Explained: Why NEET PG Cut-Offs Are Lower but Medical Seats Are Still Empty

Hospitals across the country struggle with a shortage of specialist doctors, but thousands of postgraduate medical seats remain vacant every year. This situation has raised major concerns among medical professionals, policymakers, and aspirants.

The ongoing NEET PG seat crisis has once again come into public discussion after authorities reduced qualifying cut-offs to historically low levels. Candidates with even negative scores were allowed to participat in the latest counselling rounds. This highlights the urgency to fill vacant seats. However, experts believe that reducing marks alone cannot fix long-standing structural issues.

This article explains the reasons behind the NEET PG seat crisis and what aspirants should expect from NEET PG admissions 2026.

What Is NEET PG Seat Crisis?

The NEET PG seat crisis refers to the increasing number of postgraduate medical seats that remain unfilled despite a large pool of qualified MBBS graduates. Lakhs of candidates appear for the NEET PG exam every year, yet a significant percentage of seats are left vacant after multiple counselling rounds.

India currently has more than 67,000 postgraduate medical seats across MD, MS, and diploma courses. The government has expanded PG capacity to address the shortage of specialists. Around 18,000 seats remain vacant annually despite this expansion.

This situation highlights a major imbalance between policy goals and ground reality. Medical experts argue that the crisis is not caused by a lack of merit or effort from students. It reflects deeper issues related to affordability, uneven seat distribution, and declining trust in certain institutions.

The NEET PG seat crisis has therefore become a systemic problem rather than an examination-related issue.

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Why Are There NEET PG Vacant Seats?

The issue of NEET PG vacant seats is concentrated mainly in private medical colleges and less preferred specialties. Students are not avoiding postgraduate education. They are avoiding financial and professional risk.

Most medical PG seats vacant are found in private institutions where course fees are extremely high. The cost of completing an MD or MS degree ranges from ₹25 lakh to more than ₹1 crore in many colleges. The cost can be even higher for super-specialty and DNB courses.

This level of financial burden is not sustainable for an average middle-class medical graduate. Many aspirants prefer to wait for government seats rather than take loans that could take decades to repay. So they either drop out of counselling or do not opt for available private seats.

Other contributing factors include poor infrastructure, inconsistent stipend payments, limited patient exposure, and remote college locations. These issues discourage students from choosing certain institutions even when seats are available.

Why Is NEET PG Cut Off Reduced?

The repeated decision to lower qualifying marks has become a defining feature of recent admission cycles. The move to NEET PG cut off reduced levels is aimed at increasing the pool of eligible candidates and filling empty seats.

Authorities have reduced cut-offs multiple times across categories. The latest revisions have allowed candidates with very low or even negative scores to participate in later counselling rounds.

This approach may help reduce the number of vacant seats temporarily, but experts believe it does not address the root cause of the problem. Lowering cut-offs is seen as a corrective step taken under pressure rather than a long-term solution.

Medical professionals argue that repeated relaxation of eligibility standards reflects deeper failures in policy planning, fee regulation, and seat allocation. The trend of NEET PG cut off reduced year after year signals an urgent need for systemic reform rather than temporary adjustments.

NEET PG Counselling Issues

The NEET PG counselling issues extend far beyond exam scores and eligibility criteria. Many aspirants who qualify still choose not to take seats due to non-academic concerns.

One major issue is the lack of uniform fee regulation across private medical colleges. Wide variations in fees create confusion and mistrust among students. Inconsistent bonding policies across states add to the uncertainty.

Another concern is the quality of training. Some newer colleges, both private and government, lack adequate clinical exposure, experienced faculty, and proper infrastructure. Aspirants are increasingly cautious about investing time and money in institutions that may not provide strong professional outcomes.

NEET PG Cut Off Trends

The analysis of NEET PG cut off trends over recent years shows a clear pattern. Instead of stabilising, cut-offs have continued to decline to accommodate unfilled seats.

This trend raises questions about the effectiveness of current admission policies. Experts warn that consistently lowering cut-offs may affect academic standards and the overall quality of postgraduate medical training.

The intention is to maximise seat utilisation, but NEET PG cut off trends suggest that authorities are addressing symptoms rather than the cause. Sustainable solutions require better regulation, transparency, and long-term planning.

The NEET PG seat crisis is not caused by a lack of talent or effort among medical graduates. It is the result of structural weaknesses in postgraduate medical education. High fees, uneven seat distribution, poor regulation, and inconsistent policies have created a system where seats remain vacant despite high demand.

Reducing cut-offs may offer short-term relief, but it does not solve the deeper issues behind NEET PG vacant seats. Meaningful reform is essential to ensure that postgraduate medical education truly serves both doctors and patients.