If you cleared NEET UG 2026 and are aiming for an All India Quota seat, deputed state quota seat, or a seat in central institutions, the first real step towards an MBBS or BDS admission has begun. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) opened registration for Round 1 of NEET UG Counselling 2026 on August 5, and the entire timeline — from choice filling to reporting at your allotted college — is now public. Missing any of these dates, even by a few hours, can cost you a seat, so this schedule deserves your full attention right now. This piece breaks down the dates, the fee structure, and what each stage actually means for you.
Register and lock your choices within the MCC deadlines this week — Round 1 registration closes August 12 and choice locking ends August 13, after which the seat allotment result comes out on August 17.
What MCC counselling covers
MCC conducts counselling for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in state government medical and dental colleges, 100% seats in central universities and institutes such as AFMC and Delhi University colleges, deemed and central universities, and AIQ seats in ESIC institutions. If you want to be considered for any of these, registering on the MCC portal is mandatory — state quota counselling for the remaining 85% seats in government colleges, and admissions to private colleges, are handled separately by respective state authorities.
Round 1 schedule at a glance
MCC has released a tight, sequential timeline for Round 1. Each stage runs for only a few days, so it helps to mark these on a calendar and set reminders well before the deadline, not on the last day.
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Round 1 registration | August 5 to August 12, 2026 |
| Choice filling | August 6 to August 13, 2026 |
| Choice locking | August 12 to August 13, 2026 |
| Seat allotment processing | August 13 to August 16, 2026 |
| Seat allotment result | August 17, 2026 |
| Reporting/joining at allotted college | August 18 to August 22, 2026 |
| Verification of joined candidates by institutes | August 23, 2026 |
How to register — step by step
The registration process is entirely online through the MCC portal. It is straightforward, but a small error in entering personal or category details can create problems later at document verification, so double-check every field before submitting.
- Go to mcc.nic.in and click on the 'UG Medical' link on the homepage.
- Select the Round 1 registration link on the page that opens.
- Enter your registration details (NEET roll number, personal information) and submit.
- Complete the application form with your academic and category details.
- Pay the applicable registration fee online.
- Submit and download the confirmation page — keep a printed copy safely, you will need it through the counselling process.
- MCC has also put out a video tutorial covering registration, choice filling and document requirements — worth watching once before you start.
Fee structure you need to pay at registration
The fee has two parts: a non-refundable registration fee, and a refundable security deposit that varies depending on which category of institution you are applying for. Category (UR/EWS vs SC/ST/OBC/PwD) decides your slab.
- UR/EWS candidates: Rs 1,000 registration fee (non-refundable) + Rs 10,000 security deposit (refundable) — total Rs 11,000, applicable for options like central universities, AFMC, ESI.
- SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates: Rs 500 registration fee (non-refundable) + Rs 5,000 security deposit (refundable) — total Rs 5,500.
- The security deposit is refunded later depending on how you exit the counselling process, subject to MCC's rules on withdrawal and seat forfeiture.
What this means for your admission planning
Choice filling is the part where students most often lose out on a better seat, simply by not filling enough options or not ranking them realistically against their NEET rank. Use your rank, previous years' closing ranks for colleges you are interested in, and category-wise cutoff data to decide the order of your choices — filling as many valid choices as possible, rather than only your top few dream colleges, protects you from ending up with no allotment at all in Round 1.
Remember that reporting/joining at the allotted college between August 18 and August 22 is not optional if you want to retain that seat — failing to report within this window, or not completing the institute's verification, can lead to your allotment being cancelled. If you plan to try for an upgrade in a later round, check MCC's current rules on retention of seats before you decide whether to report physically or wait.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Who is eligible to register for MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026?
Any candidate who has qualified NEET UG 2026 is eligible to register for MCC counselling, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the specific seats (AIQ, central institutions, deemed universities) they wish to apply for.
What is the last date for Round 1 registration?
Round 1 registration is open from August 5 to August 12, 2026, on mcc.nic.in.
When will the choice-filling window close?
Choice filling runs from August 6 to August 13, 2026, and choice locking is open from August 12 to August 13, 2026.
When will Round 1 seat allotment results be declared?
The Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled to be released on August 17, 2026, after processing between August 13 and 16.
How much is the MCC registration fee?
UR/EWS candidates pay Rs 1,000 (non-refundable) plus a Rs 10,000 refundable security deposit, totalling Rs 11,000. SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates pay Rs 500 plus a Rs 5,000 refundable deposit, totalling Rs 5,500.
Does MCC counselling cover state quota seats too?
No. MCC handles All India Quota seats, central university seats, and institutes like AFMC and ESIC. State quota seats (85% of government college seats) and private college admissions are managed by respective state counselling authorities.
What happens if I don't report to my allotted college by August 22?
If you do not report and complete verification within the reporting window, your allotted seat can be cancelled, and you may lose your security deposit depending on MCC's rules — so treat the reporting deadline as final.
Where can I get help if I face issues during registration?
MCC has set up a 24x7 toll-free helpline and an email address (mcc2026@gov.in) for technical or counselling-related queries; keep your application details handy when you reach out.
With registration, choice filling and allotment all packed into less than two weeks, this is not a schedule to approach casually — set aside time now to research colleges, fill your choices carefully, and keep documents ready for reporting. MedAdmit will continue tracking Round 1 results and subsequent rounds as MCC releases them.
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