Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) allows relaxation in MDCAT passing marks
The PMDC has granted a one-time relaxation of up to three percent in MDCAT passing marks. This decision aims to address the issue of vacant seats in MBBS and BDS programmes for the 2025-26 academic session.
Following national-level deliberations, all admissions completed under previous Admission Regulations 2025 remain valid. Admitting universities must prioritize candidates who applied earlier and are available in the pool of eligible students, especially for private medical and dental colleges.
If seats remain unfilled after exhausting the existing pool, universities can reduce MDCAT passing percentage by up to three percent strictly to fill these spots. The minimum passing marks for MBBS have been reduced from 52pc to 49pc, while BDS programmes threshold has dropped from 47pc to 44pc.
This relaxation is a one-time measure applicable only for the current academic session and cannot be extended beyond filling genuine vacant seats. PMDC emphasized that the reduction in passing marks can only be applied to unfilled seats and the entire admission process must remain merit-based, fair, and properly documented. Universities have been directed to closely monitor the process and consider reducing tuition fees within existing capped structure to improve affordability for deserving students.