UP Directorate General of Medical Education, Uttar Pradesh (DGME) debars 7 candidates from NEET PG 2025-26 counselling

The Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), Uttar Pradesh, has debarred seven candidates from the NEET PG 2025-26 counselling cycle. This strict action comes after they resigned from their allotted MD/MS seats after the final counselling round in the 2024-25 session, violating admission rules. This move emphasizes the state's commitment to curb seat wastage and uphold the integrity of the postgraduate medical admission process. Aspirants must be fully aware of the financial and academic penalties associated with non-compliance.

The path to postgraduate medical specialization through NEET PG is intensely competitive, with thousands of aspirants vying for a limited number of MD/MS seats. To ensure fairness and the optimal utilization of these critical medical education resources, counselling authorities nationwide enforce strict rules regarding seat allotment and resignation. In a recent move underscoring this commitment, the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), Uttar Pradesh, has taken disciplinary action against seven candidates. These individuals have been debarred from participating in the upcoming NEET PG 2025-26 counselling process for having resigned from their MD/MS courses after joining their seats in the previous 2024-25 session, specifically beyond the permitted resignation deadlines. This decisive action serves as a crucial reminder to all future aspirants about the severe consequences of violating the counselling policy.

​The Violation: Resigning Beyond the Final Deadline

​The DGME's action is a direct consequence of the candidates' failure to adhere to the stringent seat resignation rules stipulated in the official counselling information bulletin. The rules are designed to prevent the last-minute wastage of valuable PG seats, which can remain vacant for the entire academic session if not filled in the final rounds.

• ​Rule Breach: The debarred candidates resigned from their respective MD/MS seats after the final/stray vacancy rounds of counselling were concluded for the 2024-25 session.
• ​Consequence of Late Exit: Once a candidate has joined an allotted seat, particularly in the later rounds (like Round 2 onwards, and critically in the Mop-Up/Stray Vacancy rounds), they are generally locked into the seat for the entire academic year. Resignation at this late stage makes it impossible for the vacant seat to be re-allocated to the next eligible aspirant, thereby leading to seat wastage.
• ​The Penalty Mechanism: The admission guidelines, both at the national (MCC) and state (DGME UP) levels, clearly prescribe strict penalties for such non-compliance. These penalties often include: 
  • ​Forfeiture of Security Deposit: The initial security money paid during registration is immediately forfeited.
  • ​Debarment: The candidate is barred from participating in the NEET PG counselling process for the subsequent academic year, in this case, the NEET PG 2025-26 session.
• ​Institutes Involved: The seven candidates had joined courses at various medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh, including institutions like Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, and Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, among others, highlighting that the rule applies uniformly across both government and private medical institutions under the state quota.

​Implications for NEET PG 2025-26 Aspirants

​The DGME's public notice on debarment is a critical advisory for all doctors preparing for the upcoming NEET PG 2025 examination. Understanding the counselling policy is just as important as securing a high rank.

• ​Prioritizing Choices: Aspirants must be extremely meticulous in their choice filling. Only those seats and specialties where the candidate is genuinely willing to study should be included in the preference list. Casual choice filling, which often leads to late resignations, must be strictly avoided.
• ​Understanding Exit Options: Candidates must know the difference between a 'Free Exit' and a 'Forfeiture Exit' (or Bond-Exit): 
  • ​Free Exit (Typically Round 1 only): Allows candidates to decline an allotted seat without any penalty or forfeiture of the security deposit, and they remain eligible for subsequent rounds.
  • ​Forfeiture Exit (Round 2 onwards): Declining a seat in later rounds results in the forfeiture of the security deposit and may restrict participation in subsequent rounds, although not always leading to full debarment for the next year unless the seat is resigned after joining in the final (Mop-Up/Stray Vacancy) rounds.
• ​Bond Penalties: In many state and private colleges, a hefty monetary bond (often ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹30 lakh or more) is executed upon joining. Resigning midway through the course, even if within the first few months, triggers this bond condition, requiring the candidate to pay the full penalty amount in addition to facing debarment. This rule is designed to ensure stability in the medical workforce and protect the state's investment in the seat.

​ Best Practices for Counselling Participation

​To avoid being penalized and debarred, future NEET PG aspirants should adopt a highly cautious and well-informed strategy throughout the counselling process.

• ​Read the Official Information Bulletin: The NEET PG 2025 Information Bulletin and the respective State Counselling Brochure (e.g., UP NEET PG 2025 Bulletin) are the definitive sources for all rules, including specific deadlines for resignation and the corresponding penalties. Aspirants must read these documents thoroughly.
• ​Consult Nodal Centres: Any doubts regarding the resignation process, especially in later rounds, must be clarified in person at the designated Nodal Centres or the DGME office. Do not rely on unverified online information.
• ​Document Everything: If a resignation is necessary within the permissible window, ensure a formal, written resignation letter is submitted to the college's principal/dean and the nodal centre. A signed and stamped acknowledgment receipt must be obtained as proof of resignation and release from the seat.

​Conclusion

​The DGME's decision to debar these seven candidates is a necessary administrative measure to protect the sanctity of the medical admissions process and ensure that PG seats are efficiently utilized. While the penalties are harsh, they serve as a powerful deterrent against frivolous participation and late exits, which disadvantage other highly deserving candidates. Aspirants for NEET PG 2025-26 must take this incident as a serious warning: once a seat is accepted and admission is finalized in the later counselling rounds, the commitment to complete the MD/MS course is binding, or face severe financial and academic repercussions.

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