NMC Proposes Shift to Rank-Based Merit System for NEET PG and NEET SS

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially moved toward a significant reform in postgraduate medical entrance examinations. The commission has granted in-principle approval to transition from the current percentile-based qualifying system to a rank-based merit system for both the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Super Speciality (NEET SS).

This proposed shift was formally communicated to the Supreme Court by a 12-member expert committee in a report submitted on November 3. While the transition is currently in the planning stages, the NMC is in the process of drafting new regulations that are expected to reshape the admission and counselling landscape for these medical entrance exams beginning with the 2027 academic year. Until these new regulations are officially notified, the existing percentile-based system will remain in effect.

Details of the Proposed Merit System

Under the proposed framework, the results for NEET PG and NEET SS will shift focus entirely to candidate rankings rather than percentile scores. The NMC Secretary outlined the proposal in a letter to the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) dated October 1, 2026. The primary objective behind this policy shift is to address ongoing challenges regarding the management of vacant postgraduate medical seats, which have previously necessitated repeated reductions in qualifying cut-offs.

The issue of cut-off reductions gained significant attention following legal petitions that challenged the lowering of the NEET PG 2025 qualifying standards. During that session, cut-offs were reduced to the 7th percentile for General and EWS candidates, the 5th percentile for General PwBD candidates, and zero percentile for SC, ST, and OBC candidates. The expert committee emphasized that the new rank-based approach is intended to ensure that minimum qualifying standards for postgraduate medical education are maintained more consistently.

Industry Response and Future Outlook

While the move toward a rank-based system aims to eliminate the need for last-minute percentile adjustments, the proposal has drawn mixed reactions from the medical community. Many doctors have expressed concerns that while the change addresses the scoring mechanism, it does not resolve deeper structural issues within the medical education system. Specifically, concerns remain regarding the persistence of vacant seats and existing policies related to service bonds.

As the NMC continues to develop these new regulations, the medical education sector remains in a transition period. Students and stakeholders are advised that the current procedures remain unchanged for the immediate future. Further updates regarding the implementation of the rank-based system will be provided once the new regulations are officially notified by the commission.