The Medical Counselling Committee is set to commence the NEET PG 2025 Round 3 counselling registration. Following a significant reduction in the qualifying percentile, newly eligible candidates can now apply for MD and MS seats across the All India Quota and Deemed Universities. Check the revised schedule and seat matrix on the official MCC website.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is moving forward with the medical-intake process for the NEET PG 2025 Round-3 session. As of today, January 20, 2026, the national healthcare education sector is bracing for a surge in applications following a historic decision by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to lower the qualifying percentile to accommodate more candidates. This counselling-phase is particularly critical as it offers a fresh opportunity for thousands of doctors to secure MD, MS, and Diploma seats that remained vacant after the first two rounds of allotment.

Revised Schedule and Registration Timeline

The medical-intake authorities have released a revamped schedule to ensure that the newly eligible pool of candidates has sufficient time to complete their documentation.

• Registration Window: The online portal for Round-3 is expected to remain active until January 26, 2026, allowing both new registrants and those seeking upgrades to submit their forms.
• Choice Filling: Candidates can begin the choice-filling process on the official MCC portal, with the window for locking preferences opening in the final days of the registration period.
• Seat Allotment Result: The definitive seat allotment for this counselling-phase is tentatively scheduled for release on January 29, 2026, based on the revised merit list.
• Reporting Period: Once a seat is secured, candidates will be required to report to their respective medical colleges between January 30 and February 6, 2026, for document verification and fee payment.

Impact of Percentile Reduction on Eligibility

The most significant update for the 2026 counselling-phase is the drastic reduction in the eligibility barrier, which has reshaped the competitive landscape for aspirant-doctors.

• General Category: The qualifying percentile has been lowered significantly, enabling candidates with a score as low as 103 (7th percentile) to participate in the medical-intake process.
• Reserved Categories: For SC, ST, and OBC candidates, the percentile has been adjusted to the zero level, meaning all candidates with non-negative scores are now technically eligible to apply.
• Expanded Participation: This policy shift is aimed at filling nearly 10,000 vacant seats, including over 290 newly added MD and MS seats that were recently approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• NRI Conversion: A special window for converting nationality from Indian to NRI for the purpose of seat allotment was also opened, concluding its primary email submission phase earlier this week.

Seat Matrix and Category Breakdown

The MCC has published a detailed seat-matrix for Round-3, categorizing vacancies into clear, virtual, and newly added seats to assist in strategic choice-filling.

• Institutional Reporting: Candidates are advised that if they are allotted a seat in Round-3 and fail to join, they will face a forfeiture of their security deposit and elimination from the subsequent stray vacancy round.
• State vs. Central: While the MCC handles the 50% All India Quota (AIQ), various state authorities are also reopening their choice-filling portals to align with the revised national eligibility norms.
• Technical Readiness: Aspirant-doctors are urged to keep their NEET PG 2025 scorecards and internship completion certificates ready for immediate upload to the seat-matrix portal.

Conclusion

As the 2026 medical-intake reaches this high-stakes juncture, the focus for all aspirant-doctors must remain on the timely completion of the registration process. The counselling-phase represents the last major opportunity before the stray vacancy rounds to secure a specialty of choice. With the seat-matrix now offering more options than earlier rounds, a well-researched choice-filling strategy is essential. Candidates should continue to monitor the official MCC website for the final activation of the payment link and ensure all local and central guidelines are met before the January 26 deadline.