How does the NEET 2025 seat allocation process work?

The NEET 2025 seat allocation process is a multi-stage, elaborate procedure designed to admit eligible candidates to MBBS and BDS courses across India. It primarily operates through two main quotas: the All India Quota (AIQ) and the State Quota.

Here's a breakdown of how it generally works:

i. Key Authorities Involved:

1. Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), MoHFW, Government of India: Conducts counselling for:

• 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in all Government Medical/Dental Colleges across India (excluding Jammu & Kashmir, unless candidates from J&K opt for AIQ).
• 100% of seats in Central Universities (like BHU, AMU, DU, Jamia Millia Islamia), ESIC, AFMC.
• 100% of seats in Deemed Universities.
• 100% of MBBS/BDS seats in AIIMS and JIPMER institutions.

2. State Counselling Authorities: Conduct counselling for

• 85% of the State Quota seats in Government Medical/Dental Colleges in their respective states.
• 100% of seats in Private Medical/Dental Colleges within their states (though some "open states" allow candidates from other states to apply for private college seats).

II. General Steps in the Seat Allocation Process (Both AIQ & State Quota):

1. NEET Result Declaration: NTA (National Testing Agency) declares the NEET UG 2025 result, including the All India Rank (AIR), category ranks, and scores. Only candidates who clear the NEET qualifying cut-off are eligible to participate in counselling.

2. Counselling Registration:

• Candidates must register on the official websites of the MCC (for AIQ, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER) and/or the respective state counselling authority (for State Quota).
• This involves providing personal details, NEET roll number, application number, and paying a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit. The fees vary by category and type of institution (e.g., AIQ/Central vs. Deemed Universities).

3. Choice Filling and Locking:

• Registered candidates log in to their respective counselling portals.
• They fill in their preferred colleges and courses (MBBS/BDS) in order of priority. This is a crucial step, as seat allotment is based on rank, choices, and availability.
• Candidates must "lock" their choices before the deadline. If not locked, the last-saved choices are usually auto-locked.

4. Seat Allotment Processing:

• The counselling authorities (MCC or state bodies) process the choices based on NEET ranks, reservation criteria, and the choices filled by candidates.
• A sophisticated algorithm is used to allocate seats, trying to give the highest possible preference to each candidate based on their merit.

5. Seat Allotment Result Publication:

• Results for each round are published online. Candidates can check their allotted college and course by logging in.
• A provisional allotment letter is issued, which needs to be downloaded.

6. Reporting to Allotted College/Institute:

• Candidates who are satisfied with their allotted seat must report to the designated college/institute within the stipulated timeframe.
• This involves document verification (submitting original documents and photocopies), payment of admission fees, and completing other admission formalities.

7. Options After Round 1 (Usually applicable for AIQ, similar for states):

Accept and Freeze: If satisfied, the candidate accepts the seat and does not wish to participate in further rounds.

Accept and Upgrade (Float): The candidate accepts the seat but wishes to be considered for a better choice in subsequent rounds. If upgraded, the previous seat is automatically vacated. If not upgraded, the current seat remains.

8. Subsequent Rounds (Round 2, Mop-Up, Stray Vacancy):

• If seats remain vacant after the initial rounds, further rounds (Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and finally a Stray Vacancy Round) are conducted to fill them.
• The rules for participation, fresh registration, and security deposit forfeiture might change for these later rounds. All rounds are typically online by MCC, with the last stray vacancy round sometimes being conducted directly by the institutes for AIQ.

III. Specifics for AIIMS and JIPMER:

• Integrated Counselling: Since 2020, AIIMS and JIPMER MBBS admissions are conducted solely through NEET UG.
• MCC Conducts: The MCC is the designated authority for counselling for 100% of seats in all AIIMS and JIPMER institutions. There is no separate AIIMS/JIPMER counselling; they are part of the central NEET UG AIQ counselling process.
• High Cutoffs: As mentioned previously, due to their prestige, AIIMS and JIPMER institutes have extremely high admission cutoffs, requiring top NEET ranks. Candidates must list these institutions high in their choices during the MCC choice filling.

IV. Reservation Criteria:

Both AIQ and State Quota counselling adhere to government reservation policies:

1. All India Quota (AIQ) Reservations:

• SC (Scheduled Caste): 15%
• ST (Scheduled Tribe): 7.5%
• OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer): 27%
• EWS (Economically Weaker Section): 10%
• PwD (Persons with Disability): 5% (horizontal reservation within each category)

 2. State Quota Reservations: These vary by state, following state-specific reservation policies, which may include categories like SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD, and sometimes specific quotas for female candidates, local/domicile candidates, etc.