If you are a NEET UG 2026 qualifier hoping to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in a Maharashtra medical or dental college, you have more time on your hands. The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra has extended the Round 1 registration window for its Centralised Admission Process (CAP) counselling to August 21, 2026, through an official Notice No. 10. This is the second time the deadline has moved, and it comes right after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) revised its own All India Quota schedule. For aspirants still gathering documents or unsure about fees, this extra window is a practical relief — but the revised dates that follow are now firm.
Complete your MAH NEET UG 2026 Round 1 registration, fee payment, and document upload by August 21, 2026, since the schedule that follows — merit list on August 23 and seat allotment on August 27 — is unlikely to shift further.
Why the deadline moved again
MAH NEET UG 2026 Round 1 registration originally opened on August 6 and was due to close on August 15. That date had already been pushed once, from an earlier August 12 cut-off. With Notice No. 10, the CET Cell has now moved it a second time, to August 21, 2026.
The stated reason is straightforward: the MCC changed its own timeline for counselling into All India Quota (AIQ) MBBS and BDS seats, and Maharashtra's state process needed to stay in step with it. Since many candidates apply for both AIQ and state quota seats simultaneously, misaligned dates between the two systems can create confusion about which seat to accept and when. Syncing the calendars reduces that risk.
Revised MAH NEET UG 2026 Round 1 schedule
Every stage of Round 1, from registration to seat allotment, has been reset around the new August 21 deadline. Candidates should treat the times listed below as final.
| Event | Revised Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Online registration closes | August 21, 2026, up to 8:00 PM |
| Registration fee payment closes | August 21, 2026, up to 10:00 PM |
| Scanned document upload closes | August 21, 2026, up to 11:59 PM |
| Online document verification window | August 7 to August 22, 2026 |
| Revised final merit list published | August 23, 2026 |
| Online option (choice) form filling | August 24 to August 26, 2026, up to 5:30 PM |
| CAP Round 1 seat allotment result | August 27, 2026 |
Who should register, and what it costs
Only candidates who have qualified NEET UG 2026 can apply for this counselling. Beyond that, Maharashtra applies its own domicile and category rules, so it's worth double-checking that your documents match the reservation category you intend to claim — mismatches surface during verification and can lead to cancellation.
Candidates who already registered in the earlier window do not need to register again. The extension is meant for those who missed the previous deadline or need extra time to complete payment and uploads.
- Open category (Maharashtra and outside): Rs 1,000
- Reserved category (Maharashtra domicile): Rs 800
- NRI / Foreign National / OCI / PIO / CIWGC: Rs 5,000
- Fee is payable via net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI, and is non-refundable and non-transferable across rounds
Registration steps and documents to keep ready
The process runs entirely on the official portal medical2026.mahacet.org. Candidates need their NEET UG roll number and application number handy, along with scanned copies of key documents, before they start filling the form — trying to arrange documents mid-application often causes avoidable delays.
- Steps: visit the portal → click New Registration → enter NEET UG 2026 roll number, application number and personal details → fill academic, category and domicile information → upload scanned documents → pay the fee → submit and download the confirmation page
- Documents needed: NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard, Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates, Aadhaar card and a recent passport-size photo, domicile and nationality certificate, category/non-creamy layer/EWS certificate where applicable, and PwD or defence certificate where claimed
What the revised merit list and allotment mean for you
The revised final merit list on August 23 will determine your rank position for seat allotment, so it is worth checking your name, category and personal details on it as soon as it is published, and raising any discrepancy through the grievance option in your candidate login immediately.
Option (choice) filling for colleges and courses opens on August 24 and closes on August 26. This is where strategy matters: list your preferred MBBS and BDS colleges in a realistic order based on your rank, rather than only listing top-choice colleges, since a well-ordered list improves your chances in Round 1 itself and reduces the need to wait for later rounds.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
I already registered before August 15. Do I need to register again?
No. Candidates who registered in the earlier window do not need to re-register. The extension to August 21 is meant for those who had not yet completed registration, fee payment, or document upload.
Is this extension only for Maharashtra domicile candidates?
No. Round 1 of MAH NEET UG counselling under CAP is open to eligible NEET UG 2026 qualifiers applying for MBBS and BDS seats in Maharashtra, including open category candidates from outside the state and NRI/OCI/PIO applicants, each subject to the applicable eligibility and reservation norms.
What if I miss the August 21 deadline?
The notice does not indicate any further extension, so candidates who miss this window risk losing the chance to be included in the revised merit list and Round 1 allotment. It is safer to complete registration well before the 8:00 PM cut-off on August 21.
When will I know my seat allotment?
The CAP Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled for August 27, 2026, after option form filling closes on August 26.
Why did the Maharashtra counselling schedule change to match the MCC timeline?
Many NEET UG candidates are simultaneously in the running for All India Quota seats (handled by the MCC) and state quota seats (handled by the CET Cell). Aligning the two schedules helps avoid clashing deadlines and confusion over accepting or upgrading seats.
Can I pay the registration fee after August 21?
No. Fee payment has its own strict cut-off of 10:00 PM on August 21, 2026, ahead of the document upload deadline of 11:59 PM the same day.
Is the registration fee refundable if I don't get a seat in Round 1?
No. The registration fee is explicitly non-refundable and non-transferable across counselling rounds, regardless of the outcome.
With the deadline now firmly at August 21, candidates should use the remaining days to finish document uploads and fee payment rather than wait until the last hour, since verification and merit-list publication follow on a tight two-day turnaround. Keep an eye on medical2026.mahacet.org for the August 23 merit list and the August 27 allotment result, and be ready to fill your option form thoughtfully between August 24 and 26.
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