Phone switched off, number shows 00000000: NEET PG 2026 candidates stuck at joining step

They won the seat. Now they cannot get anyone on the phone to confirm it. NEET PG 2026 candidates say online joining is stuck because listed nodal officers are unreachable, with one Delhi college showing a mobile number made up entirely of zeros.

The portal tells a candidate that document verification is pending at the allotted institute and that admission queries should go to the nodal officer. When the candidate tries that number, nobody answers, or the number does not work at all.

Phones switched off at VMMC Safdarjung, zeros at UCMS

At Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, candidates say the nodal officer’s mobile stays switched off and landlines do not connect. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) helpline, they say, directed them back to the allotted college. That leaves the candidate going in a circle: the helpline points to the college, and the college does not pick up.

The UCMS case is different. The portal lists the nodal officer’s mobile number as “00000000”. No call can reach anyone on it, and candidates say emails to the listed address have gone unanswered.

“We will take up the issue with the colleges and ask them to update their contact details so that students can reach the concerned officials during counselling.”

A senior official quoted in The Times of India report said the matter would also be raised in a meeting.

Why float candidates are hit hardest

Counselling gives candidates two choices after allotment. Freeze means accepting the allotted seat. Float means keeping the seat for now while staying eligible for an upgrade in a later round. Float candidates still have to complete online reporting and document verification on time, and they depend on the allotted college to verify them.

When verification stays pending and no official responds, a float candidate cannot tell whether the joining is complete, and a missed step in counselling can cost a seat.

Outdated details go beyond one or two colleges

A former nodal officer for the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) programme in Jammu and Kashmir says an MCC allotment letter dated October 23 still listed his name and personal mobile number, even though he had retired.

The United Doctors Front (UDF), in a release dated October 26, said several nodal officers were asking float candidates to report in person, even though MCC guidelines provide for online document verification for float candidates.

A mailbox that bounces, and a result PDF that changed

UDF also flagged a second communication failure. When candidates tried to email the MCC about their problems using an address shown on their counselling dashboard, the mail bounced back with an error saying the recipient’s inbox was out of storage space.

The same release pointed to the NEET PG 2026 Round 1 provisional allotment PDF, withdrawn and replaced on October 23. MCC called it a correction of printing errors, with no change to the result. UDF has asked for a clearer explanation and stronger checks before such documents are published.

What the doctors’ body wants now is straightforward: uniform written instructions to all participating colleges, training for nodal officers on the revised NEET PG 2026 fee rule for float and freeze procedures, working grievance email addresses, outdated contact details removed from official portals, and a complaint system with fixed timelines.

What affected candidates should do

Until the portal details are fixed, candidates need a paper trail proving the delay was not their fault.

• Save a screenshot of the portal message showing verification pending, and note the date and time of every call and email, including whether the number was switched off, unanswered or invalid.
• Keep the allotment letter, fee receipt and uploaded documents in one folder, ready to share through official channels only.
• Check the MCC official portal for fresh notices, and do not trust forwarded messages that claim new dates or new contact numbers.
• Never pay a fee or send documents through a link sent on WhatsApp or social media. The official portal is the only safe route.

Candidates are not asking for a new rule or an extra round. They want a working phone number and a reply to an email, so a seat already earned can be confirmed. Fresh education news on this story will follow if the MCC or the colleges issue an update.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is going wrong with NEET PG 2026 online joining?

Candidates say the nodal officers listed for their allotted colleges are unreachable. Phones are switched off or do not connect, and emails go unanswered, so verification stays pending.

Which colleges have been named in the complaints?

Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, and the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), where the portal shows a mobile number made up of zeros.

Does this affect float candidates more?

Float candidates feel it most. They keep their seat while staying eligible for an upgrade, so they need timely verification. When no one at the college responds, they cannot be sure their joining is complete.

What should an affected candidate do right now?

Keep screenshots of the portal message and every call and email attempt, with dates and times. Keep trying the college through every listed channel, use the MCC helpline, and do not pay or share documents anywhere except the official counselling portal.