For thousands of medical graduates across India, NEET PG counseling has become a saga of delays, legal wrangles, and administrative bottlenecks — a trend that has persisted for six consecutive years.

This year, the registration window finally opened on October 17, almost two months after the results were declared on August 19, yet aspirants are still waiting for the detailed round-wise schedule from the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC).

The 2025 delays stem from a combination of factors: the controversial NEET PG re-exam, allegations of result anomalies, and a pending Supreme Court case questioning exam transparency. Compounding the issue, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has been finalizing seat matrices for newly approved medical colleges, further slowing the process.

Such disruptions, while familiar, highlight a persistent pattern of procrastination and legal entanglements that have plagued NEET PG counseling since 2019.

A timeline of repeated delays

·        2019: The last relatively smooth cycle — results declared January 31, counseling began March 15, with a standard 43-day administrative gap.

·        2020: Pandemic lockdown halts counseling. Results on January 30, registration resumes April 9 — a 70+ day delay.

·        2021: Supreme Court case on EWS/OBC quotas stalls admissions for 106 days. Results declared September 28, counseling begins January 12, 2022.

·        2022: Bureaucratic hurdles delay counseling by 106 days; NMC’s delayed Letters of Permission hold up seat finalization.

·        2023: Alleged data leaks and seat matrix finalization push counseling start to July 27 — a record 135-day gap.

·        2024: Legal scrutiny over exam transparency delays counseling by 28 days.

·        2025: Re-exam controversy, pending Supreme Court case, and seat matrix approvals push counseling to October 17, 59 days after results.

A systemic problem

The 2019 cycle remains the last instance of relative procedural normalcy. Since then, each year has seen a mix of legal battles and administrative gaps disrupt timelines, leaving candidates anxious and academic schedules compressed. The recurring delays underscore systemic vulnerabilities in India’s postgraduate medical admission process, where legal interventions, exam controversies, and bureaucratic inertia collide — often to the detriment of thousands of aspiring doctors.

As the 2025 counseling continues, aspirants remain in a state of uncertainty, bracing for further schedule announcements amid the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings and administrative finalizations.