The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially released the NEET PG 2025 Round 3 counselling schedule. Following a reduction in the qualifying percentile, registration and choice filling are now active at mcc.nic.in. Eligible candidates must complete their submissions by January 26 to be considered for seat allotment in this critical admission phase for MD, MS, and Diploma programs.

Ending weeks of anticipation, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially activated the registration link for the third round of NEET PG 2025 counselling. The move comes immediately after the National Board of Examinations (NBEMS) announced a drastic reduction in the qualifying percentile to fill thousands of vacant seats in postgraduate medical courses. As of today, the official portal is witnessing a significant surge in activity as newly eligible candidates rush to participate in the All India Quota (AIQ) and Deemed University allotment process.

Revised Eligibility and Registration Timeline

The most notable highlight of the Round-3 counselling cycle is the revised cutoff, which has seen the general category requirement drop to the 7th percentile. This adjustment has opened the doors for a vast number of doctors who were previously ineligible for the earlier rounds. According to the newly released notification, the registration window, which opened on January 15, will remain accessible until January 26, 2026. This extended period is intended to allow candidates sufficient time to generate their APAAR ID and complete the mandatory biometric verification required for the 2026 session.

• Registration Period: January 15 to January 26, 2026 (until 12:00 Noon).
• Payment Facility: Available until 3:00 PM on January 26.
• Choice Filling Window: Active from January 16 through January 26.
• Choice Locking: To be conducted strictly between 4:00 PM and 11:55 PM on the final day of the registration window.

New Seat Additions and Choice Filling Strategy

In a major boost for aspirants, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved the addition of 125 new MD and MS seats specifically for this round. These newly sanctioned seats are being integrated into the virtual allotment matrix today. Candidates are advised to exercise their choices carefully, as the MCC has clarified that seats allotted in Round-3 cannot be vacated without the forfeiture of the security deposit. This round is particularly crucial for those targeting specialized clinical branches that remained unfilled during the first two phases of counselling.

• Seat Matrix Verification: Participating institutes are currently verifying the tentative vacancies and newly added seats.
• Fresh Choices: All candidates, including those from previous rounds, are encouraged to submit fresh choices to stay in the running for the updated seat list.
• Reservation Policy: The existing reservation criteria for OBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories will apply to the 50% All India Quota seats.
• Security Deposit: Candidates must ensure their payment status is "Success" on the portal to enable the choice-locking feature during the counselling process.

Critical Dates for Allotment and Reporting

The MCC has established a tight schedule to ensure that the academic session for the 2025-26 year can conclude its admission formalities by February. The following table details the key milestones for the Round-3 allotment and the subsequent physical reporting phase.

Conclusion

The release of the Round-3 counselling schedule marks a decisive moment in the 2025-26 postgraduate admission cycle. With the qualifying percentile slashed and new seats approved, the MCC aims to maximize residency occupancy across government and private medical colleges. Candidates are urged to monitor the official registration portal for real-time updates and to finalize their choices well before the January 26 deadline to secure their path toward specialization.

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