NEET PG percentile slashed by 15%

The Union Health Ministry on Friday lowered the cut-off percentile for NEET-PG and NEET-SS by 15%, widening the pool of students who can appear for counselling for post-graduate medical seats.

“The decision is likely to benefit about 18,000 students and will improve the chances of filling up PG seats and minimising wastage of seats,” the ministry said in a statement.

The students have to clear the post-graduate level National Eligibility cum Entrance Test before they are counselled for post-graduate and super-speciality courses.

Currently, there are around 31,000 post-graduate seats in Medical Council of India approved colleges, for which nearly 90,000 students should ideally appear for counselling, on the basis of a 1:3 formula prepared by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), the apex agency for counselling on medical education.

But, since there are only about 60,000 applications this time, the ministry on the advice of the DGHS lowered the cut-off marks so that a larger pool of applicants could be considered for the PG seats, health ministry sources told DH.

Seats go abegging

Last year almost 5% seats in NEET-PG and NEET-SS remained vacant, said an official.

“This is a significant step towards strengthening medical sector and indicates the priority given by the government to the health sector. We are making sure there is adequate manpower for providing quality health services,” said Union Health Minister J P Nadda.