MCC NEET PG 2025-26 Third Round Cutoff | MD/MS Admission Cutoff Revealed

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has significantly reduced the NEET PG Cutoff 2025-26 for the third round of counselling to fill remaining postgraduate medical seats across India. This major revision in NEET PG Cutoff opens opportunities for thousands of candidates who were previously ineligible due to the higher initial qualifying standards.

Revised NEET PG Cutoff 2025-26: Official Qualifying Percentiles

Following approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) has drastically lowered the qualifying percentiles for NEET PG Cutoff 2025-26 third round counselling. These changes apply exclusively to counselling eligibility and do not alter previously published ranks.

Updated Qualifying Cutoff Details:

This represents one of the most substantial cutoff reductions in recent NEET PG history, with General category candidates now eligible at just 103 marks and reserved categories qualifying even with negative scores.

MCC NEET PG 2025-26 Third Round Counselling Schedule

Registration Window: January 15 – January 26, 2026
Choice Filling & Locking: January 16 – January 26, 2026
Fee Payment Deadline: January 26, 2026 (3:00 PM)
Seat Allotment Processing: January 27-28, 2026
Seat Allotment Result: January 29, 2026
Reporting to Allotted Colleges: January 30 – February 6, 2026
Institute Data Verification: February 7, 2026

Fresh registrations are open for Round 3 at mcc.nic.in. Candidates previously registered can participate without re-registering, but no resignations will be permitted after Round 3 allotment.

Why MCC Reduced NEET PG Cutoff 2025-26?

The unprecedented reduction in NEET PG Cutoff addresses several critical issues:

1. Significant Vacant Seats: Despite two rounds of counselling, substantial MD/MS/Diploma seats remained unfilled across government, private, and deemed universities.

2. Enhanced Access: Lowering the cutoff by 43 percentile points for General category makes thousands more candidates eligible for MD/MS third round admission cutoff participation.

3. Strategic Seat Filling: Ensures maximum utilization of postgraduate medical seats before proceeding to stray vacancy rounds.

4. Equity Consideration: Reserved category candidates (SC/ST/OBC) now qualify with 0th percentile, providing unprecedented access to premium specialties.

Expected MD/MS Third Round Admission Cutoff Trends

While official college-wise cutoffs for Round 3 aren’t published until allotment results, historical patterns suggest significant drops from Round 1 & 2 closing ranks:

Clinical Branches (High Demand):

• General Medicine (MD): Expected 10-20% rank improvement over Round 2

• General Surgery (MS): 15-25% rank relaxation anticipated

• Paediatrics: Moderate cutoff drop expected

• Orthopaedics: Notable improvement in closing ranks

Non-Clinical Branches (Lower Competition):

• Radiology: 20-30% rank improvement

• Anaesthesiology: Substantial cutoff relaxation

• Pathology: Very low competition expected

• Community Medicine: Likely to see maximum rank drops

Deemed/Private Universities: Most significant cutoff reductions due to higher vacancy rates compared to government colleges.

Category-Wise Impact Analysis

General/EWS Candidates:

• Original Eligibility: Top ~25,000 ranks needed

• Revised Eligibility: Expanded to ~1,50,000+ ranks

• Benefit: Access to clinical branches in private/deemed universities

SC/ST/OBC Candidates:

• Original Cutoff: 40th percentile (~350-400 marks)

• Revised Cutoff: 0th percentile (-40 marks)

• Benefit: Government college clinical seats now accessible

PwBD Candidates:

• General PwBD: 5th percentile (90 marks)

• Reserved PwBD: 0th percentile (-40 marks)

• Benefit: Priority seats in preferred specialties

Strategic Preparation for Third Round Counselling

1. Immediate Registration: Complete registration by January 26 deadline at mcc.nic.in

2. Comprehensive Choice Filling: Include all available colleges and branches – maximum choices increase allotment probability

3. Realistic Branch Selection: Prioritize clinical branches first, followed by semi-clinical, then para-clinical based on Round 2 vacancy trends

4. Multiple Category Participation: Participate in AIQ, DNB, Deemed, and State quota counselling simultaneously

5. Document Readiness: Prepare original documents for immediate reporting post-allotment

Key Rules for Round 3 Participation

No Resignation Policy: Seats allotted in Round 3 are final – no withdrawals permitted, ensuring committed admissions

Fresh Registrations Welcome: Candidates ineligible in earlier rounds due to cutoff can now register afresh

Security Deposit: Refundable deposit required at registration (varies by college type)

Fee Structure: College-specific tuition fees payable upon reporting

Impact on Specialty Preferences

Most Accessible Specialties (Round 3):

• Anaesthesiology

• Pathology

• Community Medicine

• Psychiatry

• Dermatology (select colleges)

Moderately Competitive:

• Paediatrics

• Orthopaedics

• OBGYN

• Ophthalmology

Highly Competitive (Limited Seats):

• Radiology

• General Medicine

• General Surgery

Important Considerations for Candidates

1. All India Quota (AIQ) Coverage: Round 3 covers 50% AIQ seats in Government colleges (except AP, Telangana, J&K)

2. DNB Seats: Corporate hospital DNB seats included with significant vacancies expected

3. Deemed Universities: 100% seats through MCC with flexible cutoffs

4. Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS): Limited seats with specific eligibility

5. No Rank Change: Counselling eligibility expanded but individual NEET PG ranks remain unchanged

Next Steps After Seat Allotment

1. Fee Payment: Pay tuition fees as per allotted college schedule
2. Document Verification: Report with original certificates
3. College Reporting: Complete admission formalities by February 6 deadline
4. Course Commencement: PG residency begins immediately post-admission

The dramatic reduction in NEET PG Cutoff 2025-26 represents a golden opportunity for aspirants to secure their preferred MD/MS specialization. With strategic choice filling and timely action, thousands of additional candidates can now achieve their postgraduate medical dreams through MCC’s third round counselling process.