NEET-PG counselling: Candidates struggle to join online as colleges remain unreachable | India News
New Delhi: Candidates allotted postgraduate medical seats under NEET-PG counselling 2026 are facing difficulties completing the online joining process, with some reporting that nodal officers listed on the official portal are unreachable or their contact details are invalid.At Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital, candidates have complained that the nodal officer’s mobile phone is switched off and landline numbers are not reachable. The Medical Counselling Committee’s (MCC) helpline, they said, directed them to contact the allotted college, leaving them struggling to resolve admission-related queries.The problem is not limited to one institution. Candidates have also flagged similar difficulties with the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), where the portal displays a nodal officer’s mobile number as “00000000”, making it impossible to contact the designated official on that number. The portal lists an email address, but candidates have complained of not receiving a response.When contacted, a senior official told TOI, “we will take up the issue with the colleges and ask them to update their contact details so that students can reach the concerned officials during counselling. Incorrect or non-functional contact numbers create unnecessary difficulties for candidates. We will also raise the matter in a meeting and seek a resolution.”The issue assumes significance for candidates who have opted for the float option in counselling. Those choosing freeze accept the allotted seat, while candidates choosing float wish to retain their current allotment while remaining eligible for an upgrade in subsequent rounds. Candidates who have to complete online reporting and submit documents are seeking timely verification and clear communication from their allotted institutes.The MCC portal itself displays a message stating that document verification is pending at the allotted institute and advises candidates to contact the nodal officer for admission-related queries. But when the listed contact details do not work, candidates are left without a clear channel to resolve their concerns.
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A social media post by a former J&K nodal officer for the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) programme also raised questions over outdated contact details. He said an MCC allotment letter dated October 23 listed his name and personal mobile number as the J&K nodal officer despite his having retired.Candidates say delays or confusion over document verification can leave them uncertain about whether their joining formalities have been completed within the prescribed timeline. They want the MCC and participating colleges to ensure that contact details are current, officials are reachable and admission-related queries are addressed promptly.The complaints raise questions about who is accountable for coordinating online joining during counselling, and what recourse candidates have when neither the college nor the helpline can resolve their queries.
