Tamil Nadu announces NEET PG 2025 Round 1 counselling schedule

The registration and crucial choice-filling window for Tamil Nadu NEET PG Counselling 2025 Round 1 is in its final hours. Aspirants for over 4,800 MD/MS seats in Government and Self-Financing colleges must complete their application and lock choices by November 24, 2025 (5:00 PM). The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) will process the allotment on November 25, with results due on November 26. This limited time frame is vital for securing a seat through the highly competitive State Quota and Management Quota admissions.

The eagerly awaited Tamil Nadu NEET PG Counselling 2025 Round 1 has reached its ultimate deadline for application and course selection. The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chennai, which governs the counselling process, has confirmed that the window for online registration, fee payment, and critical choice filling/locking will close sharply on November 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM. This tight, four-day window, which began on November 20, 2025, is non-negotiable for all NEET-PG 2025 qualified candidates aspiring for MD/MS and PG Diploma seats across the state.

​Tamil Nadu is one of the largest hubs for medical education in India, offering approximately 4,867 total PG medical seats (2,772 in Government colleges and 2,095 in Private colleges) for the 2025-26 academic session. Given the immense competition, aspirants must not procrastinate. Failure to complete registration and lock choices by the Monday deadline will instantly disqualify candidates from Round 1 participation, forcing them to wait for the subsequent, more limited Mop-Up rounds.

​Navigating the Critical Round 1 Application and Financial Requirements

​The Round 1 application process for Tamil Nadu NEET PG Counselling is multi-layered, requiring candidates to navigate both registration and significant financial commitments, categorized distinctly for Government and Management Quota seats.

• ​Registration and Choice-Locking Deadline: The absolute final time for candidates to complete their registration, pay the requisite fees, and submit their preferences is November 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Candidates are strongly advised to manually lock their choices well before the final minute to prevent server overload or last-minute technical errors. If choices are not manually locked, the system will automatically lock the last saved choices at the deadline.
• ​Fees and Security Deposit Structure: Candidates must pay a non-refundable registration fee plus a refundable security deposit, which varies significantly by quota: 
  • ​Government Quota (GQ): 
    • ​Non-Refundable Registration Fee: ₹1,000/-
    • ​Refundable Security Deposit (Government Medical Colleges): ₹30,000/-
    • ​Refundable Security Deposit (Government Quota in Self-Financing Colleges): ₹1,00,000/-
  • ​Management Quota (MQ) / NRI Quota:
    • ​Non-Refundable Registration Fee: ₹1,000/-
    • ​Refundable Security Deposit: ₹2,00,000/- (This covers Management and NRI seats in Self-Financing Colleges).
• ​Final Dates for Allotment Cycle:
  • ​Processing of Seat Allotment: November 25, 2025
  • ​Declaration of Result: November 26, 2025
  • ​Last Date of Joining Allotted College: December 3, 2025 (5:00 PM)

​Strategic Choice Filling: Maximizing Your Seat Options

​With over 4,800 seats in total, aspirants must utilize the final choice-filling hours not just to fill options, but to strategize effectively based on their rank and preferred specialization (e.g., MD General Medicine, MS General Surgery, MD Radio Diagnosis).

• ​Review the Seat Matrix: Before logging in, candidates must review the detailed TN NEET PG Seat Matrix 2025. This document clearly segregates seats by college, specialty, and quota (Government, Management, NRI), along with the 69% State Reservation rule, ensuring choices are realistic.
• ​Prioritize Specialties and Colleges: Choices must be entered in descending order of preference. Place your dream specialty/college combinations (e.g., MD Dermatology at Madras Medical College) at the top, followed by a wide range of achievable specializations in reputable institutions (like Kilpauk Medical College, Madurai Medical College, etc.).
• ​Dual Quota Strategy: Eligible candidates (those with high ranks who qualify for both GQ and MQ) should fill choices under both categories to maximize their chances. The system will allot the best possible seat based on the merit list, even if it is in the Management Quota.
• ​Document Checklist Readiness: While verification happens during registration, candidates who secure an allotment must have all original documents ready to report by the December 3rd deadline. Key documents include: NEET PG 2025 Scorecard, MBBS Degree, Internship Completion Certificate (on or before July 31, 2025), and the Tamil Nadu Nativity Certificate (for State Quota).

​Post-Result Actions and Discontinuation Rules

​The steps taken after the result declaration on November 26th are critical, particularly concerning joining and the severe penalty for late withdrawal.

• ​Tuition Fee Payment: Selected candidates must pay the required Tuition Fee online through the portal to download their Provisional Allotment Order, starting from November 26th. The fee structure for Government and Self-Financing Colleges is published on the official DME website.
• ​Free Exit vs. Forfeiture:
  • ​Round 1: Candidates who are allotted a seat but choose not to join by December 3rd are permitted a Free Exit. They will forfeit their security deposit but remain eligible to register and participate in Round 2.
  • ​Post-Round 2/Mop-Up: The rules tighten significantly. Candidates who join a seat after Round 2 or the Mop-Up Round and then wish to discontinue must pay a severe discontinuation penalty—typically ₹10 lakhs for Diploma courses and ₹15 lakhs for MD/MS courses—in addition to losing all fees and deposits. This underscores the need for careful choice-filling in Round 1.

​Conclusion

​The deadline of November 24, 2025 (5:00 PM) for Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2025 Round 1 counselling is the final call for thousands of medical aspirants. With the promise of thousands of MD/MS seats across the state's robust network of medical colleges, this choice-filling phase demands precision, strategic planning across all quota types (GQ, MQ, NRI), and immediate action. Candidates must lock their choices and prepare their documents to be ready for the result declaration on November 26th and the ultimate joining deadline of December 3rd.

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