NEET PG 2027: Can Zero and Negative Scorers Get Seats?

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has given in-principle approval to a proposal to replace the existing percentile-based qualifying system for NEET-PG with a rank-based merit system from 2027. The proposed change also covers NEET-SS admissions and follows concerns over repeated reductions in qualifying cut-offs, vacant postgraduate medical seats and delays in counselling.

While the move could change how candidates qualify for postgraduate Medical Admissions, it has also raised an important question: will candidates scoring zero or negative marks still be eligible for seats under the new system?

The answer is not yet clear. The NMC’s approval is in principle, and the final regulations will determine whether candidates must meet a minimum marks requirement, whether category-wise eligibility thresholds will continue and how admissions will proceed when seats remain vacant.

Can candidates with zero or negative marks get NEET-PG seats?

At present, the proposed rank-based system does not provide a definitive answer on whether candidates with zero or negative scores will be excluded from admissions. The final regulations are expected to clarify whether a minimum qualifying score will remain mandatory even after the percentile-based system is replaced.

This distinction is important because a rank-based admission process and a minimum eligibility requirement serve different purposes. A merit list can establish the relative position of candidates, but it does not automatically determine whether every candidate appearing on that list is eligible for admission.

For example, if the regulations require candidates to secure a minimum number of marks, those below the threshold could remain ineligible regardless of their rank. If no such minimum is prescribed, the rules would need to explain how candidates with extremely low or negative scores are treated.

The NMC has not yet clarified these details. Therefore, it would be premature to conclude that zero or negative scorers will automatically receive seats or that they will be completely excluded under the proposed system.

Six major questions the NMC still needs to answer

Although the proposed shift signals a change in how merit will be determined, several important aspects of the admission process remain unresolved. The final regulations will need to address these questions before medical aspirants can understand how the revised system will operate.

• Will there be a minimum marks requirement? Candidates may still need to secure a minimum score to become eligible for admission, even if selection is determined through ranks.
• Will zero and negative scorers be excluded? The regulations must clarify whether candidates with zero or negative marks will automatically become ineligible.
• Will category-wise eligibility thresholds continue? It remains unclear whether separate qualifying requirements for General, EWS, SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates will be retained.
• Will admissions depend entirely on available seats? The rules must establish whether the merit list will be followed until all available postgraduate seats are filled.
• Will the system apply to both NEET-PG and NEET-SS? Although the proposal covers both examinations, the operational details for implementing the system across the two admission processes remain to be specified.
• What happens when seats remain vacant? The final regulations will need to explain whether seats will remain vacant after all eligible candidates have been considered or whether another admission mechanism will be introduced.

Until these issues are addressed, candidates should treat the rank-based system as a proposed change rather than a final set of admission rules.

What is changing in the NEET-PG admission system?

Under the existing system, candidates must meet a specified percentile to become eligible for postgraduate medical counselling. The proposed system would instead use candidates’ ranks to determine merit for admission.

The proposal was put forward by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), following recommendations from a 12-member expert committee constituted by the Centre, as reported by LiveLaw.

The NMC has approved the proposal in principle. Draft regulations are expected to be issued after consultations with stakeholders. These regulations will establish the operational framework, including eligibility conditions and the process through which candidates will be considered for available seats.

The proposal is not yet a final rule. Its implementation will depend on the regulations being framed and further proceedings in the Supreme Court, where the committee’s report was submitted on November 3.

Why has the rank-based system been proposed?

The debate over NEET-PG eligibility intensified during the 2025-26 admission cycle, when qualifying cut-offs were reduced sharply to make more candidates eligible for counselling and address vacant postgraduate seats.

The qualifying threshold for General and EWS candidates was lowered from the 50th percentile, equivalent to 276 marks out of 800, to the seventh percentile, or 103 marks.

For General PwBD candidates, the qualifying threshold fell from the 45th percentile to the fifth percentile. For SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates in these categories, it was reduced from the 40th percentile to zero, equivalent to minus 40 marks.

These reductions expanded the pool of candidates eligible to participate in counselling. However, they also triggered concerns about whether candidates with extremely low or negative scores should be allowed to qualify for postgraduate medical admissions.

Petitioners questioned whether such low qualifying thresholds could affect standards in postgraduate Medical Education. The debate brought attention to the balance between filling available seats and maintaining minimum academic standards.

Centre’s argument and concerns over low qualifying scores

The Centre has argued that NEET-PG is intended to prepare a merit list for allocating a limited number of postgraduate medical seats. According to its position, basic medical competence is already established through the MBBS qualification.

Petitioners, however, have raised concerns about candidates with very low or negative scores becoming eligible for postgraduate medical counselling following substantial reductions in qualifying cut-offs.

The expert committee has recommended that minimum qualifying standards should not be diluted to an extent that candidates with grossly inadequate or negative performance become eligible.

This recommendation is central to the debate surrounding the proposed rank-based system. While a merit list can help determine the order of admission, the committee’s position highlights the importance of retaining an appropriate eligibility standard.

The final regulations will need to clarify how the NMC intends to balance these two objectives: ensuring that available seats can be filled while maintaining minimum standards for postgraduate medical education.

What could the new system mean for medical students?

A rank-based admission system could make the process more straightforward by placing candidates on a common merit list. Instead of relying primarily on percentile-based qualifying thresholds, admissions would be organised according to candidates’ relative positions in the examination.

The expert committee expects the proposed change to help reduce delays between the second and third rounds of postgraduate counselling, as reported by LiveLaw. A more streamlined process could help candidates and institutions complete admission formalities within a more predictable schedule.

However, the practical impact will depend on the final eligibility conditions. Candidates will need clarity on whether securing a rank is sufficient for counselling or whether a separate minimum marks requirement will continue to apply.

The treatment of category-wise eligibility will also be important. If separate thresholds are retained, candidates from different categories may continue to face different minimum qualifying requirements despite the introduction of a rank-based merit list.

NEET-PG counselling: Proposed digital changes

Alongside the proposed change in the admission system, the committee has examined ways to make postgraduate medical counselling faster and reduce manual intervention.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is working to digitise the counselling process. Under the proposed portal changes, candidates would be divided into two categories: ‘Freeze’ and ‘Float’.

Candidates selecting the Float option after accepting a seat would be able to complete certain steps online, including the process of moving to an upgraded seat. The proposed arrangement is intended to make seat upgradation more convenient and reduce the need for repeated physical procedures.

Another proposed change concerns fee payments. Candidates would be required to pay fees only once, at the institution where they finally take admission. This could reduce the administrative burden associated with multiple counselling rounds and seat upgrades.

The committee is also considering KYC or biometric verification to prevent candidates from appearing in entrance examinations merely to block seats. It is examining the feasibility of sharing examination results online with state counselling authorities to improve coordination between admission systems.

What could change for medical colleges?

The proposed reforms could also affect how medical colleges report and manage their postgraduate seats during counselling.

The NMC has been included in the counselling software as a stakeholder. This would allow the commission to contribute to the seat matrix and help streamline the process of reporting available seats before counselling begins.

The committee has also recommended a more structured timeline covering examinations, counselling and approvals related to starting new postgraduate courses or increasing existing seat capacity.

Better coordination between regulatory authorities and counselling bodies could help reduce administrative delays and provide colleges with greater clarity about admission schedules.

Other recommendations to address vacant postgraduate seats

Besides changes to the admission system, the expert panel has considered measures aimed at making less-preferred postgraduate medical courses more attractive to students.

Hindustan Times reported that the committee has recommended lower fees for non-clinical postgraduate courses, revised stipends for medical residents and an end to salary discrimination between clinical and non-clinical branches.

The panel has also recommended incentives for doctors willing to work in rural areas. These measures are intended to address concerns surrounding vacant seats and encourage more students to consider postgraduate specialities that may receive less demand.

Such recommendations could have implications beyond the counselling process. Course fees, stipends and employment opportunities can influence students’ decisions when choosing postgraduate specialities.

However, these proposals should be distinguished from the rank-based admission recommendation. Their implementation will depend on the relevant decisions and regulations issued by the authorities.

When will the NEET-PG rank-based system come into effect?

The proposed rank-based system is expected to be introduced from 2027, but it has not yet become a final admission rule. The NMC has given its in-principle approval, and draft regulations are expected following consultations with stakeholders.

The committee’s report has also been submitted to the Supreme Court, making further proceedings relevant to the process. The final framework will need to specify how the new merit system will operate and what eligibility requirements candidates must satisfy.

Until the regulations are formally issued, medical aspirants should not assume that percentile-based eligibility has already been abolished or that zero and negative scorers will automatically qualify for admission.

What NEET-PG aspirants should watch for

The most important development for aspirants will be the publication of the draft and final NMC regulations. These will determine whether candidates need to secure minimum marks in addition to obtaining a rank, whether category-wise qualifying thresholds will continue and how vacant seats will be handled.

The rules will also clarify whether the proposed changes will operate in the same way for NEET-PG and NEET-SS and how the revised counselling process will be implemented.

For now, the key takeaway is that a rank-based system does not automatically mean that every candidate with a rank will become eligible for a postgraduate medical seat. The minimum eligibility conditions, particularly for candidates with zero or negative marks, remain among the most important questions awaiting an official answer.