After the NEET-PG exam, the cut-off percentile for the NEET-SS 2023 exam has been reduced to zero for all categories. This means that all candidates who completed their PG degree and took the NEET-SS 2023 exam are now eligible for further counseling rounds to fill vacant super-speciality seats.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) issued a notice on 22.01.2024, stating the reduction in the qualifying percentile for a special round of NEET-SS 2023 counseling. This decision was made because many super-speciality seats are reportedly vacant across the country.
Referring to the NEET-SS 2023 exam, which took place on 29th and 30th September 2023 with results declared on 15.10.2023, NBEMS mentioned in the notice that candidates who completed their PG Degree as per NMC norms and participated in the NEET-SS 2023 exam for the academic year 2023 are eligible for the upcoming special round of NEET-SS Counseling.
The notice also mentioned that the candidature is provisional, pending the fulfillment of eligibility criteria as stated in the NEET-SS 2023 Information Bulletin and verification of Face ID/Biometric where required. However, the NEET-SS rank declared on 15.10.2023 remains unchanged.
Previously, Medical Dialogues reported a similar reduction in eligibility criteria for NEET SS 2022, where it was lowered from 50 percentile to 20 percentile. This change was made due to over 1000 super-speciality seats remaining vacant after two counseling rounds.
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Last year, the Information Bulletin for NEET SS 2023 stated that candidates scoring at or above the 50th percentile in their respective groups would be considered qualified based on the minimum qualifying criteria.
The Health Ministry stepped in, and after talking with the National Medical Commission (NMC), the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) told the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to lower the passing score for NEET SS 2023 to 20 percentile points.
Despite this, many advanced medical seats were still empty. Recently, doctors from the United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) asked the Union Health Ministry and the NMC to lower the passing score for NEET-SS Counselling 2023. They also requested a prompt schedule for additional rounds to fill the vacant seats. The UDFA took this step after NEET SS 2023 candidates wrote to them, stating that over 400 DM/MCH/DrNB seats were still available after Round 2 of NEET SS Counselling.
Now, the NBE has declared that any student meeting NMC norms and taking the NEET SS 2023 exam is eligible for the upcoming special round of NEET SS Counselling.
Sources suggest that NMC will announce the registration dates for the special round soon. Experts say around 5,000 seats, including 150 in Gujarat, are available. After completing admissions, about 1,000 seats will remain unfilled nationwide.
Experts believe the NEET SS passing score decreases each year because medical colleges offering specialized courses face losses when certain seats, especially in private colleges, remain vacant. These colleges demand lower NEET SS passing scores, and the government usually agrees.
Vacant medical seats have been a concern for years. The Union Minister of State for Health shared data showing 860 MBBS and 12,758 PG medical seats vacant in the last three years. This year, more than 2,000 MBBS seats remained empty, leading the Health Ministry to seek a Supreme Court extension for admissions.
The situation is similar for PG medical seats. This year, the Health Ministry reduced the NEET-PG passing score to ‘Zero’ to fill more seats. However, despite these efforts, 2,962 MD/MS/PG Diploma seats stayed vacant after the stray vacancy round of NEET PG.
To view the NBE notice, click on the link: NBE NEET SS 2023 Cutoff.pdf
