Amid continuing debate over the reduction in the NEET-PG qualifying percentile, the Union Health Ministry has defended its decision before the Supreme Court, stating that a lower cut-off does not indicate incompetence among candidates.

In response to a public interest petition challenging the revised percentile for postgraduate medical admissions for the 2025-26 academic session, the government said the move followed detailed consideration after a significant number of seats remained vacant. More than 9,600 seats under the All India Quota were unfilled after the second round of counselling, including over 5,200 in government medical colleges.

The Directorate General of Health Services, in its affidavit, clarified that NEET-PG is intended to prepare a merit list for allocating limited postgraduate seats rather than to assess minimum clinical competence. It emphasized that all candidates already hold an MBBS degree, which includes extensive academic training across multiple specialties and a mandatory internship year, thereby establishing foundational competence.

The ministry described the revised percentile as a policy decision and maintained that it does not compromise educational standards or patient safety. It further noted that postgraduate medical education consists of a structured three-year supervised training program, with final competence evaluated through MD/MS examinations.

Addressing concerns that the change could benefit private institutions, the government stated that the aim was to prevent large-scale vacancies, including in publicly funded government colleges, rather than to advantage any particular sector.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court expressed concern over whether the sharp reduction in the cut-off could affect the quality of medical education and asked the Centre to justify its decision. Petitioners argued that altering the qualifying percentile during the counselling process weakens established standards and may impact the right to health.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing in April.