NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Registration Begins on August 5: Check MCC Schedule, Process and Documents

The Medical Counselling Committee has commenced NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration on August 5, 2026. Candidates who have qualified for NEET UG 2026 can now register for admission to MBBS, BDS and eligible B.Sc. Nursing seats through the official MCC counselling portal.

MCC has released the complete counselling schedule for 15% All India Quota seats, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, AIIMS institutions, JIPMER Puducherry and Karaikal, ESIC seats and other participating institutions. The counselling process will be conducted through four stages: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the Online Stray Vacancy Round.

Candidates must note that AIQ counselling and state counselling are separate processes. While MCC Round 1 registration begins on August 5, the coordinated schedule released by MCC places the first state counselling round between August 13 and August 22, 2026. Each state counselling authority may release its own detailed registration, choice-filling and allotment timetable within the prescribed window.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Important Dates

According to the official MCC schedule, Round 1 registration and fee payment will remain open from August 5 to August 12, 2026. Registration will close at 3:00 PM on August 12, while candidates can complete fee payment until 6:00 PM on the same day.

Counselling event	Important date
Verification of tentative seat matrix	August 4, 2026
Registration and fee payment	August 5–12, 2026
Registration deadline	3:00 PM on August 12
Payment deadline	6:00 PM on August 12
Choice filling	August 6–13, 2026
Choice-locking window	4:00 PM on August 12 to 11:00 AM on August 13
Processing of seat allotment	August 13–16, 2026
Round 1 seat-allotment result	August 17, 2026
Reporting or joining	August 18–22, 2026
Verification of joined candidates	August 23, 2026

Candidates should follow the server time displayed on the MCC portal. Waiting until the final few hours for registration, payment or choice locking may create avoidable problems due to heavy website traffic.

Who Can Participate in MCC NEET UG Counselling?

Candidates who have qualified for NEET UG 2026 and fulfil the applicable admission criteria can register for MCC counselling. Through the centralised process, MCC conducts seat allotment for:

• 15% AIQ seats in participating government medical and dental colleges
• 100% seats in Deemed Universities
• Central Universities such as Delhi University, BHU and AMU
• All participating AIIMS institutions
• JIPMER Puducherry and JIPMER Karaikal
• ESIC and specified institutional-quota seats
• Central-institute B.Sc. Nursing seats
• AFMC registration, with further admission procedures handled by the institution

Seat allotment is based on the candidate’s NEET UG rank, category, eligibility conditions, available seats and the order of choices submitted during counselling. Registration alone does not guarantee admission.

How to Register for NEET UG Counselling 2026

Candidates can complete the Round 1 application by following these steps:

1. Visit the official Medical Counselling Committee website.
2. Open the UG Medical Counselling section.
3. Select the new registration link for UG Counselling 2026.
4. Enter the required NEET UG details, including the roll number and personal information.
5. Verify the registered mobile number and email address.
6. Complete the counselling application form carefully.
7. Select the applicable counselling category and institution type.
8. Pay the non-refundable registration fee and refundable security deposit.
9. Download the payment receipt and registration confirmation.
10. Log in again during the choice-filling period and arrange colleges in the preferred order.
11. Lock the choices before the official deadline and retain a copy for reference.

MCC advises candidates to submit only one counselling application. Multiple applications may lead to cancellation of candidature. Candidates should also complete the process themselves rather than sharing passwords or one-time passwords with agents or third parties.

MCC Counselling Registration Fee

For 15% AIQ seats, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESIC and participating B.Sc. Nursing institutions, the fee structure is:

Candidate category	Non-refundable fee	Refundable security deposit	Total
UR/EWS	₹1,000	₹10,000	₹11,000
SC/ST/OBC/PwD	₹500	₹5,000	₹5,500
Deemed University applicants	₹5,000	₹2,00,000	₹2,05,000

Candidates applying for both government and Deemed University seats are required to pay the higher applicable amount rather than separate fees for both categories. The security deposit is refundable to eligible candidates after completion of the counselling process, subject to MCC’s refund and forfeiture rules.

Choice Filling and Locking: Why Preference Order Matters

Choice filling is one of the most important stages of NEET UG counselling. Candidates should review the seat matrix, college fees, location, service-bond conditions, hostel availability and institutional eligibility rules before submitting preferences.

Colleges must be arranged in the genuine order of preference. The allotment software evaluates the choices from the first preference downward and allocates the highest available option according to the candidate’s rank and category.

Candidates can modify their preferences while choice filling remains open. However, once choices have been locked, they generally cannot be edited. Applicants should save or print their locked-choice list for future reference.

Documents Required During Reporting

Candidates allotted a seat must produce original documents along with attested photocopies during admission. The standard list includes:

• MCC seat-allotment letter
• NEET UG 2026 admit card
• NEET UG result or rank letter
• Class 10 certificate
• Date-of-birth certificate, where required
• Class 12 certificate and marksheet
• Valid photo identity proof
• Eight passport-size photographs matching the NEET application
• SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS or PwD certificate, where applicable
• NRI, OCI or foreign-national documents, where applicable
• Additional documents required by the allotted institution

Candidates without original documents may not be permitted to complete admission. They should contact the allotted college immediately after the declaration of results to confirm institutional fees, medical examination requirements, bonds and additional certificates.

Complete MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Timeline

After Round 1, MCC Round 2 registration will be conducted from August 25 to August 29, with the result scheduled for September 2. Round 3 registration will take place from September 11 to September 15, followed by the result on September 18. Registration for the Online Stray Vacancy Round is scheduled from September 28 to September 30, and its result will be released on October 3, 2026.

The common academic session for undergraduate medical courses is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2026. All participating institutions have been instructed to treat Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days to complete counselling within the announced timeline.

NEET UG 2026 State Counselling Schedule

State counselling authorities will manage admissions to most of the remaining 85% State Quota seats, private-college seats and other state-controlled categories. The coordinated MCC schedule provides a State Round 1 window from August 13 to August 22, with the last date of joining fixed as August 28, 2026.

However, candidates must separately register on their respective state counselling portals. Registering with MCC does not automatically register a candidate for state counselling. Domicile conditions, reservation policies, application fees and document requirements can also vary by state.

Final Advice for Candidates

Candidates should complete MCC registration early, prepare a realistic college-preference list and keep all original certificates ready. They must regularly check official MCC and state counselling portals because seat matrices, notices and reporting instructions may be updated during the process.

Any mistake in category information, personal details or choice order can affect seat allotment. Careful planning and timely action will therefore be essential throughout NEET UG Counselling 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When did NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration begin?

MCC Round 1 registration began on August 5, 2026. The registration window will close at 3:00 PM on August 12, while payment can be completed until 6:00 PM.

2. When will the NEET UG 2026 Round 1 result be declared?

The MCC Round 1 seat-allotment result is scheduled to be announced on August 17, 2026. Allotted candidates can complete reporting or joining between August 18 and August 22.

3. Is MCC registration required for 85% State Quota seats?

No. MCC registration is primarily for AIQ, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER and other MCC-administered seats. Candidates seeking State Quota admission must register separately with the relevant state counselling authority.

4. What is the registration fee for MCC NEET UG counselling?

For AIQ and central institutions, the non-refundable fee is ₹1,000 for UR/EWS candidates and ₹500 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates. A refundable security deposit of ₹10,000 or ₹5,000 is also applicable. Deemed University applicants must pay ₹5,000 as registration fee and ₹2 lakh as security deposit.

5. Can candidates participate in both AIQ and State Quota counselling?

Yes. Eligible candidates can register for both MCC AIQ counselling and their respective state counselling processes. However, they must follow the joining, resignation, upgradation and seat-forfeiture rules applicable to each counselling round.