NEET PG 2026: seats allotted, but candidates cannot reach the officers who must verify them
By TUF News Desk · Published 29 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
A phone number made of eight zeroes is standing between some NEET PG 2026 candidates and their postgraduate medical seats. At the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) in Delhi, candidates say the counselling portal lists “00000000” as the nodal officer’s mobile number. Dialling it goes nowhere. The portal also lists an email address, but candidates say their messages have gone unanswered.
The complaints, reported on October 29, come from candidates who have already been allotted seats and are trying to complete online joining, the step where the allotted institute verifies documents and confirms admission. When the officer meant to handle that step cannot be reached, candidates are left unsure whether their admission is actually complete.
Phones switched off at VMMC and Safdarjung
At Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital, candidates have complained that the nodal officer’s mobile phone stays switched off and the landline numbers do not connect. VMMC is affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, while UCMS is affiliated with the University of Delhi.
Candidates who turned to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) helpline say they were told to contact the allotted college, sending them back to the same numbers that were not working. The MCC portal itself displays a message saying document verification is pending at the allotted institute and advises candidates to contact the nodal officer. When the listed contact details do not work, there is no other channel on offer.
Why float candidates feel it most
The problem bites hardest for candidates who chose the float option. A candidate who freezes accepts the allotted seat, while one who floats keeps the seat while staying eligible for an upgrade in a later round. Float candidates still need their documents verified on time, with clear confirmation that their joining is recorded before the next round moves.
A candidate who cannot get verification confirmed does not know where they stand, and a missed timeline can put a seat at risk.
What the MCC has said
A senior official told The Times of India that the committee will take up the issue with the colleges and ask them to update their contact details so students can reach the officers concerned. The official said incorrect or non-functional numbers create unnecessary difficulty for candidates, and that the matter will be raised in a meeting.
The episode has also exposed stale portal records. A former nodal officer for the Diplomate of National Board programme in Jammu and Kashmir pointed out that an MCC allotment letter dated October 23 still listed his name and personal mobile number, even though he had retired.
Doctors’ groups had flagged similar trouble earlier. The United Doctors Front said on October 26 that some nodal officers were asking float candidates to report in person despite MCC guidelines providing for online verification, and that a grievance email in the counselling dashboard had bounced back with an inbox-full error.
What affected candidates can do
Candidates who cannot reach their nodal officer should keep a dated record of every call and email, including screenshots of the portal message showing verification pending, in case a deadline dispute comes up later. Keep checking the official MCC counselling portal for updates, since corrections would appear there first.
Keep the full document set ready so verification can be completed in one go once contact is made. Our admission documents checklist covers the originals and scans colleges usually ask for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NEET PG 2026 nodal officer problem?
Candidates allotted postgraduate medical seats say the nodal officers listed on the counselling portal are unreachable or their contact details are wrong, which stalls online joining and document verification.
Which colleges have been named by candidates?
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, where phones were reported switched off or unreachable, and University College of Medical Sciences, where the portal showed “00000000” as a mobile number.
What has the MCC said about the complaints?
A senior official told The Times of India that the committee will take up the issue with colleges, ask them to update contact details, and raise the matter in a meeting.
What should an affected candidate do?
Keep trying the listed contacts, keep a written record of every attempt, and track the joining status on the official MCC counselling portal rather than relying on a single phone call.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NEET PG 2026 nodal officer problem?
Candidates allotted postgraduate medical seats say the nodal officers listed on the counselling portal are unreachable or their contact details are wrong, which stalls online joining and document verification.
Which colleges have been named by candidates?
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, where phones were reported switched off or unreachable, and University College of Medical Sciences, where the portal showed '00000000' as a mobile number.
What has the MCC said about the complaints?
A senior official told The Times of India that the committee will take up the issue with colleges, ask them to update contact details, and raise the matter in a meeting.
What should an affected candidate do?
Keep trying the listed contacts, keep a written record of every attempt, and track the joining status on the official MCC counselling portal rather than relying on a single phone call.
Sources: The Times of India, Medical Dialogues, Mirror Now