The 2026 NEET PG exam in India has been facing intense controversy following the NBEMS drastically reducing qualifying percentiles to nearly zero. | Photo: iStock/ Getty Images
NEET PG 2026 is a national-level computer-based entrance exam for MD/MS/PG Diploma courses in India, conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). The 2026 NEET PG exam in India has been facing intense controversy following the NBEMS drastically reducing qualifying percentiles to nearly zero. This decision allowed candidates with negative or single-digit scores to qualify for postgraduate seats, sparking widespread backlash from doctors and sparking a Supreme Court challenge.
While doctors say that this lowering of qualifying marks will hamper quality of doctors coming into specialised medical streams, the government justified the move by stating it aimed to fill vacant postgraduate seats and reduce the wastage of medical resources, a strategy used in previous years.
To understand this, The Hindu will host a webinar, ‘Are reduced percentiles reasonable in NEET PG 2026?’, on February 21, 2026. Register now for free to ask questions and interact with the panellists. The three best questions will receive a free online subscription to The Hindu.
Published – February 16, 2026 12:44 pm IST
