NEET PG Round 1 2026: what the top 501 rankers chose, and what it means for Round 2

In MCC's 2026 Round 1, 233 of the top 501 allotments went to MD General Medicine, about 46%. Radiology took 149, close to 30%. General Surgery took only 25. Yet the last Open, All India Quota government seat in MS General Surgery still went at AIR 14,012, which tells you surgery is not short of takers, only of toppers.

With Round 2 choice locking closing at 11:55 pm on 15 Nov and results due on 17 Nov, here is what Round 1 shows, what moved in Round 2 last year, and how to use it.

What the top 501 chose

Source: MCC 2026 Round 1, top-501 analysis reported by 4PM News citing The Indian Express. Dermatology ranked third, but its exact count was not clearly reported, so we have not shown it separately.

Two more signals point the same way. Telangana Today reported on 26 Oct that nearly 30% of the top 100 rankers chose Radiology. And in our database, only 1 of the top 100 ranks chose OBG.

The real gap: where each branch closed

Popularity at the top does not mean a branch is hard to get lower down. The table compares the last rank allotted an Open, AIQ government MD/MS seat.

Sources: MCC Round 1 and Round 2 results (2025, 2026), analysed by Career Paathshala; seats allotted across MD/MS, DNB and diploma from Medical Dialogues (Round 1 total 28,723). Allotted is not the same as joined.

Every branch closed later in 2026 Round 1 than in 2025 Round 1. More seats explain much of that: NMC's updated 2026-27 matrix, released on 6 Nov, has 68,305 broad-speciality seats. So compare branches with each other, not only with last year.

Values in allotments

Top 501 Round 1 allotments. Source: MCC 2026 Round 1, as reported by 4PM News citing The Indian Express; Dermatology's own count was not clearly reported.

Why MS Surgery still closed at 14,012

Surgery came fourth among the top 501, yet it is not empty. Round 1 allotted 2,513 General Surgery seats across all course types, and the NMC matrix lists 6,349 MS General Surgery seats for 2026-27. Toppers stayed away, so the seats filled further down the list, around 14,000.

Our database explains the hesitation. Doctors describe the first 5-8 years of surgery as a poor income-to-effort ratio, with an MCh close to essential for tier 1 corporate jobs. Medicine, by contrast, is the widest door to DM, and Radiology offers early income and planned hours.

Dr Sagar Pushp, a surgeon and MCh Paediatric Surgery resident in Delhi who posts as Doctor's Desk, read the same data this way: rank gets you into surgery, but the hospital decides what you learn. His advice is to choose the unit, not just the rank, and to call a current resident before locking.

What happened in Round 2 last year

In 2025, the last government Open seat moved deeper between Round 1 and Round 2 in every major branch:

Source: MCC 2025 Round 1 and Round 2 results, analysed by Career Paathshala.

This is history, not a forecast. Round 2 in 2026 has its own changes: MCC added 178 seats and removed 6 on 13 Nov (161 of the new seats at Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Puducherry), and the larger matrix may change how many upgrades free up. Treat last year's movement as a sense of scale.

Values in AIR

Last rank allotted an Open, All India Quota government MD/MS seat. Source: MCC Round 1 result 2026, analysed by Career Paathshala.

What it means for Round 2

The pattern from Round 1 suggests three things. First, the most popular branches move most at the margin, because upgrades free seats when toppers shift to better colleges. Second, branches toppers avoided, such as Surgery, OBG and Orthopaedics, are realistic in the 12,000-18,000 range at government colleges, so do not leave them off your list out of habit. Third, college quality varies more than the branch label. A busy government surgery unit can train you better than a quiet one with a famous name.

What this means for you

• Rank under 5,000: Medicine, Radiology and Dermatology are within reach in Round 2. Order colleges by training quality, not only city.
• Rank 5,000-15,000: Paediatrics, General Surgery, OBG and Orthopaedics at government colleges are realistic. Fill more choices than you think you need, in true order of preference.
• Rank 15,000-25,000: Orthopaedics at some colleges and Anaesthesiology look realistic, based on 2025 Round 2. Add DNB seats at busy hospitals as well.
• Holding a Round 1 seat: check the Round 2 rules in the MCC bulletin before you upgrade. Only put colleges above your current seat if you would truly take them.
• Not yet registered: registration closes at 3 pm today (14 Nov) and payment at 6 pm. Choice locking ends at 11:55 pm on 15 Nov.

Closing ranks are past data, not a promise of any seat. Use Know Your Branch to see each branch's rank band, money and lifestyle before you lock.

Change log: Published 14 Nov 2026

Branch	2025 R1	2025 R2	Movement
Dermatology	2725	6251	+129%
General Medicine	3822	6070	+59%
Radiology	2920	4137	+42%
Orthopaedics	12429	17062	+37%
Paediatrics	7071	9591	+36%
General Surgery	11507	15331	+33%
Anaesthesiology	19028	24796	+30%
OBG	9714	11555	+19%

Open AIQ government seats. Source: MCC 2025 results, analysed by Career Paathshala. Past movement is not a forecast.