The crucial third round of counselling for postgraduate medical courses (MD/MS) in Gujarat has been officially postponed. State officials have now indicated that the process is unlikely to begin before January 15, marking a significant delay for thousands of aspiring doctors.
Reasons Behind the Counselling Delay
The postponement stems from two major, unresolved issues. First, hearings are actively underway before the Union health ministry regarding appeals from several medical colleges. These institutions had their initial requests for additional PG seats rejected and are now seeking approval. These hearings are expected to conclude by January 10, with a final decision on new seat allocations to follow soon after.
The second, and perhaps more impactful reason, is a high-stakes proposal to lower the qualifying percentile for admission. With a large number of seats going unfilled after the first two admission rounds, authorities are considering a downward revision to attract more candidates. While no official order has been issued yet, sources within the admission committee confirm there is a strong possibility of this change.
Current Seat Matrix: 635 Slots Up for Grabs
According to the latest data from the state's admission committee, a total of 635 postgraduate medical seats are currently available for the upcoming third round. This pool is a combination of three sources:
- 354 seats that remained vacant after the completion of the first two admission rounds.
- 163 seats that were vacated due to non-reporting by candidates who failed to confirm their earlier allotments.
- 118 newly approved seats recently added to the state's pool, pending the final outcome of the ministry hearings.
What a Percentile Cut Means for Candidates
The potential reduction in the qualifying percentile is the most significant development for students. If the committee decides to lower the cutoff, it will trigger a complete reset of the registration process for the third round.
This means all eligible candidates, including those who have already registered under the existing criteria, will need to register afresh. The move is aimed squarely at widening the candidate pool to fill the high volume of vacancies across various specializations.
Officials are working to finalize both the seat matrix and the admission criteria swiftly after the January 10 hearing deadline. Aspiring postgraduate medical students in Gujarat are advised to stay alert for official notifications from the admission committee in the coming weeks.
