In earlier hearings, a bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe had said it would examine whether the sharp reduction in the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2025-26 affects standards in postgraduate medical education.

The bench had recommended that the government form a committee to study the issues raised. In today's hearing, the Court was informed by Additional Solicitor General Aiswarya Bhati that an Expert Committee comprising various stakeholders has been formed.

Additional Solicitor General Archana Dave Pathak(for the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine) requested that the representatives of the NCISM may also be placed in the Expert Committee.

Adjourning the matter, the Court directed: "The Expert Committee will call for suggestions from various stakeholders and after detailed consideration, submit its report within eight weeks. The Expert Committee may also opt for members from the NCISM and NCH."

"We will actively discuss once the report comes," Justice Narasimha stated.

The challenge arises from the January 13, 2026 notice issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences reducing the minimum qualifying percentile cut-off for counselling of the third round of NEET-PG 2025-26.

As per the notice, the qualifying cut-off for General/EWS candidates was reduced from the 50th percentile (276 marks out of 800) to the 7th percentile (103 marks). For General PwBD candidates, it was reduced from the 45th percentile (255 marks) to the 5th percentile (90 marks). For SC/ST/OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates in those categories, it was reduced from the 40th percentile (235 marks) to the 0th percentile (minus 40 marks).

The petitioners contend that lowering the cut-off to zero and negative marks is arbitrary and violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, and that dilution of standards at the postgraduate level compromises patient safety and public health.

On February 6, the Supreme Court had asked the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences to file an affidavit explaining the reason behind the reduction of qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025-26. At that stage, Justice Narasimha had observed that the issue involved competing considerations. He added that one argument would be that standards were being lowered, while the counter argument was that seats were going waste, and that somewhere a balance had to be struck.

In its affidavit, the Union of India has stated that NEET-PG is not meant to certify minimum competence, which stands established by the MBBS qualification, but to generate an inter se merit list for allocation of limited postgraduate seats.

It has stated that all candidates are licensed MBBS practitioners and that postgraduate education is a structured three-year supervised programme, with final competence assessed at the exit level through MD/MS examinations where candidates must secure at least 50 percent marks separately in theory and practical examinations.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has filed a separate affidavit stating that it had no role in the decision to reduce the qualifying percentile and that its role is limited to conducting the examination and handing over the results to the counselling authority.