National Medical Commission proposes rank-based NEET-PG and SS counselling to replace percentile system

Key facts

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) has received in-principle approval to issue new regulations adopting only a rank-based system for NEET-PG and super-speciality counselling, with no percentile marks declared in results, as per a report by a 12-member expert committee submitted to the Supreme Court.
• The rank-based system will remove the need for permission from a competent authority to reduce qualifying percentiles in later counselling rounds, helping complete counselling within the prescribed time frame.
• The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is digitalising the counselling process with minimum human intervention; this year candidates upgrading seats no longer needed to travel to institutes with documents and fees, and a complete online database of UG and PG medical seats has been prepared.
• The MCC will create an audit mechanism from 2027 onwards to identify issues in the counselling process, and the NMC will update seat details well before counselling begins.
• Doctors, including the Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors' Network, argue the change will not prevent low-scoring or meritless candidates from becoming eligible for seats, and urge the NMC to cancel seats that remain consistently vacant.