The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which conducts NEET UG counselling for MBBS and BDS seats under the All India Quota and several other categories, has published a detailed 'Candidate User Guide' for NEET UG Counselling 2026. This is not a new announcement about seats, dates or fees — it is an official step-by-step manual explaining exactly how to use the MCC counselling portal, from creating your account through to accepting a seat or withdrawing from the process. Every screen a candidate will see, from registration to the final seat allotment letter, is explained. Because so many steps in MCC counselling are irreversible once completed, this guide is essential reading before counselling opens.
Several actions in MCC counselling — final submission of the application, choice locking, and willingness (Freeze/Float) submission — can be done only once and cannot be undone, so candidates must get every detail right the first time.
What This Guide Is (and Isn't)
This 56-page document from MCC, DGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is a walkthrough of the candidate module on the MCC e-counselling portal for NEET UG Counselling 2026. It covers registration, filling the application form, qualification details, selecting a quota ('Apply for Section'), contact details, document upload (for both Indian and NRI/OCI/foreign national candidates), preview and final submission, fee payment, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment result, willingness submission, document upload after allotment, downloading the provisional allotment letter, discrepancy removal, and withdrawal from counselling.
It does not announce counselling dates, fee amounts, seat matrices or eligibility criteria — those are covered separately in the MCC Information Bulletin. Treat this guide as your instruction manual for the portal itself; refer to the Information Bulletin for the actual schedule, fees and quota-wise rules.
Step 1 — Registration: Get Your Basic Details Exactly Right
Registration is a one-time process. On the registration page, you must enter your Roll Number, Application Number, Candidate Name, Mother's Name and Date of Birth exactly as they appear on your NEET-UG 2026 Admit Card. Any mismatch will stop you from registering.
Your mobile number and email ID are pre-filled from your NTA/NEET registration data, and you will receive an OTP on these for verification — this is also how MCC will communicate with you going forward, so make sure these details are correct and accessible.
You will then set a password that must be 8 to 13 characters long and include at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character (such as ! @ # $ % ^ & * -). Do not share this password or any OTP with anyone — MCC and NIC will never ask for it.
Registration also requires you to go through two consent forms: one before you start filling the application (about the Information Bulletin, eligibility criteria and the fact that MCC has no role in institutional fees or bonds), and a detailed data-consent form listing every personal data field (name, category, bank account, address, documents, etc.) and its purpose, which you must tick and agree to individually.
Step 2 — Application Form, Qualification Details and Quota Selection
Once registered, you complete the Application Form in stages, each visible on your dashboard as 'Incomplete' or 'Completed':
In the Application Form you enter Personal Details (gender, nationality, whether you want to apply for an NRI seat and your NRI priority, religion, category), Sub-Category Details (Person with Disability status), Other Information (whether you want to apply for Armed Forces Medical College, and whether a parent is serving/retired from the Armed Forces, with the department), and Bank Account Details for any fee refund. Note: the security deposit is refunded to the source account used for payment if the refund is processed within 180 days of the transaction; otherwise the bank details you enter here are used.
In Qualification Details you enter your Class 12th (or equivalent) marks — subject-wise for Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology — along with school and board details. The portal displays institute/university eligibility norms (for example, AIIMS requires 60% aggregate for General/EWS and 50% for SC/ST/OBC in Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology at 10+2, with relaxed minimums for PwBD and reserved categories) so you can check your own eligibility before proceeding.
In 'Apply for Section' you choose the quota(s) you want to participate in — for example All India Quota, Open Seat, Deemed University seats, Aligarh Muslim University seats, or Armed Forces Medical College. The registration and security deposit fee amount depends on which quota(s) you select, so review the fee shown before confirming.
Documents You Must Upload — And Where Candidates Go Wrong
During the application, all candidates must upload a clear PDF of a cancelled cheque, bank passbook, or online bank statement showing account details, used to verify the bank account for refunds.
Separately, the guide lists documents every candidate must be ready to upload at the reporting/verification stage. These are shown as mandatory in the portal:
If you are applying as an Indian candidate converting to NRI category, or as an NRI/OCI/Foreign National, you must upload a different, longer set of documents depending on which category applies to you. Getting the category wrong, or missing one document, will keep your NRI seat options locked even after you submit — MCC verifies these documents before enabling NRI choices in Choice Filling.
| Document (for reporting) | Status |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth Certificate | Mandatory |
| 10th Mark Sheet | Mandatory |
| 12th Mark Sheet | Mandatory |
| NEET-UG Admit Card issued by NTA | Mandatory |
| NEET-UG Score Card issued by NTA | Mandatory |
| Caste Certificate | Mandatory, if applicable |
| PwD Certificate | Mandatory, if applicable |
NRI, OCI and Foreign National Categories — Know Your Exact List
The guide splits NRI-related applicants into four distinct categories, each with its own mandatory document list. Uploading the wrong set, or missing a single item, can block your NRI choice options.
General rules for all uploads: documents must be in PDF format only and must NOT be password-protected. Individual document uploads have specific size limits shown on-screen (the reporting-document checklist shows 20 KB–200 KB per file, while the general 'Upload Documents/Images' instructions state a 20 KB–500 KB range) — always check the size limit displayed against each specific document field before uploading, and compress files if needed while keeping them legible. Illegible or unclear documents can be rejected at verification.
- Category I — NRI Candidate/Parents/Brother/Sister: DOB certificate, 10th & 12th mark sheets and passing certificates, NEET-UG score card, candidate's valid passport, NRI certificate from Embassy/Indian Consulate, notarised affidavit by NRI parent sponsoring fees/living expenses (supported by NRE bank passbook), and relationship verification by a competent revenue officer (Tehsildar/Government Officer).
- Category II — Indian to NRI (candidates who registered as Indian in the NEET-UG form but now want NRI category for counselling): DOB certificate, 10th & 12th mark sheets/certificates, NEET-UG score card, candidate's passport, legal guardian's passport, NRI certificate, evidence of bonafide guardianship (per the Guardian and Wards Act 1890) if sponsored by a guardian, and a notarised affidavit of sponsorship supported by an NRE bank passbook.
- Category III — OCI Candidates: DOB certificate, 10th & 12th mark sheets/certificates, NEET-UG score card, candidate's passport, and OCI Card/PIO Card.
- Category IV — Foreign National: DOB certificate, 10th mark sheet/passing certificate (or AIU Class X equivalence certificate), 12th mark sheet/passing certificate (or AIU Class XII equivalence certificate), NEET-UG score card, candidate's passport, and Visa/Residence Permit/Work Permit.
Fee Payment, Choice Filling and the Point of No Return: Choice Locking
Once your application is submitted, you must pay the registration/security deposit fee before you are allowed to fill choices — the portal blocks Choice Filling until payment is confirmed. The fee amount depends on the quota(s) you selected earlier.
In 'Available Choices', you can filter by institute type, institute name and programme to see everything you are eligible for, and print/download the full list. In 'Choice Filling', you re-enter your password and verify an OTP (extra security, since this decides your career) before you can add institute-programme combinations to your preference list, in the exact order you want them considered. You can 'Save and Continue' to keep working, or 'Save and Go to Home' — neither of these finalises anything.
'Choice Locking' is the step that finalises your preference order for that round. You must explicitly select 'I agree to lock my choice(s)', re-enter your password, verify an OTP, and only then are your choices locked. The portal explicitly warns: early locking does NOT mean early allotment or first claim on a seat — seat allotment is strictly based on your NEET rank, not on how fast you locked your choices. Once locked, no further changes are possible for that round. Always review your Institute Type-wise Filled Choices Summary and full choice list before locking.
Seat Allotment, Willingness (Freeze/Float) and Reporting
After each round, MCC processes locked preferences and publishes the Seat Allotment Result on its notified schedule. Log in to view your allotted institute, programme, rank, category, quota, and — importantly — the contact details (mobile and email) of the Nodal Officer at your allotted institute, who handles your document verification and joining queries.
Next comes Willingness Submission, which can be done only ONCE and cannot be changed afterward. You have two options, each with very different consequences:
After submitting willingness, you must upload the required documents for your allotted seat (with an option to fetch some directly from DigiLocker) and can then download your Provisional Allotment Letter, which also carries the Nodal Officer's contact details.
- FREEZE (I do NOT want to participate in the next round): You must contact the Nodal Officer and physically visit the allotted institute for offline document verification. If you fail to report within the stipulated timeframe, the seat is cancelled.
- FLOAT (I want to participate in the next round): You will be considered again in the next round. You must get your documents verified online through the Nodal Officer and do NOT need to visit the institute physically at this stage. If you get a fresh (upgraded) seat in the next round, your current seat is automatically cancelled and replaced.
If Something Goes Wrong: Discrepancy Removal and Withdrawal Rules
If MCC's verifying officer finds any discrepancy in your uploaded documents, you will get an on-portal alert. You must click 'View and Remove Discrepancy', re-upload the corrected document (checking format and size again), tick 'Self Verified', and submit for re-verification. You must act within the stipulated timeframe — the guide warns this window is limited, though it does not specify a fixed number of days (check your Information Bulletin/notifications for the exact deadline).
If you decide to voluntarily surrender your allotted seat, the process for Withdrawal from Counselling depends on which willingness option you chose earlier:
Once you withdraw, the guide is explicit: you will have no claim on that seat in the future. Read the declaration on-screen carefully, tick it, and upload a signed undertaking before submitting your withdrawal password confirmation.
- If you chose FREEZE: you must withdraw only in offline mode by physically visiting the allotted institute.
- If you chose FLOAT: you can withdraw online in Round 1 and Round 2 only. There is NO online withdrawal option in Round 3 — plan your decision before Round 3 begins.
Traps That Can Cost You a Seat — Quick Checklist
Before you start, keep these irreversible or easily-missed points in mind.
- Registration details (Roll No., Application No., Name, Mother's Name, DOB) must match your NEET-UG 2026 Admit Card exactly, or registration will fail.
- Final submission of the application form cannot be edited afterward — the portal explicitly warns 'these credentials will be used for seat allotment... once submitted, these credentials cannot be changed again.'
- Choice Locking is final for that round — no changes possible once locked, and locking early gives no advantage; allotment is purely rank-based.
- Willingness (Freeze/Float) can be submitted only once and cannot be modified.
- Choosing FREEZE means you must physically report to the allotted institute — missing the deadline cancels your seat.
- There is no online withdrawal option in Round 3 for FLOAT candidates — withdrawal in that round must be done offline.
- All uploaded documents must be PDF, not password-protected, and within the size limit shown for that specific field (commonly 20 KB–200 KB or 20 KB–500 KB depending on the document) — oversized or blurry files risk rejection.
- NRI/OCI/Foreign National seat options stay locked in Choice Filling until MCC verifies your uploaded category-specific documents.
- Choice filling is blocked entirely until the registration/security deposit fee is paid.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Is this document announcing new NEET UG 2026 counselling dates or fees?
No. This is a how-to-use-the-portal guide from MCC. It does not state dates, fee amounts or seat numbers — those are published separately in the MCC Information Bulletin and counselling schedule.
Can I edit my application form after final submission?
No. The portal's confirmation message states clearly that once you click 'Yes' on final submission, those credentials cannot be changed again, since they will be used for seat allotment.
What happens if I choose Freeze after getting a seat allotment?
You must contact the Nodal Officer of your allotted institute and physically visit that institute for offline document verification. If you fail to report within the given timeframe, your allotted seat will be cancelled.
What happens if I choose Float?
You remain in the running for the next round of counselling. You get your documents verified online through the Nodal Officer and don't need to visit the institute at that stage. If you receive an upgraded seat in a later round, your current seat is automatically cancelled and replaced.
Can I change my willingness (Freeze/Float) choice after submitting it?
No. The guide states willingness can be submitted only once and cannot be modified after submission — decide carefully before clicking submit.
Can I withdraw from counselling online at any round?
Only if you had chosen Float — and only in Round 1 and Round 2. There is no online withdrawal option in Round 3; withdrawal in that round must be done offline by visiting the institute.
I am an Indian candidate but want to apply for an NRI seat — what extra documents do I need?
You fall under 'Category II: Indian to NRI' in the guide, and need your DOB certificate, 10th and 12th mark sheets/certificates, NEET-UG score card, your passport, your legal guardian's passport, an NRI certificate from a Competent Authority, evidence of bonafide guardianship if applicable, and a notarised affidavit of sponsorship backed by an NRE bank passbook.
Does locking my choices early improve my chances of getting a preferred seat?
No. The portal explicitly warns that early locking does not mean early allotment or first claim on a seat — allotment is based strictly on your NEET rank and the order of your locked preferences, not on how quickly you locked them.
What file format and size should my documents be in?
All documents must be uploaded as PDF files that are not password-protected. Specific size limits are shown against each document field on the portal — commonly between 20 KB and 200 KB for reporting documents, or up to 500 KB for other uploads. If a file is too large, compress it with a PDF tool while keeping it legible.
Read this guide alongside the MCC Information Bulletin before your counselling round opens, and keep your NEET admit card, score card, and category/NRI documents ready in the correct PDF format in advance. Because registration, final submission, choice locking and willingness submission are each irreversible steps, go slowly, double-check every field, and use the MCC helpdesk if anything is unclear — there is no 'undo' button once you confirm.
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