Post-graduate medical admissions are set to commence with national-level counselling for MD and MS courses as well as those for diploma and DNB courses.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) would soon begin the process as per the rank list of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Postgraduate), 2021.

The counselling would also cover the 50% 'All-India Quota' seats in the states, some state quota seats as well as seats in private medical colleges and institutions and deemed universities.

The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) too would join the counselling by following specific guidelines.

The Union Territories have been considered as states for the admission process.

(DNB or Diplomate of National Board is a Post-graduate Master's degree same as MD/MS degree awarded to the specialist doctors in India after completion of three-year residency.)

Central/deemed universities
All the seats in the central/deemed universities would come under this phase of counselling for centralised admission. However, the exceptions are: AIIMS, New Delhi, other AIIMS centres, JIPMER at Puducherry/Karaikal, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, PG Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

Candidates who are participating in the Armed Forces Medical College PG counselling for admission in medical colleges that come under the Armed Forces Medical Services should register on the MCC website. The list of the registered candidates would then be sent to the AFMS. The selection would be based on AFMS’ admission policies.

For more details visit the website www.mcc.nic.in.

Central Universities/Institutions
1. Delhi University: Lady Hardinge Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College, University College of Medical Sciences. 50% all India quota, 50% institutional quota (MBBS graduates from Delhi University).
2. Aligargh Muslim University: 50% all India quota, 50% internal (MBBS graduates from Aligargh).
3. Banaras Hindu University: 50% all India quota, 50% internal (MBBS graduates from Banaras).
4. Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi – full seats
5. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University: Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College, AB Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, ESIC (all in Delhi). 50% all India quota, 50% internal.

Fee, security deposit
1. The registration fee is Rs 1,000. Meanwhile, it is Rs 500 for scheduled communities, backward castes and differently abled candidates. The fee for deemed universities is Rs 5,000.2. The refundable security deposit is Rs 25,000. It is Rs 10,000 for scheduled communities, backward castes and persons with disabilities. The refundable security deposit for deemed universities is Rs 2 lakh.
(General category candidates should pay Rs 26,000 in the beginning while others should pay Rs 10,500. However, all the candidates, irrespective of their categories, who apply only to the deemed universities or other institutions alongside these, should pay Rs 2 lakh plus Rs 5,000).
The security deposit would be forfeited if a candidate who has been allotted a seat in the second round or subsequent rounds does not join the respective institution. The security deposit would also be forfeited if the admission gets cancelled in case the candidate gives wrong information at the time of registration. Note that you are likely to lose a hefty sum of Rs 2 lakh in case you seek admission at a deemed university.

The candidate cannot back out after joining a college following the second-round allotment. Besides, they wouldn’t be allowed to take part in the counselling for admission to any colleges in India. Be careful not to fall into the trap of any agent who promises seats in these colleges.

Check the MCC website for the latest updates. Phone – 0120 4073500/ 1800 102 7637.

The counselling procedure
Candidates must read and understand the counselling policies as it is a complex procedure. Else, you might lose a deserving seat or even the security deposit.

The online counselling is open only to those candidates who register on the website www.mcc.nic.in on the stipulated dates.

The details should be filled carefully as the information entered by the candidate shall be treated as correct and any request for change/edit/alter wouldn’t be entertained.

Candidates can submit the application/registration form only once.

Candidates can submit any number of choices. However, be careful while submitting the primary choice.

The MCC allots seats to all the institutions at the same time.

People with physical disabilities would get 5% reservation while economically weaker sections would get 10% as per the reservation guidelines of the central government.

Four rounds
There are four rounds of counselling. The MCC would conduct two rounds that include the 'All-India Quota' seats, followed by a mop-up round.

First round: At this round, the registration fee and the refundable security deposit should be paid. It also includes choice filling and locking. After the publication of allotment list, candidates should secure admission at the respective college within the stipulated date.

Second round: Those who have registered in the first round and did not get seats need not reregister. However, those who didn’t register in the first round should register. All the candidates should newly add or update their choice filling. After the result publication, the candidates should enroll at the respective college within the stipulated date. The admission to 'All-India Quota' seats would end at this stage.

Mop-up Round: This is applicable only for deemed and central universities. Those who had registered in the first round and didn’t get seats in both the rounds need not register for the mop-up round. However, those who haven’t registered should pay fee and submit new registrations.

Candidates who have had a free exit in the first round and those who exited after forfeiture of security deposit should register again by paying the fee.

However, those who have joined a college in the second round would not be considered in this round. The candidates should do new choice filling. After the publication of allotment list, the candidates have to join the respective college within the stipulated date.

Stray vacancy round: There is no new registration for this round. The MCC will forward the list of candidates equaling to ten times the number of vacant seats in deemed and central universities and DNBs. The National Board of Examination (https://natboard.edu.in) would be notified about the DNB seats. Each institution can separately conduct the admission as per the merit.

The seat allotted in the first round of MCC counselling will be cancelled if a candidate does not report to the allotted institute within the stipulated time. Such an option is referred to as ‘free exit’. However, these candidates can take part in the second round using the initial registration. Candidates who want to upgrade their allotted seats should join the respective college in the first round and give willingness for upgradation of seats and participate in the second round of counselling. Those who do not ask for upgradation would be made permanent in the seats that are already allotted to them. (Note that some of these guidelines are different from the entrance policies in Kerala).

NRI, management seats for India-origin candidates
Overseas Citizens of India and Persons of Indian Origin can apply only for the NRI seats. They would also be considered for the management quota based on merit. Candidates have to pay hefty sums as fee in the deemed universities. The vacant All-India Quota seats, after the second round, would be allotted to the states. The admission to these seats would be conducted as per the state guidelines.