NEET Counselling 2026: Registration Opens for Round 1 Choice Filling Window; Complete Schedule, Documents & Step-by-Step Process
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened the Round 1 choice filling window for NEET UG Counselling 2026 after commencing the registration process for the first round of counselling. Candidates who have successfully registered for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) counselling can now log in to the official MCC portal and fill, rearrange and lock their preferred colleges and courses within the prescribed schedule. Choice filling is one of the most critical stages of the counselling process, as the Round 1 seat allotment will be based on the candidate's NEET UG 2026 rank, reservation category, preferences and seat availability.
The counselling process covers admissions to MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing and other undergraduate medical programmes under the 15% All India Quota, as well as AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, ESIC institutions and other participating institutes. Candidates are advised to carefully analyse the latest seat matrix before locking their choices, as modifications will not be permitted after the choice-locking deadline.
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Counselling Authority | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
| Admission Through | NEET UG 2026 |
| Current Activity | Round 1 Choice Filling Window Open |
| Counselling Mode | Online |
| Courses | MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing & Other UG Medical Courses |
| Quota | 15% AIQ, AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, ESIC & Deemed Universities |
| Official Website | mcc.nic.in |
Round 1 Choice Filling Begins
Candidates who have completed the registration process can now:
Fill college preferences.
Select preferred courses.
Rearrange the order of choices.
Save and modify choices before locking.
Lock final preferences before the deadline.
How to Fill Choices
Candidates should follow these steps:
Visit the official MCC counselling portal.
Log in using the NEET UG counselling credentials.
Open the Choice Filling section.
Select preferred colleges and courses.
Arrange choices in order of preference.
Save the choices.
Lock the final choices before the deadline.
Download and print the locked choice list for future reference.
Choice Filling Strategy
Candidates are advised to include:
Dream colleges.
Realistic options based on NEET rank.
Safe colleges with comparatively lower closing ranks.
Government and private institutions, wherever eligible.
Maximum possible preferences to improve allotment chances.
Documents Required
Candidates should keep ready:
NEET UG 2026 Scorecard.
Admit Card.
Class 10 Certificate.
Class 12 Marksheet.
Aadhaar Card or other valid ID.
Category Certificate (if applicable).
PwD Certificate (if applicable).
Passport-size photographs.
MCC Registration Confirmation.
Seat Allotment Process
The Round 1 seat allotment will be based on:
NEET UG 2026 All India Rank.
Reservation category.
Order of choices filled.
Availability of seats.
Eligibility criteria.
MCC counselling rules.
Institutes Covered
The MCC counselling process includes admissions to:
AIIMS.
JIPMER.
Government Medical Colleges under 15% AIQ.
Central Universities.
ESIC Medical Colleges.
Deemed Universities.
Participating Dental Colleges.
BSc Nursing institutions under MCC counselling.
What Happens After Choice Filling?
After the choice-filling window closes:
Choices will be locked.
MCC will process seat allotment.
Round 1 allotment result will be published.
Candidates can download the allotment letter.
Reporting and document verification will begin at the allotted institute.
Admission fee payment will follow as per the schedule.
Tips for Better Seat Allocation
Candidates should:
Review the latest seat matrix before finalising choices.
Fill as many preferences as possible.
Arrange choices carefully according to priority.
Avoid waiting until the final hours to lock choices.
Save a copy of the final locked choices.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Locking very few college choices.
Forgetting to lock preferences before the deadline.
Ignoring updated seat availability.
Entering colleges in random order.
Missing the reporting deadline after allotment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling window opened?
Yes. The MCC has opened the Round 1 choice filling window for registered NEET UG 2026 candidates.
Who can participate in Round 1 choice filling?
Only candidates who have successfully completed Round 1 counselling registration can fill and lock their college preferences.
Which seats are covered under MCC counselling?
The counselling covers 15% All India Quota seats, along with AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, ESIC, Deemed Universities and other participating institutions.
Can candidates modify their choices?
Yes. Candidates may edit and rearrange their preferences until the choice-locking deadline. Once choices are locked, no further modifications are permitted.
Does filling more choices improve admission chances?
Yes. Filling a larger number of well-planned preferences generally improves the chances of securing a seat during counselling, provided the candidate meets the eligibility and rank requirements.
Is State Quota counselling included in MCC registration?
No. State Quota counselling is conducted separately by individual states, and eligible candidates must register independently on the respective state counselling portals.
Final Update
With the NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling window now open, registered candidates should carefully prepare and lock their college preferences after reviewing the latest seat matrix and previous admission trends. Since the Round 1 seat allotment will depend on the NEET UG rank, reservation category, choice order and seat availability, submitting a balanced list of preferences and completing every counselling step within the prescribed timeline will be essential for securing admission to a preferred medical or dental college.
