NEET SS 2025 cutoff lowered to 30th percentile: Reason, revised scores and impact on counseling

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has lowered the qualifying percentile for NEET SS 2025 from 50th to 30th percentile, allowing more candidates to become eligible for the super-speciality counselling process.

The revised result has been shared with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Candidates who secured at least the 30th percentile in their respective NEET SS 2025 question paper groups will now be considered qualified and can participate in counselling.

The reduction follows directions issued after the Supreme Court considered the issue of vacant super-speciality seats. The government had informed the court that 1,857 super-speciality seats remained vacant after the second round of NEET SS counselling and agreed to lower the qualifying percentile to 30 for the proposed Special Stray Vacancy Round.

The revised qualifying percentile applies to candidates based on their respective NEET SS question paper groups. While the qualifying threshold has been lowered, NBEMS has clarified that candidates' previously declared question paper group-specific ranks will not change.

No fresh scorecards will be issued following the revision. The ranks declared on Jan 23, 2026, will continue to remain valid.

NEET SS 2025 revised cutoff

The NEET SS 2025 examination carries 600 marks. Although the qualifying percentile has been fixed at 30th percentile after the revision, the corresponding qualifying scores differ across question paper groups.

The revised scores range from 175 marks in the Medical group to 325 marks in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology group.

What was the earlier NEET SS 2025 cutoff?

Before the revision, the minimum qualifying requirement was the 50th percentile across the NEET SS question paper groups. The qualifying marks, however, varied by group.

The revision therefore lowers the marks required to meet the qualifying threshold in each of the listed groups.

NEET SS 2025 ranks will remain unchanged

NBEMS has made clear that lowering the qualifying percentile will not alter the question paper group-specific ranks already declared on Jan 23, 2026.

Candidates will also not receive fresh scorecards because of the cutoff revision. Their existing NEET SS 2025 records will continue to apply for the counselling process.

The board has also reiterated that candidates' aggregate marks in all MBBS professional examinations, as submitted in their NEET SS 2025 applications, will be checked against their original credentials during admission.

Where MBBS aggregate marks were used as a tie-breaker for ranking, those marks are reflected in the candidates' scorecards.

If the information submitted by a candidate is found to be incorrect and was used to resolve a tie, the candidate's NEET SS 2025 candidature may be cancelled.

NEET SS candidates to get another counselling opportunity

The lowered qualifying threshold increases the number of candidates who can participate in the counselling process as authorities seek to fill vacant super-speciality seats.

The government had earlier reported that about 1,857 super-speciality seats remained vacant after the second counselling round. The reduction to the 30th percentile is linked to efforts to allow additional eligible candidates to participate in the Special Stray Vacancy Round.

Candidates who meet the revised 30th percentile requirement in their respective question paper groups can now apply for the counselling process. The revised result has already been communicated to MCC for further counselling-related action.

Earlier NEET SS cutoff reductions

The qualifying percentile for NEET SS has also been reduced during previous counselling cycles, particularly when vacant super-speciality seats remained after the regular rounds.

For NEET SS 2024, the cutoff was reduced to zero for the Stray Round. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences stated that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had allowed candidates who appeared for the NEET SS 2024 examination with an eligible broad speciality degree such as MD, MS or DNB to participate in the Stray Round of counselling.

In 2020, the qualifying cutoff was revised to the 45th percentile. For the 2019 cycle, the minimum qualifying percentile was lowered to the 20th percentile for CTVS, Cardiology and Paediatric Surgery, while the qualifying requirement for the remaining super-speciality courses was reduced to the 40th percentile.

The 2022 and 2023 counselling cycles also saw substantial reductions. The 2022 qualifying requirement was reduced from the 50th to the 20th percentile, while the 2023 cutoff was subsequently reduced to zero percentile across groups during a special mop-up or stray round to address vacant super-speciality seats.

Unfair means can lead to cancellation

NBEMS has also reiterated that candidates found using unfair means at any stage can face action under the applicable rules.

If a candidate is found to have used unfair means during the examination, the result or candidature may be cancelled. Further action may also be taken by NBEMS, MCC or the relevant counselling authority.

The board has clarified that even candidates who have already been declared successful in NEET SS 2025 may have their result or candidature cancelled, and their admission may also be treated as cancelled if such violations are established.

The revised cutoff does not change the examination ranks or require candidates to obtain new scorecards.

Candidates who now meet the 30th percentile threshold will instead gain eligibility to participate in the applicable counselling process, subject to the remaining admission requirements.