NEET UG Counselling 2026: Official Schedule and Dates Soon

Following the official declaration of the NEET UG 2026 results by the National Testing Agency (NTA) today, the focus has shifted entirely to the medical and dental college admission process. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is expected to release the official schedule and dates for NEET UG Counselling 2026 soon on its official website, mcc.nic.in.

The NTA has explicitly reiterated that its responsibility concludes with the declaration of the final scorecard and merit lists. From this point forward, the admission process will be strictly divided between national and state counselling bodies.

The Quota Breakdown: Who Conducts What?

Candidates must remember that qualifying for the exam does not mean automatic registration for counselling. Separate applications must be submitted depending on the quota you choose:

• 15% All India Quota (AIQ): Conducted centrally by the MCC. This includes 100% of seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, and ESIC medical colleges.

• 85% State Quota: Handled entirely by the respective state medical admission authorities for seats within government and private colleges located in that specific state.

Expected NEET UG 2026 Counselling Timeline

Because the 2026 examination cycle faced delays, the timeline is expected to follow an accelerated path:

• Official Schedule Announcement: Expected by the fourth week of July 2026.

• Round 1 Registration & Choice Filling: Expected to commence in early August 2026.

• Round 1 Seat Allotment Results: Expected by mid-August 2026.

The counselling will officially feature four primary rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and the online Stray Vacancy Round.

Step-by-Step Registration Process on MCC Portal

Once the portal is activated at mcc.nic.in, candidates should follow these exact steps:

1. New User Sign-Up: Click "New Candidate Registration" on the homepage and log in using your NEET UG 2026 Roll Number, Application Number, Name, and Date of Birth.

2. Detail Submission: Fill out permanent academic and communication fields exactly as they appear on your official certificates.

3. Fee Payment: Pay the non-refundable registration fee and the refundable security deposit based on your category and choice of institution (Deemed vs. AIQ).

4. Choice Filling & Locking: Select your preferred medical colleges from the active list. Candidates must lock their choices before the declared deadline, or the portal will auto-lock whatever was last saved.

Crucial Rule Change Alert: Unlike the "Free Exit" permitted in Round 1, candidates who fail to report to an allotted college in Round 2 or Round 3 risk having their security deposits forfeited or exiting the counselling pool altogether.

Mandatory Documents for Verification

Keep the originals and digital copies of these ready for the reporting stage:

• NEET UG 2026 Admit Card & Official Scorecard

• Class 10 & Class 12 Pass Certificates and Mark Sheets

• Valid Government-issued Photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN)

• Eight Passport-size photographs (matching the one uploaded on the NTA application form)

• Provisional Seat Allotment Letter (downloaded from MCC portal)

• Category/Caste/PwD certificates (if applicable)

Candidates are advised to frequently monitor mcc.nic.in for the real-time link activation of the official registration window.