The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced a short delay to the start of Choice Filling for Round 1 of NEET UG 2026 counselling. Choice Filling was originally supposed to begin on 6 August 2026, but MCC's notice dated 6 August 2026 says it will now commence by 12:00 Noon on 8 August 2026 instead. The reason is not a technical glitch — it is a policy clarification from the National Medical Commission (NMC) on how disability certificates are checked for candidates applying under the PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category. This is a schedule change, not a new application window or a result — every candidate who has qualified for counselling is affected by the new start time, even those who are not applying under PwBD category.
Choice Filling for Round 1 of NEET UG 2026 counselling now starts by 12:00 Noon on 8 August 2026, not 6 August 2026 as originally planned — keep checking the MCC website (www.mcc.nic.in) for the exact go-live time.
What exactly changed
MCC's notice, dated 6 August 2026, states plainly that Choice Filling for Round 1 of UG Counselling 2026, which was scheduled to start from 6 August 2026, will now commence by 12:00 Noon of 8 August 2026.
This is purely a start-date shift for the Choice Filling window. Nothing in this notice says anything about a change to registration, document upload, seat allotment, or later rounds. MCC has said it will post further updates on its website, so candidates should not assume any other date on the counselling calendar has also moved unless MCC confirms it separately.
Why the delay happened: an NMC clarification on PwBD UDID cards
The delay was triggered by a letter from the NMC's Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), dated 5 August 2026, which is attached to MCC's notice. This letter is an addendum to NMC's earlier Notification dated 27.07.2026, titled 'Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for Admission to the MBBS Course, 2026'.
The original guidelines (Clause 9.2) required every candidate seeking admission under the PwBD category to hold a valid PERMANENT Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card. NMC has now clarified that this cannot be read to automatically exclude candidates who hold a TEMPORARY UDID card or disability certificate, because a separate government order (Office Memorandum dated 17.12.2025, issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) says that persons whose benchmark disability is progressive, non-progressive, or not likely to improve should not be denied statutory benefits merely because their certificate is temporary in nature.
MCC needed this clarification finalised before Choice Filling opened, because PwBD candidates need certainty about how their eligibility will be assessed before they start choosing colleges and courses. That is why the counselling schedule was adjusted by two days.
What the NMC addendum actually says — key points for PwBD candidates
If you are applying under the PwBD (disability) category for NEET UG 2026, this addendum directly affects how your certificate will be checked. Read Clause 9.2 of the 27 July 2026 Guidelines together with these clarifications:
- A candidate will NOT be denied consideration solely because their UDID Card or Disability Certificate is temporary, provided their disability has been categorised as 'progressive', 'non-progressive', or 'not likely to improve' — subject to verification by the Medical Assessment Board.
- If a candidate holds a Temporary UDID card where the disability condition is recorded as 'likely to improve', the Medical Assessment Board will re-assess the benchmark disability using the assessment method prescribed in the 12 March 2024 notification of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities — in addition to checking functional competency.
- In every case, the Medical Assessment Board will independently assess the candidate's functional competency (their ability to perform the tasks required in medical training/practice) as per the 27 July 2026 Guidelines, before issuing the Eligibility Certificate needed for admission.
- This clarification is to be read as an integral, binding part of the 27 July 2026 PwBD Guidelines — it is not a separate, optional rule.
What this means if you are NOT applying under PwBD category
If you are a general, OBC, SC, ST, EWS or any other non-PwBD category candidate, the underlying reason for the delay does not apply to you directly. However, the practical effect is the same for everyone: Choice Filling for Round 1 will open by 12:00 Noon on 8 August 2026 rather than 6 August 2026, so your two-day window to start locking in college and course preferences has moved forward by two days.
Use this extra time productively — finalise your list of preferred colleges and courses, keep your rank, category and documents ready, and be logged in and ready to fill choices as soon as the portal opens, since Choice Filling windows for each round are time-limited.
Revised timeline at a glance
| Item | Original plan | Revised plan |
|---|---|---|
| Choice Filling — Round 1 start | 6 August 2026 | By 12:00 Noon, 8 August 2026 |
| Reason for change | — | NMC addendum (05.08.2026) on PwBD UDID card verification |
| Notice issued by | — | MCC, Ref. U-11011/07/2026-MEC, dated 06.08.2026 |
2 minute · Free preview
Which MBBS colleges can your NEET rank actually get?
See the real colleges your rank can reach — every state and All India Quota — with official closing ranks and the exact fee for each seat.
See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Has Round 1 of NEET UG counselling itself been postponed, or just Choice Filling?
The notice only mentions a change to when Choice Filling for Round 1 opens — from 6 August 2026 to by 12:00 Noon on 8 August 2026. It does not mention any change to other stages of Round 1 counselling; watch the MCC website for any further updates.
Why did MCC delay the counselling schedule?
Because NMC issued an addendum on 5 August 2026 clarifying how disability certificates (UDID cards) will be assessed for PwBD category candidates, and MCC needed this rule finalised before opening Choice Filling.
I have a temporary UDID card. Can I still be considered for a PwBD category seat?
Yes, according to the addendum, you cannot be denied consideration solely because your UDID card is temporary, as long as your disability is categorised as progressive, non-progressive, or not likely to improve. This is subject to verification by the Medical Assessment Board.
My UDID card says my disability condition is 'likely to improve'. What happens to my application?
The Medical Assessment Board will re-assess your benchmark disability using the methodology from the 12 March 2024 notification of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and will also separately check your functional competency, before deciding on your Eligibility Certificate.
Does this addendum remove the requirement to have a Permanent UDID card altogether?
No. It clarifies that a temporary card alone should not be used to reject a candidate in the specific circumstances described (progressive/non-progressive/not likely to improve disability), but the Medical Assessment Board's verification and functional competency check still apply before an Eligibility Certificate is issued.
Where can I check the exact time Choice Filling opens on 8 August?
The notice tells candidates to keep checking the official MCC website, www.mcc.nic.in, for further updates on the exact timing.
Does this change apply to BDS counselling too?
The notice refers to UG Counselling 2026 generally and the NMC guidelines specifically mention the MBBS Course; candidates should follow MCC's website for confirmation on how this applies across MBBS and BDS seats, since MCC conducts combined UG counselling.
If you're a PwBD category candidate, keep your UDID card and disability certificate details ready and be prepared for verification by the Medical Assessment Board when Choice Filling opens. Every candidate should log in to the MCC portal from 12:00 Noon on 8 August 2026 onward and keep refreshing www.mcc.nic.in for any further timing updates before finalising choices.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.