NEET-UG 2026 Counselling to Start August 4: Complete Schedule, Registration, Round-Wise Process, Seat Matrix & Academic Session Details

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule, with the counselling process beginning on August 4, 2026, for admissions to MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing programmes under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, ESIC and AFMS institutions. The counselling schedule also outlines the timeline for Round 1 registration, choice filling, seat allotment, reporting and subsequent rounds, while the 2026–27 academic session is scheduled to commence in early September after completion of the initial counselling process.

This year's counselling process introduces several candidate-friendly reforms, including online seat resignation, simplified reporting after seat upgradation, digital verification for certain categories and streamlined counselling procedures. Candidates who qualified NEET UG 2026 should begin preparing their documents and counselling preferences, as admissions will be conducted entirely through the official MCC counselling portal.

NEET UG 2026 Counselling Highlights

Who Can Participate?

Candidates are eligible if they:

• Qualified NEET UG 2026.

• Fulfil the eligibility criteria prescribed by MCC and NMC.

• Register on the MCC counselling portal.

• Complete fee payment.

• Submit and lock college choices before the deadline.

Candidates seeking admission under the 85% State Quota must also participate separately in their respective state counselling, as those admissions are not conducted by MCC.

Seats Filled Through MCC Counselling

MCC conducts counselling for admissions to:

• 15% All India Quota MBBS seats.

• 15% All India Quota BDS seats.

• AIIMS.

• JIPMER.

• Central Universities.

• Deemed Universities.

• ESIC Medical Colleges.

• AFMS Medical Colleges.

• Participating BSc Nursing institutions.

NEET UG 2026 Counselling Process

The admission process consists of:

• Online Registration.

• Counselling Fee Payment.

• Choice Filling.

• Choice Locking.

• Round 1 Seat Allotment.

• Reporting.

• Round 2 Counselling.

• Round 3 Counselling.

• Stray Vacancy Round.

• Final Admission.

Candidates should carefully fill their college preferences because allotment depends on merit, category, reservation rules and seat availability.

Important Changes Introduced This Year

MCC has implemented several important reforms:

• Online resignation of allotted seats.

• Reduced requirement for repeated physical reporting during seat upgrades.

• Simplified seat upgradation process.

• Digital handling of certain verification procedures.

• Improved transparency in counselling workflow.

• Revised NRI documentation process.

One-Time Physical Reporting

One of the biggest changes is that candidates opting for seat upgradation generally do not need to physically report after every upgraded allotment. Physical reporting is largely required only after the final allotted seat, reducing unnecessary travel during counselling.

Online Seat Resignation

Candidates who decide not to continue with their allotted seat can now resign online through the MCC portal within the prescribed timeline instead of visiting the allotted college physically. This change is expected to make counselling more efficient and transparent.

Choice Filling Strategy

Candidates should:

• Fill the maximum number of colleges.

• Arrange colleges in genuine order of preference.

• Include dream, realistic and safe options.

• Review previous years' closing ranks.

• Check tuition fees before selecting deemed universities.

• Lock choices before the deadline.

Proper choice filling significantly improves the chances of securing a preferred college.

Documents Required

Candidates should keep the following ready:

• NEET UG 2026 Scorecard.

• NEET Admit Card.

• Class 10 Certificate.

• Class 12 Marksheet.

• Aadhaar Card.

• Category Certificate.

• EWS Certificate.

• PwBD Certificate.

• Passport-size Photographs.

• Identity Proof.

• Domicile Certificate (where applicable).

• Provisional Allotment Letter (after allotment).

How Seat Allotment Works

Seat allotment is prepared based on:

• NEET All India Rank.

• Reservation Category.

• College Preferences.

• Seat Availability.

• Quota.

• Eligibility.

• Previous Round Movement.

Candidates allotted a seat must complete reporting and admission formalities within the prescribed deadline.

What Happens After Round 1?

After the first round:

• Candidates may accept the allotted seat.

• Candidates may opt for upgradation.

• Vacant seats move to Round 2.

• Fresh allotments are prepared.

• Further counselling rounds continue until seats are filled.

Even candidates who do not receive a seat in Round 1 can secure admission in later rounds depending on vacancies and merit.

Common Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid

• Waiting until the last day for registration.

• Filling very few college choices.

• Forgetting to lock preferences.

• Ignoring revised counselling rules.

• Missing reporting deadlines.

• Uploading incorrect documents.

• Depending on unofficial counselling updates.

• Not reading the Information Bulletin carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does NEET UG 2026 counselling begin?

The counselling process begins from August 4, 2026, according to the schedule released by MCC.

Who conducts NEET UG AIQ counselling?

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts counselling for 15% All India Quota, AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, ESIC, AFMS and Deemed Universities.

Are 85% state quota seats included in MCC counselling?

No. State quota counselling is conducted separately by the respective state counselling authorities.

Can candidates resign from an allotted seat online?

Yes. MCC has introduced an online seat resignation facility within the prescribed counselling timeline.

Will candidates have to report physically after every seat upgrade?

Generally, no. Under the revised rules, repeated physical reporting after every upgrade has been reduced, with candidates usually reporting physically only after the final allotment.

When will the academic session begin?

According to the counselling schedule, the 2026–27 academic session is expected to commence in early September 2026 after the initial counselling process is completed.

Final Update

The commencement of NEET UG 2026 counselling marks the beginning of the country's largest undergraduate medical admission process. With admissions covering MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing seats across AIQ institutions, AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, ESIC, AFMS and Deemed Universities, candidates should complete registration on time, prepare all required documents, carefully fill and lock their college preferences, and stay updated with every round of counselling. The newly introduced reforms—including online resignation, simplified reporting after seat upgrades and a more streamlined counselling workflow—are expected to make the admission process faster, more transparent and considerably more convenient for medical aspirants across India.