Likhith · November 21, 2025 
Introduction
Every year, NEET PG counselling turns into a nerve-wracking journey for thousands of aspiring doctors. While the initial All India Quota (AIQ) and state rounds fill most of the seats, many deserving candidates finally pin their hopes on the mop-up round. But here’s the big question: how do you actually track vacant seats in real-time to improve your chances?
With more than 40,000 PG seats available across India, many remain unfilled due to withdrawals, upgradations, or non-reporting. Knowing where these vacant seats exist during the mop-up phase can often make the difference between securing a seat and missing out.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about tracking NEET PG mop-up round seats effectively, the tools available, and smart strategies to maximize your chances.
Understanding the Mop-Up Round
The mop-up round is essentially the last centralized opportunity to fill unclaimed PG medical seats before they move to stray vacancy rounds. It usually covers:
- Deemed universities
- Central universities
- AIQ leftover seats
- Certain state counselling boards
Candidates who have not secured a seat in earlier rounds or those who left a seat without joining are usually eligible.
Why Vacant Seat Tracking Matters
Imagine walking into an exam without knowing the syllabus. That’s what entering a mop-up round looks like without tracking seat availability. By monitoring vacant seats, you gain:
- Transparency: You get clarity on where seats are actually open.
- Strategy: You can prioritize colleges where competition is relatively lower.
- Better Choices: Helps you balance between dream institutions and realistic backups.
- Quick Decisions: Saves precious time during choice filling.
How to Track NEET PG Mop-Up Round Vacant Seats
1. MCC Official Website
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) publishes updated seat vacancy lists for AIQ and central universities before every counselling phase.
- Visit mcc.nic.in
- Navigate to PG Counselling → Seat Matrix → Mop-Up Round
- Download the PDF file of vacant seats
- Cross-check speciality-wise and college-wise availability
This is the most authentic source for All India and deemed universities.
2. State Counselling Portals
Not all vacant seats fall under MCC. Each state medical counselling authority uploads its own seat matrices.
- Search for “[State] NEET PG counselling portal”
- Look for “Vacant Seat Matrix” sections
- Examples: KEA (Karnataka), DMER (Maharashtra), UP NEET PG Counselling cell
Tip: Bookmark your state’s portal and check daily during the mop-up round.
3. Real-Time Online Portals
Several private career guidance websites and aggregators update live vacant seat availability by analyzing MCC and state notices. While not official, they provide quick comparative analysis.
- Advantages: Easy filters (branch-wise, state-wise)
- Disadvantages: Data might lag an official update by a few hours
4. Telegram and WhatsApp Groups
In recent years, student groups and counselling mentors have created networks that instantly share PDFs, screenshots, and seat vacancy discussions.
- Great for urgent updates
- Beware of misinformation – always verify with MCC or state portals
5. Guidance Platforms like Career Plan B
Professional counsellors and guidance services like Career Plan B compile official data, analyze trends, and provide personalized seat tracking. This can be extremely useful for candidates balancing stressful timelines during the mop-up phase.
With expert analysis, you don’t just know where seats are vacant, but also how your rank profile aligns with realistic chances.
Smart Strategies for Candidates
Tracking vacant seats is only half the battle. The other half is using that data wisely.
Prioritize Specializations
Always rank your preferences carefully. Seats may open up in premium branches like Radiology or Dermatology, but competition will be fierce. Create a mix of high and moderate-demand choices.
Monitor Upgradation Trends
A large chunk of vacant seats appear because candidates move up to more desired colleges/programs. For instance, a student moving from Pulmonology in a private medical college to General Medicine in a deemed university creates vacancies behind them. Watch these trends.
Act Quickly
Mop-up schedules are often tight. Delayed decision-making can reduce your options. Keep documents ready, fees arranged, and be prepared to lock your choices promptly.
Take State vs AIQ into Account
A candidate with an all-India mindset may miss golden opportunities in certain state quotas. Track both simultaneously.
How Career Plan B Supports Every Step
- Personalized Counseling: In-depth one-on-one counseling to align specialization, college choices, and career goals.
- Timeline & Reminder Service: Never miss a deadline—receive timely reminders and updates about institute-wise counseling calendars.
- Document Checklist & Verification: Guidance to prepare all required documentation, reducing stress on D-day.
- Preference Analysis: Analysis of seat trends, cut-offs, and college quality to build a winning choice list.
- Mock Counseling & Strategy: Practice sessions to simulate real counseling—boosting your confidence, reducing errors.
- Support for Appeals/Technical Issues: Help in resolving portal issues, appeals, or queries with admission authorities.
With over 15 years of trusted experience, Career Plan B is your not-for-profit partner—focused only on your best possible outcome, not commissions or preferences.
FAQs
- What is the difference between a mop-up round and a stray vacancy round?
The mop-up round is centrally organized (MCC or state) for leftover seats, while stray vacancy rounds are conducted directly by colleges for seats left even after mop-up. - Can I participate in the mop-up round if I joined a seat earlier?
No. Candidates who have already joined/resigned after Round 2 are usually ineligible for mop-up participation based on MCC rules. - How often are vacant seat lists updated?
Official vacant seat lists are released once before the mop-up choice filling begins. However, monitoring state and MCC updates daily is crucial. - Do deemed universities publish separate seat vacancy lists?
No, deemed universities’ seats are included under the MCC’s AIQ mop-up round matrix. - Is it safe to rely on Telegram or WhatsApp updates?
They are helpful for quick alerts but always verify with MCC or state websites before making decisions.
Conclusion
The NEET PG mop-up round is often the last big chance for many aspirants to secure a postgraduate medical seat. By systematically tracking vacant seat matrices via MCC, state portals, and trusted guidance like Career Plan B, candidates can make informed decisions instead of relying on guesswork or rumors.
Remember, in this final round, speed, clarity, and strategy matter most. Stay informed, act fast, and keep realistic yet ambitious preferences.
Your dream PG seat may just be a vacant seat away.
Ready to plan your mop-up strategy? Reach out to expert counsellors at Career Plan B for personalized seat mapping and counselling support.
