NEET PG 2026 Result: 258 Candidates Score Zero or Negative Marks, Lowest Score Falls to -59

NEET PG 2026 result data has revealed a striking performance statistic: 258 candidates scored zero or negative marks in the postgraduate medical entrance examination. The figures emerge from an analysis of the score list published after the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences declared the NEET PG 2026 result.

Of the 258 candidates at zero or below, 64 candidates scored exactly zero, while 194 candidates finished with negative scores. The lowest reported score was -59 out of 720, highlighting the effect of negative marking on candidates with a high number of incorrect responses.

NEET PG 2026 Result Statistics: Key Highlights

Why Can NEET PG Scores Become Negative?

NEET PG uses a negative-marking system. Candidates receive four marks for a correct response, lose one mark for an incorrect response and receive zero for an unanswered question. Because incorrect answers carry a penalty, a candidate attempting a large number of questions inaccurately can finish with an overall score below zero.

All 258 Candidates Fall Below the Qualifying Cut-off

The qualifying score for General and EWS candidates was 262 out of 720. General-category candidates with benchmark disabilities required 244 marks, while SC, ST and OBC candidates, including eligible PwBD candidates in those categories, required 226 marks.

Consequently, every candidate who scored zero or a negative mark remained well below the qualifying threshold for NEET PG 2026.

How Many Candidates Appeared for NEET PG 2026?

The result analysis covers 2,65,960 candidates who received scores. Most candidates appeared in the main examination conducted on August 30, while a smaller group took a re-examination in Jaipur after a technical disruption affected the original test session.

• Main NEET PG examination held on August 30, 2026.
• Jaipur re-examination conducted on September 5.
• Approximately 2.66 lakh candidates received examination scores.
• The result was declared on September 24.
• Individual score information became available subsequently.

What Does the Lowest Score Mean?

The candidate with the reported score of -59 was placed at the bottom of the ranked result list. A negative score does not indicate that marks were deducted below an initial score of zero independently; it is the mathematical outcome of the examination's +4/-1 marking formula.

The figures also illustrate the wide performance range in a highly competitive national examination. They should not be interpreted as evidence about the overall academic ability of candidates, since examination performance reflects responses in a specific test under a particular marking system.

What Happens Next for Qualified Candidates?

Candidates meeting the applicable qualifying cut-off can proceed to postgraduate medical counselling subject to eligibility requirements. All India and participating institutional counselling is conducted through the Medical Counselling Committee, while state authorities manage their respective state-quota processes.

Qualified candidates should keep their scorecard, rank information and academic documents ready and monitor the appropriate counselling authority for registration, seat-matrix and choice-filling updates.