MCC Temporarily Holds NEET PG 2025 Round 3 Choice Filling After Seat Matrix Revision

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially put the NEET PG 2025 Round 3 choice filling and locking on hold as of January 31, 2026.This pause is due to a pending matter in the Supreme Court and the addition of new postgraduate seats in the updated seat matrix. Candidates are advised to monitor the official portal for a revised schedule and final allotment dates. In a significant development for medical aspirants across India, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced a temporary hold on the choice filling and locking process for Round 3 of the NEET PG 2025 counseling. As of today, January 31, 2026, the official portal has ceased accepting new preference entries following a directive linked to legal proceedings and institutional seat updates. This pause comes just as candidates were preparing for the final allotment, creating a state of anticipation regarding the revised timeline for seat distribution in MD, MS, and DNB courses.

The primary catalyst for this halt is a pending legal matter within the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. According to a notice released on the official MCC website, the National Medical Commission (NMC) informed the committee about ongoing litigation that could impact the final seat matrix. Additionally, the recent inclusion of 49 seats from Jamia Hamdard, which were previously under scrutiny, necessitated a recalculation of the available vacancies to ensure fairness in the allotment process.

• Supreme Court Oversight: The court is reviewing petitions related to the drastic reduction of qualifying percentiles and seat withdrawals.
• Institutional Additions: Several medical colleges, including specialized institutes, added seats as recently as late January, requiring a system-wide update.
• Fairness in Allotment: MCC aims to provide a transparent platform where every eligible candidate can view the complete, updated seat matrix before locking choices.
• System Recalibration: The internal software is being updated to reflect the subtraction and addition of "Virtual Vacancies" and "Clear Vacancies" for Round 3.

Candidate Instructions and Preference Modifications

For the thousands of registered candidates, this hold serves as an opportunity to reassess their submitted preferences once the portal reopens. MCC has clarified that previously saved choices are secure, but the "Choice Locking" feature has been disabled to prevent accidental finalization before the new seats are integrated. Aspirants are urged to remain patient as the technical and legal hurdles are cleared by the competent authorities.

• Monitoring the Portal: Candidates must check the MCC notice section multiple times a day for the "Revised Schedule" PDF.
• Edit Window: Once the hold is lifted, a fresh window will likely be provided for candidates to reorder their choices based on the 292 newly added seats.
• Security of Data: The committee has assured that no candidate data has been lost; the pause is strictly a procedural measure for seat matrix accuracy.

Anticipated Timeline for Round 3 Resumption

While no exact date has been fixed, sources within the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) suggest that the counseling might resume within the next 48 to 72 hours, depending on the Supreme Court's clearance. This delay will naturally push back the reporting dates and the commencement of the subsequent Stray Vacancy Round. The medical fraternity is closely watching the National Medical Commission for further instructions.

• Revised Allotment Date: Expected to be shifted from early February to the second week of the month.
• Stray Round Impact: The delay in Round 3 will likely compress the timeline for the final stray vacancy filling to ensure the academic session is not further delayed.
• Institutional Reporting: Colleges have been told to stand by for updated joining instructions once the final allotment list is published.

Conclusion

The temporary hold on NEET PG 2025 Round 3 choice filling reflects the complexities of managing a national-level medical admission process under judicial scrutiny. While the delay may be frustrating for candidates, the revision of the seat matrix ensures that no deserving aspirant is deprived of newly available vacancies. Stakeholders should continue to rely on official announcements from the MCC and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to navigate this evolving situation and secure their medical careers.

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