If you cleared NEET UG 2026, the next big milestone is the release of the Medical Counselling Committee's (MCC) counselling schedule for admission to the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, deemed universities, central universities and institutes like AIIMS, JIPMER and AFMC. The result came out on July 16, 2026, with roughly 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying, and the counselling notification is anticipated in the last week of July or early August. This gap between result and registration is exactly when many aspirants lose time — either by not organising documents or by missing early signals on the portal. This piece breaks down what the counselling will cover, the likely fee structure, the cutoff bands already published, and a practical checklist so you're not scrambling once registration opens.
Keep your NEET UG 2026 scorecard, category certificates and registration fee ready now, because once MCC opens registration on mcc.nic.in, each round has a firm deadline and there is no grace period for late entries.
What MCC counselling actually covers
MCC is not the only counselling body a NEET-qualified candidate deals with — it runs alongside 15 state counselling authorities that handle the 85% state quota. MCC's job is narrower but high-stakes: it allocates the 15% AIQ seats in government medical and dental colleges, plus seats in deemed universities, central universities, ESIC colleges, AFMC Pune, and the AIIMS/JIPMER network.
For many aspirants, MCC rounds are where the most sought-after government seats and institutes like AIIMS Delhi are contested, so understanding this process matters even if your main hope is a state quota seat.
The counselling structure to expect
Based on the pattern MCC has followed in previous cycles and the details already indicated for this year, candidates should expect four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, a Mop-Up round, and a Stray Vacancy round at the end. Each round involves registration (for first-timers), choice filling, seat allotment, and reporting or fee payment to confirm the seat.
Because seats vacated in earlier rounds often flow into later rounds, candidates who don't get their preferred seat in Round 1 still have realistic chances in subsequent rounds — but each round also has its own registration or re-registration window that must not be missed.
Registration fee and security deposit — budget for this now
MCC counselling requires both a registration fee and a refundable security deposit, and the amount depends on whether you're applying for AIQ/central/AIIMS-type seats or deemed university seats. The registration fee itself is non-refundable in every case, so families should plan this expense in advance rather than treating it as an afterthought during a busy registration week.
- AIQ, Central Universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER — UR/EWS: Rs 1,000 registration + Rs 10,000 security deposit
- AIQ, Central Universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER — SC/ST/OBC/PwD: Rs 500 registration + Rs 5,000 security deposit
- Deemed Universities — All categories: Rs 5,000 registration + Rs 2,00,000 security deposit
Qualifying cutoff already declared
NTA released category-wise qualifying marks along with the NEET UG 2026 result, and only candidates within these bands are eligible to register for counselling at all. If your score falls below your category's minimum, you cannot participate in MCC or state counselling this year regardless of other eligibility.
- Unreserved and EWS: 715 to 213
- OBC, SC and ST: 212 to 177
Why the deemed university fee gap matters for planning
Notice how much steeper the deemed university security deposit is — Rs 2 lakh versus Rs 5,000-10,000 for AIQ and central institute seats. This isn't just a procedural detail; it reflects that deemed university MBBS/BDS fees themselves run far higher than government college fees, often by several lakhs per year. Families considering deemed universities as a backup option should factor in both this deposit and the overall multi-year fee commitment before choice-filling begins, not after an allotment is made.
Practical checklist before registration opens
The single biggest risk in AIQ counselling is not competition — it's disorganisation. Missing a registration window because a document wasn't ready has cost candidates a full round in past years.
- Keep your NEET UG 2026 admit card, scorecard and roll number accessible
- Scan Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets/certificates in advance
- Arrange caste, EWS or PwD certificates if applicable, in the prescribed format
- Keep Aadhaar, a recent passport-size photo and signature scan ready
- Set aside funds for both the registration fee and the security deposit
- Start shortlisting colleges and building a tentative choice-filling order using previous years' closing ranks as a rough guide
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When will MCC release the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule?
MCC has not issued an official date yet, but based on the current timeline, the schedule and Round 1 registration are expected to open in late July or early August 2026 on mcc.nic.in.
Who is eligible to register for MCC counselling?
Any NEET UG 2026 qualified candidate who meets their category's minimum qualifying marks (currently 715-213 for UR/EWS and 212-177 for OBC/SC/ST) can register for MCC's AIQ, deemed, central university and institute counselling.
Is the counselling registration fee refundable?
No. The registration fee is non-refundable in all cases. Only the security deposit (Rs 5,000 to Rs 2,00,000 depending on seat type and category) is refundable, typically after the counselling process concludes if you don't take up a seat.
How many rounds of MCC counselling are there?
MCC typically conducts four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, a Mop-Up round, and a Stray Vacancy round. Seats vacated in earlier rounds get added to later rounds' seat matrix.
Does MCC counselling cover state quota seats too?
No. MCC only handles the 15% All India Quota, deemed university seats, central university seats, and institutes like AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC and ESIC colleges. The remaining 85% state quota seats are counselled separately by each state's own authority.
What happens if I miss the registration deadline for a round?
You lose eligibility to participate in that specific round. Depending on MCC's rules for that year, you may still be able to register fresh for a later round, but you cannot recover a missed round retroactively.
Should I prepare a choice list before registration opens?
Yes. Since choice-filling deadlines are tight once a round opens, drafting a preliminary preference list using last year's closing ranks for AIQ, deemed and central institute seats will save critical time.
Bookmark mcc.nic.in and check it regularly over the coming days, since the counselling notification can appear with limited advance notice. Meanwhile, get your documents, category certificates and fee amount sorted now so that whichever week registration opens, you're ready to move on day one.
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