NEET PG Counselling 2026: PwD Round 1 Registration Begins October 1

NEET PG Counselling 2026 will move into an important stage for Persons with Disabilities candidates on October 1, when the Medical Counselling Committee opens the PwD portal for Round 1. Eligible candidates seeking admission under the PwD category will need to complete the prescribed medical assessment process within the announced schedule before participating in seat allotment under the applicable reservation provisions.

The development comes after the National Medical Commission and MCC released the postgraduate medical seat matrix for the 2026-27 academic year. Around 58,000 MD, MS and diploma seats are available this year, representing an increase over the previous admission cycle.

NEET PG 2026 PwD Round 1: Important Dates

What PwD Candidates Need to Do

Candidates claiming PwD benefits in NEET PG counselling must undergo assessment through the designated medical assessment mechanism. The Primary Medical Assessment Board will evaluate eligible candidates during the announced window, while candidates requiring reconsideration of the primary assessment can use the appellate process.

• Access the PwD facility when the portal opens on October 1.
• Check the designated medical assessment centre and instructions.
• Keep original disability-related documents ready for verification.
• Complete the primary medical assessment within the prescribed period.
• Follow the applicable appeal procedure if reassessment is required.
• Check whether the PwD status has been updated correctly after assessment.
• Monitor MCC notices for the subsequent Round 1 counselling schedule.
• Do not wait until the final day to complete the medical assessment process.

Primary and Appellate Medical Assessment Explained

The primary assessment window runs from October 1 through October 9, while the appellate board will function between October 5 and October 12. Candidates using the appellate process should carefully follow the eligibility and procedural requirements prescribed for reassessment.

NEET PG Seat Matrix 2026-27 Released

The counselling development coincides with publication of the postgraduate medical seat matrix for the new academic session. The total number of MD, MS and diploma seats has increased to around 58,000, compared with 52,173 seats in the previous year, representing an increase of approximately 11%.

The expansion includes additional capacity in government, private and deemed medical institutions. Candidates should nevertheless check the actual Round 1 seat matrix because availability differs considerably by state, institution, speciality, quota and reservation category.

Courses Covered Through NEET PG Counselling

• Doctor of Medicine or MD programmes.
• Master of Surgery or MS programmes.
• DNB postgraduate programmes covered through the counselling process.
• Eligible postgraduate diploma courses.
• Seats available through participating government institutions.
• Applicable seats in deemed universities and participating private institutions.

What Candidates Should Keep in Mind

Opening of the PwD portal does not mean that every stage of general NEET PG Round 1 counselling begins on October 1. The October 1 development specifically concerns the PwD assessment process required for candidates seeking admission benefits under that category.

PwD candidates should complete the assessment within the announced dates and continue monitoring the counselling portal for subsequent registration, choice filling, seat allotment and reporting instructions. Missing the prescribed assessment timeline could affect a candidate's ability to claim PwD benefits during Round 1 seat allocation.