The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced plans to reduce the NEET PG 2025 cutoff score. This decision will make more students eligible for the remaining counselling rounds for postgraduate medical seats. The cutoff could be lowered by up to 15 percentile for certain categories.
This move comes after the completion of Round 1 and Round 2 of NEET PG 2025 seat allocation. Official dates for Round 3 counselling will be announced by the MCC only after the cutoff reduction process is complete.
NEET PG 2025 Original Cutoff Scores
Before the expected reduction, here are the minimum qualifying percentiles for NEET PG 2025:
| Category | NEET PG 2025 Original Qualifying Percentile |
| Unreserved (UR) | 50th percentile |
| SC/ST/OBC | 40th percentile |
| UR PWD | 45th percentile |
Why is the Cutoff Being Reduced?
The main reason for reducing the NEET PG cutoff is to ensure that all available medical seats are filled. After the first two counselling rounds, many seats, especially in certain medical branches or colleges, often remain vacant. This happens because most top-ranking students secure admissions in popular branches like Radiology, Medicine, or Surgery during Round 1 and Round 2.
Students who do not get their preferred choices in the initial rounds sometimes decide to wait and try again next year for a better rank. To prevent seats from remaining empty, the MCC lowers the cutoff. This allows more students who scored slightly less to become eligible and participate in the later counselling rounds, increasing their chances of getting a seat.
Expected Cutoff Reduction Details
The MCC is expected to reduce the NEET PG 2025 cutoff by around 10 to 15 percentile . This is similar to what happened last year (in 2024), when the cutoff was also reduced for Round 3 counselling.
- In 2024, the cutoff for the General category was reduced by 15 percentile .
- For SC, ST, and OBC categories , the cutoff was reduced by 10 percentile in 2024.
A similar pattern of reduction is anticipated for NEET PG 2025, which will open doors for more candidates to pursue their postgraduate medical education.
What Happens Next for Students?
Students should note the following key updates:
- Round 3 Registration: Registration for NEET PG 2025 Round 3 counselling has not started yet. The MCC plans to release the schedule for Round 3 after the revised cutoff percentiles are announced. It was earlier scheduled for December 26 but was postponed due to an extension in the Round 2 reporting deadline. Registration is now expected in the second week of January 2026 .
- Eligibility for Counselling: Even with a reduced cutoff, students must still meet the new minimum qualifying cutoff score for NEET PG 2025 to be eligible for counselling. Only those who qualify will be allowed to participate in the seat allocation rounds.
- Seat Allotment Rules: If a student is allotted a new seat in Round 2 of NEET PG counselling, their previously allotted seat from Round 1 will automatically be cancelled. However, if no new seat is allotted in Round 2, the Round 1 seat remains valid. Candidates have to register online and carefully choose their preferred colleges and courses.
The MCC conducts online counselling for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. Students must regularly check the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in , for the latest announcements and schedules regarding the NEET PG 2025 counselling process.
