Nothing has changed for the 2026-27 session. No fee figure has been announced. Wait for the NMC draft regulation before you redo your choice list.
Why the petitioners say a rank list changes nothing
Counsel for one petitioner asked what practical difference a rank-based system makes. That was in court on November 3, 2026.
Petitioners argue the panel changed the system instead of fixing the cut-off drop. Their case is that zero and negative marks are arbitrary. They cite Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
A rank list still has a bottom, the petitioners say. Set the rank limit low enough to fill seats and the same candidates qualify.
The Centre answers that NEET-PG was never a competence test. MBBS establishes minimum competence. NEET-PG only builds an inter se merit list for limited seats.
Final competence is tested at the MD and MS exit exams. A candidate needs 50% separately in theory and in practical.
NBEMS has told the court it had no role in the reduction. Its job ends at conducting the exam and handing over results.
What happens next in the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court adjourned the matter on November 3, 2026. Petitioners were given time to respond to the report.
No fresh hearing date appears in LiveLaw’s report of that hearing.
The Supreme Court first asked NBEMS to explain the reduction on February 6, 2026. Justice Narasimha said the case balances falling standards against wasted seats.
NMC’s Secretary has written to the Director General of Health Services about the proposal. A draft regulation follows, then stakeholder comments.
The full committee report is not public. CampusFeed could not find it anywhere online on November 4, 2026.
2026 me NEET-PG de raha hoon, to mujh par kya asar padega?
Nothing changes for NEET-PG 2026. The panel proposed 2027 as the start year, and even that is not confirmed. Your 2026 scorecard will still carry a percentile. Check nmc.org.in for the draft regulation before you plan for 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rank-based merit system proposed for medical PG?
The NEET-PG rank-based merit system gives every candidate a rank instead of a qualifying percentile. A 12-member expert panel proposed it for NEET-PG and NEET-SS from 2027. India’s National Medical Commission has approved it in principle.
Will NEET-PG 2026 use ranks or percentile?
NEET-PG 2026 still uses the percentile system. The panel proposed 2027 as the start year for ranks. India’s National Medical Commission has not issued the draft regulation yet. No official start date has been confirmed.
How much did the 2025-26 PG cut-off fall?
The NEET-PG 2025-26 General and EWS cut-off fell from the 50th percentile to the 7th. In marks that is 276 down to 103, out of 800. General PwBD fell to 90 marks, SC, ST and OBC to minus 40.
How many candidates became eligible after the cut-off drop?
95,913 more candidates became eligible for NEET-PG 2025-26 counselling after the cut-off reduction. NBEMS gave that number to the Supreme Court in February 2026. MCC then listed 2,980 clear vacancies for the final stray round.
Will non-clinical PG fees come down in 2026?
Lower fees for non-clinical PG courses are only a recommendation right now. The expert panel proposed them with a service bond waiver for pre-clinical and para-clinical candidates. Neither applies until the National Medical Commission notifies a regulation.
Last verified: November 4, 2026
Disclaimer: Dates, fees, cutoffs and eligibility can change without notice. Check with the National Medical Commission before you act.
