nmc: admission rules may shift to rank-based merit system

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has in principle decided to adopt a rank-based merit system for the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) and NEET Super Speciality examinations, effectively planning to do away with the existing percentile-based format. The Secretary of NMC informed the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) about this proposal on October 1, 2026, noting that it is currently under consideration by the Commission.

What is nmc?

The National Medical Commission is the apex regulatory body for medical education and medical professionals in India. While the Commission has accorded in-principle approval for the proposed change, a draft regulation will be issued shortly to invite comments from stakeholders. According to the expert panel report, the new regulations will feature only a rank-based system for NEET-PG and NEET-SS counselling, meaning no percentile marks will be declared in results and only ranks will be provided to candidates.

The National Medical Commission proposes shifting postgraduate medical admissions to a rank-based merit system.

Why is it trending?

The proposed overhaul emerged during judicial proceedings. A 12-member expert committee of the Union Government informed the Supreme Court bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe about the decision on November 3, 2026. This occurred during the hearing of a plea that challenged the reduction of the cut-off percentile in the NEET PG 2025-2026 examinations. Following oral directions from the Apex Court, the Union Government had earlier constituted this 12-member committee on July 23, 2026, chaired by DGHS Dr. Loveneesh G. Krishna, to audit the existing admission framework and identify gaps.

What comes next?

The expert committee report highlights that transitioning to a rank-based system starting next year could reduce the overall duration of the counselling process. The NMC continues to process the new regulations, which are yet to be finalized. Once the draft regulation is formally published, stakeholders can review the proposed reforms and submit their comments before the framework is officially implemented for upcoming academic sessions.

Why it matters

This proposed regulatory shift alters how medical graduates transition into postgraduate and super-specialty courses across India. By eliminating percentile-based thresholds in favor of a direct rank-based merit approach, the admission process aims to address existing structural issues and shorten counselling timelines for medical aspirants nationwide.