NEET PG 2026: Report to colleges by Nov 2; no first-year fee for upgrades

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) have announced revised rules for first-year course fee payment during NEET PG 2026 counselling. These changes, announced on October 24, 2026, specifically impact candidates participating in the 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and those seeking admission to NBEMS-accredited institutes/hospitals.

The revision aims to remove a financial barrier for candidates who choose the ‘float’ option, allowing them to seek seat upgrades without immediate fee payment. The Round 1 college reporting process for NEET PG 2026 counselling began today, October 26, 2026, with candidates allotted seats required to report to their respective medical colleges by November 2, 2026.

Revised Fee Payment for Seat Upgradation

Under the updated guidelines, candidates who select the ‘float’ option, indicating their desire for a seat upgrade in subsequent rounds, are no longer mandated to pay the first-year course fee at the time of reporting. This contrasts with previous procedures where an upfront payment might have been required. Conversely, candidates who choose to ‘freeze’ their allotted seat, thereby confirming their acceptance, must pay the first-year annual course fee directly to the specific NBEMS-accredited institute or hospital.

The NBEMS has clarified that it will not collect the first-year course fee during the counselling process. Accredited hospitals have been explicitly instructed not to collect this fee from candidates who have opted for the ‘float/upgrade’ option. Fee collection will only occur once a candidate permanently joins an institution by freezing their seat, streamlining the financial commitment for students exploring better options.

Counselling Schedule and Seat Allotment

The MCC has already released the NEET PG counselling 2026 Round 1 seat allotment results, allocating over 28,000 postgraduate seats. Candidates who have been allotted seats are required to complete their reporting and joining formalities at their respective medical colleges between October 26 and November 2, 2026. The counselling process is structured into multiple rounds, with specific dates for results and reporting for each stage.

The NEET PG 2026 examination was conducted on August 30, 2026. The MCC, entrusted by the Supreme Court of India, conducts counselling for 50% Post Graduate (MD/MS/Diploma/PG DNB) All India quota seats, 100% medical seats for Central and Deemed Universities, and 100% MBBS seats for AIIMS and JIPMER institutes. The total number of PG seats has seen a consistent increase, from 22,818 in 2022 to 28,750 in 2025, reflecting an expansion in medical education opportunities.

Reporting Procedures and Document Verification

Hospitals are mandated to update the reporting and joining status of allotted candidates on the Intra-MCC portal within the prescribed deadlines. Failure by a hospital to update a candidate’s status may lead to the seat being considered vacant and carried forward to subsequent rounds. Institutions must meticulously verify candidates’ original documents and eligibility criteria before allowing them to join, including valid category certificates for reserved seats as per the NEET PG 2026 information bulletin.

Institutions found approving or forwarding false, fabricated, or deficient documents could face severe repercussions, including a monetary penalty of Rs 1 lakh per candidate. Candidates currently employed in government departments or bound by service obligations are required to obtain necessary No Objection Certificates (NOC) and relieving documents before joining. An extension for securing release from employment may be granted for a maximum of 90 days from the date of seat allotment, subject to NBEMS conditions. The NBEMS’s Online Portal for Joining and Registration (OPJR) will remain closed until all MCC counselling rounds are completed, after which a separate notice will be issued explaining its process for submitting joining details and documents.

Further reading

• Tamil Nadu NEET PG merit list out: download PDF for 4,654+ MD/MS/Diploma seats
• UP NEET PG 2026: Register for Round 1 by Oct 26, 11 AM; pay fees by 2 PM
• NEET PG cutoff: previous closing ranks and marks Next step
• INI CET January 2027: Download admit card on October 26
• FMGE October 2026 application correction deadline extended to October 23
• NEET UG 2026: Apply for private MBBS seats now; fees slashed up to 40% Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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