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NEET-PG Cut-Off Reduced to Zero Amidst Seat Vacancies
28 Jan
Summary
- Over 18,000 postgraduate medical seats remained unfilled nationwide.
- NEET-PG qualifying percentile cut-off reduced to zero for reserved categories.
- Prohibitive private college fees are cited as a major reason for vacant seats.
A significant number of postgraduate medical seats, exceeding 18,000, remain unfilled across India as of the 2025-26 academic session, according to Medical Counselling Committee data. This situation has led the National Board of Examination and Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to reduce the qualifying percentile for the NEET-PG counselling to zero for reserved categories.
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are particularly affected, each reporting over 2,000 vacant seats. These vacancies are largely within private and NRI quotas. The article notes a substantial increase in PG medical seats from 2020 to approximately 80,291, yet a substantial portion remains unclaimed.
Experts cite the prohibitive fee structure of private medical colleges, with costs ranging from 20 lakh to 4 crore, as the primary reason for the vacancies. Additionally, a lack of interest in non-clinical subjects like microbiology and pathology, along with issues related to teaching staff, infrastructure, and stipends, contribute to the problem.
