The NEET PG 2025 counselling finally started on October 17, after being delayed for almost two months since the results came out on August 19. Students had been waiting for this moment for weeks. While registration has started, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has not yet shared the full round-wise schedule. Because of that, many students are still unsure about when seat allotments will happen or when the next rounds will take place.
The delay this year happened for several reasons. There was a re-exam issue, complaints about result errors, and even a case in the Supreme Court that questioned how transparent the exam process was. On top of that, the National Medical Commission (NMC) was still working on finalising seat details for new medical colleges, which made things even slower. Sadly, these kinds of delays are nothing new. Since 2019, NEET PG counselling has rarely started on time.
NEET PG Counselling Timeline (2019-2025)
| Year | Result Date | Counselling Start Date | Gap (Approx Days) | Key Reason for Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | January 31, 2019 | March 15, 2019 | 43 days | Normal administrative process |
| 2020 | January 30, 2020 | April 9, 2020 | 70+ days | COVID-19 lockdown |
| 2021 | September 28, 2021 | January 12, 2022 | 106 days | Supreme Court case on EWS/OBC quotas |
| 2022 | June 1, 2022 | September 15, 2022 | 106 days | Delay in new college approvals |
| 2023 | March 14, 2023 | July 27, 2023 | 135 days | Data leak and seat matrix delay |
| 2024 | August 23, 2024 | September 20, 2024 | 28 days | Court case on exam transparency |
| 2025 | August 19, 2025 | October 17, 2025 | 59 days | Supreme Court case and pending seat approvals |
2019 – The Last Smooth Year
2019 was the last year when everything went smoothly. The results came on January 31, and counselling began on March 15. There were no legal issues or delays. The MCC followed the regular schedule, and the process went as expected. It was the last time students could count on a predictable timeline.
2020 – COVID-19 Stops Everything
In 2020, things looked normal until the COVID-19 lockdown began in March. The results were declared on January 30, but counselling had to be stopped because of the nationwide shutdown. It finally resumed on April 9, after more than two months. This was the first big disruption to the NEET PG process caused by something outside the education system.
2021 – Court Case on EWS Quota Delays Counselling
The 2021 session saw one of the longest delays ever. Even though the results came out on September 28, counselling didn’t start until January 12, 2022. The reason was a Supreme Court case about including EWS and OBC reservations in the All India Quota (AIQ) seats. The process began only after the Court gave its interim order. This delay not only affected admissions but also pushed back the entire academic year.
2022 – Paperwork and College Approvals Slow Things Down
In 2022, there were no legal problems, but the delay came from the NMC. Results were announced on June 1, but counselling started only on September 15. The NMC took time to give Letters of Permission (LoPs) to new medical colleges. Because of that, the seat matrix could not be completed on time, and students had to wait longer again.
2023 – Data Leak and Seat Matrix Issues
In 2023, the NEET PG results came quickly on March 14, but counselling didn’t start until July 27 — that’s more than four months later. This was the longest gap so far. The delay happened because of two things — a suspected data leak and delays in finalising the seat matrix by NMC. Authorities had to recheck the data before starting registration to make sure everything was safe and fair.
2024 – Legal Delays Over Exam Transparency
In 2024, results were released on August 23, and counselling began on September 20. Though the delay was shorter than before, it was still linked to a Supreme Court case about exam transparency. The MCC later revised the schedule to make sure the academic year stayed on track. Even with these changes, students still had to deal with confusion and anxiety.
2025 – Re-exam Issue and Court Case Cause Fresh Delay
This year, the NEET PG 2025 counselling finally started on October 17, nearly two months after the results on August 19. The delay happened because of a Supreme Court hearing on alleged irregularities and transparency issues in the exam. The NMC also needed extra time to finalise seat approvals for new medical colleges. These combined issues once again pushed the schedule back.
It’s clear that delays in NEET PG counselling have become a yearly pattern. From legal cases to administrative delays, there’s always something that pushes the process off track. Students who spend years preparing for this exam end up waiting longer just to start their next step. Hopefully, future years will bring a more stable and timely system so that aspirants can focus on their careers instead of waiting endlessly for schedules to be released.
FAQs
What is NEET PG counselling?
It is the process where medical graduates choose and get seats for postgraduate courses based on their exam rank.
When did NEET PG 2025 counselling start?
It began on October 17, 2025.
Why was NEET PG 2025 counselling delayed?
It was delayed because of a Supreme Court case and pending seat approvals.
Who conducts NEET PG counselling?
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts it.
When will the detailed NEET PG 2025 schedule be released?
MCC has not yet announced the detailed round-wise schedule.
