NEET PG Counselling delay sparks outrage, doctors slam NMC, NBE, MCC over 'mismanagement'

New Delhi: Upset over the continuous delay in the NEET PG 2025 counselling for the All India Quota seats, aspirants have now demanded clarity regarding the official schedule and the seat matrix for the PG Medical Seats.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that through a notice dated 06.11.2025, MCC informed all the candidates that the competent authority has decided to extend the Choice-Filling of Round-1 of PG Counselling 2025 till further notice, as the seat matrix has to be revised, due to information received from the National Medical Commission (NMC) for changes in PG seats and the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for withdrawal of 169 PG DNB seats after the start of Round-1 of PG Counselling.

This year, there was a significant delay in the commencement of the NEET PG 2025 AIQ counselling. Even though the exam was conducted on August 3, 2025, and the results were declared on August 19.

After a delay of more than 2 months, the Medical Counselling Committee commenced the registration process for NEET PG 2025 counselling last month. Also, it released the information Bulletin & counselling scheme for the candidates registering for the NEET PG 2025 counselling.

Then the MCC announced the tentative schedule of counselling, as per which, the seat allotment process for NEET PG 2025 round 1 counselling was scheduled to commence from November 6 and the results were supposed to be declared on 8th November, 2025. However, MCC, through the recent notice, has indefinitely extended the Choice-Filling of Round-1.

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Upset with this development, the aspirants, who had been eagerly waiting for the admission process, have expressed their frustrations on social media platforms, including X.

In an X post, Dr. Sumit K wrote, "Every year, it’s the same story — NMC and MCC fail to do their job properly. They are unable to conduct PG, UG, or SS counselling on time. Even three months after the NEET PG exam, they keep delaying the counselling. It’s delay after delay, year after year."

Comparing it with a test of patience, Dr Bharat Rathore wrote, "The NEET PG counselling: it’s the one where your dreams, patience, and self-belief are all on the waiting list. —where every refresh button carries a heartbeat. Knowledge clears NEET PG. Patience clears NEET PG counselling."

Terming the continuous delay in the NEET PG Counselling process over the years as a repetitive process, Dr Aman Maurya wrote in an X post, "This exposes a serious lack of coordination between the three apex medical bodies — NMC, NBEMS, and MCC — all functioning under the same Ministry of Health. It’s been over three months since the results were declared, yet the seat matrix remains unsettled. Thousands of aspirants continue to wait, wasting precious time and opportunities, while resident doctors are stretched to their limits due to persistent staff shortages. Every year, the story repeats — confusion, delay, and silence from the authorities — while the future of young doctors hangs in uncertainty."

Slamming the authorities for their "gross management" and the delayed counselling process, Dr. Meet Ghonia, National General Secretary of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) wrote in an X post, "NEET PG 2025 counselling is postponed till further notice by MCC because of addition and removal of seats by NMC and NBEMS after starting of choice filling! This is gross mismanagement between three bodies of Health Ministry : NMC, NBEMS & MCC. Even after 3 months of results, seat matrix isn't decided yet. Thousands of aspirants are sitting unemployed and wasting their important months. Thousands of Resident Doctors are overburdened with work. Every year same story & no one really cares about Healthcare System of this country. Are authorities waiting for young doctors to come on streets like 2021?"

Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has demanded urgent intervention from the Union Health Ministry to find a solution regarding this. Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr. Akshay Dongardive, the National President of FAIMA termed the MCC's decision to extend the choice-filling schedule for NEET PG 2025 as a "matter of deep concern".

He said, "This delay directly impacts thousands of young doctors across the country who are waiting to start their postgraduate training. The consequences are not merely academic—this contributes to widening the gap in specialist availability in hospitals, increased workload on existing resident doctors, disruption in academic calendars, training schedules, and departmental workforce planning."

"At a time when India continues to strengthen its healthcare delivery system, timely induction of PG residents is critical to ensure patient care, medical education continuity, and hospital functioning. We urge the MCC and the concerned authorities to set a clear, non-negotiable timeline for the remaining counselling rounds and stick to it without further extensions. Transparency, efficient communication, and adherence to schedules are key to maintaining the trust of the medical community. Resident doctors are the backbone of the healthcare system. Their professional careers and mental well-being should not be subjected to uncertainty due to repeated procedural delays," Dr. Dongardive added.

Highlighting the need for streamlining the entire process, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, the Chief Patron of FAIMA Doctors Association, wrote in an X post addressed to the Prime Minister, "Hello @PMOIndia Please read this!!!!! It is very sad on part of #MCC that counselling of NEET PG ( Medical) has yet again been stopped!!!!! This is a slap on the face of dedicated students who are seeking admission and overworked Residents working without 33.33% work force!!!!!!!!! Every year it's the same story!!!!!! From past 8 years now we are requesting @MoHFW_INDIA to streamline the things….@FAIMA_INDIA_delegates met @NMC_BHARAT chief and #MCC chief regarding this…… Ppl holding top post are doing nothing , just waiting for next big assignments… Yet no response…. Till how many years we will let this happen!!!!! Failure of @NMC_IND administration and @MoHFW_INDIA ….. Sad state of affairs."

Commenting on the matter, Dr Lakshya Mittal, the National Chairperson and President of United Doctors' Front (UDF), has highlighted the need for a strict time frame defined by MoHFW / DGHS / MCC beyond which no new seats or colleges can be added or removed.

He told Medical Dialogues, "It’s indeed very concerning. As far as I am aware, the main issue lies with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and National Board of Examinations (NBE), who keep adding or removing seats at the last moment. If we see the work structure of MCC, their role is primarily to conduct counselling through the portal based on the data provided by NMC and NBE. However, when these apex bodies keep altering the seat matrix or adding new colleges at the eleventh hour, it directly disrupts the entire counselling timeline and causes anxiety among thousands of aspirants."

"There must be a strict time frame defined by MoHFW / DGHS / MCC beyond which no new seats or colleges can be added or removed. And condition that after the seats verification process only, MCC can start the counselling process," Dr. Mittal added.

Also Read: Doctors move Health Ministry, MCC over procedural issues in NEET PG Counselling