If you were planning to log in and start ranking your preferred MBBS or BDS colleges this week, hold on — the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has pushed back the opening of NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling. The window that was expected to open earlier will now begin on August 8, 2026, at 12 noon, instead. MCC says the change is needed to bring the counselling calendar in line with a fresh notification from the National Medical Commission (NMC) covering Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) candidates. For most aspirants this is a short, procedural delay rather than a disruption, but the ripple effect touches registration, locking and even the seat allotment result date — so it's worth knowing the exact revised dates before you plan your next few days.
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling now opens August 8 at 12 noon instead of earlier, so use the extra two days to finalise your college-and-course preference list rather than rushing it.
Why the delay happened
MCC has attributed the postponement to a new NMC notice that revises eligibility rules for PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) candidates appearing in NEET UG counselling. Because disability-related eligibility categories directly affect how seats are reserved and allotted, MCC needed to update its counselling software and process before choice filling could safely begin.
This kind of last-mile adjustment is not unusual in NEET UG counselling — MCC frequently issues clarificatory notices close to a round's start when a regulatory body updates a rule. The important thing for a general-category or non-PwBD candidate is that this delay does not change your rank, your eligibility, or your list of eligible colleges. It only shifts the calendar.
The revised Round 1 schedule
Here is the updated timeline candidates should follow. All dates and times are as notified by MCC; always cross-check the live countdown on mcc.nic.in since portal timings can shift by a few hours even after a revision.
| Event | Revised Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Registration and fee payment | August 5 to 12, 2026 (till 3 PM) |
| Choice filling window | August 8, 2026, 12 noon to August 13, 2026 |
| Choice locking | August 12, 2026, 4 PM to August 13, 2026, 11 AM |
| Seat allotment processing | August 13 to 16, 2026 |
| Result declaration | August 17, 2026 |
| Reporting at allotted institute | August 18 to 22, 2026 |
What this means if you haven't registered yet
If you have not yet completed registration and fee payment for Round 1, you still have until August 12, 3 PM to do so — but do not wait for the last day. Registration and choice filling are two separate steps: you must be a registered, fee-paid candidate before the choice filling tab becomes usable, and MCC's servers tend to slow down sharply on deadline days.
Once choice filling opens on August 8 at noon, you will be able to add, reorder, and save your preferred college-course combinations. These can be edited repeatedly until the locking window begins on August 12 at 4 PM. Locking is final — once you lock your list, no further edits are possible for that round, so review the order carefully before confirming.
A process change worth noting: online verification
Alongside the schedule revision, MCC has indicated that Round 1 this year will rely more heavily on online document verification instead of requiring many candidates to report physically for verification. This is meant to cut down travel and processing time for candidates spread across the country.
Even so, keep your original documents — NEET UG admit card and scorecard, Class 10 and 12 certificates, category and PwBD certificates (if applicable), identity proof, and passport-size photographs — scanned, clear, and ready in the required format. Any mismatch or unclear scan is one of the most common reasons for delay in verification-based allotment.
How to use the extra two days wisely
A two-day shift may feel minor, but in counselling, extra preparation time is genuinely useful. Use it to firm up your college list rather than leaving it to the last hour.
- List every MBBS/BDS college you are eligible for based on your NEET UG rank, category and quota (All India Quota, state quota is separate from MCC).
- Rank colleges by genuine preference, not just brand name — consider location, fee structure, hostel, and past cutoff trends.
- Keep a mix of 'ambitious', 'realistic' and 'safe' choices in your list so you don't end up with no allotment in Round 1.
- Log in once registration is confirmed to check that your profile, category and PwBD status (if applicable) are correctly reflected before choice filling opens.
- Set a personal deadline to lock your list at least a few hours before August 13, 11 AM, to avoid last-minute portal congestion.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Has my NEET UG rank or eligibility changed because of this postponement?
No. The delay is purely a scheduling change to accommodate a new NMC notification for PwBD candidates. Your rank, category and eligible college list remain exactly as determined by your NEET UG 2026 score.
When does Round 1 choice filling now open?
August 8, 2026, at 12 noon, on the MCC portal mcc.nic.in. Choice filling stays open until August 13, 2026.
What is the last date to register and pay the counselling fee for Round 1?
August 12, 2026, by 3 PM. Only candidates who have registered and paid the fee can access the choice filling tab.
When will Round 1 choices need to be locked?
The locking window runs from August 12, 2026, 4 PM to August 13, 2026, 11 AM. Once locked, your preference order cannot be changed for that round.
When will the Round 1 seat allotment result be announced?
MCC has scheduled the Round 1 result for August 17, 2026, after seat allotment processing runs from August 13 to 16.
Do I need to report physically at the allotted college?
MCC has introduced online document verification for many candidates this round to reduce physical travel, though reporting at the allotted institute is still scheduled for August 18 to 22, 2026. Check the specific instructions issued for your allotted college once results are out.
Does this affect state quota counselling too?
This schedule applies to MCC's All India Quota (AIQ) counselling. State counselling authorities run their own separate schedules, which may or may not be affected — check your respective state medical counselling website for updates.
The safest move right now is to treat August 8 as your real start date: have your documents scanned, your registration and fee payment done well before August 12, and your college preference list ready to fill and lock without last-minute stress. Keep checking mcc.nic.in directly, since counselling timelines can see further minor adjustments before Round 1 results land on August 17.
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