Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) revises 2025 AIQ NEET PG counselling schedule

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced a revised schedule for the NEET PG 2025 All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, extending the process into the new year. Round 2 registration is now confirmed to begin on December 5, 2025. Crucially, the entire admission and joining process, including the final Online Stray Vacancy Round, is scheduled to conclude by January 31, 2026. This extension provides aspirants with more time for strategic planning and decision-making, ensuring a smoother flow of admissions for MD, MS, and PG Diploma courses across central institutions and the 50% AIQ seats. Candidates must note the new dates for registration and choice locking.

The journey for postgraduate medical aspirants through the NEET PG 2025 counselling has received a critical update from the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). In a major notification issued at the end of November 2025, the MCC announced a comprehensive revision to the schedule for the All India Quota (AIQ) rounds, including seats in Central Universities, Deemed Universities, and DNB programmes. This revision ensures that the counselling aligns with the academic session timelines and addresses any logistical delays encountered during the initial rounds.

​The most important takeaway for thousands of aspirants is the confirmation that Round 2 registration will commence on December 5, 2025. Furthermore, the entire, multi-staged process, concluding with the final Online Stray Vacancy Round, has been given a new, firm deadline of January 31, 2026. This extension offers a considerable window of opportunity for candidates who may have missed out on a seat in the initial phase or are looking for an upgrade. Meticulous adherence to the new timelines is essential for securing admission into the coveted MD, MS, or PG Diploma seats.

​ Revised Timeline for Key Counselling Rounds

​The MCC has provided a detailed, sequential timeline for the remaining rounds of the AIQ counselling. Aspirants must track these dates closely, as the deadlines for registration, choice filling, and reporting are strict.

​Round 2 and Round 3 Schedule Highlights

• ​Round 2 Registration/Payment: Begins on December 5, 2025, and continues up to December 9, 2025 (12:00 PM).
• ​Choice Filling and Locking (Round 2): Available from December 6 to December 9, 2025 (locking starts at 4:00 PM on December 9).
• ​Round 2 Result: Will be declared on December 12, 2025.
• ​Reporting/Joining (Round 2): December 13 to December 21, 2025.
• ​Round 3 Registration/Payment: Scheduled from December 26 to December 30, 2025.
• ​Round 3 Result: Expected to be declared on January 2, 2026.
• ​Reporting/Joining (Round 3): January 3 to January 11, 2026.

​Aspirant Strategy: The Round 2 schedule is compressed, allowing only four days for registration and choice filling. Candidates must prepare their list of preferred colleges and courses in advance to avoid last-minute errors. Since seats vacated from Round 1 are added to the Round 2 matrix, there is a higher chance of securing a better option.

 Online Stray Vacancy Round: The Final Opportunity

​A major administrative improvement in recent years is the decision to conduct the final Stray Vacancy Round online by the MCC itself, moving away from the previous manual process conducted at the institutional level. This increases transparency and access for aspirants.

• ​Online Stray Vacancy Round Schedule:
  • ​Registration/Payment and Choice Filling: January 15 to January 18, 2026.
  • ​Result Declaration: January 21, 2026.
  • ​Reporting/Joining at Allotted Institutes: January 22 to January 31, 2026.
• ​Eligibility for Stray Vacancy Round:
  • ​Candidates who have not been allotted any seat in any of the previous rounds (Round 1, 2, or 3) are eligible to participate.
  • ​Crucially, candidates who were allotted a seat in any previous round but failed to join, or those who resigned after Round 2, are ineligible. The Stray Vacancy Round is strictly for candidates who have remained without an admission.
• ​Mandatory Joining Deadline: The final date for all admissions and joining of candidates, even from the Stray Vacancy Round, is January 31, 2026. This ensures the academic session starts uniformly and prevents any loss of valuable training period for specialist doctors.

 Key Rules and Strategic Considerations

​Participation in the subsequent rounds requires careful strategic decision-making, especially concerning the seat status retained from previous rounds.

• ​Upgradation and Free Exit: Candidates who joined a college in Round 1 can opt for upgradation in Round 2. If they are allotted a better seat, their Round 1 seat is automatically forfeited. If they are not allotted a seat in Round 2, they retain their Round 1 admission. The Free Exit option is generally limited to Round 1 (allowing candidates to leave without penalty).
• ​Seat Matrix Dynamics: The seat matrix for Round 2 and Round 3 will incorporate all seats returned by candidates who resigned or did not join in the preceding rounds, plus any newly added seats. Candidates must check the updated seat matrix published by the MCC before filling their choices.
• ​Security Deposit: New registrations are allowed in Round 2 and the Stray Vacancy Round, requiring candidates to pay the stipulated refundable security deposit (varies for AIQ/Central and Deemed University seats) and the non-refundable registration fee. This is a must for all participants who have not previously registered.

​The extension of the overall admission window to the end of January 2026 is a significant measure to ensure that all available seats are filled on merit, thereby optimizing the utilization of postgraduate training infrastructure across the country.

​Conclusion

​The revised NEET PG 2025 AIQ counselling schedule, with Round 2 kicking off on December 5, 2025, and the entire process culminating on January 31, 2026, offers clarity and a structured path for aspiring medical specialists. The transition to an Online Stray Vacancy Round is a welcome step for ensuring transparency in the final allocation of seats. Candidates are strongly advised to meticulously prepare their documents, strategically prioritize their college choices based on the evolving seat matrix, and strictly adhere to the revised deadlines to successfully secure their dream postgraduate medical seat.

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