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New Delhi: More than 1,500 super-specialty medical seats across India remain unfilled even after two rounds of NEET-SS 2024 counselling, prompting urgent calls from doctors and medical associations for the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to lower the qualifying cutoff percentile before the upcoming counselling round.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) recently postponed the third (stray) round of NEET-SS counselling, with the revised schedule yet to be announced. In this context, doctors are intensifying their demand for a reduction in the NEET-SS cutoff to ensure that valuable DM, MCh, and DrNB seats do not go to waste.
A NEET-SS candidate from Gujarat highlighted that, in previous years, the cutoff was reduced below the 50th percentile to fill vacant seats. “Our demand is to reduce the cut-off percentile and fill up the remaining vacancies in the DM/MCh and DrNB courses in all specialities,” the candidate stated. He further emphasized that the high cutoff has excluded many qualified candidates, leading to underutilization of advanced training opportunities and exacerbating the shortage of super-specialists, especially in underserved and rural areas.
The Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors’ Network (IMA-JDN) has also appealed to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, arguing that the high qualifying percentile leaves many competent candidates without opportunities, despite the abundance of vacant seats. The association urged the government to consider a compassionate and rational reduction in the qualifying percentile, as was done in previous years, to ensure optimal utilization of super-specialty seats and bolster the healthcare workforce.
In both 2022 and 2023, authorities responded to similar situations by reducing the NEET-SS cutoff—down to 20 percentile in 2022 and to zero in 2023—allowing all eligible candidates to participate in further counselling rounds and fill vacant seats. The Supreme Court has also addressed the issue, directing the central government to consult stakeholders and prevent such vacancies in future academic years.
The IMA-JDN maintains that reducing the cutoff will not compromise healthcare quality, as all candidates will still meet the minimum eligibility criteria and undergo rigorous training under experienced faculty. The association has called for a clear directive from the Ministry, NMC, or NBE to provide clarity and maintain transparency for aspirants.
“Vacant super-specialty seats are a missed opportunity for both the aspirants and the healthcare system. A cut-off reduction would allow these positions to be filled by dedicated and well-trained doctors, enhancing specialist availability across India, particularly in underserved and rural areas,” the IMA-JDN stated.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues as of June 26, 2025. The situation regarding NEET-SS counselling and seat vacancies is evolving, and readers are advised to consult official notifications from the NBE, MCC, or relevant authorities for the most current updates.
