NEET PG Round 2 Extended, CTET Application Deadline, UPSC Recruitment & Viksit Bharat Bill

Dec 16, 2025

Published: Tuesday, December 16, 2025

NEET PG Counselling 2025 Round 2 Deadline Extended with Additional Seats

The Medical Counselling Committee has extended the deadline for NEET PG Counselling 2025 Round 2 choice filling, according to the official announcement. Eligible candidates can access the choice-filling link on the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in until December 13, 2025, with the choice locking window open from 4 PM on December 12 to 1 PM on December 13.

Strategic Seat Addition and Revised Schedule

Along with extending the choice-filling deadline, the MCC has added 135 new seats for Round 2. This marks the second round of seat addition, following an earlier notice issued on December 8 that announced the addition of 2,620 seats across MD, MS, and DNB courses.

The detailed seat matrix includes comprehensive information on state, institute type, institute name, quota, branch, category, and total number of seats—enabling candidates to make informed choices based on updated availability. The additional seats reflect MCC's responsiveness to candidate demand and institutional capacity variations.

Choice Filling Process and Candidate Access

Candidates can complete the choice-filling process by visiting the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in, Clicking the NEET PG Counselling 2025 Round 2 choice filling link, logging in using required credentials, selecting and arranging choices as per preference, submitting choices, and downloading confirmation pages. Keeping printed copies for future reference ensures candidates have proof of submission.

NIRF Rankings Paradox in Medical Education

The NEET PG counselling process has highlighted a persistent disconnect in India's medical education system: top-ranked medical colleges under the National Institutional Ranking Framework continue to be bypassed by the country's highest-performing postgraduate aspirants. Instead, candidates with the best ranks demonstrate clear preference for central government institutions such as PGIMER, AIIMS hospitals, JIPMER, and legacy state-run colleges, including Madras Medical College, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, and KEM Hospital, Mumbai.

According to allotment data, All India Ranks 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 have all opted for PGIMER at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, one of the most preferred central institutions for MD (General Medicine).

Critical Questions About Ranking Credibility

This recurring pattern raises critical questions about the NIRF rankings' utility. Since 2016, the Union government has published NIRF rankings across multiple categories, with AIIMS Delhi consistently holding the top position across the past nine years. Yet top students' consistent choice of different institutions suggests either ranking limitations or alternative evaluation criteria that students value beyond NIRF metrics.

The disconnect between ranked institutions and student preferences indicates that NIRF rankings, while comprehensive in quantitative metrics, may not fully capture factors students prioritise: institutional prestige, faculty reputation, placement outcomes, speciality preferences, and historical legacy of excellence.

CTET 2026 Application Deadline December 18

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test is accepting applications through December 18 at ctet.nic.in, according to the official notification. The application window provides candidates pursuing teaching careers adequate time to register for the February 8, 2026, examination.

Comprehensive Examination Structure and Eligibility

CTET assesses teacher competency across primary (Classes 1-5) and secondary (Classes 6-8) levels. The exam evaluates pedagogical knowledge, subject expertise, English language proficiency, mathematical reasoning, and general awareness—critical competencies for effective teaching.

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) or equivalent qualification. The recently restored BEd eligibility option allows candidates with BEd degrees to apply for both primary and secondary levels, expanding access to teaching pathways.

Examination Pattern and Selection Significance

CTET comprises objective-type questions across four sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, and Mathematics/Social Studies depending on exam level. The examination is conducted in multiple shifts across nationwide exam centers.

CTET certification is nationally recognized and essential for central government school recruitment—particularly significant given KVs' ongoing staffing crisis with 10,000+ vacancies. Passing the CTET establishes candidate's eligibility for government school teaching positions across multiple state systems.

UPSC Opens Recruitment for Specialised Administrative Positions

The Union Public Service Commission has opened recruitment for 38 specialized positions, including Examiner of Trade Marks and Deputy Director roles, according to the official notification. The application deadline is January 1, 2026, providing candidates adequate time to prepare comprehensive applications.

Position Details and Qualification Requirements

The recruitment encompasses positions within government departments requiring advanced expertise. Examiner of Trade Marks positions require knowledge of intellectual property law and commercial trademark systems. Deputy Director roles necessitate administrative experience and policy expertise.

Candidates must hold relevant degrees: typically master's qualifications or equivalent professional credentials, depending on specific position requirements. Government service experience or professional backgrounds aligned with position requirements are preferred.

Selection Methodology and Career Trajectory

Selection involves written examinations testing subject knowledge, administrative aptitude, and analytical reasoning. Successful candidates progress to interview stages evaluating interpersonal abilities, decision-making frameworks, and strategic thinking.

These positions represent specialized government roles offering career stability, administrative authority, and participation in policy formulation at the national levels. Selection through UPSC ensures merit-based recruitment, maintaining civil service credibility and institutional capacity.

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Bill 2025: Comprehensive Higher Education Reform Explained

The Union Cabinet's approval of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill represents landmark higher education governance reform, according to comprehensive policy analysis. The bill consolidates the regulatory functions of the University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, and National Council for Teacher Education into a unified higher education regulatory authority.

Structural Transformation and Governance Implications

The unified regulator fundamentally restructures India's higher education governance, previously fragmented across multiple autonomous bodies. By consolidating regulatory, accreditation, and standard-setting functions, the bill aims to reduce bureaucratic redundancy, streamline institutional compliance, and improve administrative efficiency.

Importantly, the bill excludes medical and legal education from the unified regulator's scope, recognising these sectors' specialised regulatory requirements. Medical education continues under Medical Council of India oversight, while legal education remains under Bar Council regulation.

Financial Autonomy and Ministry Oversight

The bill maintains government ministry control over funding and financial allocations rather than transferring financial authority to the unified regulator. This structure balances regulatory independence with government fiscal control—ensuring institutional accountability while preserving financial planning authority at ministerial levels.

This approach partially adopts NEP 2020 recommendations for separated regulatory verticals, recognising that funding decisions involve broader social policy considerations beyond regulatory scope.

Student and Institution Implications

For students, the unified regulator promises clearer institutional standards, consistent accreditation criteria across institutions, and transparent academic quality benchmarks. Institutional confusion regarding applicable regulations across multiple regulators diminishes, potentially improving institutional compliance and student protections.

For higher education institutions, the transformation involves adaptation to consolidated regulatory frameworks. Colleges and universities previously navigating multiple regulatory bodies now engage a single regulatory authority—potentially reducing compliance complexity while requiring adaptation to revised standards.

Implementation Timeline and Sectoral Impact

Parliamentary approval during the Winter Session 2025 initiates legislative implementation processes. Full regulatory transition involves designing regulatory structures, establishing institutional mechanisms, and facilitating knowledge transfer from existing bodies to the unified authority.

The reform signals government commitment to NEP 2020 implementation following years of deliberation. The 2025 timing suggests readiness to proceed despite previous resistance, indicating policy consensus strengthening around regulatory consolidation.