When the cut-off percentile for NEET PG was reduced to zero in 2023, private colleges benefited more than govt colleges. Around 64% of seats filled by students who scored below the initial cut-off were in private colleges. Not only that, 2,677 or about 85% of seats in clinical specialties bagged by those with scores below the initial cut-off were in private medical colleges as well. In comparison, only 485 clinical specialty seats in govt colleges were filled by those with scores below the initial cut-off. Tuition fees are highest for clinical specialties in private colleges. General category candidates benefited the most from the cut-off reduction as they accounted for over 56% of those admitted with scores below the first cut-off. OBCs accounted for 26%, and SC and ST candidates 11% and 6%, respectively. The skew is even more pronounced among those who got clinical specialities in private colleges – 70% were from the general category, and about 20% were OBC. In govt colleges, the general category accounted for 33% of such seats and OBC for 37%. To understand what happens when the cut-off is reduced to zero percentile, TOI analysed admissions to PG seats in 2023, when it was dropped to zero percentile or -40 out of 800 marks for all categories. The reduction took place as thousands of seats remained vacant. A “consolidated list” of PG admissions in 2023 put up on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website shows that the lowest score that got admission belonged to a general category candidate, who scored zero out of 800. Sixty-nine candidates with less than 50 marks got admission. This included 39 from general, 20 from OBC, seven from SC and three from ST category. The “consolidated list of PG students” admitted under NEET 2023 was put up on June 13, 2024, on the NMC website but gives data only for about 43,900 seats. According to the health ministry’s reply to a Rajya Sabha question in July 2024, there were 54,834 PG seats in medical colleges in 2023. This indicates that data for over 10,900 seats is missing from the list. It does not, for instance, include data of PG seats in central govt-funded colleges such as PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER and all the AIIMS. There is also no data on admission to over 10,000 DNB seats.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’We Were Preparing For War’: Former DGMO Reveals Inside Story Of India-China Doklam Stand-OffGrand Welcome To Dance Record: Indian Diaspora Gears Up For PM Modi’s Malaysia VisitWeeks After Noida Techie’s Death, Delhi Biker Dies After Falling Into Pit Dug By Jal BoardIndia Stands Firm On Chabahar Despite US-Iran Tensions And A Sanctions Threat, Tehran Backs DelhiFormer DGMO Lt Gen A.K. Bhatt Reveals How India Stopped China In Doklam: ‘We Used BRO Dozers…’From Exam Stress to Life Skills: PM Modi Engages Students in Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026Deadly Blast At Shia Religious Centre In Islamabad Raises Questions On Pakistan’s Security Failures’New Phase In Bilateral Ties’: Indian High Commissioner Hails PM Modi’s ‘Historic’ Malaysia VisitNorway PM Questions World War II-Era UNSC, Echoes India’s Demand For Reform And Global South VoiceAs Bangladesh Elections Near, Hindu Minority Faces Rising Attacks, Islamist Return And State Silence123Photostories6 sacred towns along the GangesDid you know? This indigenous Assamese craft is India’s best-kept heritage secretZendaya’s fashion evolution: A journey from girly pop to red carpet icon5 homemade, chemical-free ant killer sprays; effective DIY methodsInside Rohit Sharma’s premium car collection: 5 high-end luxury cars he owns10 iconic rajma dishes enjoyed across the globeApple TV shows to look forward to in 2026: ‘Imperfect Women’, ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ and morePrince Narula, Tejasswi Prakash, and more: Can you guess these reality TV stars from their childhood picsThe mystery behind Leonardo da Vinci’s lost masterpieces and what historians sayFall in love, Bollywood style: 5 saree looks perfect for Valentine’s Day123Hot PicksBudget 2026Gold Silver PricesParliament Budget SessionGCC Unified Visa 2026Income Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingGCC Unified VisaRamadan 2026Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns InjuryPhiladelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers injury reportNFL Trade RumorsMyles Garrett GirlfriendSuryakumar YadavGhaziabad Suicide CaseJim BentT20 World Cup
When the cut-off percentile for NEET PG was reduced to zero in 2023, private colleges benefited more than govt colleges. Around 64% of seats filled by students who scored below the initial cut-off were in private colleges. Not only that, 2,677 or about 85% of seats in clinical specialties bagged by those with scores below the initial cut-off were in private medical colleges as well. In comparison, only 485 clinical specialty seats in govt colleges were filled by those with scores below the initial cut-off. Tuition fees are highest for clinical specialties in private colleges.
General category candidates benefited the most from the cut-off reduction as they accounted for over 56% of those admitted with scores below the first cut-off. OBCs accounted for 26%, and SC and ST candidates 11% and 6%, respectively. The skew is even more pronounced among those who got clinical specialities in private colleges – 70% were from the general category, and about 20% were OBC. In govt colleges, the general category accounted for 33% of such seats and OBC for 37%. To understand what happens when the cut-off is reduced to zero percentile, TOI analysed admissions to PG seats in 2023, when it was dropped to zero percentile or -40 out of 800 marks for all categories. The reduction took place as thousands of seats remained vacant. A “consolidated list” of PG admissions in 2023 put up on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website shows that the lowest score that got admission belonged to a general category candidate, who scored zero out of 800. Sixty-nine candidates with less than 50 marks got admission. This included 39 from general, 20 from OBC, seven from SC and three from ST category. The “consolidated list of PG students” admitted under NEET 2023 was put up on June 13, 2024, on the NMC website but gives data only for about 43,900 seats. According to the health ministry’s reply to a Rajya Sabha question in July 2024, there were 54,834 PG seats in medical colleges in 2023. This indicates that data for over 10,900 seats is missing from the list. It does not, for instance, include data of PG seats in central govt-funded colleges such as PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER and all the AIIMS. There is also no data on admission to over 10,000 DNB seats.
