NEET PG 2025: MCC Releases Critical Counselling Guidelines for DNB Aspirants

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released a comprehensive Information Bulletin and Counselling Scheme for the NEET PG 2025 admission process, providing essential clarity for aspirants seeking Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats. This is a crucial development for postgraduate medical students aiming for specialised courses. Visit: https://mcc.nic.in/

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released a comprehensive Information Bulletin and Counselling Scheme for the NEET PG 2025 admission process, providing essential clarity for aspirants seeking Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats. This is a crucial development for postgraduate medical students aiming for specialised courses. The guidelines ensure a standardised, transparent, and domicile-free admission process for all DNB seats across the country, following the directive from the Supreme Court.

Aspirants must note that the counselling process for DNB seats will align with other postgraduate medical programmes, featuring four distinct rounds of online counselling. These rounds include Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 (or Mop-Up Round), and the Stray Vacancy Round. All candidates who have successfully qualified for the NEET PG 2025 examination, conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), are eligible to participate in these rounds.

It is vital for candidates to understand the demarcation of roles: while the MCC of DGHS, MoHFW, manages the seat allotment and counselling schedule, the NBE Authorities are responsible for collecting the admission fee after a seat is allocated. Therefore, any queries regarding fee refunds or payment should be directed to the NBE, as the MCC explicitly states it will not entertain such requests. Moreover, the counselling for In-service DNB seats is not conducted by the MCC.

Reservation Policy: What Government and Private DNB Aspirants Must Know

A critical component of the guidelines is the detailed reservation policy, which directly impacts seat allocation.

For seats contributed by Government DNB institutions/colleges, the counselling will strictly follow the Central Government’s reservation norms:

• Scheduled Castes (S.C.): 15%
• Scheduled Tribes (S.T.): 7.5%
• Other Backward Classes (O.B.C.) (Non-Creamy Layer): 27%
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%

In addition, a 5% Horizontal Reservation is provided for the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Category, adhering to the 21 Benchmark Disabilities outlined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and NMC norms. PwD candidates seeking this reservation must obtain their disability certificate exclusively from the designated disability centres, as certificates issued by any other authority will not be accepted.

A key point for all aspirants is the policy regarding private institutions: the official bulletin confirms that there will be no reservation implemented in private DNB colleges or institutes. All seats in such institutions will typically be considered under the general category or specific management quotas, as applicable.

Essential Checklist for Candidates

The eligibility remains straightforward—a candidate must have qualified the NEET-PG exam. However, successful participation relies on meticulous adherence to the laid-out process. Aspirants must:

1. Verify Eligibility: Ensure all eligibility requirements are met as specified in the NEET PG Information Bulletin.
2. Monitor Roster: The MCC applies the roster for the Government DNB Institutes/Colleges, which determines the category-wise distribution of seats. Candidates must check the final seat matrix and roster carefully before choice filling.
3. Stay Updated: Since the DNB counselling is a pan-India process attracting candidates from all states, the competition for specialized seats is high. Regularly check the official MCC and NBE websites for schedule changes and notices.

This comprehensive set of guidelines aims to make the admission process smoother for every aspirant. For more detailed insights into postgraduate medical courses and entrance exams, and for regular updates follow Only Education News, and check out available medical courses here: Medical Courses List.