The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on a public interest litigation challenging the reduction of qualifying cut-off percentiles for the NEET-PG 2025–26 academic session. The court has granted one week for replies and listed the matter for further hearing on Friday.

The petition challenges an NBEMS notification dated January 13, 2026, which reportedly lowered NEET-PG qualifying percentiles to unprecedented levels, including zero and negative scores, to fill vacant postgraduate medical seats. Filed by social activist Harisharan Devgan along with three doctors, the plea argues that such dilution of eligibility standards is arbitrary, unconstitutional and contrary to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act.

Petitioners have warned that postgraduate medical trainees play a direct role in patient diagnosis, treatment and surgical care, and relaxing merit standards at this level could compromise public health and patient safety. They further contend that maintaining minimum academic thresholds is essential to preserve the integrity and credibility of India’s medical education system.

The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to clarify whether authorities can substantially relax merit criteria to address vacant seats or whether academic quality and patient safety must remain the overriding priority in postgraduate medical admissions.