NEET PG 2025 Round 3 state counselling concludes across various states. Check the seat allotment result dates and the upcoming stray vacancy round schedule.

The admission cycle for postgraduate medical courses has reached a decisive phase as the Round 3 state counselling processes wrap up across the country. Following a slight delay in the national schedule due to extended reporting periods in December, State Medical Counselling Committees have fast-tracked their timelines to align with the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates. As of today, several major states, including Assam and Telangana, have concluded their choice-filling and document verification windows, moving the counselling cycle toward final seat allocations.

State-Wise Allotment Status and Reporting Timelines

The Round 3 phase, often referred to as the "Mop-up" equivalent in many state circles, is intended to fill the remaining vacant seats in Government and Private medical colleges. While the All India Quota (AIQ) schedule is being finalized by the MCC, state authorities have utilized the last week to stabilize their merit lists.

• Assam and North-East: The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) Assam has processed its allotment results as of January 11. Candidates in this region are expected to report to their respective colleges for physical joining starting today.
• Maharashtra and Western Region: The State CET Cell Maharashtra is currently processing its Third Selection List. According to the revised notification, physical joining with original documents is scheduled to commence on January 14 and will continue through the end of the week.
• Management Quota in Telangana: The KNR University of Health Sciences recently released a merit list specifically for management quota seats, allowing over 1,800 eligible candidates to vie for the final few clinical spots available in the state.
• Seat Expansion Impact: A recent update from the NMC confirmed the addition of over 400 new MD/MS seats across high-demand branches like General Medicine and Radio Diagnosis. This expansion has significantly improved allotment prospects for mid-rankers during this specific phase.

Key Counselling Milestones and Document Verification

The transition from Round 3 to the final admission stage requires strict adherence to administrative deadlines. The following table summarizes the status of key state-level activities as of mid-January:

Transition to the Final Stray Vacancy Round

As Round 3 concludes, the focus shifts to the "Stray Vacancy" round, which is the absolute final opportunity for candidates to secure a PG seat for the 2025-26 academic year. This round follows a much stricter set of rules compared to the initial stages of counselling.

• No Resignation Policy: It is vital for candidates to note that once a seat is accepted in Round 3, there is no provision for resignation. Failure to join an allotted seat at this stage will result in the forfeiture of the security deposit and potential debarment from future cycles.
• Eligibility for Stray Round: Only those candidates who have not been allotted any seat in the previous three rounds of either AIQ or State counselling will be permitted to participate in the stray vacancy phase.
• Reporting Formalities: Candidates must carry their NEET PG 2025 admit card, MBBS degree, internship completion certificate, and permanent/provisional registration certificate issued by the NMC for final admission.
• Institutional Level Conduct: Unlike the centralized allotment seen in earlier weeks, the stray vacancy round is often conducted by individual institutes based on the merit lists provided by the state or central authorities.

Conclusion

The conclusion of Round 3 across multiple states marks the near-end of the formal 2025 admission process. With the academic session already in its early stages for those who joined in the first two rounds, the remaining aspirants are navigating a narrow window of opportunity. The integration of newly added clinical seats has provided a late boost to the allotment success rate, but the pressure remains high as the system prepares for the final stray vacancy announcements later this month. All eyes are now on the official MCC portal for the final All India Quota schedule, which will bring the curtains down on the 2025 medical PG admissions by January 31, 2026.