NEET UG 2026 results are out, and around 11.21 lakh candidates have cleared the exam — which means the next big milestone for MBBS and BDS aspirants is the start of Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) registration. MCC handles the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical colleges, plus admissions to deemed universities, central universities, ESIC colleges, AFMC Pune, AIIMS and JIPMER. The official schedule hasn't been published yet, but it is expected in late July or early August, based on the usual gap between results and counselling in past years. For a first-time NEET candidate, this waiting period is actually the most useful time to get documents, fees and a college wishlist ready — not to sit idle. This piece breaks down who MCC counselling covers, what it will cost you to register, and the concrete steps to take right now.
MCC's AIQ counselling schedule for NEET UG 2026 hasn't been announced yet, but registration is expected within days to weeks — so aspirants should finish document and fee preparation now rather than after the notification drops.
What MCC Counselling Actually Covers
It's worth being clear on scope, because many aspirants confuse MCC counselling with 'the' NEET counselling. MCC only runs a specific slice of the total MBBS/BDS seat pool in India — the rest is handled by individual state counselling authorities under their 85% state quota, plus private/state college seats that go through state-level processes.
- 15% All India Quota seats in government medical colleges across states
- Deemed university MBBS/BDS seats (private, fee-heavy institutions)
- Central universities — AMU, BHU, Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia
- ESIC medical colleges
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
- AIIMS and JIPMER campuses nationwide
The Expected Process and Rounds
MCC counselling for NEET UG typically runs across four stages, and 2026 is expected to follow the same pattern: Round 1, Round 2, a Mop-Up round, and finally Stray Vacancy round for any seats still left unfilled. Each round involves online registration, choice filling (selecting colleges/courses in order of preference), seat allotment based on rank and choices, and reporting to the allotted college within a set deadline.
The practical implication is that AIQ counselling is not a one-shot event. A candidate who doesn't get a preferred seat in Round 1 can revise choices and try again in Round 2, and unfilled seats flow into Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy. But every round has strict deadlines — missing a step, whether it's fee payment or choice locking, can knock a candidate out of that round entirely.
Registration Fees and Security Deposit
Candidates should budget for both a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit, and the amounts differ sharply depending on whether you're applying for AIQ/central-institution seats or deemed university seats.
| Seat Type | Category | Registration Fee | Security Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ, Central Univ., AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER | UR/EWS | Rs 1,000 | Rs 10,000 |
| AIQ, Central Univ., AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER | SC/ST/OBC/PwD | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
| Deemed Universities | All categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
Qualifying Cutoffs Released With the Result
NTA has already published category-wise qualifying marks alongside the NEET UG 2026 result. For Unreserved and EWS candidates, the qualifying range is 715 to 213 marks; for OBC, SC and ST candidates it is 212 to 177 marks. Clearing this cutoff makes you eligible to sit for counselling — it does not guarantee a seat, since actual admission depends on your rank relative to the number of seats and the choices you fill.
What to Prepare While You Wait
Since the exact registration date isn't out yet, the smart move is to use this gap productively rather than repeatedly refreshing the MCC website.
- Keep your NEET UG 2026 scorecard and roll number easily accessible
- Scan Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets/certificates in advance
- Arrange category certificates — caste, EWS or PwD — if applicable
- Keep Aadhaar, a passport-size photo and signature scan ready in the required format
- Set aside funds for the registration fee plus the security deposit
- Research colleges and draft a realistic, ranked choice list based on your NEET rank and past-year cutoff trends
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When will MCC release the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule?
It hasn't been announced as of now. Based on the timeline after the July 16, 2026 result, registration is expected to open in late July or early August 2026, but candidates should watch mcc.nic.in directly rather than rely on estimated dates.
Who is eligible to register for MCC counselling?
Any NEET UG 2026 qualified candidate who has met the category-wise cutoff (715–213 for UR/EWS, 212–177 for OBC/SC/ST) can register, provided they are applying for seats under MCC's purview — AIQ, deemed universities, central universities, ESIC, AFMC, AIIMS or JIPMER.
Is the MCC registration fee refundable?
No. The registration fee itself is non-refundable in all cases. The security deposit (Rs 10,000/5,000 for AIQ-type seats, Rs 2,00,000 for deemed universities) is refundable depending on whether and when you withdraw from the process, per MCC's rules for that year.
Does MCC counselling cover state quota seats too?
No. MCC only manages the 15% All India Quota, deemed/central university seats, ESIC, AFMC, AIIMS and JIPMER. The remaining 85% state quota seats and most state-run/private colleges are handled through separate state counselling boards, which typically announce their own schedules around the same time.
How many rounds of MCC counselling are there?
Four rounds are expected: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up round, and Stray Vacancy round — matching the structure MCC has followed in previous years.
What happens if I miss a registration deadline?
Missing any step — registration, fee payment, choice filling or locking — within a round's deadline means you forfeit participation in that particular round, though you may still be eligible for subsequent rounds if seats remain.
There's nothing to do right now except get paperwork and payment plans ready — the actual registration link will only work once MCC issues its formal notification. Keep checking mcc.nic.in directly, and remember that most state counselling boards will also release their own 85% quota schedules around the same window, so track both if you're weighing state and AIQ options together.
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