Uncertainty over NEET counselling; will begin by July third week, says Centre; SC to hear petitions seeking cancellation of NEET exam on Monday

NEW DELHI: Thousands of students who topped the rank list remain worried as the Medical Counseling Committee did not notify the counselling schedule of NEET UG and PG courses for the year 2024 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India will hear several petitions tomorrow seeking and opposing the cancellation of the NEET exam. Everyone is worried about what the court will say.

The National Testing Agency had informed the Supreme Court that the counselling process would begin on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has denied reports that the counselling has been postponed. The press release issued by the ministry late yesterday stated that the counselling will be held in the third week of July.

The vacation bench of the Supreme Court had earlier rejected the plea seeking postponement of counselling. Both the NTA and the Center took the stand in the court that cancelling the NEET exam and re-conducting it is not logical and will affect lakhs of students.

Counselling in third week of July: Centre
In a press release, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that there has been no delay in the release of the notification for NEET UG counselling by the Medical Counseling Committee. The counselling schedule for NEET UG and PG is announced by MCC on its website on the basis of completion of the exam process and finalisation of the seat matrix by the National Medical Commission (NMC). In the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, the counselling for UG seats commenced on 19/1/2022, 11/10/2022 and 20/7/2023 respectively, a press release by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed.

For the year 2024, NMC has communicated its schedule for finalisation of the seat matrix for UG and PG seats in the last week of June indicating that it will finalise the UG seat matrix by the third week of July and PG seat matrix by mid-August. MCC will accordingly notify the counselling schedule.