The Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee (DME) has extended the deadline for online counselling registration, choice filling, and locking for NEET PG 2026. Candidates who have not yet completed their registration or locked their choices now have until 5 PM on 24 August 2026 to do so. This extension gives applicants additional time to prepare their choice list and submit it through the official counselling portal. The extension applies to all eligible candidates participating in the current counselling round. Candidates must act quickly, as this is a firm deadline — no further extensions are expected.
Online counselling registration and choice filling deadline extended to 24 August 2026, 5 PM — register and lock your choices by this date or lose your seat.
What Has Changed: Extension of Deadline
The Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee has announced an extension of the online counselling registration and choice filling deadline. The new deadline is 24 August 2026 at 5 PM. This means candidates who have not yet registered for counselling or who have registered but not yet locked their choice list now have until this extended date to complete both steps.
This extension applies to all candidates eligible for the current counselling round, regardless of category or course (MD, MS, PG Diploma, DNB). If you have already registered and locked your choices before this date, you do not need to take any further action unless you wish to modify your choices — but note that once locked, changes may not be permitted.
Why This Matters to You
The choice-filling and locking process is critical: the colleges and specialties you select determine which seats you are eligible for in the allotment. If you do not register and lock your choices by 5 PM on 24 August, you will be considered a non-participating candidate and will not receive a seat in this round, even if you are otherwise eligible.
This extension gives you extra time to research colleges, specialties, and your own preferences carefully. Do not rush — use this time to make an informed decision about your choice list.
Who Must Register and Fill Choices
All candidates who have qualified in NEET PG 2026 and are eligible for counselling in Tamil Nadu must register and fill their choices. This includes candidates from all categories (General, OBC, SC, ST) and all courses (MD, MS, PG Diploma, DNB broad-speciality).
If you have already received a provisional allotment in an earlier round and are satisfied with it, you may not need to participate further — but check the official portal or contact the DME to confirm your status. If you are unsure whether you are eligible or whether you have already been allotted a seat, log in to the counselling portal immediately to check.
How to Register and Fill Choices
Visit the official Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee counselling portal (tnmedicalselection.net). Log in using your NEET PG registration number and password. If you have not yet registered, you will need to create an account with your basic details and NEET PG roll number.
Once logged in, you will see the list of available colleges and specialties. Carefully review each option, including the college location, specialty, and seat type (General, OBC, SC, ST, as applicable to you). Rank the colleges and specialties in order of your preference — the system will allot you the highest-ranked college/specialty for which you are eligible and for which a seat is available.
After you have ranked all your choices, click 'Lock Choices'. Once locked, your choice list is submitted and cannot be changed (unless the DME announces a choice modification window, which is rare). Do not lock until you are completely certain of your ranking.
- Log in to tnmedicalselection.net with your NEET PG credentials
- Review all available colleges and specialties
- Rank them in order of preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.)
- Click 'Lock Choices' when ready
- Take a screenshot or note of your locked choice list for your records
Important Dates and Deadlines
The key deadline you must remember is 24 August 2026, 5 PM. This is the final time by which you must have completed your online registration and locked your choices. After 5 PM on this date, the portal will close and no further registrations or choice modifications will be accepted.
Plan your time carefully. Do not wait until the last few hours — the portal may experience heavy traffic as the deadline approaches, and you may face technical delays. Complete your registration and choice filling well before 5 PM on 24 August.
- Last date and time for registration and choice filling: 24 August 2026, 5 PM
- After this deadline, the portal will close
- No further extensions are expected
Documents and Information You Will Need
Before you log in to register, have the following information and documents ready: your NEET PG registration number, your password (or be ready to reset it), your date of birth, your category certificate number (if applicable), and your contact details (phone number and email address).
You do not need to upload documents during choice filling — that happens later, during the document verification stage after allotment. However, ensure that all your documents (MBBS degree, category certificate, caste certificate if applicable, etc.) are in order and ready for verification, as you may be called for verification shortly after allotment.
- NEET PG registration number
- Password (or ability to reset it)
- Date of birth
- Category certificate details (if applicable)
- Contact phone number and email address
- MBBS degree certificate (for later verification)
Common Mistakes That Get Candidates Rejected
The most common mistake is not locking choices at all. If you register but do not lock your choices, you will not be considered for allotment. Registration alone is not enough — you must actively lock your choice list.
Another frequent error is locking choices without careful thought. Once locked, you cannot change your ranking (in most cases). If you rank a college first and are allotted a seat there, you must accept it — you cannot later say you preferred a different college. Think carefully before locking.
Do not miss the deadline. If you log in after 5 PM on 24 August, the portal will not allow you to register or modify choices. There are no exceptions for technical issues or personal emergencies — the deadline is firm.
- ⚠️ Registering but not locking choices = no allotment
- ⚠️ Locking without careful thought = you are bound by your ranking
- ⚠️ Missing the 24 August 5 PM deadline = you cannot participate in this round
- ⚠️ Providing incorrect NEET PG registration number = registration will fail
What Happens After You Lock Your Choices
After the choice-filling deadline (24 August 5 PM), the DME will process all locked choice lists and generate a merit list and seat allotment based on your NEET PG rank, your category, and your choice ranking. This process typically takes a few days.
Once allotment is done, the DME will publish the allotment result on the official portal. You will be able to log in and see which college and specialty you have been allotted. If you are allotted a seat, you will then be called for document verification at the allotted college. If you are not allotted in this round, you may be eligible for a subsequent round (if announced).
Where to Find More Information
All official information about Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2026 counselling is published on the Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee website: tnmedicalselection.net. Check this site regularly for updates, announcements, and the counselling portal link.
If you have specific questions or face technical issues while registering or filling choices, contact the DME helpline or email support (details are usually available on the official website). Do not rely on unofficial sources or social media for counselling information — always verify with the official DME portal.
- Official portal: tnmedicalselection.net
- Check regularly for updates and announcements
- Contact DME helpline for technical or eligibility questions
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the new deadline for registering and filling choices?
The new deadline is 24 August 2026 at 5 PM. You must complete your online registration and lock your choice list by this date and time. After 5 PM, the portal will close and no further registrations or choice modifications will be accepted.
I have already registered and locked my choices. Do I need to do anything?
No, if you have already registered and locked your choices before the deadline, you do not need to take any further action during the choice-filling phase. Your locked choice list will be used for allotment. However, if you wish to modify your choices, check the official portal to see if a choice modification window has been announced — this is rare, but the DME may allow it in some cases.
What happens if I do not register and lock my choices by 24 August 5 PM?
If you do not register and lock your choices by the deadline, you will be considered a non-participating candidate and will not receive a seat in this round of counselling, even if you are otherwise eligible. You may be eligible for a subsequent round if the DME announces one, but there is no guarantee.
Can I change my choices after I lock them?
Once you lock your choices, they cannot be changed in most cases. The DME may announce a choice modification window in rare circumstances, but this is not guaranteed. Therefore, think carefully and rank your choices in order of your true preference before locking. Do not lock until you are completely certain.
I forgot my password. How do I log in to the portal?
On the login page of the counselling portal, look for a 'Forgot Password' or 'Reset Password' link. Click it and follow the instructions to reset your password using your registered email address or phone number. If you continue to face issues, contact the DME helpline for assistance.
Do I need to upload my documents (degree, category certificate, etc.) during choice filling?
No, you do not upload documents during choice filling. You only register and rank your choices. Documents are verified later, after you have been allotted a seat. However, ensure all your documents are in order and ready for verification, as you may be called to the allotted college for document verification shortly after the allotment result is published.
What if the portal is slow or crashes near the deadline?
The deadline is firm — 24 August 2026 at 5 PM. Technical issues are not an excuse for missing the deadline. To avoid last-minute problems, complete your registration and choice filling well before 5 PM, ideally several hours or even a day earlier. Do not wait until the last few minutes.
How will I know if my registration and choice locking were successful?
After you lock your choices, the portal will display a confirmation message and may send a confirmation email to your registered email address. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page and note your locked choice list for your records. You can also log back in to the portal to verify that your choices are locked.
When will the allotment result be published?
The notice does not specify the exact date for allotment result publication. Typically, the DME publishes the allotment result a few days after the choice-filling deadline. Check the official portal regularly for announcements about the allotment result date.
I am eligible for multiple categories (e.g., OBC and SC). Which category should I choose during registration?
The notice does not provide specific guidance on this. Log in to the counselling portal and check your eligibility details. If you are eligible for multiple categories, the portal may allow you to choose which category to apply under for this round. If you are unsure, contact the DME helpline for clarification.
Act now: log in to tnmedicalselection.net, complete your registration if you have not already done so, carefully rank your college and specialty choices, and lock your choice list before 24 August 2026 at 5 PM. Do not wait until the last moment — complete this step well before the deadline to avoid technical delays. After locking, watch the official portal for the allotment result announcement.
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