A proposal has been submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to revise NEET-UG eligibility by replacing the current percentile-based system with a percentage-based benchmark for MBBS and dental admissions, according to media reports.
Under the proposal, candidates would need to secure a fixed minimum percentage of marks in NEET-UG to qualify, instead of relying on relative percentile rankings. The change is aimed at ensuring a consistent minimum academic standard among applicants.
Currently, eligibility is determined through percentile scores, where candidates qualify based on their performance relative to others. Critics say this system can sometimes allow candidates with lower marks to qualify if overall scores are low in a given year.
At present, students must also score at least 50% in Class 12 and qualify NEET-UG through percentile criteria. Each year, over 20 lakh candidates appear for the exam, with around 10 lakh qualifying. The number of applicants is expected to increase further, with the National Testing Agency (NTA) likely to conduct NEET-UG 2026 on May 3, and registrations projected to exceed 26 lakh.
Experts cited in reports suggest that a percentage-based system could reduce the number of eligible candidates but may improve the overall quality of entrants by introducing a fixed performance threshold. However, it may also intensify competition for limited seats.
The proposal is currently under consideration, and a final decision is awaited.
