65 Days and Delay: Legal & Administrative Hurdles Stall NEET PG Counselling Again

Digital Desk

The crucial counselling process for NEET PG 2025 commenced on October 17, a significant 59-day delay after results were declared on August 19. This postponement continues a troubling trend of delayed medical postgraduate admissions in India since 2019, primarily driven by legal battles and administrative gaps.

This year's holdup stems from a combination of factors, including the controversy surrounding a NEET PG re-exam, allegations of irregularities in the results, and a pivotal Supreme Court case challenging the transparency of the examination itself. Compounding these legal issues, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has been finalising seat matrices for newly approved colleges, further slowing the process.

While the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registrations, the continued absence of a detailed, round-wise schedule leaves thousands of aspirants in a state of uncertainty regarding seat allotment dates and the overall admission timeline.

An analysis of the past seven years reveals a persistent pattern of disruptions. The last relatively smooth cycle was in 2019, with a 43-day gap. Since then, delays have varied from 28 days in 2024 to a massive 135 days in 2023. Major causes have included the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and a protracted Supreme Court case on EWS/OBC reservations in 2021, which caused a 106-day delay.

These repeated postponements not only cause immense anxiety for candidates but also disrupt the entire medical academic calendar, highlighting an urgent need for systemic stability in India's postgraduate medical admissions process.