MP NEET PG Counselling 2026: HC caps in-service seats at 30%, DME halts round 1 admissions

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Madhya Pradesh, has put the admission process for the first round of MP State Combined NEET PG Counselling 2026 on hold with immediate effect. The decision follows an interim order passed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Jabalpur, on November 2, in a case concerning the state NEET PG counselling process.

In a notice dated November 3, the Office of the Commissioner, Public Health and Medical Education, informed all candidates who had been allotted seats in the first round of state counselling that the ongoing admission process was being withheld until further directions or orders from the High Court. Revised schedule will be out after HC's order.

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During the hearing, open-category candidates raised objections to the merit list prepared by the DME, alleging that the lists for open-category and in-service candidates had been merged. They highlighted that arrangement affected seat allocation for open-category candidates, including those with higher NEET PG scores. The petitioners also raised concerns over allocation of seats to in-service candidates in different PG medical specialisations

MP High Court's interim directions on in-service seats

The Madhya Pradesh High Court's interim order directed that seats allotted to in-service candidates should not exceed 30% in each discipline or specialisation. It also directed that the merit lists of open-category and in-service candidates should not be intermingled. The court issued notices to state government and the Director of Medical Education, giving them time till November 5 to submit their replies.

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Candidates who received seat allotments in first round of MP State Combined NEET PG counselling will have to wait for further directions from MP High Court. The DME's latest notice states that admission process has been withheld with immediate effect and will remain so until further orders.

The November 3 notice does not mention a revised admission schedule highlighting when the process will resume. Candidates should check the official DME website for further updates.