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- Expert panel suggests a rank-based system for NEET PG/SS.
- NMC approves change; proposed implementation from 2027.
- Aims to prevent zero percentile and streamline admissions.
NEET PG Ranking System: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that a 12-member expert committee wants the percentile-based qualifying system for NEET PG and NEET SS replaced by a rank-based merit system. The National Medical Commission has given in-principle approval, with implementation proposed from 2027.
The report was placed before a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe. Under the plan, scorecards would show candidates’ pure ranks instead of percentile marks, though the final timeline and details are yet to be officially confirmed.
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Why Is the Percentile System Being Abandoned?
This decision comes after years of litigation regarding reductions in qualifying percentiles aimed at filling vacant seats. At times, the percentile cutoff was reduced to zero, enabling students with low or even negative scores to participate in counseling.
It is on the grounds that the minimum eligibility criteria should not be compromised for the sake of filling seats.
What Changes For Aspirants?
Earlier, qualification depended on a candidate’s score relative to all test-takers, which forced repeated percentile reductions when seats stayed empty. A rank-based system assigns fixed ranks to everyone.
Counselling bodies can then set predictable rank limits for each round, filling seats in an orderly way while keeping a clear academic floor.
Steps To Fill Vacant Seats
To address vacancies without lowering standards, the panel suggested lower tuition fees for pre-clinical and para-clinical branches such as Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, which often go unfilled. It also proposed removing mandatory rural service bonds for doctors choosing non-clinical specialisations.
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Faster Coordination in Counselling
The committee made another recommendation to share rank information directly between the National Board of Examinations (NBEMS) and state universities. This was to ensure that no delay in scheduling occurs and to provide candidates with a clear picture of their ranking in all rounds.