Centre lowers NEET-SS cutoff to 30%, returns 40 seats to Tamil Nadu

The central government's move to lower the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Super-Speciality (NEET-SS) qualifying percentile marks a departure from earlier norms and is expected to facilitate faster recruitment of specialists across medical colleges and teaching hospitals. The reduction from 50% to 30% comes as part of a special stray vacancy round designed to fill persistent gaps in senior medical positions that have remained unfilled despite multiple recruitment cycles. The decision was reportedly communicated to the Supreme Court, indicating judicial oversight of the medical recruitment process. Tamil Nadu, which had flagged concerns over vacant in-service positions in its medical institutions, will receive 40 additional seats under the revised framework. These seats represent positions that have remained vacant in the state's medical infrastructure and will now be accessible to candidates under the relaxed qualifying criteria. The move is seen as a pragmatic approach to balancing recruitment standards with the urgent need to strengthen the medical workforce across India's public healthcare system, particularly in specialised medical fields where shortages have been acute. State authorities are expected to begin the recruitment process for these seats following the formal implementation of the revised guidelines.