The Medical Counselling Committee has extended the tenure of final-year postgraduate medical residents as NEET PG 2025 counselling is put on hold again. This delay follows earlier postponements of the examination and a revised counselling schedule. The move ensures continuity in hospital services but creates ongoing uncertainty for residents and candidates awaiting admission.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has directed postgraduate medical institutions to extend the tenure of final-year PG residents after NEET PG 2025 counselling was paused once more. The extension ensures that hospitals continue to have resident doctors available for patient care, as the incoming batch will now join later than expected.
The NEET PG examination, required for admission to MD, MS, and DNB programs, underwent multiple delays earlier this year due to regulatory adjustments and administrative decisions under the National Medical Commission. Although the exam was eventually conducted and results announced, the counselling schedule remained uncertain because the final seat matrix required further confirmation.
When MCC opened the Round 1 choice-filling window, a counselling timeline was issued. However, soon after counselling began, several institutions updated their seat positions. In some cases, DNB seats were withdrawn in specialities that began offering equivalent MD/MS seats, affecting total seat distribution and reservation patterns. Due to these changes, MCC extended the choice-filling process “until further notice,” delaying admissions again.
It is for the information to 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 NMC for changes in PG seats and NBE for withdrawal of 169 PG DNB seats after the start of Round-1 of PG Counselling.Office of Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
According to a senior MCC official quoted by Education Times, the delay is linked to the recent inclusion of additional MD/MS seats in the seat matrix. The revision is intended to provide candidates with a wider range of options during counselling.
The National Medical Commission is expected to be increasing clinical seats, although only the Commission can confirm which colleges and specialities are receiving the additions.
In some institutions, DNB seats have been reduced because regulations do not permit a college to offer both DNB and MD/MS programs in the same speciality simultaneously. For example, if a college that previously offered DNB Medicine has now been allotted MD Medicine seats, the DNB seats in that speciality will be discontinued.
Final-year PG residents were preparing to complete training and transition to senior residency, practice positions, or fellowships. With the tenure extension, they will now continue clinical duties for additional months. This supports continuous patient care but may delay job appointments, research timelines, and personal plans.
This has led to concerns being raised by both aspirants and education stakeholders.
For NEET PG aspirants, the uncertainty has been prolonged. Many candidates postpone employment, housing decisions, financial planning, and study schedules while awaiting seat allotment. The delay in starting specialization programs affects progression through clinical training and career development pathways.
The repeated delays—first in conducting the examination, then in starting counselling, and again during the choice-filling phase—highlight coordination challenges between regulatory bodies and institutions. Seat matrix finalization requires synchronized updates among the National Medical Commission, the National Board of Examinations, medical colleges, and MCC. When updates arrive late, it affects the entire admission cycle.
“MCC will soon hold a meeting with NMC, NBEMS officials and other stakeholders to decide how soon can we close the revision of seat matrix. Details of the meetings will be released on the website,” A senior official from the MCC told Education Times.
These events show the importance of structured planning, timely communication, and advance verification of training seats. Predictable timelines are essential not only for academic scheduling but also for clinical service distribution and workforce stability in teaching hospitals.
The extension of final-year residents’ tenure is a temporary step to maintain hospital staffing while NEET PG 2025 counselling is revised. However, the delays have affected both outgoing residents and incoming aspirants. Strengthening coordination and ensuring timely updates across regulatory stages may help reduce disruptions in future postgraduate medical admissions.
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). “Public Notice: PG Round 1 Counselling Extension.” MCC Official Website. https://mcc.nic.in
National Medical Commission (NMC). “Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations.” NMC India. https://www.nmc.org.in
(Rh/Eth/SS/MSM)