The Supreme Court asked the Centre to file a detailed affidavit explaining the rationale behind lowering the qualifying cut-off percentiles for the NEET-PG 2025–26 examination, following a plea challenging the decision.
A bench led by Justice P.S. Narasimha observed that the issue directly concerns academic standards and questioned whether those standards were being diluted. “This is about standards. The question is whether those standards are being compromised,” the bench noted.
The observations came during the resumed hearing of multiple petitions contesting the January 13 notification issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), which reduced the qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG.
Expressing surprise at the move, the bench orally remarked that it was “stunned” by the approach adopted, especially as the candidates involved were already qualified doctors. The court pointed out that the matter required balancing competing considerations.
On one hand, the bench said, there is a need to ensure that postgraduate medical seats do not remain vacant. On the other, there is concern that lowering the cut-off due to fewer qualifying candidates could lead to a dilution of standards. “Somewhere there has to be a balance,” the bench remarked.
The court stated that it would examine whether the decision to reduce the cut-off was justified, adding that its “conscience has to be satisfied that there is no devious reason” behind the move. The contested notification reduced the minimum qualifying percentile for counselling in the third round of NEET-PG 2025-26 across various categories.
