The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs the central counselling for NEET UG, has issued a revised schedule for Round 1 of UG Counselling 2026. This is not a new announcement of counselling itself — it is a correction/update to the dates that were previously notified, and candidates must now follow this new timetable instead of any earlier one. The revised schedule covers registration, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment processing, result declaration and reporting/joining for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and for 100% seats in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AFMC, AIIMS institutions, and JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal) — for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing courses. MCC has asked candidates to keep checking its website (www.mcc.nic.in) for further updates, which means this schedule could change again.
Registration and fee payment for Round 1 now closes on 15th August 2026 (registration till 2:00 PM, payment till 5:00 PM), and choice filling/locking closes on 17th August 2026 at 6:00 PM — miss either deadline and you are out of Round 1.
What exactly changed
MCC's Notice No. 08, dated 13th August 2026, states plainly that the schedule of Round 1 of UG Counselling 2026 has been revised. The notice does not explain why the dates changed — it simply gives candidates the new schedule to follow. If you had noted down an earlier set of dates for registration or choice filling, discard them and use the dates in this notice instead.
This schedule applies to counselling for the 15% AIQ seats (the quota filled centrally by MCC across states) as well as 100% seats in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AFMC, AIIMS institutions, and JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal), for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing courses for the 2026 academic year. If you are seeking admission through any of these routes, this schedule governs your Round 1 process.
Full Round 1 schedule
All timings in the notice are given as 'Server Time' — meaning the exact time shown on MCC's counselling portal at the moment you act, not your phone or laptop clock. Always keep some buffer and do not wait for the last minute.
| Stage | Dates/Timing |
|---|---|
| Verification of tentative seat matrix by participating institutes | 4th August 2026 |
| Registration and payment | 5th August to 15th August 2026 up to 2:00 PM (registration); payment facility available till 5:00 PM on 15th August 2026 |
| Choice filling and locking | 6th August to 17th August 2026; choice filling open till 6:00 PM on 17th August 2026; choice locking window from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on 17th August 2026 |
| Processing of seat allotment | 18th August 2026 |
| Result | 19th August 2026 |
| Reporting/joining at allotted institute | 20th August to 25th August 2026 |
| Verification of joined candidates' data by institutes | 26th August 2026 |
Registration and payment: the dates you cannot miss
Registration is open from 5th August to 15th August 2026, but only up to 2:00 PM on the last day (15th August). The payment facility is kept open a little longer — up to 5:00 PM on 15th August 2026 — but this is only to let candidates who registered in time complete their fee payment. If you have not registered before the 2:00 PM cut-off, the extended payment window will not help you.
Both these are hard deadlines fixed by server time on MCC's portal. There is no mention in the notice of any extension or late registration facility, so treat 15th August 2026 as your final date to both register and pay for Round 1.
Choice filling and locking: don't leave it to the last day
Once you have registered and paid, you must fill your college and course preferences (choices) between 6th August and 17th August 2026. Choice filling itself stays open until 6:00 PM on 17th August 2026.
Choice locking is a separate, narrower window — it opens only at 10:00 AM on 17th August 2026 and closes at 6:00 PM the same day. Locking means confirming your final order of preferences so the system uses exactly that list for allotment. If you fill choices but never lock them, the system will normally consider whatever choices you last saved as your final list — but locking removes any doubt and is the safer option. Since both choice filling and choice locking end on the same day, 17th August 2026, do not wait until the last few hours to arrange your preference order.
What happens after choice locking closes
After choices close on 17th August 2026, MCC processes the seat allotment on 18th August 2026. The Round 1 result is scheduled to be declared on 19th August 2026.
Candidates who are allotted a seat must report and join at the allotted institute during the window of 20th August to 25th August 2026. Institutes then verify and upload the data of joined candidates by 26th August 2026. Missing the reporting/joining window can cost you the allotted seat, so candidates who get a Round 1 allotment should plan their travel and document verification for those dates in advance.
Who this schedule is for
This particular schedule covers the following categories of seats, for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing courses:
- 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical/dental colleges across states
- 100% seats in Deemed Universities and Central Universities
- 100% seats in AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College)
- 100% seats in AIIMS institutions
- 100% seats in JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal)
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Has the entire Round 1 counselling been postponed, or just some dates changed?
The notice says the schedule has been 'revised' — it gives one complete, updated set of dates for registration, choice filling, allotment, result and reporting for Round 1. Candidates should follow only this revised schedule.
What is the last date to register and pay the fee for Round 1?
Registration closes at 2:00 PM on 15th August 2026. Payment can be completed up to 5:00 PM the same day, but only for candidates who registered before the 2:00 PM cut-off.
Till when can I fill and change my choices?
Choice filling is open from 6th August to 17th August 2026, up to 6:00 PM on the last day. Choice locking — confirming your final list — is available only between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on 17th August 2026.
When will the Round 1 result come out?
The seat allotment is processed on 18th August 2026 and the result is scheduled for 19th August 2026, as per this revised schedule.
What if I get a seat — when do I have to report?
Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 must report and join at the allotted institute between 20th August and 25th August 2026.
Does this schedule apply to State Quota seats too?
No. This schedule is specifically for 15% AIQ seats and 100% seats in Deemed/Central Universities, AFMC, AIIMS institutions and JIPMER. State counselling authorities issue their own separate schedules for state quota seats.
Is the time mentioned in the notice my local phone time?
No. The notice specifies all deadlines as 'Server Time' — the time on MCC's counselling website at that moment. Always check the portal's own clock rather than relying on your device.
Could these dates change again?
MCC has explicitly advised candidates to stay in touch with its website for further updates, so a further revision is possible. Check www.mcc.nic.in regularly during the counselling period.
Candidates targeting AIQ, deemed/central university, AFMC, AIIMS or JIPMER seats should register and pay well before 15th August 2026, and finalise and lock choices well before 6:00 PM on 17th August 2026 — do not wait for the final hour on either deadline. Keep checking www.mcc.nic.in daily, since MCC has indicated further updates may follow this revised schedule.
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