NEET UG Counselling 2026: Dates & Choice Filling

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), governing the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, and respective State Counselling Authorities for the 85% State Quota, jointly release the NEET UG Counselling 2026 schedule. This schedule outlines the comprehensive timeline for seat allocation in medical and dental colleges. Following the official NEET 2026 exam dates announcement on February 8, 2026, and the re-exam on June 21, 2026, the Round 1 Seat Allotment Result is expected in July 2026, with the Stray Vacancy Round extending until October 2026.

Counselling 2026: Expected Dates and Key Milestones

This section outlines the expected counselling schedule, providing key dates and milestones for the admission process. The re-exam results are anticipated by July 20, 2026, with counselling expected to commence in July or August 2026. You can plan your application based on this tentative timeline.

Event Tentative Date
Re-NEET UG 2026 Exam 3rd-4th Week June
Final Answer Key 4th Week June
Result Declaration 3rd/4th Week July
MCC Counselling Announcement 1st Week August
AIQ Round 1 3rd-4th Week August
Round 2 September
Round 3 / Mop-up October
Stray Vacancy Round November
Final Closure End November

This table details the tentative timeline for the admission process following the exam’s cancellation, from result declaration through the final closure of the counselling cycle. It helps you track the key stages for securing your medical seat.

Pre-Counselling Timeline: Exam & Application Dates

The original NEET 2026 exam, held on 3 May 2026, was cancelled due to paper leak allegations, leading to a revised schedule. A re-exam was conducted on June 21, 2026. This section outlines the critical dates for the application process, exam, and expected result declaration.

Event Original Timeline (as per Feb 2026 notification) Re-Exam Timeline (as per June 2026 update)
Official Notification Release February 8, 2026
Application Form Start February 8, 2026
Last Date to Apply March 8, 2026 (extended to March 11)
Correction Window March 10 – March 12, 2026
Admit Card Release April 26, 2026 June 14 or 15, 2026
NEET 2026 Exam Date May 3, 2026 June 21, 2026
Answer Key Release May 6, 2026 Was expected within 3-5 days after the exam
Result Declaration To be announced (post re-exam)
Counseling Begins Expected after results are declared

The table clearly illustrates the significant shift in the timeline following the re-exam. While the original exam was in May, the re-exam pushed key dates, with results now expected in July 2026, and counselling anticipated to commence shortly thereafter.

Step-by-Step Counselling Process Timeline

The counselling schedule is conducted online by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota seats and respective State Counselling Authorities for state quota seats. This section outlines the essential steps, key dates, and crucial tips to help you navigate the admission process.

Step Description
Step 1: Online Registration and Fee Payment Candidates must register on the counselling portal using their NEET Roll Number and Application Number. Students are required to pay a non-refundable Registration Fee and a refundable Security Deposit (which is higher for deemed universities).
Step 2: Choice Filling and Locking Students must select and arrange colleges in their order of preference. It is advised to check previous years’ opening and closing ranks, include a mix of dream, realistic, and safe colleges, and manually lock choices to prevent the system from auto-locking them.
Step 3: Seat Allotment Result The counselling authority releases the seat allotment result, determined by the NEET All India Rank (AIR), reservation category, seat availability, and the choices filled by the candidate. Students have the option to either accept the allotted seat or opt to participate in the subsequent round for upgradation.
Step 4: Reporting to the Allotted College Upon seat allotment, candidates must report to the respective college for document verification, admission confirmation, and fee payment. Those who intend to upgrade their seat in Round 2 must select “Willingness for Upgradation” during this reporting phase.

This step-by-step guide details the complete counselling journey, from initial registration to final college reporting, ensuring you understand each phase.

  • All India Quota Authority: Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
  • State Quota Authority: Respective State Counselling Authorities
  • Counselling Mode: Online
  • Official MCC Website: mcc.nic.in/ug-medical-counselling/
  • Registration Credentials: NEET Roll Number, Application Number
  • Counselling Fee Types: Registration Fee (Non-refundable), Security Deposit (Refundable)
  • Registration Fee (General Category): ₹1000
  • Registration Fee (SC / ST / OBC Category): ₹500
  • Security Deposit (Government Colleges): ₹10,000
  • Security Deposit (Deemed Universities): ₹2,00,000
  • Choice Filling Tip 1: Check previous years’ opening and closing ranks
  • Choice Filling Tip 2: Include dream, realistic, and safe colleges
  • Choice Filling Tip 3: Always lock your choices manually
  • Seat Allotment Basis: NEET All India Rank (AIR), Reservation category, Seat availability, Choices filled by the candidate
  • Options After Seat Allotment: Accept the seat or participate in the next round for upgradation
  • Reporting Activities: Document verification, Admission confirmation, Fee payment
  • Upgradation Process: Select “Willingness for Upgradation” during reporting to participate in Round 2
  • Mandatory Document 1: NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
  • Mandatory Document 2: NEET Scorecard
  • Mandatory Document 3: Class 10 Marksheet
  • Mandatory Document 4: Class 12 Marksheet
  • Mandatory Document 5: Photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport)
  • Mandatory Document 6: Domicile Certificate
  • Common Mistake 1: Filling too few choices
  • Common Mistake 2: Ignoring State Counselling
  • Common Mistake 3: Missing Reporting Deadlines
  • Consequences of Missing Deadlines: Seat cancellation, loss of security deposit, disqualification from later rounds
Event Expected Time
NEET UG 2026 Result Declaration July 2026
Counselling Registration (Round 1) July 2026
Choice Filling & Locking July 2026
Round 1 Seat Allotment Result July 2026
Reporting to Allotted College July–August 2026
Round 2 Counselling August 2026
Mop-Up Round September 2026
Stray Vacancy Round October 2026

This timeline provides an overview of the expected schedule for the admission process, helping you plan your application effectively.

All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling Rounds Schedule

The NEET UG 2026 Result Declaration is expected in July 2026, with counselling also anticipated to commence in July 2026. This section outlines the important dates and rounds for the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, helping you prepare for the admission process.

Particulars Expected Timeline
NEET UG 2026 Result Declaration July 2026
Counselling Registration (Round 1) July 2026
Choice Filling & Locking July 2026
Round 1 Seat Allotment Result July 2026
Reporting to Allotted College July–August 2026
Round 2 Counselling August 2026
Mop-Up Round September 2026
Stray Vacancy Round October 2026

This table provides an overview of the expected timelines for various stages of the counselling process, from result declaration to the final stray vacancy round, allowing you to plan your application effectively.

Maharashtra State Quota Schedule

Maharashtra’s state quota counselling for NEET UG admissions is tentatively set to begin in August 2026. CET CELL will announce the exact schedule soon after the NEET 2026 results. The process will include four CAP rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up, and Stray Vacancy.

Counselling Round Event Tentative Date
Round 1 Online Registration & Fee Payment To Be Announced
Round 1 Document Upload & Verification To Be Announced
Round 1 Provisional Merit List Release To Be Announced
Round 1 Choice Filling and Locking To Be Announced
Round 1 Seat Allotment Result To Be Announced
Round 1 Reporting to Allotted Institute To Be Announced
Round 2 Re-registration (if applicable) To Be Announced
Round 2 Revised Merit List To Be Announced
Round 2 Fresh Choice Filling To Be Announced
Round 2 Second Round Seat Allotment Result To Be Announced
Round 2 Reporting to College To Be Announced
Mop-Up Round Fresh Registration (if allowed) To Be Announced
Mop-Up Round Merit List for Mop-Up Round To Be Announced
Mop-Up Round Choice Filling & Locking To Be Announced
Mop-Up Round Mop-Up Round Seat Allotment Result To Be Announced
Mop-Up Round Reporting to Allotted Institute To Be Announced
Stray Vacancy Round Display of Vacant Seats (by Colleges) To Be Announced
Stray Vacancy Round Spot Allotment by Institutes To Be Announced
Stray Vacancy Round Final Reporting & Admission Confirmation To Be Announced

The detailed schedule outlines the various stages of each counselling round, from registration and choice filling to seat allotment and reporting, with specific dates to be announced for each event.

Counselling: Detailed Overview

This section covers a detailed overview of the counselling process, with key figures and details from the latest verified sources.

Event Tentative Date
NEET UG 2026 Result Declaration 2nd Week of June 2026
MCC Counselling Registration Opens 1st Week of July 2026
Round 1 Choice Filling & Locking Mid-July 2026
Round 1 Seat Allotment Result 1st Week of August 2026
Round 2 Registration & Choice Filling Mid-August 2026
Round 2 Seat Allotment Result Late August 2026
Mop-up Round 1st–2nd Week of September 2026
Stray Vacancy Round Late September 2026

This expected schedule provides a general overview of the counselling timeline, from result declaration to the final stray vacancy round. Keep in mind that these dates are tentative and subject to official announcements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for conducting the NEET UG Counselling 2026?

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) governs the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, while respective State Counselling Authorities manage the 85% State Quota seats.

When is the NEET UG Counselling 2026 expected to begin?

Counselling for NEET UG 2026 is expected to commence in July or August 2026, following the anticipated re-exam results by July 20, 2026.

What was the original date of the NEET 2026 exam, and why was it changed?

The original NEET 2026 exam was held on 3 May 2026 but was cancelled due to paper leak allegations, leading to a re-exam on June 21, 2026.

What are the key steps involved in the NEET UG counselling process?

The key steps include online registration and fee payment, choice filling and locking, seat allotment result declaration, and reporting to the allotted college.

When is the Round 1 Seat Allotment Result for NEET UG Counselling 2026 expected?

The Round 1 Seat Allotment Result is expected in July 2026, with the Stray Vacancy Round extending until October 2026.

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

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