If you're waiting to register for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling under the All India Quota (AIQ), you have a few extra days. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which conducts centralised counselling for 15% AIQ MBBS/BDS seats and seats in central universities, deemed universities, AIIMS, ESIC medical colleges and AFMC, has revised the Round 1 timeline for the second time in a week. Registration and fee payment, originally due earlier, now close on August 15, 2026, with choice filling and locking extended to August 17. This matters because missing even one of these dates can shut you out of the Round 1 allotment entirely, regardless of your rank.
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 registration on mcc.nic.in now closes August 15, choice locking closes August 17, and the allotment result is due August 19 — mark all three dates, not just one.
What exactly changed
MCC's revised notice, put out on August 13, 2026, pushes back three linked deadlines in the Round 1 process. Candidates now have until August 15 to complete registration and pay the counselling fee on the official portal. Choice filling and locking — where you list and rank the colleges and courses you're willing to accept — now closes on August 17, two days later than before. As a direct result, the seat allotment result, which was expected earlier, will now be published on August 19.
Reporting at allotted institutes has also shifted, and is now scheduled between August 20 and 25, 2026. Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 must report within this window with original documents to confirm admission.
| Counselling Event | Revised Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and fee payment closes | August 15, 2026 |
| Choice filling and locking closes | August 17, 2026 |
| Round 1 seat allotment result | August 19, 2026 |
| Reporting at allotted institute | August 20 to 25, 2026 |
Why MCC changed the dates again
The trigger for this revision was a new order issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on August 5, 2026, which introduced updated provisions for candidates under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category — the disability quota used in medical admissions. Because this order arrived close to the original choice-locking deadline, MCC paused that window to build the new PwBD provisions into the process before candidates finalised their choices.
This is the second time in roughly a week that MCC has adjusted the Round 1 schedule. For aspirants, the practical lesson is that counselling dates for a cycle this large are rarely final until choice locking actually closes — treat every published date as provisional until MCC confirms it has not slipped again.
Who registers where — AIQ vs state quota
MCC's portal is meant only for All India Quota seats and the specific central institutions it manages — AIIMS, JIPMER-linked seats, central and deemed universities, ESIC medical colleges, and AFMC. If you are applying for seats reserved under a state quota, you must register separately on that state's own counselling website; MCC registration does not cover state quota seats at all, and the two processes run on different (though often overlapping) timelines.
This distinction trips up first-time NEET aspirants every year. Check which quota you are counselling for before assuming a single registration covers everything.
What to do before August 15
With the deadline now fixed at August 15 for registration and fee payment, and only two more days after that for choice locking, candidates have very little slack left in this cycle.
- Complete registration and pay the counselling fee on mcc.nic.in using your NEET UG 2026 roll number and password well before August 15 — do not wait for the last hour, as portals slow down near deadlines.
- Prepare your college and course preference list in advance so choice filling on the portal can be done quickly once registration is confirmed.
- Lock your choices only after you are certain of the order — locked choices generally cannot be changed once the window closes.
- Keep your original documents (NEET admit card, scorecard, ID proof, category/PwBD certificates as applicable, marksheets) ready ahead of the August 20–25 reporting window.
- Check mcc.nic.in directly on and after August 19 for the seat allotment result rather than relying on unofficial sources.
What this means if you plan around Round 1
A compressed gap between choice locking (August 17) and the result (August 19) leaves little room for last-minute changes of mind, so it helps to finalise your preference order with your family before the window opens. If you are allotted a seat you don't want to join, you will still need to weigh the standard trade-off between accepting a Round 1 seat, waiting for a possible upgrade in Round 2, or moving into later rounds — each option carries its own rules around fee forfeiture and seat retention that MCC specifies separately in its counselling brochure.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the new last date to register for MCC NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling?
August 15, 2026, on the official portal mcc.nic.in, for candidates counselling under the All India Quota and MCC-managed seats.
When does choice filling and locking close now?
The revised deadline is August 17, 2026. This is when you finalise the ranked list of colleges and courses you are willing to accept.
When will the Round 1 seat allotment result be declared?
MCC has scheduled the result for August 19, 2026, to be published on mcc.nic.in.
Why was the schedule changed again?
The NMC issued a fresh order on August 5, 2026, revising provisions for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates. MCC paused and then reissued the schedule to accommodate these updated rules before choice locking closed.
Does this registration cover state quota MBBS/BDS seats too?
No. MCC registration is only for the 15% All India Quota, central/deemed universities, AIIMS, ESIC medical colleges and AFMC. State quota seats require separate registration on the respective state counselling portal.
What happens if I miss the August 15 registration deadline?
You will not be eligible for the Round 1 allotment. You would need to wait for a later round of AIQ counselling, if seats remain, or rely on state-level counselling depending on your eligibility.
When do candidates need to report to their allotted college?
Reporting at the allotted institute is scheduled between August 20 and 25, 2026, and requires original documents for admission confirmation.
With three deadlines now compressed into a short window — registration by August 15, choice locking by August 17, and the result on August 19 — there is no real margin for delay this round. Finish your registration and fee payment early, keep your preference list ready, and check mcc.nic.in directly for any further schedule updates before assuming these dates are final.
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