1140 NEET PG 2025 Seats Vacant After Counselling, Govt Confirms No Plan to Scrap NEET
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• Updated on 19 Mar, 2026, 6:53 AM, by Amrita Das
Over 1,140 NEET PG 2025 seats remain vacant after counselling despite cutoff relaxation. The government highlighted low interest in certain branches and high private fees. The Union Government also confirmed that NEET will continue, with no proposal to scrap the national-level exam.
1140 NEET PG 2025 Seats Vacant After Counselling, Govt Confirms No Plan to Scrap NEET as the Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha about unfilled postgraduate medical seats. The update was shared on 17 March 2026, highlighting concerns despite multiple measures taken to fill seats.
NEET PG 2025 Counselling Vacant Seats and Seat Increase Data
The government reported that 1,140 postgraduate medical seats remain vacant after the completion of the stray vacancy round. These vacancies exist across government and private medical colleges in India.
To improve access, authorities had increased the number of PG medical seats. A total of 8,416 new seats were approved, taking the overall seat count to 58,331. Despite this increase and relaxation in qualifying cutoff to negative marks, a significant number of seats remain unfilled.
Reasons Behind Vacant NEET PG Seats in India
Experts have identified key factors contributing to the vacant seats. These reasons highlight structural and preference-related challenges in medical education. The major reasons include:
- Low interest in non-clinical branches such as Physiology and Anatomy
- High tuition fees in private medical colleges
- Preference for clinical specialisations among candidates
These factors have led to limited demand for certain courses despite availability.
NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Relaxation and Impact
The qualifying cutoff for NEET PG 2026 was reduced to negative to increase participation and seat allotment. However, the measure did not fully resolve the issue of vacant seats. Even after the relaxation, a considerable number of seats remained unfilled, indicating deeper concerns in course demand and affordability.
No Proposal to Scrap NEET, Government Clarifies
The Union Government clarified that there is no proposal to discontinue NEET for medical admissions. This statement was made in response to demands from some states. States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal had passed resolutions seeking to replace NEET with state-level entrance exams.
However, the government stated that NEET is mandatory under Section 14 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act. The exam ensures a uniform, merit-based admission process across the country.
NEET PG Admission Process and Future Outlook
NEET remains the primary gateway for admission to postgraduate medical courses in India. It is also used for ensuring transparency and standardisation in admissions. The government’s response indicates that NEET will continue as the central examination for medical education, while efforts may focus on addressing vacant seat concerns through policy and structural improvements.
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