NEET PG 2025 state counselling enters the final mop-up and upgradation rounds as of January 31, 2026. Medical graduates can check seat vacancy, fresh registration rules for stray rounds, and the critical reporting deadlines for MD/MS admissions across various state medical authorities.

The marathon admission cycle for postgraduate medical courses has reached its penultimate stage as state medical authorities across India transition into the mop-up and upgradation phases. Following the completion of the second round of reporting earlier this month, the focus is now on filling the residual vacancies in clinical and non-clinical branches. As of today, January 31, the state portals are seeing a final surge in activity, as this round represents the last opportunity for many medical graduates to secure their preferred specializations before the stray vacancy round commences.

Transition to Mop-Up and Fresh Choice Filling

The mop-up round is designed to consolidate all seats that remained unjoined or were surrendered after the first two rounds of counselling. Unlike the initial phases, this stage often allows for fresh registrations, providing a lifeline to candidates who may have missed the earlier windows or whose ranks have now become competitive due to seat revisions.

• Seat Matrix Updates: Respective state directorates have published the revised vacancy lists, which include seats NEET PG 2025  from the All India Quota (AIQ) that were reverted to the states.
• Fresh Choice Entry: Candidates are required to submit a new set of preferences, as the choices filled during Round 2 are generally considered null and void for the mop-up phase.
• Upgradation Window: Eligible students who joined their Round 2 seats but opted for "willingness to upgrade" are now being considered for better-ranked institutions based on the current availability.
• Document Readiness: Authorities have reiterated that medical certificates and original transcripts must be kept ready for immediate physical reporting once results are announced.

          Forfeiture Rules and Security Deposits

To ensure the integrity of the counselling process and prevent seat blocking, strict financial penalties are being enforced during this round. The state authorities have clarified that any candidate who is allotted a seat in this phase but fails to report will face significant consequences regarding their security deposits.

• Forfeiture Clause: If a candidate is allotted a fresh seat in the mop-up round and does not join, their security amount (ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹2,00,000) will be forfeited.
• Eligibility for Stray Round: Such candidates are also typically barred from participating in the subsequent stray vacancy round, effectively ending their medical admission journey for the 2025-26 session.
• Refund Process: For those who are not allotted any seat, the refund of the security deposit will be initiated only after the entire admission cycle concludes in March.

          Final Upgradation and Academic Commencement

While the mop-up round progresses, the academic session for the 2025-26 batch has already seen a staggered start in several state government colleges. The current upgradation results will determine the final batch composition for most clinical departments, including high-demand branches like Radio-diagnosis and General Medicine.

• Reporting Protocol: Candidates must report in person to the newly allotted college to complete the medical fitness test and fee payment.
• Relieving Process: Those who have been upgraded from a previous college must obtain an online generated relieving letter to facilitate their move to the new institute.
• Stray Vacancy Preparation: Any seats remaining vacant after this counselling round will be moved to the "Stray" category, where no fresh registrations or choice filling are usually permitted.

Conclusion

The shift toward the mop-up round signifies the near-completion of the medical residency allotment for this year. As the state authorities prepare to close the main counselling portals, candidates are advised to verify their allotment status daily. With the academic session already underway, the urgency to finalize these admissions is high, ensuring that every vacant seat is utilized by a deserving candidate before the final February deadlines.