The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts online NEET UG counselling every year for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 100% seats of Deemed/Central Universities, AIIMS and JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal) in MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing courses. For 2026, MCC has released a detailed round-wise online counselling schedule that clearly defines dates for seat matrix verification, registration and payment, choice filling and locking, seat allotment processing, result publication, reporting/joining and data verification by institutes.

Round 1: MCC NEET 15% AIQ & Deemed/Central Universities

Round 1 of MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 marks the start of the All India Quota admission process and covers the earliest deadlines that most aspirants search for. According to the MCC All India Quota counselling schedule PDF, Round 1 begins with verification of the tentative seat matrix by participating institutes on 4 August 2026.

Key Round 1 events and dates (as per MCC schedule PDF):

• Seat matrix verification: 4th August 2026
• Registration and payment: 5th August to 12th August 2026 (registration up to 3:00 PM; payment facility up to 6:00 PM, server time)
• Choice filling: 6th August to 13th August 2026 (choices can be filled up to 11:00 AM on 13th August, server time)
• Choice locking: 12th August 2026, 4:00 PM to 13th August 2026, 11:00 AM, server time
• Processing of seat allotment: 13th August to 16th August 2026
• Round 1 result: 17th August 2026
• Reporting/joining in allotted colleges: 18th August to 22nd August 2026
• Verification of joined candidates' data by institutes: 23rd August 2026
  
  

Round 2: MCC NEET UG AIQ Counselling 2026 Dates

Round 2 of the MCC NEET 2026 counselling allows candidates to upgrade their seats or participate afresh if they did not join or were not allotted in Round 1. As per the 2026 All India Quota schedule, Round 2 starts immediately after data sharing and verification from Round 1, ensuring minimal gap between rounds.

Important Round 2 dates:

• Seat matrix verification (participating institutes): 24th August 2026
• Registration and payment: 25th August to 29th August 2026 (registration up to 3:00 PM on 29th August; payment facility up to 6:00 PM, server time)
• Choice filling: 25th August to 30th August 2026 (choice filling up to 11:00 PM on 30 August, server time)
• Choice locking: 30th August 2026, 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, server time
• Processing of seat allotment: 31st August to 1st September 2026
• Round 2 result: 2nd September 2026
• Reporting/joining: 3rd September to 8th September 2026
• Verification of joined candidates' data by institutes: 9th September 2026
• Sharing of data by MCC with states and other stakeholders: 9th September 2026
  
  

Round 3: Former Mop-Up Round (Now Regular Round)

From recent counselling cycles, MCC has renamed the traditional mop-up round as "Round 3", while keeping the functional objective similar: filling remaining AIQ, Deemed/Central, AIIMS and JIPMER seats after Round 2. In the 2026 official schedule PDF, Round 3 also follows the familiar sequence of seat matrix verification, registration, choice filling/locking, allotment, result and reporting.

Round 3 date details:

• Seat matrix verification: 10th September 2026
• Registration and payment: 11th September to 15th September 2026 (registration up to 3:00 PM on 15th September; payment facility till 6:00 PM, server time)
• Choice filling: 11th September to 16th September 2026 (choice filling up to 11:00 AM on 16th September, server time)
• Choice locking: 15th September 2026, 4:00 PM to 16th September 2026, 11:00 AM, server time
• Processing of allotment: 16th September to 17th September 2026
• Round 3 result: 18th September 2026
• Reporting/joining in allotted college: 19th September to 26th September 2026
• Verification of joined candidates' data by institutes: 27th September 2026
• Sharing of data by MCC: 27th September 2026

Online Stray Vacancy Round: Last Opportunity for NEET 2026 AIQ Seats

The Online Stray Vacancy Round is the final round under MCC NEET UG 2026 All India Quota counselling and targets leftover vacant seats after Round 3. The MCC 2026 schedule specifies that this round will also be fully online, with centralised seat matrix verification, registration, choice filling/locking and allotment.

Online Stray Vacancy Round dates:

• Seat matrix verification (institutes): 27th September 2026
• Registration and payment: 28th September to 30 September 2026 (registration up to 3:00 PM on 30 September; payment facility up to 6:00 PM, server time)
• Choice filling: 28th September to 30th September 2026 (choice filling up to 11:00 PM on 30th September, server time)
• Choice locking: 30th September 2026, 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, server time
• Processing of allotment: 1st October to 2nd October 2026
• Stray vacancy result: 3rd October 2026
• Reporting/joining: 4th October to 10th October 2026
  
  

The schedule also instructs all participating institutes and colleges to treat all Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days during the counselling period so that reporting and verification are not delayed.

Also Read: What is the NEET Cut Off for MBBS in CMC, Vellore, in 2025?

Courses Covered and Participating Institutions

The MCC NEET UG 2026 All India Quota counselling schedule applies to MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing seats under 15% AIQ and 100% seats of Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS and JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal).

Round-Wise Process Flow (What Each Step Means)

Across all four rounds, MCC repeats a standardised online process that candidates must understand clearly to avoid missing deadlines.

Typical steps in each round:

• Verification of tentative seat matrix: Institutes check and confirm seat distribution before counselling opens.
• Registration and fee payment: Candidates create/log in to their MCC account, submit basic details, and pay the required counselling fee and, where applicable, security deposit.
• Choice filling and locking: Aspirants select and arrange preferred colleges and courses and then lock choices within the specified window; locked choices are final for that round.
• Processing of seat allotment: MCC runs the allocation algorithm based on NEET UG rank, reservation rules, seat matrix and locked choices.
• Result publication: The round's allotment list is displayed on the MCC portal, and candidates can download allotment letters.
• Reporting/joining: Selected candidates must physically or online report to the allotted institute with documents, within the reporting window.
• Verification of joined candidates' data: Colleges verify candidate details and upload joined data to MCC so that subsequent rounds account for filled seats.
  
  

Also Read: Re NEET Marks vs Rank 2026 and Answer Key Download from Coaching Institutes

Key FAQs Around MCC NEET UG Counselling Schedule 2026

Many voice searches and AI queries focus on direct, practical questions about the MCC NEET UG 2026 schedule. Below are concise answers based on the official AIQ counselling PDF and current MCC/NEET ecosystem information.

1. When does MCC NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling start for All India Quota?

Seat matrix verification starts on 4 August 2026, and Round 1 registration opens on 5th August 2026.

2. What is the last date for Round 1 registration and fee payment?

Registration is available up to 3:00 PM on 12th August 2026, while fee payment can be completed up to 6:00 PM on the same day (server time).

3. What is the choice filling and locking schedule for Round 1?

Choice filling runs from 6th August to 13th August 2026, with choice locking from 4:00 PM on 12th August to 11:00 AM on 13 August 2026.

4. How many rounds are there in MCC NEET UG counselling 2026 for AIQ?

There are four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 (former mop-up) and the Online Stray Vacancy Round.

5. What happens if I do not join the allotted college in a round?

Non-joining or withdrawal affects eligibility and category of participation in subsequent rounds based on updated MCC rules for the year; candidates should refer to the information bulletin and MCC notice for participation and forfeiture conditions.

6. Are weekends and holidays counted in reporting/joining windows?

Yes. The MCC schedule explicitly directs institutes to treat Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days during counselling to ensure timely admissions.

7. Does this schedule cover state quota counselling?

This PDF specifically covers 15% All India Quota and 100% Deemed/Central/AIIMS/JIPMER seats; state quota counselling is conducted separately by respective state authorities, though MCC shares joined candidates' data with states after each round.

Also Read: Maharashtra MBBS Bond Cancelled 2026: 1-Year Bond Service Abolished