The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registration for NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 on August 5, 2026, on its official portal, mcc.nic.in. This marks the formal start of admissions to MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc Nursing courses under the 15 percent All India Quota, along with seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, and central and deemed universities, for the 2026-27 academic session.

Key Highlights of MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1

  • Round 1 registration window: August 5 to August 12, 2026
  • Portal: mcc.nic.in
  • Choice filling: August 6 to August 13, 2026
  • Choice locking: August 12 to August 13, 2026
  • Seat allotment processing: August 13 to August 16, 2026
  • Round 1 seat allotment result: August 17, 2026

MCC counselling runs alongside individual state counselling processes, and candidates are allowed to register with both simultaneously, since each authority handles a separate share of seats. While MCC manages the 15 percent All India Quota along with central institutions, the remaining 85 percent of government seats and all private seats in a given state are handled through that state's own counselling body.

How to Register for NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1

  1. Visit the official website mcc.nic.in
  2. Click on the 'UG Medical Counselling' link on the homepage
  3. Complete new candidate registration using NEET UG 2026 roll number and other required details
  4. Create a login password and set a security question for account recovery
  5. Pay the applicable registration fee and security deposit online
  6. Log in and proceed to choice filling once registration is confirmed

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Registration Fee

The registration fee structure for Round 1 has two components: a processing fee and a refundable security deposit. General and EWS category candidates applying for the 15 percent All India Quota, central universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESIC, or B.Sc Nursing seats need to pay ₹1,000 as the registration fee, along with a ₹10,000 refundable security deposit, bringing the total to ₹11,000.

Candidates must watch the official NEET UG Counselling 2026 video tutorial before starting the online registration process.— Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Full Round-Wise Schedule

RoundRegistration and Choice Filling
Round 1August 5 to August 13, 2026; result on August 17
Reporting for Round 1 allotteesAugust 18 to August 22, 2026
Round 2August 24 to September 2, 2026
Round 3September 10 to September 18, 2026

Candidates who accept a seat in Round 1 and wish to report at their allotted institute must do so between August 18 and August 22, 2026, following which institutes will verify the joined applicants' data on August 23, 2026.

Important Updates and Rule Changes for NEET UG Counselling 2026

MCC has introduced several changes to this year's counselling process aimed at reducing physical paperwork and making the process more transparent for candidates.

  • Candidates upgrading their seat between rounds are no longer required to report in person to the previously allotted institute
  • An online seat resignation facility has been introduced, removing the need for physical withdrawal at some stages
  • Document upload has been shifted online at several stages of the process
  • Seat upgradation remains available only up to Round 3, not in the stray vacancy round
  • Candidates cannot resign or exit a seat once allotted in Round 3
  • No AIQ seats will revert back to participating states after the completion of Round 2

Impact on Candidates

With registration and choice filling windows overlapping this year, candidates should not wait for the registration period to end before starting to research and shortlist colleges, since choice filling opens just a day after registration begins and closes soon after registration closes. Candidates who wish to upgrade their seat in later rounds should also factor in the Round 3 restriction on resignation while deciding whether to accept a seat early or wait for a later round.

Expert Insight: Registering Early Without Rushing Choices

Counselling experts recommend that candidates complete their registration and fee payment early in the window rather than waiting until close to the August 12 deadline, since technical glitches and heavy server load are common in the final hours of any national counselling registration. At the same time, experts caution against rushing the choice filling process just because registration is done early; since choice filling remains open until August 13, candidates have a reasonable window to research colleges, cross-check previous years' closing ranks, and arrange their preferences thoughtfully rather than submitting a hurried list.

Conclusion

With NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration now open at mcc.nic.in, eligible candidates should register and pay the applicable fee before August 12, complete choice filling by August 13, and stay alert to this year's revised rules on upgradation and seat resignation, ahead of the Round 1 seat allotment result on August 17, 2026.

Official Resources

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