If you're waiting on your All India Quota (AIQ) seat allotment this year, there's an important procedural change you need to understand before you make any decision. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs counselling for 15% AIQ seats plus AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC, AFMC, Central Universities and Deemed Universities, has released a revised NEET UG 2026 Information Bulletin. The headline change is a new 'Freeze and Float' system that lets you hold onto an allotted seat while still trying for a better one later, without the hassle of reporting twice. There's also a Round 1 schedule extension and a shift to fully online resignation. This matters because it directly affects how much you travel, how many documents you carry, and how confidently you can accept a seat.
After Round 1 allotment, you can either Freeze your seat (report and exit counselling) or Float it (keep your seat while staying eligible for an upgrade), and you no longer need to physically report twice if you get upgraded later.
What actually changed in the bulletin
Until now, a candidate allotted a seat in an early round often had to report physically at that college, only to leave again if a better seat came through in a later round. The revised bulletin removes this double-travel problem for anyone who chooses to upgrade.
Three changes stand out for students: the Freeze-Float choice after allotment, the ability to resign an allotted seat entirely online through the MCC portal, and the removal of mandatory physical reporting for candidates who are upgrading rather than exiting.
- Freeze: you accept the seat, report physically, and exit counselling permanently — no further rounds for you.
- Float: you accept the seat but stay in the pool for a possibly better allotment in the next round, submitting willingness and documents online rather than travelling.
- Online resignation: you can give up an allotted seat through the portal itself, within the notified deadline, instead of visiting the college to withdraw.
Fees and security deposit you should budget for
The amount you pay at registration depends on which quota you are applying under and your category. Deemed University seats carry a much higher refundable security deposit than government-quota seats, so plan your finances accordingly before choice-filling opens.
If you register for both government seats and Deemed University seats in the same cycle, you only pay the higher of the two applicable fees — you are not charged twice.
| Institute Type | Category | Registration Fee | Refundable Security Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ, Central Universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER, BSc Nursing | UR/EWS | ₹1,000 | ₹10,000 |
| AIQ, Central Universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER, BSc Nursing | SC/ST/OBC/PwD | ₹500 | ₹5,000 |
| Deemed Universities | All Categories | ₹5,000 | ₹2,00,000 |
Revised Round 1 schedule
MCC pushed back the choice-filling deadline for Round 1, and the seat allotment result date moved along with it. If you were tracking the original dates, use these revised ones instead.
- Registration for Round 1: August 5 to August 12, 2026
- Choice locking opens: from 5:30 PM, August 17, 2026
- Choice filling closes: 11:59 PM, August 18, 2026
- Round 1 seat allotment result: August 21, 2026
How the exit and upgrade rules work across rounds
MCC will run four rounds this cycle, but not every rule applies to every round. Knowing the cut-offs for upgrade and resignation can save you from a costly mistake, such as assuming you can still switch seats after Round 3 closes.
A candidate who already holds an allotted seat through MCC or a state counselling authority cannot enter the Stray Vacancy round — that round is reserved for seats that remain vacant after all regular rounds.
- Seat upgradation is permitted only through Rounds 1, 2 and 3.
- Online resignation of an allotted seat is allowed only within the deadline notified for that specific round.
- No resignation or fresh entry into counselling is allowed once Round 3 has closed.
- Candidates already holding a seat cannot participate in the Stray Vacancy round.
What this means for you as an aspirant
The Float option is genuinely useful if you're allotted a seat you're willing to join but still hoping to improve on — perhaps a different state quota college or a preferred specialty pathway later. You keep your seat secured while the system tries to allot you something better in the next round, and if it doesn't work out, you simply stay where you are.
The catch is that Freeze and Float decisions must be made within the reporting window MCC notifies after each round's result — there is no indefinite thinking time. Decide in advance what your minimum acceptable college and course combination is, so you aren't rushed into a choice.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Freeze and Float in NEET UG counselling 2026?
Freeze means you accept your allotted seat, report to the college, and exit counselling for good. Float means you accept the seat for now but stay in the pool for a possible upgrade in a later round, without needing to report physically until your seat is final.
Do I need to report physically if I choose to Float and get upgraded later?
No. Under the revised rules, candidates who upgrade only need to report physically at their final allotted college, not at every college they are provisionally allotted along the way.
Can I resign my seat without visiting the college?
Yes, the revised bulletin allows online resignation of an allotted AIQ seat through the MCC portal, provided you do it within the notified deadline for that round.
Until which round can I upgrade my seat?
Seat upgradation is allowed only in Rounds 1, 2 and 3. Once Round 3 closes, no further resignation or fresh entry is permitted in the regular rounds.
How much is the registration fee for AIQ seats versus Deemed University seats?
For AIQ, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC, AFMC and BSc Nursing seats, the fee is ₹1,000 for UR/EWS and ₹500 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates, with a refundable security deposit of ₹10,000 or ₹5,000 respectively. Deemed University seats require a ₹5,000 registration fee and a ₹2,00,000 refundable security deposit for all categories.
What was the revised Round 1 schedule for NEET UG counselling 2026?
Registration ran from August 5 to August 12, 2026, choice locking opened from 5:30 PM on August 17, choice filling closed at 11:59 PM on August 18, and the seat allotment result was declared on August 21, 2026.
Can I join the Stray Vacancy round if I already have an allotted seat?
No. Candidates who already hold an allotted seat through MCC or a state counselling authority are not eligible for the Stray Vacancy round, which is meant only for seats left vacant after the regular rounds.
If you're going through AIQ counselling this year, read the full revised bulletin on mcc.nic.in before choice-filling, and decide in advance whether you'll Freeze or Float once your Round 1 result is out — that window closes fast. Keep an eye on mcc.nic.in for the Round 2 registration schedule, which typically opens soon after Round 1 results are declared.
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