MCC Wraps Up Major PG Medical Counselling Activity for 2025; Vacancy Tracking Moves Into January
As the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) concludes major admission activities for NEET PG 2025, the focus shifts to stray vacancy tracking in January 2026. This comprehensive update covers the completion of Round 2 joining, the commencement of Round 3, and the critical transition to state-level seat reconciliation. Aspirants must now monitor official portals for final seat matrix revisions and reporting deadlines to secure their medical seats.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially reached a decisive milestone in the NEET PG 2025 admission cycle. As of December 31, 2025, the primary phases of All India Quota (AIQ) counselling have concluded, marking the end of significant movement for the year. With the resignation window for Round 2 closed and the data-sharing process between the MCC and State DMEs underway, the landscape is now set for the final "Stray Vacancy" phase.
Conclusion of Major AIQ Rounds and Data Reconciliation
The final week of December saw a flurry of administrative activity aimed at stabilizing seat allotments. The MCC extended several deadlines to ensure that candidates could complete their physical reporting without technical hurdles.
- Round 2 Finality: The joining period for Round 2 officially ended, with institutes uploading the final list of admitted candidates to the MCC portal.
- Data Sharing Protocols: Today, December 31, marks the mandatory sharing of joined candidate data by State DMEs to prevent seat blocking across national and state quotas.
- Seat Matrix Transition: Any remaining seats from the AIQ and Deemed University pools are now being audited to form the "Clear Vacancy" list for the upcoming sessions.
Transition to Round 3 and January 2026 Timelines
As we move into the new year, the counselling process enters its final, high-stakes phase. Round 3 (formerly the Mop-Up Round) is the last opportunity for many to secure clinical specialities before the stray vacancy rounds begin.
Counselling Milestone Comparison
Feature | Round 2 (Concluded Dec 2025) | Round 3 / Stray (Jan 2026) |
Registration Status | Closed on Dec 9 | Fresh Registration (Jan 15) |
Upgradation | Allowed from Round 1 | No further upgrades allowed |
Seat Nature | Clear & Virtual Vacancies | Remaining & Reverted Seats |
Exit Policy | Exit with Forfeiture allowed | Final Allotment; Mandatory Join |
Strategic Roadmap for January Aspirants
The first half of January 2026 will be pivotal for candidates who have not yet secured a seat or are looking for final-round entries into Deemed Universities.
- Stray Vacancy Eligibility: Only candidates who do not hold any seat in previous rounds (AIQ or State) will be eligible for the Online Stray Vacancy Round.
- Document Readiness: Aspirants must ensure that their MBBS degree, internship completion certificate, and permanent registration are ready for immediate physical verification.
- Monitoring State Quotas: Since state-level Round 3 processes often overlap with the national stray round, daily checks on respective DME websites are essential to avoid missing state-specific deadlines.
The conclusion of the 2025 calendar year brings a shift from competitive ranking to administrative diligence. Success in the upcoming month depends on your ability to track real-time vacancy updates and adhere to the strict January 31 "Final Admission Cut-off" date. Candidates are strongly advised to frequently monitor the official MCC portal (mcc.nic.in) for the released Stray Vacancy seat matrix.
