New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has sought a detailed affidavit from the Central government on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the decision to lower the qualifying cut-off percentiles for NEET-PG 2025 for the 2025–26 academic session.

The petition contests a January 13 notice issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), which stated that the reduction was made as per directions from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Under the revised criteria, the general category cut-off has been reduced from 276 to 103, while SC, ST, and OBC candidates now face a cut-off of -40, down from 235.

A Bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe remarked, “This is about standards. The question is whether those standards are being compromised,” expressing concern over the performance levels of postgraduate medical candidates.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati defended the decision, stating it aimed to ensure no postgraduate medical seats remain vacant, noting that all candidates are qualified doctors. However, the Bench questioned the methodology, highlighting potential risks to medical education standards and patient safety.

The PIL argues that the NBEMS notice arbitrarily lowers minimum qualifying standards, violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, and institutionalises sub-standard competence in postgraduate medical education. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan emphasised that percentile relaxation should be limited to exceptional cases, citing regulations mandating a 50th percentile minimum relative to top scores.

The petition warns that the cut-off reduction undermines merit at the highest level of medical education and poses a direct threat to public health, urging the Supreme Court to review the decision.