New Delhi: A steep reduce in NEET-PG qualifying requirements has led to postgraduate medical seats in govt faculties being crammed at shockingly low scores – together with in high-risk medical specialties – triggering alarm throughout the medical fraternity, stories Anuja Jaiswal.
The impression was stark in third-round PG counselling, the place candidates secured seats in govt medical faculties with scores starting from single digits to double digits, spanning each medical and non-clinical disciplines. Even premier establishments and core medical branches noticed seats being allotted to candidates with such scores.
An MS orthopaedics seat at a govt institute in Rohtak was allotted to a candidate with simply 4 marks out of 800, whereas obstetrics and gynaecology at a premier Delhi medical faculty went to a candidate who scored 44 marks. A normal surgical procedure seat was crammed at 47 marks.
Eradicating cut-offs altogether dangers affected person security, says doc
This indicators a critical breakdown in medical schooling and workforce planning,” stated a senior college member at a govt medical faculty. “Orthopaedics has historically been among the many most demanding surgical specialties. Filling it at near-zero scores is an indication not of weaker college students however a system underneath extreme pressure.”
This occurred following the sharp decreasing of NEET-PG qualifying requirements by Union well being ministry for the 2025–26 tutorial session, with drastically decreased cut-offs throughout classes permitting candidates with extraordinarily low — and even destructive — scores to qualify.
The impact was seen throughout disciplines. Seats had been crammed at 10 marks in transfusion drugs, 11 marks in anatomy, and minus 8 marks in biochemistry, many underneath reserved and PwD classes. Whereas the revised cut-offs ensured that seats didn’t stay vacant, docs warn the coverage dangers buying and selling competence for comfort.
“Permitting surgical and medical branches to be crammed at zero or near-zero percentile represents a critical erosion of requirements,” stated a senior physician at a govt medical faculty. “Marks as little as 4, 11, 44 or 47 out of 800 level to an absence of fundamental aptitude. Eradicating cut-offs altogether instantly dangers affected person security.”
The present coverage marks a pointy shift from govt’s earlier stand. In July 2022, opposing a plea to decrease NEET-PG cut-offs in Delhi HC, Centre had argued that minimal qualifying percentiles had been important to take care of schooling requirements. The courtroom agreed, warning that decreasing medical schooling requirements might “wreak havoc on society”, as drugs concerned issues of life and demise.
Defending the current framework, a senior well being ministry official stated PG seats are allotted strictly underneath revised eligibility guidelines, and competence is meant to be ensured by means of coaching and exit exams, not entry cut-offs alone. Faculties are licensed by regulators and are chargeable for failing unsuitable candidates, the official stated.
Medical educators, nevertheless, say the pattern displays deeper structural issues — speedy seat growth and not using a matching rise in skilled college, overcrowded lecture rooms and eroding bedside abilities. “With out sturdy college, strong exit exams and a system to weed out unsuitable candidates, anybody who enters drugs finally will get a level,” stated a senior academician.
College members say the implications are already seen. Many postgraduate college students arrive with out sturdy theoretical foundations, medical abilities or self-discipline. Stress to move college students, weak exit mechanisms and over-reliance on on-line studying have additional diluted coaching high quality.
“Simple entry has decreased seriousness even at high establishments,” stated one other physician on situation of anonymity. “Numbers are rising, however coaching high quality is falling — and that poses long-term dangers to affected person care.”
Docs warning that the department of medication doesn’t reveal its failures instantly. Gaps in coaching as we speak might floor years later, when these docs practise independently — with critical implications for affected person security and public belief within the healthcare system.
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