NEET PG 2025: Rs 59 lakh AFMS bond, stricter NRI norms, uniform counselling platform in new MCC rules

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced several policy and structural changes for NEET PG 2025 counselling. After prolonged delay and ongoing Supreme Court scrutiny, registration for the MCC NEET PG counselling 2025 has begun today on the official website, mcc.nic.in. NEET PG Counselling 2025 (Begins) LIVE

The MCC has released the NEET PG information brochure, introducing a set of new rules and detailing the counselling and admission process for MD, MS, and PG Diploma courses. The release follows months of unrest as candidates raised concerns over gaps in marks and lack of transparency.

The apex court will also hear a series of pleas demanding exam transparency in NEET PG 2025 . While aspirants alleged wide score disparities, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has refused to display the full questions of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test - PG (NEET PG 2025).

What changes in NEET PG 2025?

Among the key changes, the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) has proposed seat upgradation till round 3, otherwise known as mop-up, a move currently awaiting approval from the Supreme Court. If approved, candidates will be permitted to upgrade their seats up to the third round.

Revised bond, fee structure

Candidates who are allotted seats in any medical college through the NEET PG counselling are required to sign a mandatory bond agreement. In Armed Forces Medical Services ( AFMS ), the bond amount has been increased to Rs 59 lakh, up from Rs 57.5 lakh last year.

Those who decide to discontinue their course midway will face a penalty of Rs 19.66 lakh per incomplete academic year, while those leaving AFMS service before completing the mandatory five-year bond policy will be charged Rs 11.8 lakh.

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Uniform MCC counselling platform

The Supreme Court in May 2025 had instructed the MCC to enforce stricter rules for seat blocking and set up a nationally synchronized counselling schedule to coordinate All India Quota (AIQ) and state quotas.

In compliance with the court orders, the MCC has developed a uniform MCC counselling platform to bring consistency across AIQ and state quotas and to eliminate parallel procedures, prevent duplication, and ensure transparency. The platform will also allow states and MCC to follow the same procedures without data mismatch and overlapping seat allotments.

"All the participating colleges/institutions have been instructed to retain original certificates of admitted students in order to prevent blocking of seat and prevention of multiple admissions by one candidate and release them only on up-gradation of the seat or resignation by the candidate," the brochure read.

Stricter NRI verification

The NEET PG brochure 2025 also introduced a revised and stricter NRI verification process , following the external affairs ministry’s circular dated July 30, 2025. The new rule tightens the eligibility for candidates applying for non-resident India (NRI) quota. The move comes especially after reports on large-scale scam of forged documents and sponsorship surfaced.

To claim the reservation, candidates should submit proof of relationship, valid passport and visa, family-tree certificates, and notarized affidavit from the sponsor, which will be verified directly by the MCC before choice filling.

"Candidates claiming reservation under NRI Quota will not be able to claim reservation status under any other quota i.e. Jain Minority/Muslim Minority/any other quota," it read.