The NEET PG 2024 counselling process now offers 820 additional seats across categories, enhancing options for candidates in the All India Quota (AIQ), deemed and central universities, Diplomate of National Board (DNB), and two-year diploma programmes. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) released the updated seat matrix on November 9, 2024, following a brief delay. While some government medical college seats were initially omitted from the AIQ list, they are expected to be included shortly.
This year, the most substantial seat expansions were seen in DNB courses and deemed universities. DNB programmes saw a rise of 494 seats, with general medicine leading the increase by adding 103 seats, followed by orthopaedics with 65 seats, and general surgery with 48. General medicine holds the largest number of seats within the DNB category, totaling 922, with anaesthesia at 620 and general surgery at 500.
In the two-year diploma courses, the highest seat increase occurred in the paediatrics branch, with additional seats added in anaesthesia and ophthalmology. The expanded seat matrix in NEET PG 2024 is anticipated to benefit a wider pool of aspiring postgraduate medical students across India.
The NEET PG 2024 counselling process officially commenced on November 10, 2024, following MCC's release of the seat matrix. The counselling stages involve multiple rounds, beginning with online registration, where eligible candidates register and fill in their preferred institutions and specialisations. Candidates then confirm their choices through a choice-locking process.