NEET PG Cutoff Marks Lowered to Zero Percentile: NBEMS New Qualifying Criteria for 2025 Admissions
BIG UPDATE: NBEMS & Health Ministry lower NEETPG 2025 cutoff to ZERO percentile! SC/ST/OBC candidates now eligible at -40 marks; General/EWS reduced to 103 marks. All candidates can now participate in NEET PG admissions & counselling. Merit/Rank still applies for seat allocation. Check details!
Varnika Srivastava14 Jan, 2026
In a landmark decision, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), under the direction of the Health Ministry, has drastically reduced the NEET PG 2025 admission cutoff marks. The move is aimed at preventing seat wastage and ensuring that all vacant post-graduate medical seats are filled during the final rounds of counselling.
The most significant change is the reduction of the qualifying percentile to Zero for several categories, sparking widespread debate across the medical community.
Also Read: SSC GD Final Result 2025: Check Constable Merit List, Cut-Off & Scorecard at ssc.gov.in
NEET PG 2025 Revised Cutoff Scores (Official)
The NBEMS has lowered the bar significantly for the current academic session. Here is the comparison of the original vs. the new qualifying scores:
| NEET PG 2025 Revised Cutoff Scores (Official) | |||
| Category | Original Cutoff (Score) | Revised Cutoff (Score) | New Percentile |
| General / EWS | 50th (276 Marks) | 7th (103 Marks) | 7th Percentile |
| SC / ST / OBC | 40th (245 Marks) | Minus 40 (-40) | Zero Percentile |
| PwD (General) | 45th (260 Marks) | Zero (0) | Zero Percentile |
What Does "Zero Percentile" Mean for NEET PG Admissions?
A zero percentile cutoff does not mean a student has scored zero marks. It means that the Health Ministry has removed the minimum score barrier for eligibility.
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Eligibility vs. Admission: Being eligible for counselling at zero percentile does not guarantee a seat.
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Merit-Based Allocation: Seats will still be allotted strictly based on the NEET PG Rank. A candidate with a higher rank will always get preference over a candidate at the zero percentile mark.
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Purpose: This allows candidates who were previously "disqualified" due to low scores to participate in the mop-up and stray vacancy rounds.
Can a Student Qualify with "Minus 40" Marks?
Yes. Due to the negative marking system (+4 for correct, -1 for wrong), it is mathematically possible for a student to have a negative aggregate score. By setting the cutoff for reserved categories at minus 40 marks, the board has effectively allowed every single candidate who sat for the exam to participate in the NEET PG admissions process.
Understanding Percentile vs. Percentage
Many students confuse these two terms. To rank high on Google, it is essential to understand the calculation:
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Percentage: Your score out of the total marks.
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Percentile: Your rank relative to other candidates. A 7th percentile means you scored better than 7% of the total test-takers.
NEET PG Counselling 3rd Round: Action Plan for Students
If you have benefited from this cutoff reduction, follow these steps to secure your seat:
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Register for Round 3: Ensure your registration is active on the MCC/NBEMS portal.
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Document Readiness: Keep your NEET PG scorecard, internship completion certificate, and category certificates ready.
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Choice Filling: Be strategic with your college choices. Look for colleges with historically high vacancy rates in the stray rounds.