Medical Seats Update: Reshuffling of Vacancies Following Round 3 Matrix Revisions

As of January 31, 2026, the NEET PG 2025 seat matrix has undergone a major reshuffle following the addition of 292 new postgraduate seats. Candidates are analyzing the breakdown of 10,090 clear vacancies and 18,076 virtual vacancies in Round 3.This update significantly alters the competition for clinical and non-clinical branches across government and private medical colleges. The landscape of postgraduate medical education in India has seen a significant shift today, January 31, 2026, with the official reshuffling of vacancies in the NEET PG 2025 Round 3 seat matrix. Following the Medical Counselling Committee’s (MCC) latest update, the total number of seats available for allocation has been recalibrated to include 292 newly approved postgraduate seats. This reshuffle is a direct result of institutional approvals from the National Medical Commission (NMC) and court-mandated adjustments, forcing candidates to rethink their choice-filling strategies for MD, MS, and DNB courses.

The revised matrix is more than just an increase in numbers; it represents a change in the "Type" of seats available. Candidates now have access to 10,090 "Clear Vacancies," which are seats currently unoccupied and guaranteed for allotment. Additionally, the list includes a massive 18,076 "Virtual Vacancies," which are seats held by candidates who have opted for an upgrade. If these candidates successfully move to a higher preference, their current seat becomes available to others in the same round.

• Newly Added Seats: 292 fresh seats have been integrated, mostly in emerging clinical branches in government colleges.
• Clear Vacancy Count: Adjusted to 10,090 from the previous count of 10,101 due to last-minute withdrawals.
• Virtual Vacancies: 18,076 seats are "in play" depending on the upgradation results of Round 2 participants.
• Total Available Pool: Over 28,400 seats are currently listed for the Round 3 allotment process.

Reshuffling Impact on Choice-Filling Strategy

The reshuffle has introduced a new layer of complexity for candidates who were previously targeting high-cutoff branches like Dermatology or Radio-diagnosis. With the addition of seats in newer medical colleges, some "Safe" choices from Round 2 might now be more competitive. Aspirants are advised to use the official MCC seat matrix PDF to filter vacancies by state and category (AIQ, Deemed, Central University) before the choice-locking window reopens.

• Clinical Branch Surge: The 292 new seats include several slots in General Medicine and Pediatrics, potentially lowering the cutoff slightly for these branches.
• Deemed University Shifts: Several private universities have updated their matrix to reflect the "Management vs. NRI" quota reshuffle.
• Strategy Revision: Candidates are being urged by counselors to "Fill Max Choices" to avoid being left without a seat in this expanded pool.

Technical Auditing of the Revised Vacancies

The National Medical Commission (NMC) and the MCC are currently performing a final technical audit to ensure the reshuffled data is correctly reflected in the counseling software. This audit is the primary reason for the current pause in the allotment schedule. As of January 31, 2026, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) is verifying the faculty-to-student ratios for the newly added seats to ensure they meet national standards before the final allotment letters are generated.

• Software Mapping: Ensuring that the 292 new seats are available to the correct reservation categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/UR).
• Withdrawal Checks: Verifying that the 11 withdrawn seats are no longer selectable by any candidate to prevent future legal disputes.
• Institutional Verification: Colleges must confirm their intake details on the Intra-MCC portal by tonight.

Conclusion

The reshuffling of medical seats on January 31, 2026, offers a unique second chance for many NEET PG 2025 aspirants. While the changes in clear and virtual vacancies require a more nuanced choice-filling approach, the overall increase in seat availability is a positive sign for the medical community. Candidates should continue to analyze the Careers360 seat matrix breakdown and stay tuned to the MCC homepage for the final confirmation of the 2025-26 seat pool.

For regular updates follow Only Education News. For more details on medical entrance exams and courses, check here: Medical Exams List.