Supreme Court to Decide on NEET PG Cutoff Reduction; Hearing on April 28

Content Writer | Updated On - Apr 8, 2026

The Supreme Court of India will hear petitions on April 28 challenging the NEET PG 2025 cutoff reduction, amid concerns over merit, vacant seats, and medical education standards.

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a batch of petitions challenging the reduction in the NEET PG 2025 cutoff, a move that has triggered a wider debate on merit, access, and the quality of postgraduate medical education.

A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe scheduled the matter for April 28, 2026, indicating that the court will examine whether lowering the qualifying threshold could have a bearing on academic standards in medical specialisations.

The development comes amid growing scrutiny over recent changes in the NEET PG admission process, with candidates and experts divided over the implications of relaxed eligibility criteria.

NEET PG Cutoff: Merit vs Access Core Issue Before the Court

The petitions argue that reducing the NEET PG cutoff 2025 is arbitrary and undermines the merit-based framework of one of India’s most competitive medical entrance exams.

Petitioners have contended that a sufficient number of candidates with qualifying scores were already available, questioning the need for a drastic reduction in percentile. They also pointed to the emergence of negative marks eligibility in NEET PG, calling it a concerning precedent.

On the other hand, the Centre defended its decision, stating that the MBBS degree remains the benchmark of medical competence, and that NEET PG functions only as a gateway for specialisation rather than a reassessment of foundational knowledge.

Vacant Seats Raise Structural Concerns

A key argument presented before the court relates to the persistence of over 1,100 vacant PG medical seats, despite the lowered cutoff.

Petitioners have argued that the vacancies are not due to a lack of qualified candidates, but rather high tuition fees and limited affordability, raising deeper concerns about accessibility in medical education.

This issue ties into ongoing discussions around medical PG admission trends in India, which have increasingly highlighted disparities between seat availability and actual enrolment.

Regulatory Intervention by NMC

Adding another layer to the controversy, the National Medical Commission (NMC) recently cancelled the Special Stray Round of counselling and directed that no admissions be recorded after February 28, 2026.

The regulator warned that any admission beyond the deadline would be deemed invalid, reinforcing compliance amid evolving admission norms.

The directive has been widely discussed in the context of NEET PG counselling updates, further intensifying uncertainty among aspirants.

Court to Examine Impact on Medical Standards

During preliminary observations, Justice PS Narasimha noted that the court would assess whether such policy decisions could impact the quality of education in postgraduate medical courses.

Legal experts suggest that the outcome of the hearing could set a precedent for how cutoff policies in national-level exams are framed in the future.

The case is also being closely followed alongside other Supreme Court rulings on NEET PG, which have historically influenced admission timelines and eligibility criteria.

Get the latest news on Supreme Court rulings and NEET PG 2025-26 updates in just a click. Follow Collegedunia.com for admission news and expert insights into the medical counselling process.

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