Mumbai: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) have been urged to “urgently release” the seat matrix for the third round of counselling for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) postgraduate (PG) 2024.
In a letter addressed to Assistant Director General (ADG) of Medical Education (ME), and copied to the Union Minister and MCC, among others, Brijesh Sutaria, a Mumbai-based medical education activist, said, “The prolonged waiting period is causing significant anxiety and confusion among aspirants, who are eagerly awaiting clarity on their admission process for All India Quota (AIQ) Round 3.”
Noting that the 2024 counselling process has already been marred by several delays, he said, “timely updates are crucial to ensure that the admission cycle is completed without further disruptions,” requesting the MCC to “prioritise the release of the seat matrix at the earliest to provide much-needed relief and clarity to thousands of candidates.”
In Maharashtra, the third round of counselling was scheduled to begin on January 7, but it has been on hold with the state allowing resignation of round 2 seats until January 15 at 5:30 p.m. by paying a penalty, thus indicating that the seat matrix will not be released soon.
This delay is not unique to Maharashtra but is reflective of the larger disarray across the country. State counselling processes in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana have also been sluggish, with the second round of counselling still unfinished.
Talking to the FPJ, Sutaria termed the counselling process “chaotic, disorganised, and frustrating”. “The NEET PG 2024 counselling process has been a source of immense frustration for aspirants this year. Despite the timely announcement of results, the delays in counselling and the release of critical updates, such as the seat matrix, have disrupted the admission process.” He said.
Even after reducing the cutoff to 15th percentile for General and Economically Weaker Sections aspirants, and10th Percentile to other reserved categories, there has not been any clarity on when the subsequent rounds of counselling will begin, leaving thousands of candidates in limbo.
“Such inefficiencies not only prolong the academic year but also cause undue stress for candidates and their families. The situation in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana highlights the disorganised approach at both the national and state levels,” Sutaria added.
The root cause, he said, lies in the lack of timely planning and execution. “Authorities like the MCC and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) must recognise that these delays impact not just aspirants but the healthcare system as a whole. Timely admission and training of PG medical students are critical to addressing the shortage of specialists in India,” he argued.
According to Sutaria, the way forward requires a commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability. “Authorities must prioritise releasing updates on time, ensure smoother counselling processes, and avoid delays that overlap with future admission cycles. Aspirants deserve clarity and respect for their efforts not chaos and uncertainty,” he concluded.
