Join thousands of students achieving their dreams with expert-led courses.
Join free and unlock everything on EasyShiksha.
Takes less than 3 seconds โ no password needed
Please enter a valid email address.
Checking your emailโฆ
Almost done โ just verify your number so we can send course updates and certificates.
Used only for verification & updates
Incorrect OTP. Please try again.
Takes less than 10 seconds
Please select your country.
Please select your state.
The NEET PG 2026 results were declared on September 24, giving lakhs of medical graduates their ranks and scores, but one number immediately stood out: the qualifying cut-off.
For General and EWS candidates, the cut-off is now 262 marks, corresponding to the 50th percentile. It is 244 marks for General PwBD candidates and 226 for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates from these categories.
That makes 2026 particularly notable when the qualifying scores are placed alongside the previous six years. This year's cutoff has been the lowest since 2021 for all categories.
| Year | General/EWS | General-PwBD | SC/ST/OBC, including PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 302 | 283 | 265 |
| 2022 | 275 | 260 | 245 |
| 2023 | 291 | 274 | 257 |
| 2024 | 50th percentile | 45th percentile | 40th percentile |
| 2025 | 276 | 255 | 235 |
| 2026 | 262 | 244 | 226 |
Experts explain what may be driving the decline, and what does that fall actually tell us about NEET PG and the students appearing for it?
The first thing experts point out is that the qualifying percentile itself has not changed in 2026. General/EWS candidates still need the 50th percentile, while the threshold remains 45th percentile for General PwBD and 40th percentile for SC, ST and OBC candidates.
Dr Rohan Krishnan, chief patron and co-founder of FAIMA Doctors Association, says the lower score should not automatically be seen as an easier route into postgraduate medical education.
โThis yearโs fall in the NEET-PG cut-off should not simply be interpreted as an easier route to postgraduate medical education,โ he said.
According to him, the changing examination pattern, tougher competition and the growing number of coaching options have created a different preparation environment for medical students.
โInstead of helping students build conceptual clarity, multiple sources, conflicting strategies and excessive study material can leave them confused about what and how to prepare,โ Krishnan said.
That dependence on coaching, he says, is also linked to the quality of undergraduate medical education.
โIf the foundation during MBBS is not strong, students become increasingly dependent on coaching during their NEET-PG preparation,โ Krishnan said.
The result, he argues, can become a cycle of more coaching, more study material and more competition without necessarily improving conceptual understanding.
Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson of the IMA Junior Doctors Network, cautions against reading the lower qualifying score as evidence of lower competence among doctors.
โThe cut-off is influenced by the examโs difficulty, candidate performance, score distribution, number of candidates and available seats,โ he said.
For Gaurav Bhagat, founder of Gaurav Bhagat Academy, the cut-off also needs to be viewed against the availability of postgraduate seats. He pointed to more than 18,000 PG seats reportedly remaining vacant in the previous counselling cycle.
He said authorities had lowered qualifying percentiles to widen the eligible pool and reduce seat wastage.
The larger question, therefore, is not simply why the qualifying score has reached 262, but what happens after candidates cross that threshold.
As Bhagat puts it, โEducation must ultimately build knowledge, judgement, adaptability and real-world readiness and not simply optimise for an examination threshold.โ
Source Click here More News Click here
Credentials
Discover thousands of colleges and courses, enhance skills with online courses and internships, explore career alternatives, and stay updated with the latest educational news..
Gain high-quality, filtered student leads, prominent homepage ads, top search ranking, and a separate website. Let us actively enhance your brand awareness.
Download EasyShiksha Mobile Apps from Android Play Store, Apple App Store, Amazon App Store, and Jio STB.
1 million+ย learned on the EasyShiksha App
Trusted by Standards & Global Compliance Frameworks
Built under internationally recognized standards for quality, information security, educational excellence and business continuity.
ISO 9001:2015 | ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | ISO 21001:2018 | ISO 22301:2019 | DPIIT Recognized Startup | MSME Registered
