NEET PG 2022 Counselling – The NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate) is a national-level entrance examination for admission into various MD, MS, and PG Diploma courses across medical colleges in India.
After the declaration of results, the counselling process plays a crucial role in allocating seats based on rank, preference, and reservation criteria.
The NEET PG 2022 counselling witnessed significant developments, from delays and legal interventions to new seat matrices and eligibility changes.
Overview of NEET PG 2022
The NEET PG 2022 examination was conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) on May 21, 2022, and the results were declared shortly after.
Despite the smooth conduct of the exam, the subsequent counselling process was delayed due to various administrative and legal hurdles.
Counselling Authority and Scope
The counselling process is conducted separately for different quotas:
- All India Quota (AIQ) – 50%: Conducted by MCC for government medical colleges and deemed universities.
- State Quota – 50%: Conducted by respective state authorities for seats in state government and private colleges.
- Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS): Separate counselling by the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services.
- Institutes like AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER conduct their counselling, not under NEET PG.
Counselling Rounds and Schedule
NEET PG 2022 counselling was conducted in four rounds:
- Round 1
- Round 2
- Mop-up Round
- Stray Vacancy Round
Each round followed a structured schedule including registration, choice filling, seat allotment, result declaration, and reporting.
Delays in initiating the process were primarily due to pending court cases and discussions over OBC and EWS reservation policies.
Eligibility Criteria for Counselling
To participate in NEET PG 2022 counselling, candidates had to fulfil the following:
- Qualified in NEET PG 2022
- Possessed a valid MBBS degree with compulsory rotatory internship completed before the cut-off date
- Registration with the Medical Council of India or the State Medical Councils
For AIQ seats, all eligible candidates could participate except those who had taken admission earlier and didn’t complete the course.
State quotas required domicile eligibility based on state policies.
Registration and Choice Filling
The first step in counselling involved online registration on the MCC portal (www.mcc.nic.in) for AIQ seats.
Candidates paid a refundable security deposit and a non-refundable counselling fee.
After registration, they could fill in their preferred choices of colleges and specializations.
Tips for Choice Filling:
- Research past year cut-offs
- Prioritize choices based on personal preferences and rank
Do not leave the choice filling incomplete—this could lead to disqualification from further rounds
Seat Allotment Process
The seat allotment was done based on:
- NEET PG 2022 rank
- Preferences submitted
- Category reservations
- Availability of seats
Candidates could check their allotment result and download the allotment letter from the MCC website.
Those allotted seats had to report physically to the college with original documents.
Documents Required at Reporting:
- NEET PG 2022 Scorecard
- Admit Card
- MBBS Degree Certificate and Mark Sheets
- Internship Completion Certificate
- Medical Registration Certificate
- Valid ID Proof
- Allotment Letter
Reservation Policy and Legal Challenges
One of the most debated aspects of NEET PG 2022 counselling was the implementation of the 27% OBC and 10% EWS reservation in AIQ seats.
The Supreme Court upheld this policy, but not without initial resistance and protests from some candidates and medical associations.
The reservation breakup in AIQ was:
- OBC: 27%
- EWS: 10%
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- PwD: 5% horizontal
These decisions affected the seat allocation matrix and extended the counselling timeline.
Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy Rounds
The mop-up round allowed fresh registration for candidates who didn’t participate in earlier rounds or weren’t allotted seats.
The stray vacancy round was the final opportunity, where unfilled seats were offered to eligible candidates through centralized allotment or institutional level (in private colleges).
Common Issues Faced by Candidates
Many candidates reported challenges such as:
- Technical glitches during registration
- Confusion due to multiple counselling authorities (AIQ vs. state)
- Last-minute updates and deadline extensions
- Seat surrender policies and lack of clarity
These issues added to the stress, especially since the counselling overlapped with the next NEET PG exam cycle.
Impact on Academic Calendar
Due to delays in NEET PG 2022 counselling, the academic session started late.
Colleges had to compress their schedules, and many students reported a late start to clinical rotations and classes.
This cascading effect was a continuation of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in earlier years.
Conclusion
NEET PG 2022 counselling was a long and complex process marked by legal debates, policy changes, and administrative delays.
Despite the hurdles, the system managed to fill a large number of postgraduate medical seats across India.
The experience highlighted the need for streamlined processes, better communication, and consistent scheduling to reduce stress for aspirants.
Future counselling rounds can benefit from lessons learned in 2022, ensuring a smoother and more transparent allocation process for India’s future medical specialists.