The Maharashtra CET Cell has released the final merit list for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling, and the window for candidates to submit their college and specialty preferences is now open. If you have qualified NEET PG and are domiciled in Maharashtra, you must fill and lock your choices by November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM — after that, no changes are allowed. The first allotment list will be announced on November 5, determining which college and course you are offered based on your rank, preferences, and available seats.
Lock your choice preferences by November 4, 11:59 PM on medical2026.mahacet.org; once submitted, they cannot be changed during Round 1, and your allotment on November 5 depends entirely on your rank, preference order, and seat availability.
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Unlock My College ListWhat Has Happened: Merit List Release and Choice Filling Window
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has published the final merit list for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 on the official portal medical2026.mahacet.org. Alongside the merit list, the CET Cell has also released the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) Round 1 seat matrix, which shows the total number of MD, MS, and PG Diploma seats available across government, corporation, municipal, and private unaided medical colleges in the state.
Online choice filling for Round 1 began on November 2, 2026, and will remain open until November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM. This is a critical window: candidates who appear on the final state merit list must log in to the portal, review the seat matrix, select their preferred colleges and specialities, arrange them in order of priority, and lock their choices before the deadline. Once locked, preferences cannot be modified during Round 1.
Who Can Participate: Eligibility Criteria for MAH NEET PG 2026 Counselling
Not every NEET PG 2026 qualifier can participate in Maharashtra's counselling. To be eligible, you must meet all of the following conditions: you must have qualified NEET PG 2026 as per the NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences) cutoff score; you must satisfy Maharashtra's state domicile rules; you must have completed online registration with the CET Cell; your original documents must have been verified at a facilitation centre; and your name must appear on the final state merit list released by the CET Cell.
If you do not meet all these criteria, you will not be able to participate in Round 1 counselling, even if you have a valid NEET PG score. It is essential to verify your eligibility and ensure all documentation is in order before the choice-filling deadline.
Courses and Seats Available in Round 1
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Round 1 counselling covers three broad categories of postgraduate medical courses: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), and Postgraduate Diploma courses. Seats are distributed across government medical colleges, corporation-run colleges, municipal colleges, and private unaided medical colleges throughout Maharashtra.
The exact number of seats in each specialty and college is detailed in the CAP Round 1 seat matrix, which has been published alongside the merit list. Before filling your choices, you should download and carefully study this matrix to understand which colleges offer which specialities and how many seats are available in each.
How to Fill and Lock Your Choices: Step-by-Step Process
The choice-filling process is straightforward but requires careful planning. First, visit medical2026.mahacet.org and log in using your registered credentials. Navigate to the CAP Round 1 choice-filling section. Before you begin, download and review the published seat matrix to understand which colleges and specialities are available.
Next, add your preferred colleges and specialities to your choice list. You can list multiple preferences — the system allows you to rank them in order of priority. Arrange your choices carefully: the allotment algorithm will match your rank and preferences to available seats, so the order matters. Once you are satisfied with your list, lock your final choices before November 4 at 11:59 PM. After locking, download and save the confirmation page for your records. This confirmation is proof that you have submitted your preferences and will be useful for tracking your allotment.
- Visit medical2026.mahacet.org and log in with your registered credentials
- Open the CAP Round 1 choice-filling section
- Review the published seat matrix carefully
- Add preferred colleges and specialities to your list
- Arrange them in order of priority
- Lock your final choices before the deadline
- Download and save the confirmation page
Important Dates and Timeline for Round 1
Understanding the timeline is crucial to avoid missing deadlines. The provisional merit list was released on October 28, 2026, followed by a grievance submission window from October 29 to October 30. The final merit list and CAP Round 1 seat matrix were published on November 1, 2026. Online choice filling began on November 2 and will close on November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM — this is your only opportunity to submit preferences in Round 1.
After the choice-filling deadline, the CET Cell will process all submitted preferences and generate the first selection list, which will be announced on November 5, 2026. Candidates who are allotted seats will then proceed to reporting and admission formalities. If you are not allotted a seat in Round 1, you may be eligible for subsequent rounds, depending on the state's counselling schedule.
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- Provisional Merit List: October 28, 2026
- Grievance Submission: October 29–30, 2026
- Final Merit List & Seat Matrix: November 1, 2026
- Online Choice Filling: November 2–4, 2026
- Choice Filling Deadline: November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM
- First Selection List: November 5, 2026
Why Your Preference Order Matters: Allotment Logic
The allotment process is rank-based and preference-driven. The CET Cell's algorithm processes candidates in order of their merit rank. For each candidate, it checks their preference list in the order they have ranked it and assigns them to the highest-ranked college and specialty for which a seat is available. This means that if you rank a highly competitive college first and do not get a seat there, the algorithm will move to your second preference, and so on.
Once a seat is allotted to you, you cannot change it during Round 1. This is why the order of your preferences is critical. If you place a college you are less interested in ahead of one you prefer, you may end up allotted to the less preferred option. Conversely, if you rank your preferences too conservatively, you may miss out on a better college that you could have secured. Spend time studying the seat matrix and your own rank to make an informed, strategic list.
What Happens After November 4: Allotment and Next Steps
Once the choice-filling window closes on November 4 at 11:59 PM, no further changes to preferences are allowed. The CET Cell will then process all submitted choices and generate the first selection list, which will be published on November 5, 2026. This list will show which candidates have been allotted which colleges and specialities based on their rank, preferences, and seat availability.
If your name appears on the first selection list, you will be allotted a seat. The CET Cell will announce reporting dates and admission formalities shortly after. You will be required to report to your allotted college with original documents for verification and admission completion. If you are not allotted in Round 1, the state may conduct additional rounds of counselling to fill remaining seats, and you may be eligible to participate in those rounds depending on your rank and the state's policy.
Strategic Tips for Choosing Your Preferences
Before you fill your choices, take time to research colleges and specialities. Consider factors such as the college's reputation and infrastructure, the specialty's career prospects and your own interest, the location (proximity to home or a city you prefer), and whether the seat is in a government, corporation, municipal, or private college (which affects fees and bond obligations). Download the seat matrix and identify which colleges offer your preferred specialities.
Create a shortlist of colleges and specialities that match your rank and interests. Rank them in order of your genuine preference, not in order of perceived difficulty. If you rank a college first because you think it is 'safer' but you do not actually want to study there, you may regret it. Be honest about your priorities: if location matters more to you than the college's reputation, rank accordingly. Remember, once you lock your choices, they are final for Round 1.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the deadline to fill and lock my choices for MAH NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
The deadline to fill and lock your choices is November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM on medical2026.mahacet.org. After this time, the choice-filling window will close and no further submissions or changes will be allowed.
Can I change my preferences after I lock them on November 4?
No. Once you lock your preferences before the November 4 deadline, you cannot change them during Round 1. Your allotment on November 5 will be based entirely on the locked preferences you submitted. If you are not satisfied with your allotment, you may be eligible to participate in subsequent rounds of counselling, if the state conducts them.
Who is eligible to participate in MAH NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling?
You are eligible if you have qualified NEET PG 2026 as per NBEMS cutoff, satisfy Maharashtra's state domicile rules, have completed online registration with the CET Cell, have had your original documents verified at a facilitation centre, and your name appears on the final state merit list released by the CET Cell.
What courses are available in MAH NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
Round 1 offers seats in Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), and Postgraduate Diploma courses across government, corporation, municipal, and private unaided medical colleges in Maharashtra.
When will the first allotment list be announced?
The first selection list for Round 1 will be announced on November 5, 2026. This list will show which candidates have been allotted which colleges and specialities based on their rank, preferences, and seat availability.
How does the allotment algorithm work? Will I definitely get my first preference?
The allotment is rank-based and preference-driven. The algorithm processes candidates in order of their merit rank and assigns each candidate to the highest-ranked college and specialty on their preference list for which a seat is available. You will not necessarily get your first preference if a seat is not available or if candidates with higher ranks have already filled those seats. This is why the order of your preferences matters — rank them strategically based on your rank and the seat matrix.
Where can I find the seat matrix and how do I use it?
The CAP Round 1 seat matrix has been published on medical2026.mahacet.org alongside the final merit list. It shows the total number of MD, MS, and PG Diploma seats available in each college and specialty. Download it, study it carefully, and use it to identify which colleges offer your preferred specialities and how many seats are available in each. This will help you make an informed choice list.
What should I do if I am not allotted a seat in Round 1?
If you are not allotted in Round 1, the Maharashtra CET Cell may conduct additional rounds of counselling to fill remaining seats. You may be eligible to participate in those rounds depending on your rank and the state's counselling policy. Watch for announcements from the CET Cell regarding subsequent rounds.
If you are on the final merit list, log in to medical2026.mahacet.org immediately, study the seat matrix, and prepare your preference list carefully — you have until November 4 at 11:59 PM to lock your choices. Remember, your allotment on November 5 depends entirely on your rank, the order of your preferences, and seat availability, so choose strategically and do not miss the deadline.
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