Mumbai: In a significant development for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) postgraduate (PG) aspirants, the Delhi High Court has confirmed the reduction in the cut-off percentile for subsequent rounds of admissions to Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), and Diplomate of National Board (DNB) courses for 2024.
The ruling follows a submission by the counsel for the Union of India, who informed the court that the competent authority had approved the relaxation. Consequently, the court disposed of the petition, noting that the petitioner’s grievance had been addressed.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is expected to notify the National Medical Commission (NMC) shortly, with the National Board of Examinations (NBE) then issuing the revised cut-off percentile. However, the exact reduction has yet to be announced, leaving aspirants eagerly awaiting updates.
This development has set in motion adjustments to the NEET PG counselling schedule. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has extended the resignation deadline for Round 2 of the All India Quota (AIQ) to 6:00 PM on January 8, a move aligning with the state counselling processes in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and possibly Madhya Pradesh.
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has also revised its schedule, extending the resignation deadline for Round 2 state counselling seats to January 8. According to a notice issued by Dileep Sardesai, IAS., Commissioner of the CET Cell, the CAP-3 schedule declared in November has been postponed, with a revised timeline to be announced soon.
Brijesh Sutaria, a medical activist, remarked on the growing complexity of the counselling process. “The NEET PG 2024 counselling process indeed seems complex, with conflicting updates from the Maharashtra CET Cell and no clear guidance from the MCC for AIQ Round 3. The Maharashtra notice cancels earlier deadlines and postpones the CAP-3 schedule but provides no clarity on the final timeline. Combined with today’s Delhi High Court order approving cut-off reduction without immediate implementation details, it leaves aspirants in a tough spot. The lack of alignment between AIQ and state counselling schedules adds to the confusion, risking delays in the admission process,” he told The Free Press Journal.
Medical students’ counsellor Sudha Shenoy underscored the importance of a streamlined process. “The seat conversion should start in Round 3 itself. The MCC should not wait for stray rounds to convert the seats for reservation candidates, especially the PwD candidates. If the conversion happens later, general category students with higher marks will not be able to take advantage of better seats emerging after Round 3, as they’ll get stuck and will have to confirm admissions in Round 3 itself,” she explained.
Candidates newly eligible under the reduced cut-off can register afresh for All India Round 3 counselling. The choice-filling for this round is expected to begin after January 8, though aspirants are advised to monitor notifications closely for earlier announcements.
Meanwhile, states like Uttar Pradesh and Goa have published their counselling schedules, potentially requiring revisions to align with the updated All India timeline. Candidates should comply with any ongoing state-specific processes while awaiting updates.
