No special stray round for NEET PG 2025, admissions beyond February 28th invalid: NMC

New Delhi: Clarifying on PG medical admissions 2025-26, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has specified in a recent notice that no Special Stray Vacancy Round shall be conducted for NEET PG 2025.

Further, the PG Board of the Apex Medical Commission has also stated that admissions made beyond the stipulated last date i.e., February 28, 2026 shall not be considered as valid.

NMC PG Board issued this clarification in a communication directed to the Director of the Directorate of Medical Education of all States/UTs/Medical Counselling Authorities and the Dean/Principal of Medical Colleges of all States/UTs.

Referring to the issue of Special Stray Round of NEET-PG 2025, the Commission confirmed that no such Special Stray Round of counselling shall be conducted as the matter has attained finality in view of the dismissal of Writ Petition(s) (Civil) No(s). 344/2026 and Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 10590/2026 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

In this case, the Supreme Court allowed submission of a representation in this regard to the Central Government. However, despite such representation, the permission has not been granted in this regard.

"I am directed to refer to the subject cited above and to inform that no Special Stray Vacancy Round shall be conducted for NEETPG 2025. The matter has attained finality in view of the dismissal of Writ Petition(s) (Civil) No(s). 344/2026 and Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 10590/2026 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court wherein the Hon’ble Court had permitted the filing of representation(s) on the subject matter before the Central Government, however, the same has not been acceded to by the Competent Authority," NMC PGMEB mentioned.

In this context, the PG Board also clarified that admission made beyond the deadline i.e. February 28, shall be considered invalid. The Commission asked the State and UT administrations to ensure that no independent counselling is being conducted for PG/SS seats at the State-level.

"Accordingly, it is reiterated that no admission made beyond the stipulated last date, i.e., 28 February 2026, shall be considered valid. The counselling schedule for PG seats for 2025 has been ratified on 23.03.2026 by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Ashish Ranjan vs. UOI & Ors. (WP NO. 76 of 2015) with the last date of admission as 28.02.2026. Any admission granted in contravention of the schedule prescribed by the MCC, Dte.GHS shall be treated as unauthorized and the admission of such students liable for cancellation. The State Governments/UT Administrations also need to align their statutes/orders/regulations/bulletins on the subject matter strictly in accordance with the NMC Regulations by ensuring that there is no provision for independently conducting counselling for PG/SS seats at State-level in violation of the counselling schedule prescribed by the MCC, Dte.GHS, and beyond the last date prescribed by the MCC for AIQ/State counselling," it mentioned.

"All the concerned stakeholders are requested to ensure strict compliance with the prescribed guidelines and timelines," the communication by PGMEB further mentioned.

Referring to this, NMC Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer wrote to the State/UT DMEs and Medical Counselling aurhorities and the heads of medical colleges and mentioned, "Reference is invited to Communication of even No. dated 01-04-2026 ssued by the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of National Medical Commission (NMC) on the above subject matter being self explanatory inter-alia informing that no Special Stray Vacancy Round shall be conducted for NEET-PG 2025 and reiterating that no admission, made beyond the stipulated last date i.e. 28 th February 2026 shall be considered valid...All concerned stakeholders are advised to take note of the instructions contained in the referred communication of PGMEB and ensure strict compliance with the prescribed guidelines and timelines contained therein."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Union Government had informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 1,140 postgraduate (PG) medical seats remained vacant across government and private medical colleges after the first round of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET PG) counselling for the academic year 2025.

To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/2026/04/02/nmc-notice-01042026-339114.pdf

Also Read: No plan to Scrap NEET PG, 1,140 Seats Remained Vacant After Stray Round