If you are a NEET UG 2026 candidate hoping to join an MBBS or BDS seat through Maharashtra's state quota, the counselling calendar you were tracking has changed. The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has issued a revised timetable for CAP (Centralised Admission Process) Round 1, moving several key dates including registration, document verification, choice filling and seat allotment. This shift has happened because the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs the All India Quota rounds, extended its own schedule — and state counselling typically follows suit to stay in sync. For thousands of Maharashtra domicile candidates, this means new deadlines to note carefully so you don't miss your window.
Maharashtra CAP Round 1 dates have moved forward by a few days; check the revised schedule immediately and complete registration or document upload within the new deadlines to stay eligible for seat allotment.
Why the schedule changed
State-level NEET UG counselling in Maharashtra generally runs in step with the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling conducted by the MCC, since a portion of seats in every state is reserved for the AIQ pool and colleges need both processes to be reasonably aligned. When the MCC extended timelines for its own AIQ round, the Maharashtra CET Cell revised its CAP Round 1 schedule to accommodate this change.
This is a routine administrative adjustment, not a sign of any problem with your application. Similar revisions have happened in past counselling cycles whenever the central counselling body shifts its dates.
Revised CAP Round 1 schedule
The provisional merit list for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 was released on August 18, 2026. Everything that follows has now been rescheduled around that date.
| Counselling Step | Revised Date |
|---|---|
| Grievance window for provisional merit list | August 19–20, 2026, till 5 PM |
| Online registration, application, fee payment (new candidates) | August 20–21, 2026 |
| Document upload and submission | August 20–21, 2026 |
| Document verification and revised provisional merit list | August 23, 2026 |
| Grievance window for newly registered candidates | August 24, 2026, till 5 PM |
| Final merit list and seat matrix | August 25, 2026 |
| Choice/preference filling | August 26–29, 2026, till 5:30 PM |
| CAP Round 1 seat allotment | August 30, 2026 |
| Physical reporting/joining at allotted college | August 31–September 4, 2026, till 5:30 PM |
What this means if you haven't registered yet
Candidates who have not yet registered for Maharashtra's state counselling get a fresh, short window — August 20 to August 21, 2026 — to complete online registration, pay the application fee and upload the required documents. This is a strict deadline: documents not submitted by 11:59 PM on August 21 will disqualify a candidate from consideration for admission, or for the specific reservation category being claimed.
If you fall into this group, do not wait until the last hour. Keep scanned copies of your NEET UG scorecard, admit card, class 10 and 12 marksheets, domicile/caste/category certificates and photo ID ready in the correct format before you log in, since portal traffic tends to spike close to deadlines.
What this means if you already registered
If you were already part of the Maharashtra merit list process, your main task right now is to check the provisional merit list released on August 18 and raise any grievance about your rank, category or eligibility by 5 PM on August 20, 2026. After document verification of the newly registered candidates, a revised provisional merit list will follow on August 23, and the final merit list with seat matrix (the list of MBBS/BDS seats actually available, college-wise) will be published on August 25.
Choice filling — where you rank your preferred colleges and courses — opens on August 26 and closes August 29 at 5:30 PM. Seat allotment for Round 1 is scheduled for August 30, with physical reporting at the allotted college required between August 31 and September 4.
Practical checklist for the next two weeks
Because several steps now fall within a compressed window, it helps to plan ahead rather than react to each date as it arrives.
- Bookmark the official Maharashtra CET Cell counselling portal and check it daily for notices — schedules can shift again if MCC timelines move further.
- Keep all original documents plus photocopies ready for physical verification at reporting centres, not just scanned uploads.
- Research colleges and cutoff trends before choice filling opens on August 26, so you're not deciding preferences under time pressure in a four-day window.
- Track your MCC All India Quota status separately — many candidates are in both processes simultaneously and need to manage two counselling timelines without missing either.
- Do not assume an extension elsewhere means more time locally; Maharashtra's grievance and document deadlines are fixed and enforced strictly.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Why did Maharashtra CAP Round 1 dates change?
The Maharashtra CET Cell revised its schedule after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) extended the timeline for All India Quota NEET UG counselling. State counselling dates are adjusted to stay aligned with the central process.
What is the last date to register for Maharashtra state counselling if I haven't yet?
New registrations, along with fee payment and document upload, must be completed between August 20 and August 21, 2026. Documents not submitted by 11:59 PM on August 21 will not be considered.
When will the final Maharashtra NEET UG merit list be released?
The final merit list along with the seat matrix is scheduled for August 25, 2026, after document verification and grievance redressal are completed.
When does choice filling for CAP Round 1 open?
Choice or preference filling is scheduled from August 26 to August 29, 2026, till 5:30 PM.
When will CAP Round 1 seat allotment results be announced?
Seat allotment for CAP Round 1 is scheduled for August 30, 2026, with physical reporting at the allotted college required between August 31 and September 4, 2026.
Can this schedule change again?
It is possible. Since Maharashtra's counselling dates are linked to the central MCC All India Quota timeline, any further extension there could lead to another revision. Aspirants should keep checking the official portal for updates.
Maharashtra NEET UG aspirants should treat the next two weeks as a tight, no-slack window: verify grievance and registration deadlines today, keep documents ready in advance, and check the official CET Cell portal regularly for any further updates before choice filling begins on August 26.
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