Vadodara: A major overhaul in NEET-UG admissions may be on the cards with a proposal to shift from percentile-based eligibility to a percentage-based system aimed at improving the quality of entrants to medical education.
The proposal submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) suggests that admissions to medical and dental colleges be based on the percentage of marks obtained in NEET-UG rather than relative percentile rankings.
Dr Aruna Vanikar, former president of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) at NMC, said the change is intended to ensure minimum academic competency among candidates.
“At present, eligibility is determined by percentile, where candidates qualify based on relative performance. This often allows even those with low marks to qualify if overall scores are low,” Vanikar told TOI.
Currently, students must secure at least 50% in Class 12 and qualify for NEET-UG based on percentile scores. With more than 20 lakh candidates appearing annually, around 10 lakh qualify each year.
The scale of the exam continues to grow. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct NEET-UG 2026 on May 3, with registrations expected to exceed 26 lakh – the largest edition so far. This expansion has raised concerns about the size of the eligible pool and its impact on academic standards.
Explaining the rationale behind the shift, Vanikar said a percentage-based system would introduce a fixed cutoff based on actual marks. “We proposed moving to percentage… there is a possibility that it may be considered,” she said. “With percentage, the number of eligible candidates may come down, but the quality improves.”
Unlike the percentile system, where a fixed proportion qualifies each year, a percentage-based cutoff would mean eligibility varies depending on performance.
Sources said the proposal is being viewed as a move to ensure only candidates meeting a minimum benchmark enter the admission pool. If implemented, the shift could significantly shrink the number of eligible candidates, intensifying competition for limited seats. It would also push students to focus on achieving higher absolute scores, irrespective of exam difficulty.
The change may further alter coaching strategies as preparation shifts toward maximizing marks rather than improving relative rank.
