Counselling Activity Peaks as Multiple PG Medical Processes Reach Closure

January sees a peak in PG medical counselling as AIQ Round 3, INI CET Round 2, and State quota processes converge. Check key reporting and acceptance deadlines

The postgraduate medical admission season has reached its pinnacle this week as multiple counselling streams converge toward their final stages. With the All India Quota (AIQ) Round 3 reporting in full swing and the INI CET Round 2 seat allotment declared today, the administrative workload for medical aspirants has peaked. Thousands of candidates are currently juggling the transition between national and state-level allocations, making this the most high-stakes window of the 2025-26 academic session.

AIQ Round 3 Reporting and State Quota Integration

For candidates who secured a seat in the AIQ Round 3, the current priority is the physical reporting process which is scheduled to conclude on January 11. This round is particularly significant as it represents the last opportunity for many to secure a seat before the unpredictable stray vacancy phase. Most government medical colleges have reported a high turnout of students completing their admission formalities, which include document verification and the deposition of tuition fees.

Simultaneously, state counselling authorities have accelerated their Round 3 timelines to align with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) schedule. States like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are currently processing their merit lists, with their respective joining windows expected to remain open until January 17. This synchronization is crucial to prevent seat blocking, ensuring that candidates who accept a national seat do not occupy a state-quota slot concurrently.

• AIQ Round 3 Reporting: Closes on January 11, 2026.
• State Round 3 Joining: Typically ends by January 17, 2026.
• Mandatory Documents: Original MBBS degree, NEET PG scorecard, and Internship completion certificate.
• Academic Session: Most institutes have already commenced the term as of late December.

INI CET Round 2 Results and Acceptance Phase

Adding to the counselling intensity, AIIMS New Delhi has officially released the INI CET Round 2 seat allotment result today, January 9. This placement for the January 2026 session covers prestigious institutes including JIPMER, PGIMER, and NIMHANS. Candidates must now log in to the "MyPage" portal to exercise their seat acceptance options between January 10 and January 15.

The Round 2 allotment is a "freeze" stage for most, meaning there are limited opportunities for further upgrades. Candidates who have been upgraded from the first round must note that their previous seat is now vacant and allocated to someone else, making the new allotment binding. The high cutoff scores in clinical branches during this session reflect the intense competition for specialized MD and MS seats in the country’s premier medical institutions.

Conclusion

As the 2025-26 counselling cycle moves toward the final stray vacancy rounds, the margin for error has reduced to zero. Every medical aspirant holding an allotment must ensure they complete the physical reporting at their respective colleges to avoid a forfeiture of security deposits and exclusion from future rounds. The overlap between the AIQ and INI CET schedules requires a clear decision-making strategy, as the final admission cutoff for the entire academic year is fast approaching on January 31. With the result portals now live, candidates are advised to verify their allotment letters and initiate the travel and document preparation process immediately.

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