In a statement released today, the Union government reaffirmed that the percentile cut‑off for admission to super‑speciality postgraduate medical courses will not be reduced further. The clarification comes after a wave of criticism last year when the cut‑off was set to zero, a policy shift that many stakeholders described as untenable.
Last year, the Ministry of Health altered the admission criteria for super‑speciality seats by eliminating the minimum percentile requirement, effectively reducing the cut‑off to zero. The change was intended to broaden access to advanced medical training, but it also raised concerns about meritocracy and the quality of candidates entering highly specialised programmes.
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The zero‑cut‑off decision triggered severe backlash from aspirants, medical colleges and professional bodies. Students argued that the removal of a merit‑based threshold could dilute the standards of super‑speciality training, while institutions warned of logistical challenges in managing a larger, less filtered applicant pool. The criticism was amplified through student forums, professional associations and media commentary.
Responding to the outcry, senior officials emphasized that the government will retain the existing percentile benchmark for the upcoming admission cycle. They noted that maintaining a clear cut‑off safeguards the integrity of the selection process and aligns with long‑standing standards for postgraduate medical education.
The reaffirmation is expected to shape the next round of admissions, as colleges prepare to apply the unchanged percentile criteria. Stakeholders will now focus on ensuring that the selection process remains transparent and that candidates meet the established academic thresholds for super‑speciality training.
