• NEET-SS 2025 counselling remains delayed despite results being announced in January 2026, with Round 2 on hold over a dispute involving 151 vacant super-speciality seats in Tamil Nadu.
• FAIMA says the prolonged delay has left many aspirants unemployed, financially strained, and facing significant stress after resigning from previous positions in anticipation of admissions.
• Doctors' groups warn that the missing 2025–26 super-speciality batch could disrupt specialist training and increase workloads at tertiary-care hospitals.
Thousands of NEET-SS 2025 aspirants remain in limbo as counselling continues to face delays months after results were announced in January 2026. Medical associations, including the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), have urged the Union Health Ministry to intervene, while Round 2 remains suspended over a legal dispute involving 151 vacant DM and MCh seats in Tamil Nadu.
Although the academic session was scheduled to begin on April 10, admissions have yet to move forward.
According to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Round 2 counselling was suspended following a dispute over 151 vacant DM and MCh seats in Tamil Nadu. The issue arose after the Supreme Court directed that the unfilled seats be returned to the national counselling pool. However, the Tamil Nadu government subsequently informed MCC that it had filed a review petition before the court on June 4.
In a notice issued on June 6, MCC said the counselling process would remain on hold while the matter is under consideration. The delay has left thousands of aspirants waiting for seat allotment and the start of super-speciality training. Several candidates have argued that admissions for available seats in other states should continue while the disputed Tamil Nadu seats are resolved separately.
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) described the situation as a "systemic failure," stating that despite the merit list being available for nearly five months, the seat allotment process had not begun due to repeated court-related delays and administrative inaction. The association warned that the prolonged hold-up has disrupted career plans for many aspiring super-specialists.
In a letter to the Union Health Ministry, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) said many NEET-SS aspirants resigned from senior residency and assistant professor positions in anticipation of joining super-speciality courses scheduled to begin in April. However, with admissions yet to move forward, several candidates have remained without employment for months despite qualifying the examination.
FAIMA stated that many affected doctors are primary earners for their families and are facing acute financial difficulties because of the prolonged delay. The association also warned that the continued uncertainty is taking a significant toll on candidates' well-being, contributing to burnout and frustration across the medical community.
Some aspirants have also raised concerns about counselling-related expenses, noting that they paid nearly ₹2 lakh in fees while continuing to await seat allotment.
FAIMA warned that the continued hold-up in NEET-SS admissions could have consequences beyond medical education. In its letter to the Union Health Ministry, the association said the absence of the 2025–26 super-speciality batch is creating a gap in tertiary-care centres, placing additional pressure on existing staff and affecting patient care.
The organization also cautioned that delays in admitting new trainees could disrupt specialist training in disciplines such as cardiology, neurology, nephrology, and surgical super-specialities. These programs prepare doctors for advanced clinical roles in tertiary-care hospitals, making timely admissions important for maintaining the specialist workforce.
Medical organizations have called on the Union Health Ministry and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to announce a clear schedule for the stalled admission process. In its letter to the Ministry, FAIMA urged authorities to restore the academic calendar and prevent further disruption to super-speciality medical education.
The association also warned that continued uncertainty could trigger nationwide protests and legal action if candidates are not provided with a definitive timeline. FAIMA stated that reforms are needed to ensure that academic schedules are followed and that similar administrative delays do not recur in future admission cycles.
Reference:
1. Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). “Notice for Status of SS Counselling 2025 Dated 06-06-2026.” Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. June 6, 2026. Accessed June 9, 2026. https://mcc.nic.in/current-events-super-speciality-2/
(Rh/TP)