Instead of using relative percentile rankings, the proposal submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) proposes that admissions to medical and dental schools be determined by the percentage of marks earned in NEET-UG.
Vadodara: A suggestion to switch from a percentile-based eligibility system to a percentage-based approach in order to improve the caliber of applicants for medical education may result in a significant revamp of NEET-UG admissions.
Instead of using relative percentile rankings, the proposal submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) proposes that admissions to medical and dental schools be determined by the percentage of marks earned in NEET-UG.
According to Dr. Aruna Vanikar, a former president of NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), the modification is meant to guarantee candidates’ minimal level of academic proficiency.Currently, candidates are eligible based on relative performance, with eligibility determined by percentile. If overall scores are low, this frequently enables even those with poor marks to qualify,” Vanikar told TOI.
Currently, in order to be eligible for NEET-UG based on percentile results, students must receive at least 50% in Class 12. Approximately 10 lakh of the more than 20 lakh candidates who appear each year are qualified.
The exam’s scope keeps expanding. On May 3, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will administer NEET-UG 2026. It is anticipated that over 26 lakh people would register, making it the largest edition to date. Concerns over the size of the eligible pool and its effect on academic standards have been raised by this expansion.
Vanikar explained the change by stating that a defined cutoff based on real marks would be introduced in a percentage-based system. “We proposed moving to percentage… there is a possibility that it may be considered,” she stated. “The percentage may decrease the quantity of qualified applicants, but the caliber increases.
A percentage-based cutoff would mean eligibility varies dependent on performance, in contrast to the percentile approach, where a fixed fraction qualifies annually.
According to sources, the idea is seen as an attempt to guarantee that only applicants who satisfy a minimum standard are admitted. If put into effect, the change may drastically reduce the pool of qualified applicants, escalating the fight for the few available slots. Additionally, regardless of the exam, it would encourage pupils to concentrate on obtaining greater absolute results.