The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued the Round 3 seat matrix for the NEET PG 2025 counselling, showing a substantial number of postgraduate medical seats available as candidates prepare for the next allotment phase. The matrix includes both clear and virtual vacancies, reflecting seats left unfilled or created due to upgradation after earlier rounds.
Total Seat Availability in Round 3
According to the latest official data:
- Clear Vacancies: 18,076 seats across MD, MS, and DNB courses
- Virtual Vacancies: 10,101 seats created due to candidate upgradation
- Total Available for Round 3: 28,469 medical seats
These vacancies span various clinical, non-clinical, and surgical specialties offered by medical colleges and institutions across India under the All India Quota (AIQ) and composited seat lists. The round 3 seat matrix shows that courses such as General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and others have a significant number of seats available for allocation in this phase of counselling.
Counselling Schedule and Choice Filling
- Round 3 Registration & Choice Filling: Open till 26 January 2026
- Seat Allotment Result: Expected in late January 2026
- Reporting to College: Candidates allotted seats must report by the dates specified in the counselling schedule, following allotment results.
Eligible candidates, including those who did not take part in earlier rounds, can register on the MCC official portal and participate in choice filling and locking for Round 3 of NEET PG 2025 counselling.
Impact of Vacancies and Selection Strategy
The availability of over 28,000 seats presents a significant opportunity for NEET PG aspirants who have qualified for the national entrance exam and are seeking postgraduate medical admissions. Both clear vacancies (seats genuinely unfilled after prior rounds) and virtual vacancies (seats opened due to upgradation or reshuffling of choices) contribute to the expanded opportunities in Round 3. Candidates should make informed decisions based on their rank, preferred specialities, and institute preferences during the choice filing process, as competition remains high across popular clinical disciplines.