NEET MDS Counselling 2026: Round 1, Round 2 and Mop-Up Dates

NEET MDS Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration opens on July 18, 2026 at natboard.edu.in — here is the complete three-round schedule with key deadlines for Round 1, Round 2, and the Mop-Up Round.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducts centralised counselling for NEET MDS 2026 All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government, private, and deemed dental colleges. Students who have qualified NEET MDS 2026 must register online within the active window for each round. Seat allotment is strictly merit-based, governed by NEET MDS 2026 rank, category, and choices locked during the choice-filling phase. The remaining 50% state quota seats are filled through separate state-level counselling.

• NEET MDS 2026 counselling Round 1 registration begins on July 18, 2026.
• Centralised counselling covers 50% AIQ seats in government colleges and seats in all private and deemed dental universities.
• Counselling is conducted in three rounds: Round 1, Round 2, and the Mop-Up Round.
• Registration fee is non-refundable and must be paid separately for each round you enter.
• Students allotted in Round 1 can seek a seat upgrade in Round 2 without losing their existing allotment.

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NEET MDS 2026 Counselling Schedule: Round 1, Round 2 and Mop-Up

The table below lists the NEET MDS 2026 counselling schedule for all three rounds. Round 1 dates are as per the official notification at natboard.edu.in. Round 2 and Mop-Up dates are tentative and expected to be released after Round 1 allotment.

Students who do not receive a seat or wish to upgrade after Round 1 can participate in Round 2. The Mop-Up Round is the final opportunity to fill all remaining vacant seats. No further round is conducted after the Mop-Up Round, and students who withdraw after the Mop-Up allotment risk being debarred from NEET MDS counselling for the following year.

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How to Register for NEET MDS 2026 Counselling

Complete your NEET MDS 2026 counselling registration by following these steps on the official portal:

1. Go to the official website at natboard.edu.in and click on the NEET MDS 2026 Counselling link.
2. Log in using your NEET MDS 2026 Roll Number and Date of Birth.
3. Fill in your personal, academic, and category details in the registration form.
4. Upload scanned copies of all required documents in the prescribed format and file size.
5. Pay the non-refundable registration fee via net banking, debit card, or credit card.
6. Proceed to the Choice Filling section and select your preferred colleges and MDS specialities in order of preference.
7. Lock your choices before the deadline. Choices not locked manually are auto-locked at the closing time.
8. Download and save the confirmation page as proof of registration.

Important: Fee payment alone does not complete your registration. You must also fill and lock your choices within the active window to be considered for seat allotment.

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NEET MDS 2026 Counselling Registration Fee

The NEET MDS 2026 counselling registration fee is category-wise and is non-refundable. The fee given below is based on the NEET MDS 2025 fee structure and is expected to remain the same for 2026 — confirm the exact amount from the official notification before paying.

The fee must be paid separately for each round (Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up) a student registers for. There is no combined fee for multiple rounds, and payment is online only.

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Documents Required for NEET MDS 2026 Counselling

Keep the following documents ready in original and self-attested photocopy before starting your NEET MDS 2026 counselling registration. Original documents must be presented at the time of reporting to the allotted college.

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NEET MDS 2026 Seat Allotment Process

Seat allotment for NEET MDS 2026 counselling is entirely computer-based. The algorithm assigns seats based on your NEET MDS 2026 rank, category, and the order of choices locked during the choice-filling phase. Here is how the process works:

• Verification: DGHS verifies your registration form and uploaded documents before processing your allotment.
• Merit-based allocation: Higher-ranked students are matched to their preferred choices first. A seat is assigned to the highest-ranked student who has listed it.
• Category-wise reservation: Seats are reserved for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD categories as per central government norms.
• Mandatory reporting: After receiving an allotment, you must report to the college within the reporting window. Non-reporting results in automatic seat cancellation and forfeiture of the registration fee.
• Upgrade in Round 2: Round 1 allottees can participate in Round 2 to seek a better seat. Your Round 1 seat is held securely until Round 2 allotment is declared.
• Mop-Up Round finality: Vacant seats from Rounds 1 and 2 are pooled for the Mop-Up Round. Students allotted in the Mop-Up Round are expected to join; withdrawal after Mop-Up allotment can lead to debarment from NEET MDS counselling for one year as per DGHS regulations.