New Delhi, September 11, 2026: The Union Government has informed the Supreme Court that it has decided not to reduce the qualifying cut-off for NEET-SS 2025 admissions. However, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to reconsider its decision due to the large number of super-speciality medical seats remaining vacant.
The matter concerns admission to DM, M.Ch. and DrNB Super Speciality courses. It is not related to the regular NEET-PG counselling for MD and MS courses.
Special stray round proposed
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe that the decision was taken after consultations among the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Medical Counselling Committee and National Medical Commission.
The Government proposes to conduct a special stray vacancy round for the vacant NEET-SS 2025 seats without reducing the existing qualifying percentile.
Around 2,000 seats may remain vacant
Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that approximately 2,000 super-speciality seats could remain unfilled if the cut-off is not reduced.
The petitioners pointed out that authorities had previously conducted additional counselling rounds and relaxed eligibility requirements when a substantial number of medical seats remained vacant.
They requested that at least a mop-up or stray vacancy round be conducted after the ongoing counselling process so that valuable super-speciality seats are not wasted.
Supreme Court asks Centre to reconsider
The Supreme Court expressed concern over the possible wastage of a large number of seats and asked the Government to take a fresh look at its decision.
The Government will now be required to reconsider whether retaining the present qualifying percentile can realistically fill the vacant seats or whether some form of relaxation is necessary.
Therefore, the Government’s decision should not be treated as final until the matter is considered again and further directions are issued by the Court.
Cut-off reduction controversy
The Centre’s cautious position follows criticism over earlier reductions in medical entrance qualifying percentiles. In the previous NEET-SS admission cycle, reducing the qualifying percentile to zero generated strong public debate regarding academic standards.
The Government appears to favour an additional counselling round while maintaining the existing eligibility standard.
However, conducting another round without expanding the eligible candidate pool may not solve the vacancy problem if the remaining qualified candidates are insufficient or unwilling to take the available seats.
What does this mean for candidates?
At present:
- No NEET-SS 2025 cut-off reduction has been approved.
- The Centre has proposed a special stray vacancy round.
- The existing qualifying percentile remains applicable.
- The Supreme Court has asked the Government to reconsider its decision.
- Candidates must wait for the next official announcement from MCC.
NEET-SS candidates should regularly monitor the official MCC Super Speciality Counselling portal for the special stray-round schedule, eligibility conditions, vacancy list and any revised cut-off notification.
The final decision will be important not only for candidates but also for the country’s healthcare system, as allowing a large number of advanced medical-training seats to remain vacant could further affect the availability of qualified super-specialists.