The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the central body that runs seat allotment for a specific set of MBBS and BDS seats, has opened Round 1 registration for NEET UG 2026 counselling. This matters because it is the first formal step for lakhs of qualified candidates to actually turn a NEET score into an admission offer — miss the window and you lose your shot at Round 1 allotment entirely. This round covers the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, seats in a few central universities, ESIC medical colleges, and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. Alongside the usual registration-to-reporting cycle, MCC has also introduced a procedural change this year around how candidates who want to try for a better seat in later rounds must confirm their choice.
If you qualify for the 15% AIQ, a central university seat, ESIC or AFMC, you must register and pay the counselling fee on mcc.nic.in between August 5 and August 12, 2026, to be considered for Round 1 allotment on August 17.
What MCC Round 1 covers and the full schedule
MCC does not run counselling for every MBBS/BDS seat in the country — state quota seats are handled by respective state authorities. MCC specifically handles the 15% All India Quota, institutional/domicile seats at central universities such as Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, and the dentistry seats at Jamia Millia Islamia, plus ESIC quota seats (for wards of insured persons) and AFMC Pune.
There will be three main rounds of counselling this year, followed by an online stray vacancy round to mop up seats left vacant after Round 3, and a spot round if seats are still available after that. Each round needs a fresh registration and choice-filling exercise, since the seat matrix keeps changing as seats fill up.
- Registration and fee payment: August 5 to August 12, 2026
- Choice filling and locking: August 6 to August 13, 2026
- Seat allotment processing: August 13 to August 16, 2026
- Result declared: August 17, 2026
- Reporting/joining at allotted institute: August 18 to August 22, 2026
- Institutes verify joined candidates' data: August 23, 2026
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration/Fee Payment | Aug 5 – Aug 12, 2026 |
| Choice Filling/Locking | Aug 6 – Aug 13, 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Processing | Aug 13 – Aug 16, 2026 |
| Result | Aug 17, 2026 |
| Reporting/Joining | Aug 18 – Aug 22, 2026 |
| Institute Data Verification | Aug 23, 2026 |
Registering: the basic steps
The process is entirely online at mcc.nic.in. New candidates create an account using an email ID and mobile number, verify it through OTP, then fill the application form, upload scanned documents, and pay the counselling fee before submitting.
Since document upload happens at the registration stage itself, it pays to have everything scanned and ready in advance — a rushed upload on the last day is a common, avoidable reason candidates miss deadlines.
- Visit mcc.nic.in and click New Registration
- Enter email ID and mobile number, complete OTP verification
- Fill the application form and upload required documents
- Pay the applicable counselling fee
- Save and submit the form before the deadline
Counselling fee: what you pay and what comes back
The fee has two parts — a non-refundable processing fee and a refundable security deposit that is returned later depending on how your allotment plays out. The amount depends on which category of institute you're applying under and your reservation category.
For a general-category candidate applying to a central university, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER or a B.Sc. Nursing seat, the total works out to Rs 11,000 (Rs 1,000 non-refundable plus Rs 10,000 refundable). Deemed university applicants pay a much larger refundable deposit of Rs 2,00,000, reflecting the higher stakes and fee structures at those institutions.
| Seat Category | Non-Refundable Fee | Refundable Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Deemed Universities | Rs 5,000 (all candidates) | Rs 2,00,000 |
| 15% AIQ / Central Universities / AFMC / ESIC / AIIMS / JIPMER / B.Sc. Nursing — UR/EWS | Rs 1,000 | Rs 10,000 |
| Same category — SC/ST/OBC/PwD | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
The new Freeze vs Float rule — a real change for 2026
Until 2025, every candidate who got a seat had to physically visit the allotted institute at every stage — joining, upgrading to a better seat in a later round, or resigning a seat. From this year, MCC has split candidates into two tracks based on whether they intend to try for an upgrade.
'Freeze' candidates — those happy with their allotted seat and not seeking anything better — must still visit the institute in person to complete joining formalities. 'Float' candidates — those who want a chance at a better seat in Round 2 or 3 — can instead upload documents for online verification by the allotted institute and are not required to travel there physically at this stage.
This is a genuinely useful change for out-of-state candidates who previously had to travel for admission formalities even when they intended to try for an upgrade anyway. It reduces cost and travel burden, though float candidates should still track email/portal communication closely since verification happens remotely.
Reservation policy candidates should keep in mind
Seat allotment under this round follows the central government's standard reservation matrix. Knowing your applicable category correctly at the time of registration avoids errors that are hard to fix later in the process.
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer, Central List): 27%
- PwD: 5% horizontal reservation as per Indian Nursing Council norms
- EWS: 10%
- CW (children of defence personnel) seats reserved in select Central Nursing Institutes in the Delhi region only
What NEET UG aspirants should actually do now
If your NEET UG rank makes you eligible for AIQ, a central university seat, ESIC or AFMC, register well before August 12 — don't wait for the last day given server load during peak hours. Keep scanned copies of your NEET scorecard (including for those who appeared in the June 21 re-test, whose result was declared on July 16, 2026), class 10 and 12 certificates, category certificate if applicable, ID proof and passport photos ready before you start the form.
Choice filling closes a day after registration closes, so plan your college and course preference list in advance rather than filling it hurriedly. Remember that Round 1 allotment is provisional in the sense that float candidates can still try for an upgrade in Round 2 — freezing early only makes sense if you're fully satisfied with the seat you get.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Who is eligible to register in this MCC Round 1 counselling?
Candidates who cleared NEET UG 2026 and wish to be considered for 15% All India Quota seats, seats at AMU/BHU/DU/Jamia (dentistry), ESIC quota seats, or AFMC Pune. State quota seats are handled separately by state counselling authorities, not MCC.
What is the last date to register for Round 1?
Registration and fee payment are open from August 5 to August 12, 2026, on mcc.nic.in.
When will the Round 1 allotment result be declared?
The result is scheduled for August 17, 2026, with reporting/joining at the allotted institute running from August 18 to August 22, 2026.
What is the difference between a Freeze and a Float candidate?
Freeze candidates accept their allotted seat as final and must visit the institute physically to join. Float candidates want to try for an upgrade in a later round and can complete document verification online without visiting the institute at this stage.
How much is the counselling fee?
It depends on the seat category: Rs 11,000 total (Rs 1,000 non-refundable + Rs 10,000 refundable) for general-category candidates applying to AIQ/central university/AFMC/ESIC/AIIMS/JIPMER/B.Sc. Nursing seats, lower for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates, and significantly higher (Rs 2,00,000 refundable deposit) for deemed university seats.
How many rounds of counselling will there be in total?
Three main rounds, followed by an online stray vacancy round, and a spot round if seats remain vacant after that.
Does the retest result affect this counselling round?
Candidates who appeared in the NEET UG re-test held on June 21, 2026 (result declared July 16, 2026) can register using their re-test scorecard, which must be uploaded along with other documents during registration.
Candidates eligible for AIQ, central university, ESIC or AFMC seats should treat August 12 as a hard deadline and complete registration well ahead of it, keeping documents scanned and ready. Watch mcc.nic.in for the choice-filling window opening August 6 and the Round 1 result on August 17, and decide in advance whether you intend to freeze your seat or float for an upgrade in the next round.
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