New Delhi, June 29 -- Professional competence may soon take precedence over merely filling seats, as the Centre is reviewing the zero-percentile eligibility criterion for NEET-PG admissions to 85,839 medical postgraduate seats-a rule introduced in 2024 to prevent vacancies, according to two government officials aware of the matter.

Despite lowering the percentile bar to zero, 1,140 postgraduate seats remained unfilled in the 2025-26 academic year, raising concerns over the dilution of medical education standards and the waste of taxpayers' money. The government spends about Rs.1.25 crore per postgraduate seat, with the course spanning three years.

The Union health ministry is now considering a more merit-based approach, including a 40th...