NEET-PG 2026: 258 Candidates Score Zero or Negative Marks, Lowest at -59
NEET-PG 2026 saw 2.66 lakh candidates appear, with 258 scoring zero or below. The lowest score was -59 out of 720.
A total of 258 candidates scored zero or negative marks in NEET-PG 2026, according to an analysis of the results released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). Of them, 64 candidates scored exactly zero, while 194 recorded negative marks. The lowest score was -59 out of 720, with the candidate ranked 2,65,960.
Overall, 2,65,960 candidates appeared for the postgraduate medical entrance exam. Of these, 2,63,544 took the test on August 30, while 2,416 candidates appeared in a re-examination in Jaipur on September 5 after a power failure disrupted the original exam at the centre.
The qualifying cut-off for General and EWS candidates was 262 marks, corresponding to the 50th percentile. For General candidates with benchmark disabilities, it was 244 marks, while SC, ST and OBC candidates, including those with benchmark disabilities, needed 226 marks.
All 258 candidates who scored zero or below fell short of the qualifying marks across categories.
The NEET-PG 2026 cut-offs were also reported to be at their lowest levels since 2021 across categories. Meanwhile, with nearly 2.66 lakh candidates competing for postgraduate medical seats, the exam continues to be a high-pressure academic battleground—because apparently medical school wasn't stressful enough already.
