The NEET counselling 2026 date has not been officially released by the NTA yet. Based on the past trends, it is expected to commence either in late June or in early July 2026. The entire counselling process will include four rounds, and seats are allotted at different colleges based on the NEET 2026 All India rank and availability of seats. Last year, the MCC started the NEET counselling from 21st July, 2025.
- The cutoff for different categories will vary across all four rounds of NEET 2026 counselling.
- The NEET UG exam for 2026 is scheduled on 3rd May, 2026, and results are expected by the end of June, 2026.
- Usually, after 1 month of declaration of results, NEET counselling 2026 will begin, possibly after mid-July.
- The exam conducting body is NTA (National Testing Agency).
- For All India quota seats, the responsible body for conducting NEET counselling is the Directorate General of Health Sciences (DGHS) on behalf of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
What is NEET Counselling 2026?
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET counselling 2026 is a mandatory step for final allotment of seats and admission to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses. The admission is completely merit-based and will be done based on NEET 2026 results.
The MCC is only responsible for conducting counselling for 15% AIQ (All India Quota) seats and the remaining 85% seat allotment and counselling process is conducted by the respective State authorities.
Source: MCC Counselling Official
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Schedule Round 1
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| July 2026 (Tentative) | NEET Counselling 2026 Round 1 Begins |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Payment of Fee (Round 1)] |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Choice Filling (Round 1) |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Choice Locking (Round 1) |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Seat Allotment |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Result |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Reporting/Joining |
| August 2026 (Tentative) | Verification of Joined Candidates |
NEET Counselling Eligibility Criteria 2026
The following eligibility criteria must be followed in order to take part in the NEET UG 2026 counselling.
- Qualifier NEET: It is required to pass the set minimum percentile for NEET 2026.
- General: 50%
- SC/ST/OBC: 40%
- PwD (General): 45%
- Qualification: Must possess a 10+2 qualification in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English from a recognized institution's board.
- Age Requirement: The candidate must turn 17 during the year 2026 by 31st December. There is no upper age constraint.
- Citizenship: Eligible candidates must be Indian citizens, including NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and other foreign nationals.
- Residency: Applicable for candidates from outside the quota seats (85%). Governed by state rules.
- Counselling Registration: Distinct registrations are necessary for AIQ through MCC and state quota via the relevant state authority.
Reservation of Quotas for NEET Counselling 2026
NEET Counselling 2026 has a specific approach to reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, where SC has a 15% reservation while ST gets 7.5%. Along with that, a 5% horizontal reservation is made for PwBD candidates. OBC Non-Creamy Layer and EWS have set eligibility criteria of 27% and 10% reservation, respectively, but this is only in the case of Central Universities and National Institutes.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| PwBD | 5% (Horizontal Reservation) |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 27% only in National Institutes/Central Universities |
| EWS | 10% only in National Institutes/Central Universities |
How to Apply for NEET Counselling 2026?
The entire counselling process of NEET will be carried out around 2-3 months with the commencement of round 1 registration. Based on the previous MCC schedule, a gap of nearly 5-7 days after each round of counselling.
The online registration through MCC official link will mark the beginning of NEET UG counselling 2026. This is followed by the payment of fees as specified by the authorities.
Step 1: Registration
Candidates will be required to sign up on the MCC website by giving their personal, academic, and NEET 2026 details. Counselling cannot proceed without the payment of a fee.
Step 2: Fee Payment
There will be fees to be paid, including a non-refundable fee and a security deposit to be returned, based on the categories of the candidate's category.
| Category | Refundable | Non-Refundable |
|---|---|---|
| General | ₹1000 | ₹10,000 |
| SC/ST/OBC/PwBD | ₹500 | ₹5,000 |
| All (Deemed Universities) | ₹5,000 | ₹2,00,000 |
Payments can be made by debit/credit card or through net banking.
Step 3: Choice Selection and Filling
Candidates select their preferred colleges and degree programs, together with their respective ranks. It is important to note that all locked choices must be made by the deadline.
Step 4: Seat Allotment
The allocation of seats is done according to the set criteria, which include the All India Rank alongside student preferences. Students can access the results on the MCC site.
Step 5: Reporting
Reporting to the allocated college for document validation, together with confirmation of admission, is a prerequisite for students. Candidates who do not report within this timeline are at risk of losing their seats.
FAQs
Ques: Is registration and security fee same for NEET Counselling 2026?
Ans: No, Registration fees and security deposit are different. As per MCC rules, the registration fee for NEET counselling is non-refundable. However, the security deposit can be refunded only if:
- You have opted for the “Free Exit” option after Round 1 NEET counselling.
- If you have not been allotted any seats in any rounds.
Ques: What are rounds 1 and round 2 in NEET?
Ans: Round 1 of NEET counselling 2026 will be the first stage for those registered candidates who have qualified for the NEET exam 2026 and have filled the choices of allotted seats, keeping in view their All India Rank, Category, and preferences. They may accept the seat and report to the college or choose the option of upgrading in the next round.
- Round 2 is the next chance for those who could not get seats in Round 1 or want to undergo an upgrade, or are registering for the first time.
- A seat allotted in Round 2 has to be accepted because, after that, there is no option for an upgrade.
How to Lock Choices in NEET Counselling 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Visit the MCC Website
- Go to the official MCC counselling portal: https://mcc.nic.in
- Click on UG Medical Counselling.
Step 2: Log In to Your Account
- Use your Roll Number and Password (created during registration).
- Enter the security pin and click Login.
Step 3: Choice Filling
- Click on “Choice Filling and Locking”.
- You’ll see a list of all available colleges and courses.
- Select colleges in order of your preference.
- You can move up/down or delete choices any time before locking.
Step 4: Lock Your Choices
- After finalizing your list, click on “Lock Choices”.
- A pop-up will appear asking for confirmation.
Once confirmed, your choices are locked and cannot be changed.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Choices can be modified | Any number of times before locking. |
| Lock before deadline | If you don’t lock, the last saved choices are automatically locked after the deadline. |
| Take printout | Keep a printed/PDF copy of locked choices. |
| New round = fresh locking | For every round (Round 2, Mop-up), you must do choice filling and locking again. |
NEET Counselling Document Required 2026
To report to the allotted college, the following must be brought:
- NEET 2026 admit card
- NEET 2026 scorecard
- Mark sheets for Class 10 or 12 and certificates
- A valid government ID that bears an attested photograph (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN, passport, or voting card)
- Six to eight passport-size photographs identical to those submitted in your NEET application
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
- Disability certificate (if applicable)
- Provisional seat allotment letter from MCC
How much money is needed for NEET counselling 2026?
In the NEET Counselling 2026 process, candidates need to pay two types of fees: one is a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable tuition fee.
Non-Refundable Registration Fee
The non-refundable registration fee for NEET Counselling 2026 varies based on the different categories of universities. For 15% AIQ Central universities, General Candidates need to pay INR 1000, and other reserved categories like SC/ST/OBC/PwD need to pay INR 500. On the other hand, for Deemed university it is INR 5000 for all category candidates.
Refundable Tuition Fee
The refundable tuition fee is basically a security deposit, and it varies based on the category of the university. This fee is refundable if the candidate exits the counselling process or does not take admission.
For 15% AIQ / Central university the fee is INR 10,000 for General category candidates, whereas it is INR 5000 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD. Similarly, for Deemed Universities, it is INR 2,00,000 for all categories.
| Category | Sub-Category | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 15% AIQ / Central Universities | UR | INR 10,000 |
| SC/ST/OBC/PwD | INR 5,000 | |
| Deemed Universities | All Categories | INR 2,00,000 |
FAQs
Ques: What documents are required during verification?
Ans: The following documents are required during the time of verification:
- NEET 2026 Admit Card
- NEET 2026 Score Card
- Class 10th & 12th Marksheets and Certificates
- Valid Identity Proof
- Category Certificate (If Applicable)
- Disability Certificate (If Applicable)
- Provisional Seat Allotment Letter
Note: The document verification process is done in the physical mode, in which candidates are required to present in person at their allotted college for verification.
Ques: Who is not eligible for NEET Counselling?
Ans: Candidates will not be able to participate in the NEET counselling 2026 in these given situations:
- Did not qualify for NEET: Failing to achieve the minimum qualifying percentile disqualifies the candidate from participating in the counselling phases.
- Underage candidates: Applicants should be seventeen (17) years old by December 31, 2026.
- Invalid academic background: Class 12 pass-outs with a combination of subjects excluding Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English do not qualify. Open school candidates or those who studied Biology as a subsidiary may face restrictions, too.
- Missing domicile (state quota): Candidates without valid certificates from a given state are also excluded from participating in the counselling process of that state.
Ques: From when does NEET UG counselling 2026 start?
Ans: NEET counselling dates for the year 2026 are yet to be released by NMC and state quota counselling authorities. However, based on past trends for NEET counselling, students can expect NEET counselling to be conducted as per the schedule below.
- NEET registration is expected to begin in the 4th week of July 2026.
- Aspirants can fill out their NEET counselling round 1 choices and preferences in the last week of July 2026.
- NEET 2025 counselling round 1 seat allotment is expected to be released in the 1st week of August 2026.
Ques: When to Apply for NEET Counselling 2026?
Ans: NEET 2026 counselling dates are yet to be released by MMC and the respective state medical Counseling authorities. Last year, the NEET UG Counselling 2025 was conducted from 21 July 2025 onwards. Students can expect NEET counselling to be conducted in the last week of July this year.
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