Dear Ardra,

It is a valid question as NEET PG forms the basis for both DNB (Post MBBS) and AIQ counselling. Coming to your question, nowhere it has been exactly stated whether or not you can attend both the counsellings. Thus I have tried to dig the matter from its practical point of view. I will come to how you can get the official confirmation/answer about your query later.

• DNB counselling generally begins in the month of May, while NEET PG AIQ counselling begins in March and ends b April. By the time May comes, the AIQ counselling is generally ended.

• However, both the counsellings involve a significant financial liability. For participating in AIQ counselling, you will have to submit a tuition fee of INR 25,000. For DNB counselling, the participating amount is INR 2,500, but once you are allotted a seat in the first round, you will have to confirm your seat by giving INR 80,000.

• Coming to how inevitable it is to pay the amount. For AIQ counselling, you will have to submit this amount as security irrespective of whether you are allotted a seat or not, however in case by the end of complete counselling process, you are not allotted a seat, it will be refunded back to you. At the same time, in case  you are allotted a seat in AIQ counselling, remember that you can leave the counselling without incurring any financial loss, only after first round of counselling (in the time period as per its counselling schedule). Post that, in case you are allotted a seat and don't join the course/college, your INR 25,000 will be forfeited.

• About DNB counselling, the riders say that, only those who register for the counselling prior to first round can participate in further rounds of counselling. Furthermore, in case you are allotted a seat in first or any round, you will necessarily have to pay the amount of INR 80,000. If you don't, you will be considered out of the entire counselling process.

As to your query about whether or not you can attend AIQ counselling after getting a DNB seat... the situation doesn't seem very practical since AIQ counselling would have already ended by the time DNB begins.

What you will have to decide is what you are more tilted towards- the AIQ seat or DNB seat. If you are equally tilted towards both such that you would be comfortable joining any of the course, given that you are allowed to particiapte in both the counsellings (which I think should be the case), what you can do is participate in the NEET PG AIQ counselling in the month of March and in case you dont get anything by April, you can participate by registering in DNB counselling. HOWEVER REMEMBER that in case you are allotted a seat in AIQ and you don't join, you will loose INR 25,000 deposited as tuition security fee at the time of registration.

For official confirmation about if you can participate in both the counsellings, you can write to- nbeexamhelpdesk@gmail.com, aiqpg-mcc@nic.in and counselling@natboard.nbe.edu.in

You can also call at 0120-4073500/ 18001027637 (MCC) 1800 266 7075 (NBE).

Hope that helps.

All the best!