New Delhi: In a signification development, the Union Government has reduced the percentile cut offs for NEET-PG 2017 by 7.5 percentile, taking them to 42.5 percentile for general candidates, 32.5 percentile for reserved category candidates and 37.5 percentile for PWD category. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) – PG, 2017 was conducted by National Board of Examinations (NBE) for admission to all post-graduate medical courses in the country. The qualifying criteria was marks at 50th percentile for General category, 40th percentile for OBC/SC/ST and 45% percentile for PWD category.

As per Clause 9 sub-clause III of Medical Council of India’s Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2000, when sufficient number of candidates fail to secure minimum marks, the Central Government in consultation with MCI, may lower the minimum marks which shall be applicable for the said academic year only. Representations were received from some State Governments that seats in some categories may remain vacant as there are not sufficient number of candidates available.

Hence, the government has decided in consultation with MCI, to reduce the percentile cut offs for NEET-PG 2017 by 7.5 percentile, taking them to 42.5 percentile for general candidates, 32.5 percentile for reserved category candidates and 37.5 percentile for PWD category. This lowering by the Central Government is applicable for the academic year 2017 only. Nearly, 9,000 additional candidates are expected to be benefited by this decision.

NEET-PG is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination to various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses as per Section (10) of Indian Medical Council Act 1956.

NEET-PG is a single window entrance examination for PG courses. No other entrance examination, either at state or institution level, shall be valid for entry to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses as per the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 w.e.f. 2017 admission session.