Telangana doctors’ body opposes zero percentile NEET-PG cut-off, warns of threat to medical education

The Telangana Senior Resident Doctors Association (T-SRDA) has opposed the decision to reduce the NEET-PG 2025-26 cut-off percentile to zero, warning that the move threatens the quality of medical education and patient safety. 

In a letter addressed to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, the association expressed concern over a notification issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on January 13, which makes candidates with scores as low as minus 40 marks eligible for postgraduate medical admissions.

“The unprecedented reduction in cut-off undermines the credibility and purpose of the test. Allowing candidates with negative marks to qualify for postgraduate training cannot be justified under any academic or ethical standards and risks diluting the quality of future specialists,” they said.

T-SRDA warned that the move creates an impression that merit-based national competitive examinations could soon become redundant, with admissions granted irrespective of rank or eligibility. The doctors’ body has urged the Union government to immediately withdraw the notification and restore a reasonable, merit-based cut-off.

The association warned that if corrective action is not taken promptly, it would be compelled to initiate nationwide protests in consultation with resident doctors and medical associations across the country.