In a massive relief for doctors waiting for postgraduate seats, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially started the registration process for NEET PG 2025 Counselling Round 3. The registration link is now live at mcc.nic.in.
This year’s third round is historic because the Ministry of Health has approved a drastic reduction in the qualifying cut-off. To ensure that over 18,000 vacant clinical and non-clinical seats are filled, the government has lowered the eligibility criteria to as low as zero percentile for reserved categories. If you were previously ineligible, check your new status immediately.
MCC NEET PG Round 3 Schedule: Important Dates
The Medical Counselling Committee released the official schedule on January 15, 2026. The window for registration is short, so candidates are advised not to wait for the last date.
- Registration & Payment: January 15, 2026 – January 26, 2026 (till 12:00 PM)
- Choice Filling: January 16, 2026 – January 26, 2026 (till 11:55 PM)
- Choice Locking: January 26, 2026 (from 4:00 PM onwards)
- Processing of Seat Allotment: January 27 – January 28, 2026
- Round 3 Result Declaration: January 29, 2026
- Reporting to Colleges: January 30, 2026 – February 6, 2026
Big Update: NEET PG Cut-off Reduced drastically
The National Board of Examinations (NBE) has released revised cut-off scores to allow more candidates to participate in the All India Quota (AIQ) counseling.
New Qualifying Percentile:
- General / EWS: Reduced to 7th Percentile (Score: 103)
- PwD (General): Reduced to 5th Percentile (Score: 90)
- SC / ST / OBC: Reduced to 0th Percentile (Score: -40)
What does this mean? This means that candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) who scored -40 marks (yes, negative forty) are now eligible to register for counseling and opt for seats. This move aims to fill the massive backlog of vacancies in preclinical subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology, as well as clinical seats in private colleges.
How to Register for Round 3 at mcc.nic.in
If you are a new candidate or someone who hasn’t registered in Round 1 or 2, follow these steps:
- Select Stream: Click on “PG Medical Counselling”.
- New Registration: Click on the “New Registration Round 3” link under the Candidate Activity Board.
- Login: Enter your NEET PG Roll Number, Application Number, and Date of Birth.
- Payment: Pay the registration fee (non-refundable) and security deposit (refundable).
- Fill Choices: Select your preferred colleges and courses. Remember to LOCK your choices on January 26.
Note for Already Registered Candidates: If you registered in Round 1 or 2 but did not get a seat, you do not need to register or pay again. You simply need to log in and fill fresh choices for Round 3.
What About the Stray Vacancy Round?
After Round 3, if seats still remain vacant, MCC will conduct a Stray Vacancy Round starting from February 10, 2026. However, candidates are strictly advised to secure a seat in Round 3 itself, as the Stray Round often has very limited options and stricter forfeiture rules.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is eligible for MCC NEET PG Round 3?
Candidates who have qualified as per the new reduced cut-off (7th percentile for General, 0th percentile for Reserve) and hold a valid NEET PG 2025 rank are eligible.
2. Can I apply if I have negative marks in NEET PG?
Yes, for SC/ST/OBC candidates, the eligibility score has been revised to -40 marks (0th percentile). General category candidates need at least 103 marks.
3. Is fresh choice filling mandatory for Round 3?
Yes. Your choices from Round 1 or Round 2 are null and void. You must fill new choices for Round 3, or you will not be considered for seat allotment.
4. When will the Round 3 result be declared?
The seat allotment result for Round 3 will be published on January 29, 2026.
5. What is the official website for counseling?
The only official website is mcc.nic.in. Please do not make payments on any other site.
6. Do I need to resign from my Round 2 seat to participate?
Candidates holding a Round 2 seat are generally not allowed to participate in Round 3 unless they have resigned within the stipulated time frame (which usually closes before Round 3 choice filling). Check the latest brochure for resignation rules.