NEET PG 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration Opens October 12

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the official counselling schedule for NEET PG 2026, marking the start of the admission process for postgraduate medical courses across India. Qualified candidates can now begin registering for Round 1 counselling from October 12 through the MCC portal. This schedule covers seats under the All India Quota (AIQ), deemed universities, central universities, and Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutions. Understanding the timeline and requirements is critical for every MBBS graduate aiming to secure an MD, MS, or PG Diploma seat.

When Does NEET PG 2026 Counselling Registration Begin?

Registration for NEET PG 2026 counselling Round 1 begins on October 12, 2026, and remains open until October 21. This 10-day window is your first opportunity to formally enter the admission process after qualifying the NEET PG exam held on August 30. The portal will be live on the official MCC website (mcc.nic.in), and you must complete all registration steps within this period to be eligible for seat allotment.

Seat matrix verification—a critical step where MCC confirms the total number of available seats across institutions and categories—runs from October 10 to 12. This verification ensures transparency and allows candidates to understand seat availability before making their choices. Missing the registration deadline means you cannot participate in Round 1 and will have to wait for subsequent rounds, which may reduce your chances of securing a preferred specialty or institution.

Complete Timeline for All Four Counselling Rounds

MCC has structured NEET PG 2026 counselling into four distinct rounds, each with its own registration, choice-filling, and seat allotment schedule. Understanding this full timeline helps you plan your strategy and avoid missing critical deadlines. The stray vacancy round, which follows the main three rounds, offers a final opportunity to fill remaining seats.

Each round follows the same sequence: seat matrix verification, registration and fee payment, choice filling and locking, seat allotment processing, result announcement, and reporting/joining. The intervals between rounds allow candidates who did not secure a seat or wish to upgrade to participate in the next round. Plan your document preparation and decision-making accordingly, as the windows are tight and overlapping rounds may occur if you need to participate in multiple stages.

• Round 1: October 10–November 2 (registration Oct 12–21, result Oct 24, joining Oct 26–Nov 2)
• Round 2: November 6–23 (registration Nov 6–11, result Nov 14, joining Nov 16–23)
• Round 3: November 25–December 12 (registration Nov 26–Dec 1, result Dec 4, joining Dec 5–12)
• Stray Vacancy Round: December 15–31 (registration Dec 16–21, result Dec 24, joining Dec 24–31)

Registration Fees and Security Deposits by Category

Counselling registration is not free. You must pay a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit, with amounts varying by category and institution type. For 50% AIQ and central university seats, general category candidates pay Rs 1,000 as registration fee and Rs 25,000 as security deposit. SC/ST/OBC candidates in the same category pay a reduced registration fee of Rs 500 but the same security deposit of Rs 10,000.

Deemed university candidates face significantly higher fees: Rs 5,000 as non-refundable registration fee and Rs 2,00,000 as refundable security deposit across all categories. The security deposit is refunded after you complete the joining process and verification, but the registration fee is retained by MCC regardless of whether you secure a seat. Budget for these costs early, as payment is mandatory to complete registration and proceed to choice filling.

• 50% AIQ/Central Universities – General: Rs 1,000 (registration) + Rs 25,000 (security deposit)
• 50% AIQ/Central Universities – SC/ST/OBC: Rs 500 (registration) + Rs 10,000 (security deposit)
• Deemed Universities – All categories: Rs 5,000 (registration) + Rs 2,00,000 (security deposit)

Step-by-Step Registration Process on MCC Portal

Registration on the MCC counselling portal follows a structured process. Begin by visiting mcc.nic.in and navigating to the PG Medical Counselling section. Select 'New Registration' and enter your NEET PG 2026 details, personal information, and contact details. Create login credentials that you will use throughout the counselling process—save these securely, as you will need them for choice filling and future rounds.

After completing the application form, you must upload required documents in the prescribed format (typically PDF or JPG). These include your NEET PG admit card, scorecard, MBBS degree certificate, marksheets, registration certificate, internship completion certificate, valid photo ID, and category/PwD certificates if applicable. Pay the registration fee and security deposit online, then submit the form. Save the confirmation page for your records; you will need it for verification during reporting and joining.

• Visit mcc.nic.in and open the PG Medical Counselling section
• Click on NEET PG 2026 counselling registration link
• Select 'New Registration' and enter NEET PG details and personal information
• Create login credentials and complete the application form
• Upload all required documents in prescribed format
• Pay registration fee and security deposit online
• Submit the form and save the confirmation page

Essential Documents You Must Have Ready Before Registration

Prepare all required documents before you begin registration, as delays in uploading can cause you to miss the deadline. You will need your NEET PG 2026 admit card and scorecard, MBBS degree certificate, MBBS marksheets, MBBS registration certificate from your university, and internship completion certificate. Additionally, keep a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license) and passport-size photographs ready.

If you belong to a reserved category (SC/ST/OBC), have a valid category certificate issued by the appropriate authority. If you are a person with disability (PwD), have your disability certificate. You will also need your date of birth proof, permanent or provisional medical registration certificate from the National Medical Commission (NMC), and a migration certificate if you studied outside your home state. Keep both original documents and scanned copies; originals will be verified during reporting and joining, while scanned copies are uploaded during registration.

• NEET PG 2026 admit card and scorecard
• MBBS degree certificate and marksheets
• MBBS registration certificate from your university
• Internship completion certificate
• Valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license)
• Passport-size photographs
• Category certificate (if SC/ST/OBC)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Date of birth proof
• Permanent or provisional medical registration certificate from NMC
• Migration certificate (if applicable)
• Any other documents specified by MCC or your allotted institute

Choice Filling and Locking: Your Strategy Window

After registration closes, choice filling begins immediately. In Round 1, you have from October 13 to 22 to fill and lock your choices. This is your opportunity to rank colleges and specialties in order of preference. The MCC algorithm will match your rank, category, and choices against available seats to determine allotment. You can modify your choices until the locking deadline, but once locked, they cannot be changed for that round.

Your choice-filling strategy is crucial. Research colleges, specialty cutoffs, and your expected rank carefully before filling choices. Rank institutions and specialties realistically—place your dream choices higher but also include realistic and safe options to maximize your chances of allotment. Remember that the algorithm respects both your rank and your choice order, so strategic ranking increases the likelihood of securing a seat in your preferred specialty or institution.

• Round 1 choice filling: October 13–22 (locking deadline October 22)
• Round 2 choice filling: November 7–12 (locking deadline November 12)
• Round 3 choice filling: November 27–December 2 (locking deadline December 2)
• Stray Vacancy Round choice filling: December 16–21 (locking deadline December 21)

Seat Allotment and Reporting Timeline

After choice locking, MCC processes allotments over 1–2 days. In Round 1, processing occurs on October 22–23, and results are announced on October 24. Once you receive your allotment, you have a limited window to report to your allotted college and complete joining formalities. For Round 1, this window is October 26 to November 2. Failure to report within this period may result in forfeiture of your seat.

After reporting, your data is verified by the college on November 3 (Round 1). This verification confirms that you have submitted all original documents, completed medical fitness checks, and met all eligibility criteria. Only after verification are you considered a confirmed candidate. If you do not secure a seat in Round 1 or wish to upgrade, you can participate in Round 2, which follows a similar timeline starting November 6.

• Round 1: Allotment result October 24, reporting October 26–November 2, verification November 3
• Round 2: Allotment result November 14, reporting November 16–23, verification November 24
• Round 3: Allotment result December 4, reporting December 5–12, verification December 14
• Stray Vacancy: Allotment result December 24, reporting December 24–31

What This Means for Your NEET PG 2026 Strategy

The release of this counselling schedule gives you a clear roadmap for the months ahead. With NEET PG 2026 results already declared on September 24, you now know your rank and can begin researching colleges and specialties. Use the time before October 12 to gather information about cutoffs, college infrastructure, faculty, and placement records. This preparation will directly influence the quality of your choices during the filling window.

Plan your finances early. If you are aiming for deemed university seats, budget for the Rs 2,00,000 security deposit. If you are targeting AIQ seats, ensure you have Rs 25,000 (general) or Rs 10,000 (SC/ST/OBC) available. Prepare all documents now rather than scrambling during the registration window. Finally, understand that counselling is a multi-round process; even if you do not secure a seat in Round 1, you have three more opportunities. However, each subsequent round typically has fewer available seats, so prioritize performing well in earlier rounds.

Frequently asked questions

Mark October 12 on your calendar and ensure all documents are ready by then. Use the next few weeks to research colleges, understand cutoffs, and plan your choice strategy—this preparation will directly impact your admission outcome. Stay updated on the MCC portal for any schedule changes or additional notifications.