NEET-PG 2025 Cut-Off Reduction Made 95,913 More Candidates Eligible, NBEMS Informs Supreme Court

The National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences told the Supreme Court that it had no role to play in the reduction of the qualifying percentile of the NEET-PG 2025.

In the counter-affidavit filed in response to petitions challenging the lowering of the NEET-PG cut-off, the NBEMS the decision fell within the exclusive domain of the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission ('NMC').

The NBEMS said that its role is limited to conducting the NEET-PG exam, evaluating the results and handling over the results to the NMC. On January 9, 2026, the Ministry informed the NBEMS of the decision to reduce the qualifying percentile for the third round of NEET-PG counselling. In compliance with the Ministry's decision, the NBEMS revised the cut-off and published the revised results on January 13.

The role of NBEMS is strictly limited to conducting the NEET PG examination and handing over the final results to the concerned Counselling Authority i.e. the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and it has no role whatsoever in the decision regarding the reduction of the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2025.

The NBEMS further informed the Court that, as a result of the lowering of the cut-off, 95913 additional candidates have now become eligible to participate in the counselling for NEET PG 2025. Hence, any decision of the Court will impact those candidates, and no decision can be made without hearing them, it contended.

The affidavit included a chart showing the number of candidates in various categories who got additionally qualified after the cut-off was reduced.

The NBEMS also cited the recent judgment of the Delhi High Court in Sanchit Seth vs National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 848/2026) which dismissed the challenge to the lowering of the cut-off percentile.

Recently, the Supreme Court had directed the Union and the NBEMS to explain the rationale behind the reduction of cut-off percentile. A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe will consider the matter today.

Case no. – W.P.(C) No. 136/2026 and connected matters

Case Title – Harisharan Devgan v. Union of India and connected matters