The NEET PG 2025 counselling began only on October 17, nearly two months after the results were declared on August 19. While the registration window is now open, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has yet to announce a round-wise schedule. This uncertainty has left thousands of postgraduate medical aspirants waiting anxiously for clarity on seat allotments and further rounds.
This year’s delay is a culmination of several issues — the NEET PG re-exam controversy, allegations of result anomalies, and an ongoing Supreme Court case questioning the exam’s transparency. Additionally, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has been finalising seat matrices for newly approved medical colleges, which has further slowed the process.
However, this year’s postponement is not an isolated case. Since 2019, NEET PG counselling has rarely begun on time, often disrupted by either legal challenges or administrative lapses.
2019: The Last “Normal” Year
The 2019 session remains the last time NEET PG counselling followed a predictable pattern. The results were declared on January 31, and the MCC began counselling by March 15 — a standard administrative gap. With no legal or procedural interruptions, it was one of the smoothest admission cycles in recent memory.
2020: The Pandemic Brings Everything to a Halt
Just as the 2020 process seemed on track, the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown hit in March. Counselling, which was expected to begin soon after the January 30 results, was indefinitely postponed. The process finally resumed on April 9, marking over two months of uncertainty for aspirants and setting a precedent for future disruptions.
2021: The EWS Quota Case Freezes Admissions
he 2021 cycle saw one of the longest delays in NEET PG history. Despite results being declared on September 28, counselling didn’t begin until January 12, 2022 — a staggering 106-day gap. The delay stemmed from a Supreme Court case challenging the introduction of EWS and OBC reservations in the All India Quota seats. The process could only resume after the Court’s interim order, which also caused cascading delays in the academic calendar.
2022: Bureaucratic Bottlenecks Slow the Process
In 2022, there were no major lawsuits, but administrative inefficiency took center stage. The NMC delayed issuing Letters of Permission (LoPs) for new medical colleges, which are necessary for updating the seat matrix. As authorities waited for approvals to finalise data counselling — though ready to start after June 1 results — finally began on September 15.
2023: Data Leak Allegations Add Fuel to Fire
The 2023 counselling delay — stretching to 135 days, the longest in recent memory — resulted from a combination of data leak allegations and seat matrix verification issues. Results were declared promptly on March 14, but the process only began by July 27. Authorities tightened verification protocols before reopening registration, leading to extended waiting times for aspirants.
2024: Court Scrutiny Over Exam Transparency
In 2024, NEET PG results were released on August 23, but counselling began only on September 20. The delay stemmed from a Supreme Court case examining exam transparency and result accuracy. While the gap was shorter compared to previous years, it highlighted the recurring trend of judicial intervention in the NEET PG process.
2025: Re-Exam Controversy and Pending Court Case
This year, 2025, has seen another round of uncertainty. Following the NEET PG re-exam controversy and allegations of irregularities, the Supreme Court is still hearing petitions questioning the exam’s fairness. Meanwhile, the NMC’s ongoing approval of new medical colleges has complicated the final seat matrix, forcing the MCC to wait before releasing the full counselling schedule.
For thousands of medical graduates awaiting PG admissions, the recurring delays have become a painful norm. Each year’s setbacks — whether due to legal disputes or administrative inefficiencies — not only disrupt academic calendars but also deepen anxiety among aspirants who have already endured a gruelling entrance process.
As NEET PG 2025 unfolds, the hope remains that both the courts and regulators can bring back predictability and transparency to a system that future doctors of the country depend on.
The Timeline of Delays
2019 was the last year NEET PG followed a predictable schedule, with results on January 31 and counselling on March 15 — a standard administrative gap.
In 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown halted proceedings indefinitely, forcing counselling to restart in April.
2021 saw the Supreme Court’s EWS/OBC quota case push admissions back by over 100 days, causing a ripple effect on the academic calendar.
In 2022, bureaucratic slowdowns like delayed Letters of Permission (LoPs) from NMC held things up.
2023 brought data leak allegations and verification delays — stretching the gap to a record 135 days.
In 2024, scrutiny over result transparency shortened the delay but kept aspirants waiting.
And 2025, once again, finds itself tangled in court hearings and administrative approvals.
The Bigger Picture
Over the past six years, NEET PG counselling delays have become a systemic issue. Legal battles, result controversies, and institutional slowdowns continue to affect timelines, impacting both students and medical institutions. The absence of a predictable schedule disrupts hospital staffing and pushes back academic sessions for future specialists.
Experts say that unless the NMC and MCC streamline coordination and bring greater transparency and digital efficiency, such interruptions will persist. Many believe that a centralised digital monitoring system, real-time seat matrix updates, and faster legal resolution mechanisms could prevent future setbacks.
The Way Forward
For India’s healthcare system — already short of trained specialists — timely admissions are crucial. Repeated disruptions not only burden students but also delay the entry of much-needed doctors into hospitals. As NEET PG 2025 counselling proceeds under judicial scrutiny, aspirants hope this will mark a turning point where transparency, efficiency, and stability finally return to the process.
With better governance and accountability, the system can move from reaction to reform — ensuring that future NEET PG batches don’t lose months to uncertainty.
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