Guide to counselling for NEET PG 2025: Key dates & updates

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) is one of the most competitive medical entrance exams in India. Clearing the exam is just the first step; the counselling is equally crucial for securing a seat in your desired medical college. Counselling is the final stage where NEET PG 2025 aspirants are allotted their preferred medical courses and colleges based on their rank and preferences. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about NEET PG 2025 counselling, including key dates, updates, seat allotment, and more.

What is NEET PG counselling?

Counselling is the process through which candidates are allotted seats in postgraduate medical courses across India. It is conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota (AIQ) seats and by state authorities for state quota seats. The process involves registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and reporting to the allotted college.

Also read: Post-graduate Medical Specialisations after MBBS

Who conducts NEET PG counselling?

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is responsible for conducting NEET PG counselling for AIQ seats, deemed universities, central universities, and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) institutes. State authorities handle counselling for state quota seats.

Which organisation conducts NEET PG exam?

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate), commonly known as NEET PG, is an entrance exam in India organized by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). It will be assessing the eligibility of candidates for admission to postgraduate medical programs in both government and private medical colleges across the country.

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Key dates for NEET PG 2025 counselling (Tentative)

Here are the tentative dates for NEET PG 2025 counselling, candidates are advised to regularly check the official website of MCC for updates.

NEET PG exam details

Below is the table of NEET PG exam details:

NEET PG cutoff

To secure admission to postgraduate medical courses, candidates must clear the NEET PG cutoff, which is the minimum qualifying percentile and score set by the NBE. The cutoff varies based on the candidate's category. Below is a detailed breakdown of the NEET PG 2022 cutoff for reference:

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Round-wise counselling dates

MCC conducts NEET PG counselling in four rounds for seat allocations to deemed universities, central universities, 50% All India Quota seats, and 50 state quota seats. Here's a table for tentative dates of NEET PG 2025 counselling:

Each round of NEET PG counselling has specific deadlines for registration, choice filling, and seat allotment. Missing these deadlines can result in disqualification. In case of vacant seats after the initial rounds of counselling, subsequent rounds are conducted to fill the remaining seats. Last year, NEET PG 2024 counselling has started around September, where registration for round 1 began on September 20, 2024.

Eligibility for NEET PG counselling 2025

To participate in the counselling of the NEET PG, the candidates will be meeting the basic criteria:

1. Qualify NEET PG 2025: Secure the minimum cutoff marks for your category (General, SC, ST, OBC, PwD).

2. Register with MCC: For All India Quota seats, complete registration on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) official website.

3. State quota eligibility: For State Quota seats, check state-specific eligibility and register with the respective state counselling authority.

4. Document verification: Submit required documents like NEET PG scorecard, MBBS degree, internship completion certificate, and category certificates (if applicable).

5. Counselling rounds: Participate in round 1, round 2, mop-up round, and stray vacancy round as per the schedule.

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NEET PG 2025 counselling process

Candidates who will qualify NEET PG exam, meeting the minimum cut off percentile are eligible to participate in the counselling process. Conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for 50% All India Quota (seats, Deemed/Central Universities, ESIC, and AFMS institutions. There are total of 4 rounds in the complete counselling process. The process begins with online registration with the last stage being candidates reporting to the allotted institute with all the documents. The instructions of PG counselling will be available on the official website.

1. Registration for NEET PG counselling

As per the MCC guidelines, the first step to participate in the NEET PG counselling is registration on the official website (mcc.nic.in). Here's how to register:

• Visit the official MCC website and click on "PG Medical Counselling".

• Use a valid email ID and mobile number to create an account.

• Fill in personal and academic details in the application form.

• Submit the form and note down the login credentials for future use.

2. Payment of registration fee

To participate in the NEET PG counselling 2025, candidates must pay the registration fee and security deposit online (via net banking, credit card, or debit card). The fee structure of NEET PG is:

Non-refundable fee

Refundable fee

3. Choice filling and locking

After registration, candidates must fill and lock their choices for colleges and courses. This step is crucial part of NEET PG counselling as seat allotment is based on the choices filled, NEET PG rank, and seat availability. The process to fill choices of NEET PG:

• Log in to the MCC website using your credentials.

• Add preferred colleges and courses by clicking the "+" button.

• Rearrange choices by dragging them to the desired order.

• Lock the choices before the deadline; otherwise, they will be auto-locked.

• Save a copy of the filled choices for future reference.

The refundable fee acts as a security deposit and is returned if the candidate does not secure a seat.

4. Seat allotment result

The MCC releases the seat allotment result for each round in PDF format on its official website. The result of NEET PG includes:

• Candidate’s name and rank.

• Allotted college and course.

• Remarks (if any).

Candidates can download the seat allotment letter by logging into their accounts. The allotment of NEET PG counselling is based on:

• NEET PG rank.

• Choices filled by the candidate.

• Reservation criteria (SC/ST/OBC/PwD).

• Seat availability and other.

5. Reporting to the allotted institute

After the seat allotment result is declared, candidates must report to the allotted institute within the specified timeframe. They must carry the important documents for verification with them. The detailed list of the documents required during the counselling process of NEET PG is mentioned in the next section.

In short

1. Registration: Here the candidates will undergo registration for round 1 need to register on the website of MCC.

2. Choice filling: After registration, candidates must fill and lock their preferred colleges and courses.

3. Seat allotment: The seat allotment result is declared depending on the candidate’s rank, choices, and availability of seats.

4. Reporting to allotted college: Candidates must report to the allotted college within the specified timeframe to confirm their admission.

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NEET PG 2025 seat matrix

Types of seats available during seat allotment for PG counselling:

1. All India Quota (AIQ) Seats: 50% of total seats.

2. State Quota Seats: 50% of total seats.

3. Deemed/Central/Private University Seats: Separate counselling conducted by MCC.

Seat distribution statistics

• Total Seats in 2024: ~45,000 (expected to increase in 2025).

• AIQ Seats: ~22,500.

• State Quota Seats: ~22,500.

Important documents required for NEET PG counselling

Candidates must keep the following documents ready. Missing or incomplete documentation can lead to disqualification, so it’s essential to be well-prepared. Below is a comprehensive list of NEET PG counselling:

1. NEET PG 2025 Admit Card

2. NEET PG 2025 Rank Letter

3. MBBS Degree Certificate

4. Internship Completion Certificate

5. Provisional or Permanent Registration Certificate.

6. Class 10 and 12 Mark Sheets

7. Photo ID Proof

8. Caste Certificate /EWS Certificate (Person with Disability (PwD) Certificate, (if applicable)

9. Passport-Sized Photographs

10. Payment Receipt

11. Allotment Letter

Latest updates for NEET PG 2025

• Any changes in reservation criteria or counselling policies in NEET PG will be updated on the official website.

• New colleges or seats added to the seat matrix will be announced during the NEET PG counselling process.

• The Supreme Court recently ruled that domicile-based reservation in PG medical courses is unconstitutional, as it violates the Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. The judgment emphasized that such reservations create unequal opportunities for students and hinder the principle of merit-based admissions.

Tips for NEET PG 2025 counselling

• Research colleges and courses in advance.

• Keep all documents ready and verified.

• Stay updated with the NEET PG counselling 2025 notifications with futureMBBS.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Missing registration deadlines in NEET PG counselling.

2. Incorrect choice filling or locking.

3. Failing to report to the allotted college on time.

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Conclusion

The counselling for NEET PG 2025 is a critical step conducted by the medical Counselling Committee in securing a seat in your desired medical college. Seat allotment is the main part of the NEET PG counselling. The counselling begins with online registration, followed by choice filling, seat allotment, and finally reporting to the allotted institute. Candidates must ensure timely payment of the registration fee and security deposit, as well as accurate submission of preferences during choice filling. The processing of seat allotment and it's result is based on the candidate’s NEET PG rank, choices filled, and seat availability. By staying updated with key dates, following the counselling process, and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure a smooth admission process. Candidates can bookmark this guide to check the full schedule of NEET PG counselling and for the latest updates NEET PG 2025 counselling!