Qualifying for the NEET examination is not enough, as the real journey begins now. Around 11 to 12 lakh students are expected to qualify for the NEET 2026 examination, but only a selected number of them will get medical seats. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is expected to begin the NEET 2026 Counselling process by the end of July 2026, for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses in India.
Candidates who pass the Re NEET, it is very important for them to understand the complete step-by-step counselling process. Many candidates qualify for the NEET examination but do not get a medical college due to incorrect counselling or lack of proper guidance.
This article is very useful for all NEET-qualified candidates, as we will discuss the complete NEET Counselling 2026 process, from registration to final admission.
NEET UG 2026 Counselling
Candidates waiting for the NEET 2026 counselling registration are informed that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will soon open the registration window. It is compulsory for all eligible candidates to apply for the to register for the NEET 2026 counselling process to get a medical college.
Basically, MCC conducts the NEET counselling in two parts, MCC Counselling and State Counselling. The MBBS medical seats reservation criteria are divided into two categories: All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota. MCC organises the NEET counselling for 15% of seats All India Quota (AIQ) seats, which includes medical colleges like AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, ESIC, and others. Where for 85% seats, the counselling is done for the State Quota, which includes government medical colleges and all private medical colleges.
Candidates are free to choose many colleges and are allowed to register for both the state and All India Quota counselling processes as per their eligibility.
To register for NEET 2026 counselling, individuals need to visit the MCC official website, which is https://mcc.nic.in. The medical colleges’ counselling process is of multiple rounds, including Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and the Stray Vacancy Round. Candidates who could not get seats in the first counselling round can participate in the next counselling round.
What is All India Quota (AIQ) & State Quota Counselling in NEET?
The word quota refers to the reservation of seats in competitive or other examinations. The All India Quota (AIQ) counselling is conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), where students from across the country can apply for counselling. Under the AIQ, 15% of the seats in government medical colleges are reserved, and the cutoff is generally higher due to intense competition. While applying through AIQ, candidates have the option to choose medical colleges from anywhere in India.
On the other hand, State Quota counselling is conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) or the respective State Health Departments. State Quota policies are applicable only to domicile candidates of the particular state. Under the State Quota, 85% of the seats in government medical colleges are reserved, and the cutoff is generally lower than the All India Quota.
NEET 2026 Counselling Key Highlights
| Post For | NEET 2026 Counselling |
| Conducting Body | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
| Exam Name | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) |
| Counselling Mode | Online |
| Available Seats | 1.27 Lakh MBBS Seats |
| Increased Seats | Available Soon |
| Total Rounds | 4 Counselling Rounds |
| Counselling Type | All India Quota (AIQ) & State Quota Counselling |
| MBBS Courses | MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, etc. |
| NEET Counselling Registration Fee | General: Rs. 1000 Deemed Universities (All Categories): Rs. 5000 OBC/EWS/ST/SC/PwD: Rs. 500 |
| Official Website | https://mcc.nic.in |
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Schedule (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Round)
The NEET counselling schedule table is very important for all eligible candidates. In case any aspirant misses any important event or deadline, he or she may lose the opportunity to participate in that counselling round. So, it is very important for the NEET qualified candidates to have an idea of the NEET Counselling 2026 Schedule. Students excited to know When will NEET 2026 Counselling start can check the NEET 2026 counselling dates from below:-
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Round 1 Key Dates (Expected)
| Event Name | Date |
| Registration Start | July 2026 |
| Verification of Seat Matrix | July 2026 |
| Choice Filling & Locking | July 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Process | August 2026 |
| Result Declaration | August 2026 |
| Reporting to Allotted Institutes | August 2026 |
| Institute Data Verification | August 2026 |
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Round 2 Key Dates (Expected)
| Event Name | Date |
| Registration Start | August 2026 |
| Verification of Seat Matrix | August 2026 |
| Choice Filling & Locking | August 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Process | August 2026 |
| Result Declaration | August 2026 |
| Reporting to Allotted Institutes | August 2026 |
| Institute Data Verification | August 2026 |
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Round 3 (Mop-Up Round) Key Dates (Expected)
| Event Name | Date |
| Registration Start | September 2026 |
| Verification of Seat Matrix | September 2026 |
| Choice Filling & Locking | September 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Process | September 2026 |
| Result Declaration | September 2026 |
| Reporting to Allotted Institutes | September 2026 |
| Institute Data Verification | September 2026 |
| Admission Date | September 2026 |
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Round 4 Stray (Vacancy Round) Key Dates (Expected)
| Event Name | Date |
| Registration Start | September 2026 |
| Verification of Seat Matrix | September 2026 |
| Choice Filling & Locking | September 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Process | September 2026 |
| Result Declaration | September 2026 |
| Reporting to Allotted Institutes | September 2026 |
| Institute Data Verification | September 2026 |
| Admission Date | October 2026 |
Total Rounds in NEET 2026 Counselling
NEET 2026 counselling is conducted in multiple rounds for both AIQ (All India Quota) and State Quota seats. Generally, the NEET Counselling process includes Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and a Stray Vacancy Round. The first round is conducted for AIQ, then the State counselling round, and the same pattern is repeated till Round 4. This sequence helps candidates make better choices throughout the admission process.
Check NEET 2026 Rank Wise MBBS Colleges (Expected)
Candidates who want to check their expected rank and colleges can check their NEET 2026 rank using the authorised rank predictor. It helps you to get the expected rank and the colleges available at this rank.
NEET 2026 Counselling Fees & Security Amount
While registering for the NEET counselling, it is necessary for the candidates to pay the online registration and security fee for the successful counselling process. Here are the NEET 2026 Counselling & Security Fee available below:-
NEET 2026 Counselling Registration Fee
- General: Rs. 1000
- OBC: Rs. 500
- EWS: Rs. 500
- ST: Rs. 500
- SC: Rs. 500
- PwD: Rs. 500
- Deemed Universities: Rs. 5000
NEET 2026 Counselling Security Fee
- General: Rs. 10000
- OBC: Rs. 5000
- EWS: Rs. 5000
- ST: Rs. 5000
- SC: Rs. 5000
- PwD: Rs. 5000
- Deemed Universities: Rs. 2,00,000
Note: Candidates are advised to pay the online fee through MCC official website to avoid any scam.
NEET 2026 Counselling Eligibility Criteria
Only eligible candidates can register for the NEET 2026 counselling process. Individuals can check the eligibility criteria from below:-
- Candidates who qualify NEET are eligible for counselling.
- One must have all the necessary documents in original form.
- Individuals need to pay the required registration or security fee.
- Candidates must have a valid NEET 2026 scorecard and All India Rank (AIR).
- Individuals’ minimum age limit should be 17 years.
Documents for NEET 2026 Counselling
Do you know that many NEET-qualified students are disqualified in the last stage due to not having proper and complete documents? So, it is mandatory for all the selected students to have the required documents in original form. Here is the list of complete documents required for the NEET counselling.
- NEET UG 2026 Seat Allotment Letter
- Valid Photo ID Proof
- Passport-Size Photographs (Eight)
- Character Certificate
- Gap Affidavit (For Droppers)
- Health/Medical Certificate
- Study Certificate (If Required)
- Equivalency Certificate (If Required)
- NEET UG 2026 Application Form (Confirmation Page)
- NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
- NEET UG 2026 Scorecard/Result
- Class 10 Certificate
- Class 12 Mark Sheet
- Class 12 Passing Certificate
- Transfer Certificate (TC)
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS)
- PwD Certificate, if applicable
- Domicile Certificate (for State Counselling)
- Migration Certificate (if required)
- EWS or Disabled Certificate
- Bank Details, etc.
Note: Make sure that all the above documents are original; no hard or duplicate copies will be allowed.
How to Plan Your Counselling Based on Your NEET Rank
NEET-qualified candidates should have a clear idea of which colleges to choose during the counselling process. Your NEET 2026 rank plays a key role in deciding the colleges you are likely to get, so it is important to prepare your preferences in advance. For example, if any aspirant owns the AIR under 22000, then he or she can apply for a government college in their state.
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Process: Step-by-Step Guide
NEET counselling is an important process for candidates to get a medical college in India. For that, individuals need to have a complete idea of NEET counselling, as one mistake can lead to the loss of a medical seat. Here is the complete counselling registration process:-
Step 1. NEET UG Counselling 2026 Registration:
- Visit the MCC official website, which is https://mcc.nic.in.
- Next, a home page of the website open on the screen.
- After that click on the option UG Medical.
- Now click on the “New Registration 2026” available in Candidate Activity Board option.
- You will be redirect you on a new page.
- Fill up all the required details like NEET UG Roll Number, Password, Security Pin, etc.
Step 2. Submission of Personal Details
- Now an application form will open on the screen.
- Enter all the required personal details and upload the documents.
- Verify the details and click on the Submit option.
3. Online Payment
- After submitting all the details, it is very important for the applicants to make an online payment.
- For that click on the Payment option and make an online payment through net banking, Debit Card, UPI, etc.
- Once the payment is debited successfully, the registration process is successful.
- Take a print out of the page for further use.
4. Medical College Choice Filling
- Once you make the online payment or challan, the choice filling option will be available on the screen.
- Choose the medical colleges as per your preference.
5. Choice Locking
- After selecting the medical colleges, it is very important for the candidates to lock the preference.
- For that, click on the Choice Lock option available on the screen.
- Candidates are informed that choice filling will be done separately for every round.
- Take a print out of the page for further use.
6. Seat Allotment
- Seats will be allotted to the candidates based on merit.
- Once the seats is allotted, visit the college physically and complete the further process like document verification.
NEET UG 2026 Selection Process
Getting admission in a medical college across the country is not an easy task. Candidates have to face multiple phases to get a seat in a medical college for MBBS courses. Here is the complete step by step process for getting admission:-
- Entrance Test:- First of all, candidates have to qualify the NEET examination conducted by NTA.
- Cutoff: After that, candidates are selected based on their marks scored in the entrance test.
- Counselling: Selected candidates need to go for the counselling process.
- Seat Allottment: Seats are offered to the deserving candidates based on their ranks or marks.
- Reporting: Candidates who get seats for MBBS admission need to visit the college physically.
- Document Verification: No, the final stage if of document verification, where all the original documents are verified.
Conclusion
NEET counselling is an important process for admission to MBBS colleges. As per the details we have, MCC is all set to start the NEET UG counselling for the 2026-2027 shortly. Candidates who qualify the NEET examinations are informed to complete their counselling process to get a seat in the medical colleges. For more and the latest updates about the NEET counselling 2026, stay updated through this post and comment if you have any queries regarding it.
FAQs
NEET 2026 counselling is expected to start from the end of July 2026.
Around 1,29,603 MBBS seats are available in India.
Around 11000+ MBBS seats are expected to increase this time.
The last date for NEET 2026 counselling will be updated soon.
For UR, Rs. 1000, for Deemed Universities Rs. 5000 and for other categories Rs. 500 are required for the NEET counselling registration.
Yes, one can register in later rounds if the authority allows fresh registration.
Two types of counselling are available for MBBS courses: the first one is All India Quota and the second is State Quota.
No, candidates are not allowed to change their categories.
In such a case, apply for Round 2.
NEET 2026 counselling includes Government Medical Colleges, Private Medical Colleges, AIIMS, JIPMER, Deemed Universities, Central Universities, ESIC, and AFMC.
Yes, candidates can participate in both State & AIQ Counselling.
NEET UG 2026 counselling is expected to start by the end of July 2026.
NEET 2026 Admit Card, Scorecard, Class 10 & 12 certificates, ID proof, passport-size photos, category/domicile certificates, etc. Carry both the original documents and photocopies for verification.
NEET 2026 Counselling process will be conducted in 4 rounds.
