HP NEET Counselling 2026: Registration Expected July, Cutoff, Eligibility and Seat Allotment

HP NEET Counselling 2026 is conducted by Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU), Himachal Pradesh, for admission to MBBS and BDS seats in state government and private medical colleges across the state. The process is based on NEET UG 2026 scores and fills 85% state quota seats in 6 government medical colleges through a multi-round online system at amruhp.ac.in. As of July 1, 2026, the official HP NEET Counselling 2026 prospectus and schedule have not been released — registration is expected to open in the third week of July 2026, following the same pattern as 2025 when it opened on July 20.

• Registration: HP NEET Counselling 2026 registration is expected to open in the third week of July 2026. In 2025, the application window opened on July 20 — candidates should watch the official AMRU portal at amruhp.ac.in for the notification.
• Round 1 Merit List: AMRU is expected to publish the provisional merit list in the first week of August 2026. In 2025, the provisional list was released on August 1 and the final merit list came out on August 2, 2025.
• Round 1 Seat Allotment: Round 1 seat allotment is expected in the first week of August 2026. Last year it was declared on August 4, 2025, with candidates required to report to their allotted college by August 8–9.
• Available Seats: Around 612 state quota MBBS seats are available across 6 government medical colleges and 38 state quota MBBS seats at Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College, Solan (private). In 2025, the General category closing rank at IGMC Shimla — the top college — was 32,531.

What is HP NEET Counselling 2026?

HP NEET Counselling 2026 is the state-level medical admission process for Himachal Pradesh. It is conducted by Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU), headquartered at Ner Chowk, Mandi, through its online counselling portal at erpamruhp.in. The counselling allocates MBBS and BDS seats based on NEET UG 2026 merit rank.

AMRU manages 85% of the seats in state government medical colleges — called the State Quota. The remaining 15% (All India Quota or AIQ) is handled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), New Delhi. Candidates who want state quota seats must have a valid HP domicile (Bonafide Himachali certificate).

Here are the key details about HP NEET Counselling 2026:

• Conducting Body: Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU), Himachal Pradesh
• Courses Covered: MBBS and BDS (AYUSH counselling is conducted separately)
• Quota: 85% State Quota through AMRU; 15% All India Quota through MCC
• Mode: Online counselling through erpamruhp.in
• Basis of Allotment: NEET UG 2026 merit rank
• Government MBBS Colleges: 6 state government colleges
• Private MBBS College: Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC), Kumarhatti, Solan
• Total Government MBBS Seats: 720 (6 colleges × 120 seats each)
• State Quota MBBS Seats (85% of govt. seats): Around 612 seats
• Rounds: 3 main rounds + stray vacancy round(s)
• Official Website: amruhp.ac.in

The HP NEET Counselling process typically runs from July to October every year. Non-domicile candidates from other states cannot apply for state quota seats; they may apply only for management quota or NRI quota seats in private colleges.

HP NEET Counselling 2026 Important Dates

AMRU has not released the official HP NEET Counselling 2026 schedule as of July 1, 2026. The expected dates below are based on the 2025 counselling timeline. Official 2026 dates will be published at amruhp.ac.in once the prospectus is released — expected in the third week of July.

All 2026 dates above are tentative and based on the 2025 schedule. Official dates will be published by AMRU at amruhp.ac.in once the prospectus is released. Bookmark the official portal and check it daily to avoid missing any deadline.

Source: AMRU HP Official Website — amruhp.ac.in

Eligibility Criteria for HP NEET Counselling 2026

You must meet the following conditions to apply for HP NEET Counselling 2026 state quota seats. Candidates who do not have an HP domicile can only apply for management or NRI quota seats in private colleges.

NEET UG 2026 Qualifying Criteria

You must have cleared NEET UG 2026 with the minimum qualifying percentile set by NTA. The 2025 qualifying cutoff scores are given below for reference:

Academic Eligibility

• Must have passed Class 10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects
• Minimum aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology:
  • General / EWS: 50%
  • SC / ST / OBC: 40%
  • PwD (PH): 45%
• Candidates appearing in Class 12 board exams in 2026 may also apply, subject to meeting eligibility at the time of joining

Age Requirement

• You must be at least 17 years of age as of December 31, 2026
• There is no upper age limit, as per the Supreme Court of India ruling

Domicile Requirement

• State Quota (85%) seats: A valid Bonafide Himachali / HP domicile certificate is mandatory
• Management Quota / NRI Quota seats: Open to candidates from any state; no HP domicile required
• Reservation benefits: Category reservations (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) under HP state quota apply only to Bonafide Himachali candidates

What is a Bonafide Himachali? HP Domicile Rules Explained

The Bonafide Himachali certificate is the most critical document for HP NEET Counselling 2026 state quota seats. Without it, you cannot participate in the AMRU counselling for government college MBBS seats. You qualify as a Bonafide Himachali if you meet any one of the following conditions:

• Long-term residence: You have lived continuously in Himachal Pradesh for 15 or more years
• Study in HP schools: You passed both Class 10 and Class 12 from HP schools AND have resided in HP for at least 2 years
• HP Government employee’s child: Your parent is an HP Government employee or HP Government undertaking employee who has served in HP for at least 2 years
• Central Government employee’s child (HP posting): Your parent is a Central Government employee posted in HP for at least 2 years AND you completed both Class 10+1 and 10+2 from HP schools
• Navodaya School: You studied in a Navodaya School located in HP, or passed Class 10 or 12 under an exchange programme involving HP Navodaya Schools

You must obtain the Bonafide Himachali certificate from a Tehsildar or a higher competent authority before applying. The certificate is verified physically at the time of document verification — any discrepancy leads to immediate cancellation of your allotted seat.

Non-HP candidates — including those whose parents are Central Government employees posted outside HP — are not eligible for state quota seats. They may still apply for management quota seats in private colleges such as Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College, Kumarhatti, Solan. If you are not sure whether you qualify, apply for the certificate early and let the authority decide — do not assume.

Documents Required for HP NEET Counselling 2026

Keep these documents ready before HP NEET Counselling 2026 registration opens. Originals are required for physical verification at the college after seat allotment. Missing even one document can lead to cancellation of admission.

• Printout of the online application form (confirmation copy)
• AMRU seat allotment letter
• NEET UG 2026 admit card
• NEET UG 2026 score card / marks card showing merit rank
• Class 10 marksheet and pass certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 marksheet and pass certificate
• Bonafide Himachali / HP Domicile Certificate — issued by Tehsildar or above
• Study certificate from Class VI onwards showing study in HP schools (if domicile is based on study history)
• Category certificate — SC / ST / OBC / EWS as applicable, issued by a competent authority in HP
• PwD / PH certificate (if applicable) — from District Medical Board
• Character / Good Conduct certificate from the last institution attended
• Valid photo ID (Aadhaar card / PAN card / Passport)
• 4–6 recent passport-size photographs
• Ex-serviceman certificate (if applying under ex-serviceman quota)

All certificates must be valid and issued by the competent authority in HP. Expired or improperly issued documents lead to disqualification at verification. Get your domicile and category certificates ready before registration opens — do not wait until allotment.

HP NEET Counselling 2026 Fee Structure

HP NEET Counselling 2026 involves two types of fees — a non-refundable registration fee paid during application, and a refundable token amount deposited after seat allotment in Round 2 onwards. The 2026 fees are expected to match the 2025 structure.

Counselling Registration Fee

Token Amount (Refundable Security Deposit)

From Round 2 onwards, you must deposit a token amount after seat allotment. This amount is refunded if no seat is allotted to you. It is forfeited if a seat is allotted but you do not join.

Annual Tuition Fees at College

The counselling fee is separate from the tuition fee paid directly to the college. These are the annual tuition fees for 2025 — 2026 fees are expected to be similar:

Government MBBS colleges in HP charge just Rs. 60,000 per year — among the lowest MBBS fees in India. This makes HP state quota seats particularly competitive.

HP NEET Counselling 2026 Seat Matrix

HP NEET Counselling 2026 covers seats in 6 state government medical colleges and 1 private medical college. Each government college has 120 MBBS seats, of which 85% (102 seats per college) form the state quota and 15% (18 seats per college) go to the All India Quota under MCC.

Government MBBS Colleges — Seat Distribution

Private MBBS College — Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC), Solan

MMMC Kumarhatti, Solan is the only private MBBS college in HP under AMRU counselling. It has 150 total MBBS seats distributed across four quotas:

BDS Seats Under HP NEET Counselling

Reservation Policy for HP State Quota 2026

HP NEET Counselling 2026 follows Himachal Pradesh state government reservation norms for 85% state quota seats. These reservations apply only to Bonafide Himachali candidates. Non-HP domicile candidates cannot claim reservation benefits even if they belong to a reserved category nationally.

For the All India Quota (15%) seats — managed by MCC — central government reservation norms apply: General 40.5%, OBC (NCL) 27%, SC 15%, ST 7.5%, EWS 10%, with 5% horizontal PwD reservation.

You should always verify the final reservation breakup from the official AMRU 2026 prospectus once released. HP state OBC reservation (10%) differs from the central OBC reservation norm (27%) — this has a significant impact on the number of OBC reserved seats in state quota counselling.

Medical Colleges Accepting HP NEET Score 2026

HP NEET Counselling 2026 covers 6 state government MBBS colleges, 1 private MBBS college, 1 government dental college, and 3 private dental colleges. Here is a summary of the government MBBS colleges available under AMRU counselling:

IGMC Shimla is the oldest and most preferred government medical college in HP. Established in 1966 and affiliated with Himachal Pradesh University, it has the highest NEET state quota cutoff among all HP colleges.

AIIMS Bilaspur is located in Himachal Pradesh but is a central institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is not part of AMRU state counselling — AIQ seats at AIIMS Bilaspur are filled through MCC counselling. AIIMS Bilaspur has 100 MBBS seats and charges a nominal fee of around Rs. 5,856 per year.

HP NEET Counselling 2025 Schedule: Reference Dates

The 2025 HP NEET Counselling schedule is the best reference for estimating 2026 timelines. In 2025, AMRU started registration on July 20 and ran the process through December, including multiple stray rounds. Note that the 2025 schedule was revised by AMRU more than once — the Round 2 allotment date was changed twice. The same may happen in 2026, so track the portal regularly.

Tips to Maximise Your Chances in HP NEET Counselling 2026

HP NEET Counselling 2026 is competitive. Around 612 state quota MBBS seats are spread across 6 government colleges, and thousands of Bonafide Himachali candidates apply for these seats every year. Here is how you can improve your chances:

• Get your domicile certificate early: The Bonafide Himachali certificate takes time to process from the Tehsildar office. Apply for it immediately after NEET UG 2026 results are declared — do not wait for the HP counselling notification. Any delay in getting this document can cost you your seat.
• Keep category certificates valid and current: SC/ST/OBC/EWS certificates must be issued by a competent HP authority and must be valid at the time of joining. Expired certificates are rejected at physical verification — get renewals done in advance.
• Use the 2025 cutoffs to set realistic targets: If your NEET rank is below 35,000 (General), aim for IGMC Shimla and RPGMC Tanda. Ranks between 50,000 and 65,000 give you a good chance at SLBS GMC Mandi. Ranks between 60,000 and 83,000 make GMC Hamirpur, GMC Nahan, and GMC Chamba realistic options. Candidates with ranks beyond 83,000 should focus on MMMC Solan state quota or BDS colleges.
• Fill the maximum number of choices: There is no penalty for filling more choices. Include all 6 government colleges in your preference list in your preferred order. Filling fewer choices reduces your chance of a seat — fill as many as you can.
• Join even if it is not your first choice: Join the Round 1 allotted seat to remain eligible for Round 2 upgradation. Candidates who do not join in Round 1 lose their eligibility for subsequent rounds.
• Do not skip any round: Your registration remains valid across all rounds without fresh registration. Participation in every round is free for candidates already registered — make use of each round for upgradation.
• Track the AMRU portal daily during counselling: AMRU revised the 2025 schedule multiple times mid-process. Check amruhp.ac.in daily during the July–October window to avoid missing updated deadlines.
• Understand the bond before joining: AMRU requires candidates to sign a bond on a Rs. 10 stamp paper before joining. Early withdrawal means you must pay tuition fees for the remaining course years. Make sure you are committed to the college and the city before signing.