Seat Matrix Revised as MCC Withdraws 12 NEET SS Round One Seats

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), operating under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), has issued an urgent notification regarding the withdrawal of 12 super-speciality (SS) seats from the Round 1 seat matrix of the NEET SS 2025 counselling. This administrative adjustment was implemented following specific requests from participating medical institutions across the country. The decision was made to ensure that candidates do not inadvertently select seats that are currently facing technical discrepancies or regulatory recognition issues for the current academic session.

According to the official notice, these seats were removed before the final processing of the Round 1 seat allotment results. This proactive measure by the MCC aims to maintain the integrity of the admission process by allocating only those seats that are fully verified and operational. Candidates were advised to review the updated matrix on the official portal to understand how these changes might have influenced the overall seat availability in their preferred super-speciality branches.

Breakdown of Withdrawn Seats and Institutes

The 12 withdrawn seats were distributed across two primary institutions, affecting several highly competitive Doctorate of National Board (DrNB) super-speciality programs. The largest reduction occurred at Government Medical College in Srinagar, where multiple seats across four different specialities were removed from the initial counseling list. One additional seat was withdrawn from the Southern Railway Head Quarters Hospital in Chennai.

The reasons cited for these withdrawals include internal institutional requests and the need to rectify data entry errors. Furthermore, the MCC clarified that certain DM Medical Oncology seats were initially misclassified under the general Medical Group instead of the specific Medical Oncology Group. To fix these discrepancies, the choice-filling portal was briefly halted during the registration phase to incorporate the necessary updates into the central counseling system.

Status of Round 1 Results and Reporting

Despite the last-minute matrix revisions, the MCC successfully declared the provisional allotment results for Round 1 on March 17, 2026. This was followed by the release of the final allotment list on March 18. A total of 6,035 seats for DM, MCh, and DrNB programs were allocated to qualified candidates nationwide. The results reflect the adjusted seat matrix, ensuring that no candidate was allotted a seat that had been officially withdrawn.

The reporting phase for candidates who have secured an allotment is currently in its final stages. Candidates must report to their respective medical colleges to complete the admission formalities and document verification. The MCC has emphasized that failure to report within the prescribed timeline will result in the cancellation of the allotted seat. This phase is critical as it determines the final vacancy list that will be used for the upcoming Round 2 of the super-speciality counseling.

• Result Declaration: March 18, 2026
• Reporting Commencement: March 19, 2026
• Reporting Deadline: March 25, 2026
• Round 2 Registration Start: March 28, 2026

Guidelines for Allotted Candidates

Candidates visiting their allotted institutions must carry a set of original documents, including the NEET SS 2025 scorecard, admit card, and their postgraduate degree certificates (MD/MS/DNB). Additionally, a permanent registration certificate from the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council is mandatory. Institutions are required to verify these credentials before issuing the final admission letter.

For candidates who did not receive an allotment in Round 1 or are looking for an upgrade, the registration for Round 2 is scheduled to begin on March 28, 2026. The MCC will publish a fresh seat matrix for the second round, which will include all clear vacancies and any seats that were newly added after the first round. Aspirants are encouraged to monitor the official MCC website for the most accurate and up-to-date notifications regarding the counseling schedule.

Conclusion

The withdrawal of 12 super-speciality seats from the NEET SS Round 1 matrix highlights the dynamic nature of the medical counseling process. By removing these seats before allotment, the MCC has ensured that the admission cycle remains fair and compliant with institutional standards. With the reporting deadline ending on March 25, candidates must finalize their admissions to secure their positions. As the first round concludes, the focus now turns toward the end of March, when the second round of counseling will provide further opportunities for medical professionals to pursue their chosen super-specialities.