If you cleared NEET UG 2026 and are hoping for an MBBS or BDS seat this year, the countdown has officially started. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the body that runs central-level medical admissions, opened registration for Round 1 of NEET UG counselling on August 5 at mcc.nic.in. This round covers some of the most sought-after seats in the country — the 15% All India Quota, central universities, all AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESI, B.Sc. Nursing and deemed university seats. Because the entire process runs on a tight, non-negotiable calendar, missing a single deadline in this window can cost you a seat, so it's worth understanding exactly what's expected and by when.
Round 1 registration, choice filling and choice locking for MCC NEET UG 2026 counselling all happen within roughly a week — so aspirants must register, fill choices and lock them well before the stated deadlines rather than waiting till the last day.
What this round of counselling covers
This registration window is not for state quota seats — those are handled separately by individual state counselling authorities. MCC's Round 1 specifically covers the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical and dental colleges, seats at central universities such as Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University and Jamia Millia Islamia, plus AFMC, ESI institutions, all AIIMS campuses, JIPMER, B.Sc. Nursing programmes, and deemed university seats.
If you qualified NEET UG 2026 and want to be considered for any of these, you must register on the MCC portal even if you also plan to apply through your state's counselling body — the two processes run in parallel and require separate registrations.
How to register: the basic steps
Registration happens under the 'Candidate Activity' section on mcc.nic.in, and you'll need your NEET application number, roll number, name, mother's name and date of birth handy to get started.
- Go to mcc.nic.in and click 'New Registration For UG Counselling 2026' under Candidate Activity.
- Register using your NEET UG roll number and details from your admit card and scorecard.
- Log in with your roll number and password once registration is confirmed.
- Use 'Choice Filling' to list your preferred colleges and courses in order of preference.
- Lock your choices once the locking window opens — an unlocked list may not be considered for allotment.
- Check the 'Composite Allotment List' on the portal for an idea of where previous years' cut-offs fell for your rank.
Registration and security fees by category
The fee you pay depends on both your category and the type of seat you're competing for. Deemed university seats attract a significantly higher security deposit than AIQ or central university seats — factor this into your planning if deemed colleges are on your list, since the amount is refundable but still needs to be arranged upfront.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee — UR/EWS | Rs 1,000 |
| Registration fee — SC/ST/OBC/PwD | Rs 500 |
| Registration fee — Deemed universities (all categories) | Rs 5,000 |
| Security fee — UR/EWS (refundable) | Rs 10,000 |
| Security fee — SC/ST/OBC/PwD (refundable) | Rs 5,000 |
| Security fee — Deemed universities (refundable) | Rs 2,00,000 |
Round 1 schedule at a glance
Every step in this process is date-and-time bound, and the choice-locking window in particular is short. Aspirants should not leave choice filling or locking to the final hours, since server load and last-minute errors are common at deadline time.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 registration opens | August 5 |
| Choice filling | August 6 to August 13, 11 am |
| Registration and fee payment closes | August 12, 3 pm (fee window till 6 pm) |
| Choice locking | August 12, 4 pm to August 13, 11 am |
| Seat allotment processing | August 13 to August 16 |
| Round 1 result declared | August 17 |
| Reporting to allotted college | August 18 to August 22 |
| College verifies joined candidates | August 23 |
Documents to keep ready before you start
Having every document scanned and saved in the required format before you sit down to register will save you from mid-process panic. Reporting to your allotted college also requires physical copies, so keep both digital and printed sets ready.
- NEET UG 2026 scorecard and admit card
- MCC seat allotment letter (once issued)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- A valid photo ID proof
- Category certificate, where applicable
- Transfer certificate
- Recent passport-size photographs
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Do I need to register separately for MCC counselling if I've already registered for state counselling?
Yes. MCC counselling is for the 15% All India Quota, central universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, ESI, B.Sc. Nursing and deemed universities, and it is entirely separate from your state's own counselling process. You must register on mcc.nic.in independently even if you've also applied through your state body.
What if I only want to be considered for deemed university seats?
You still register the same way, but be prepared for a much higher security deposit — Rs 2,00,000, refundable — compared to Rs 5,000-10,000 for AIQ and central university seats. Registration fee for deemed universities is also a flat Rs 5,000 regardless of category.
Is the security fee lost if I don't get a seat or don't join?
The security fee is refundable, but MCC's rules around forfeiture in certain scenarios (such as not reporting after allotment) can apply, so it's important to read the detailed counselling rules on the portal rather than assuming automatic refund in every case.
What happens if I miss the choice-locking deadline?
If you fill choices but don't lock them within the stated window, the system typically considers your last saved choices for allotment, but locking is the safer, MCC-recommended step to ensure your preferences are exactly as intended before processing begins.
Can I edit my choices after locking them?
No. Once the choice-locking window closes, your preference order is finalised for that round's allotment and cannot be changed, so review your list carefully before locking.
When will I know which college I've been allotted?
Based on the published schedule, seat allotment processing runs from August 13 to 16, with the Round 1 result expected on August 17. You'd then need to report to your allotted college between August 18 and 22.
If you're eligible for this round, don't wait until the last two days to register or lock your choices — server traffic peaks close to deadlines every year. Keep your documents ready now, check the composite allotment list for a realistic sense of where your rank might land, and watch mcc.nic.in directly for any schedule updates before Round 1 closes.
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