In a significant move to bring order to the often chaotic postgraduate medical admissions process, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has overhauled the counselling schedule for NEET-PG 2025. The regulator has issued a strict directive for all states to synchronise their counselling timelines precisely with the All India Quota (AIQ) process, aiming to eliminate the annual scramble and confusion that has plagued admissions in previous years.
Revised Schedule Aims for Seamless Coordination
The Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the NMC released a public notice detailing the revised schedule on December 19. This updated calendar was subsequently circulated to all medical colleges and state counselling authorities on December 22. The NMC developed the new framework in close consultation with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Officials from the commission stated that this reshuffle is a direct response to the long-standing conflicts between the AIQ and state quota counselling sessions. In past years, these clashes resulted in several operational headaches:
- Overlapping counselling rounds
- Seats being blocked unnecessarily
- Prolonged and delayed admission cycles
Strict Mandate for State Authorities
The NMC has emphasised that strict adherence to the synchronised schedule is now mandatory. This directive aligns with repeated instructions from the Supreme Court of India, which has sought a streamlined and fair admission process for all medical aspirants.
"All state counselling authorities must adhere to the revised schedule to avoid incoherence between AIQ and state counselling rounds," the NMC asserted in its notice. The commission has also urged medical colleges and students across the country to monitor the new timelines closely to ensure a smooth transition.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
The directive applies universally to all state counselling bodies, participating medical institutions, and NEET-PG aspirants. The NMC has made it clear that any deviation from the stipulated schedule could seriously disrupt the entire national admission process. Such disruptions may also invite regulatory action against the non-compliant authorities.
This decisive step by the NMC is expected to bring much-needed predictability and efficiency to the NEET-PG admissions, ensuring that the focus remains on merit and seamless allocation rather than administrative confusion.
