NEET MDS 2026 final phase schedule out: report to colleges by 24 October

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the full counselling schedule for NEET MDS 2026, detailing the dates for registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and reporting for all rounds. The counselling process, which commenced on August 18, 2026, is set so on October 24, 2026, with the final reporting deadline for the stray vacancy round.

A total of 18,244 candidates have qualified for NEET MDS 2026, making them eligible to compete for Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) seats across government, private, and deemed dental colleges. The schedule is available on the official MCC portal, mcc.nic.in, and covers admissions to 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, Deemed Universities, Central Universities, ESIC, and Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutions.

NEET MDS 2026 Counselling Schedule and Deadlines

The NEET MDS 2026 counselling process is structured into three regular rounds and a subsequent stray vacancy round. Candidates must adhere to strict deadlines for registration, fee payment, and choice filling, as missing any deadline could result in the loss of a preferred seat. Registration and payment for each round close at 3 PM on the last day, while choice filling closes at 11 PM in Round 1 and 10 AM in later rounds. All Saturdays, Sundays, and gazetted holidays are considered working days within the counselling calendar.

The academic session for the 2026 batch of MDS students commenced on September 17, 2026. The final opportunity for candidates to secure a seat and report to their allotted institute is by October 24, 2026, following the stray vacancy round.

Registration Process and Required Documents

Candidates are required to register on the MCC portal at mcc.nic.in using their NEET MDS 2026 roll number and password. The registration fee and security deposit vary based on the candidate’s category and the quota they are applying under. The security deposit for AIQ candidates is refundable, while the counselling fee for Deemed Universities is a one-time non-refundable payment.

A full list of documents is necessary for the counselling process. These include the NEET MDS 2026 scorecard and admit card, BDS degree certificate and marksheets, internship completion certificate, and a permanent or provisional dental registration certificate. In addition, Class 10 and Class 12 certificates are needed for date of birth proof, along with a valid government photo ID such as Aadhaar or PAN. Category certificates are also required for candidates seeking reserved seats.

Steps for Candidates to Follow

Candidates participating in the NEET MDS 2026 counselling must follow a specific sequence of steps to complete the process. This includes timely registration, payment of fees, and careful selection of college and course preferences. The MCC advises candidates to regularly check the official portal for updates and results.

1. Visit mcc.nic.in to register.
2. Register using your NEET MDS 2026 roll number and password.
3. Pay the counselling fee before 3 PM on the last day of registration for each round.
4. Fill and lock your college and course choices by the specified deadline for each round.
5. Check the seat allotment result on mcc.nic.in on the announced dates.
6. Report to the allotted institute within the stipulated timeframe for each round.

Further reading

• UP NEET MDS 2026 round 2 merit list released: fill choices by September 24
• HP NEET MDS 2026 round 2 merit list out: 126 candidates listed
• INI CET July 2026 session online seat allocation schedule released
• NEET UG 2026: Uttarakhand opens Round 3 NRI quota MBBS registration until 5 October Applications open
• PGIMER Entrance Exam application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (MDS): complete exam guide

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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