NEET SS cut-off reduced, NBEMS announces revised qualifying percentiles

NBEMS has lowered the NEET SS 2025 qualifying percentile from 50 to 30 and issued revised cut-offs. The move follows court-linked counselling developments and is aimed at widening eligibility for vacant super-speciality seats.

In Short

• NBEMS lowered the qualifying threshold from 50th to 30th percentile
• Revised results have been shared with MCC under the DGHS
• The decision followed Supreme Court proceedings on the 2025 counselling process

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has reduced the qualifying percentile for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Super Specialty (NEET-SS) 2025 from the 50th percentile to the 30th percentile.

According to the notification issued by NBEMS on September 22, 2026, candidates who secured the 30th percentile or above in their respective NEET-SS 2025 question paper groups will now be considered qualified. The revised result has been shared with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The reduction follows the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's decision after the Supreme Court's September 17 order concerning the NEET-SS 2025 counselling process. The Centre had told the Supreme Court that 1,857 super-speciality seats remained vacant after the second round of counselling and agreed to lower the qualifying percentile to 30 for the proposed Special Stray Vacancy Round.

NEET SS 2025 REVISED CUT-OFF

The revised qualifying scores, out of 600, vary across the different NEET-SS question paper groups.

The highest revised qualifying score is 325 marks for the Obstetrics and Gynaecology group, while the Medical group has the lowest revised qualifying score at 175 marks.

NO CHANGE IN NEET SS RANKS

NBEMS has clarified that the reduction in the qualifying percentile will not change the question paper group-specific ranks declared on January 23, 2026. The board has also said that no fresh scorecards will be issued following the reduction in the qualifying percentile.

Candidates' aggregate marks in all MBBS professional examinations, as provided in their NEET-SS 2025 application forms, will be verified against their original credentials at the time of admission by the counselling or admitting authority.

NBEMS has also stated that if incorrect information was provided in the application form and that information was used to resolve a tie in the NEET-SS rank, the candidate's candidature may be cancelled.

The lowering of the qualifying percentile is expected to widen the pool of candidates eligible to participate in the counselling process as authorities move to fill vacant super-speciality seats. The Centre had earlier said that around 1,857 seats remained vacant after Round 2 of NEET-SS counselling.

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