Tamil Nadu launches Round 1 of NEET PG 2025 counselling — registration and choice-filling window open

The State Quota NEET PG 2025 Round 1 counselling process is racing towards its final deadline. The registration, fee payment, and critical choice filling/locking window for numerous states has been consolidated, with the strict closure set for November 24, 2025 (5:00 PM). Aspirants seeking MD/MS/DNB seats in their respective state's Government and Private Medical Colleges must complete their formalities on the official state portals immediately. This short window is the last chance to submit preferences for the first and most critical seat allotment round of the academic session.

The admission cycle for postgraduate medical and dental courses (MD/MS/PG Diploma/DNB) across several states in India has entered its decisive phase. Following the procedural adjustments and delays in the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) schedule for the All India Quota (AIQ), multiple State Counselling Authorities (SCAs) have aligned their Round 1 schedules. The common operational window for Registration, Fee Payment, and Choice Filling/Locking commenced on November 20, 2025 (2:00 PM) and is slated to close on November 24, 2025 (5:00 PM).

​This compressed, four-day window is a critical period for thousands of NEET PG 2025 qualified aspirants targeting the 85% State Quota seats. This round is vital because most high-demand clinical specializations (like Radiodiagnosis, General Medicine, Dermatology) in premier State Government Colleges are filled in Round 1 itself. Candidates who successfully registered in the earlier phase must now focus solely on strategic choice filling and locking. Failure to complete these steps by the November 24, 2025, 5:00 PM deadline will result in exclusion from the Round 1 allotment process, significantly jeopardizing their admission chances for the 2025-26 academic session.

​ Crucial Dates: The Round 1 Final Window

​Aspirants must strictly adhere to the final, common timeline for the key activities of the State Quota Round 1 Counselling. These dates represent a consolidation across several states that are coordinating their schedules with the central counselling body.

• ​Start of Choice Filling/Registration (Fresh/Edit): November 20, 2025 (2:00 PM).
• ​Final Deadline for Registration & Fee Payment: November 24, 2025 (5:00 PM). New candidates must register and pay the security deposit by this time.
• ​Final Deadline for Choice Filling & Locking: November 24, 2025 (5:00 PM). Choices must be manually submitted and locked. Once locked, choices cannot be modified.
• ​Processing of Seat Allotment: Expected to start immediately after the closure, likely on November 25, 2025.
• ​Round 1 Seat Allotment Result: Expected to be published around November 26–27, 2025.

​Note: Individual state portals (e.g., UP, West Bengal, Kerala, Haryana) may have minor variations in the exact closing time (5:00 PM vs. 11:59 PM), but the final date of November 24 holds firm.

​ Strategic Choice Filling for State Quota Seats

​Effective option entry is the most important determinant of success in the State Quota counselling. Candidates must approach this process with meticulous planning, focusing on two main variables: College/Course Preference and Fee Structure.

• ​Prioritize Desirability and Merit:
  • ​List choices in a strict descending order of preference, starting with the most desired clinical branch (e.g., MD General Medicine) in the most prestigious Government College (e.g., Seth GS Medical College or IPGMER).
  • ​Your final selection should encompass a wide range, from your dream seat to the most realistic seat you are willing to accept.
• ​Navigate Quotas and Fee Differences:
  • ​Government Quota: These seats in Government Medical Colleges and, in some states, a percentage of seats in Private Colleges, are highly subsidized and must be prioritized if affordability is a concern.
  • ​Management/Private Quota: Seats in Private Self-Financing Colleges come with a significantly higher tuition fee (often several lakhs per annum). Aspirants must only include these options if they are financially prepared to pay the fees immediately upon allotment.
• ​The Crucial Locking Step: The system processes allotment based on your locked choices. Even if you save your choices multiple times, they must be manually locked before the 5:00 PM deadline on November 24. Failure to lock may lead to your exclusion from the Round 1 allotment entirely.

​Post-Allotment Formalities and Document Readiness

​Following the publication of the Round 1 result on or around November 26, the timeline for joining the allotted institute will be extremely short. Preparation must begin now.

• ​Download Allotment Letter: The first step after the result is to log in to the respective state portal to download the Provisional Seat Allotment Letter. This letter is mandatory for all subsequent procedures.
• ​Fee Payment: Candidates must be prepared to pay the requisite tuition fee/initial admission fee (minus the security deposit) within the short window provided. This payment is often a prerequisite for downloading the final admission letter.
• ​Physical Reporting: Allotted candidates must physically report to the assigned college with all original documents for mandatory verification. 
  • ​Essential Documents to Prepare: NEET PG 2025 Scorecard, MBBS Degree/Provisional Certificate, Internship Completion Certificate, State Medical Council Registration, Domicile Certificate, and Category/Caste Certificates.
• ​Bond Formalities: Be aware of the service bond (mandatory rural/state service) and/or the discontinuation bond (penalty for leaving the course midway) applicable to your allotted institution (especially Government Colleges). These bonds must be executed on a non-judicial stamp paper at the time of joining.

​Conclusion

​The final deadline of November 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM, for Registration, Fee Payment, and Choice Filling/Locking marks the most critical point of the State Quota NEET PG 2025 Round 1 Counselling. Aspirants must not delay, as missing this window means losing the primary opportunity to secure a high-preference seat. Immediate action, coupled with a well-researched and strategically organized list of college and course preferences, is the key to successfully navigating this final push.

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