The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened the choice locking window for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling today, October 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM. If you have already filled your preferences for 50% All India Quota (AIQ), Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and DNB seats, you now have until October 22 at 10:00 AM to review and lock your choices. This is a critical step: once locked, your preferences cannot be changed, and the MCC will proceed with seat allocation. Understanding the timeline and the locking process is essential to avoid automatic locking of your last saved choices.
Lock your NEET PG 2026 Round 1 choices by October 22, 10:00 AM on mcc.nic.in, or the system will automatically lock your last saved preferences—and you cannot change them after that.
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Unlock My College ListWhat Is Choice Locking and Why Does It Matter?
Choice locking is the formal confirmation of your preference list before the MCC begins the seat allocation algorithm. Once you lock your choices, the system treats them as final and immutable. This means you cannot add, remove, or reorder colleges and specialties after the deadline passes.
For a NEET PG aspirant, this is the moment of truth. Your locked choices directly determine which seats the computer algorithm will consider for you. If you have not carefully ranked your preferred colleges and branches in order of priority, locking a poorly ordered list can result in an allocation far from your actual goals. The MCC will not allow any edits once the lock is in place.
How to Lock Your Choices: Step-by-Step Process
To lock your choices, visit mcc.nic.in and navigate to the PG Medical Counselling section. Log in using your NEET PG roll number, application password, and security PIN. Once logged in, go to the 'Choice Filling & Locking' option to view all the preferences you have already entered during the choice-filling phase.
Before clicking the lock button, review your entire list carefully. Ensure that your most desired colleges and specialties appear at the top, in the exact order you wish to be considered. After you are satisfied with the ranking, enter your account password and click 'Lock Choices.' The system will then generate a confirmation, which you should download and print as proof of your locked preferences.
- Visit www.mcc.nic.in and click on PG Medical Counselling
- Log in with your NEET PG roll number, password, and security PIN
- Open 'Choice Filling & Locking' to review your entered preferences
- Verify the order of colleges and specialties matches your priority
- Enter your password and click 'Lock Choices'
- Download and print the PDF confirmation of your locked choices
Critical Deadline: October 22, 10:00 AM—No Extensions
The choice locking window closes on October 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM. This is a hard deadline with no extensions or grace period. Any candidate who has not manually locked their choices by this time will have their last saved preferences automatically locked by the MCC system.
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Automatic locking means the computer will lock whatever you last saved, even if you intended to make further changes. This can be problematic if you were still deliberating or if you saved a draft version that does not reflect your final priorities. To avoid this risk, lock your choices manually well before the deadline—ideally on October 21 itself, as soon as the locking window opens at 4:00 PM.
What Happens After Choice Locking: The Seat Allocation Timeline
Once the choice locking deadline passes on October 22 at 10:00 AM, the MCC will begin the seat allocation process. The algorithm will run from October 22 to October 23, 2026, evaluating all locked choices against available seats in the 50% AIQ, Deemed, Central Universities, and DNB categories. The results of Round 1 seat allotment will be announced on October 24, 2026.
Candidates who receive an allotment must then download their allotment letter and report physically to their allotted medical college for document verification and admission formalities. This reporting window runs from October 26 to November 2, 2026. Missing this window can result in forfeiture of your seat, so mark these dates on your calendar immediately.
- Seat allocation processing: October 22–23, 2026
- Round 1 allotment result announcement: October 24, 2026
- Physical reporting and document verification: October 26–November 2, 2026
Registration and Fee Payment: Today's Final Deadline at 3:00 PM
Before you can lock choices, you must have completed registration and paid the counselling fee. The registration and fee payment deadline is today, October 21, 2026, at 3:00 PM. If you have not yet registered or paid the fee, do so immediately—you have only a few hours.
Once registration and payment are confirmed, you become eligible to fill and lock your choices. The choice locking window opens one hour after the registration deadline, at 4:00 PM today. This tight schedule means you should complete registration as early as possible to avoid last-minute technical glitches or payment delays.
Why Manual Locking Is Better Than Automatic Locking
Although the MCC will automatically lock your last saved choices if you do not lock manually, relying on automatic locking is risky. If you saved a draft version of your preferences weeks ago and have since changed your mind about your priorities, the automatic lock will preserve that old draft—not your current thinking. You will then be stuck with an outdated preference list.
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Manual locking gives you control and certainty. By locking your choices yourself, you confirm that the list you are submitting is exactly what you want the algorithm to use. This is especially important if you have been deliberating between different colleges or specialties, or if you have received new information about a college's reputation or placement record. Take the time to lock manually and lock with confidence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Locking Choices
One frequent error is locking a list without reviewing the order. Candidates sometimes assume their preferences are already in the correct order and click lock without double-checking. Always scroll through your entire list and verify that your top choices are truly at the top. The algorithm will offer you seats in the order you have ranked them, so a mistake here can have lasting consequences.
Another mistake is locking in a hurry and then realizing you made a typo or forgot to include a college you wanted. Once locked, you cannot edit. A third error is not downloading and saving your confirmation PDF. While the MCC has a record, having your own copy protects you if there is a dispute or if you need to prove you locked on time. Finally, do not assume you have time until the last minute. Technical issues, internet outages, or server congestion can occur, especially near the deadline. Lock early.
- Do not lock without reviewing the full order of your preferences
- Do not lock in a rush; take time to verify each entry
- Do not forget to download and save your confirmation PDF
- Do not wait until the last hour; lock as soon as the window opens
What If You Miss the Locking Deadline?
If you miss the October 22, 10:00 AM deadline entirely and do not have any saved preferences, you will not be eligible for Round 1 seat allocation. You will have to wait for subsequent rounds (if announced) or explore state-quota counselling options, depending on your eligibility and the state regulations.
If you have saved preferences but did not lock them, the MCC will auto-lock your last saved version. You will then be allocated a seat based on that auto-locked list, even if it does not reflect your current preferences. There is no way to unlock or modify after the deadline. This underscores the importance of acting today.
Practical Checklist for Today
To ensure you do not miss any step, follow this checklist: First, confirm that you have registered and paid the counselling fee by 3:00 PM today. Second, log in to mcc.nic.in at 4:00 PM or shortly after to access the choice locking portal. Third, review your saved preferences carefully and reorder them if needed. Fourth, lock your choices and download the confirmation PDF. Fifth, save the PDF to your device and print a copy for your records. Sixth, note the allotment result date (October 24) and the reporting dates (October 26–November 2) in your calendar.
- Complete registration and fee payment by 3:00 PM today
- Log in to mcc.nic.in at 4:00 PM to access choice locking
- Review and reorder your preferences if necessary
- Lock your choices and download the confirmation PDF
- Print and save your confirmation for records
- Mark October 24 (allotment result) and October 26–November 2 (reporting) on your calendar
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the choice locking deadline for NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
The choice locking deadline is October 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The locking window opens on October 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM. You must lock your preferences within this window; after 10:00 AM on October 22, no manual locking is possible, and any unlocked preferences will be automatically locked by the system.
Can I change my preferences after locking them?
No. Once you lock your choices, they become final and cannot be edited, deleted, or reordered. The MCC will use your locked list for seat allocation. This is why it is critical to review your preferences carefully before clicking the lock button.
What happens if I do not lock my choices manually by the deadline?
If you do not lock manually by October 22, 10:00 AM, the MCC system will automatically lock your last saved preferences. This means whatever you last saved—even if it was a draft or an outdated version—will be locked and used for seat allocation. You will have no opportunity to change it.
How do I lock my choices on mcc.nic.in?
Log in to mcc.nic.in using your NEET PG roll number, password, and security PIN. Navigate to 'Choice Filling & Locking,' review your preferences, ensure they are in the correct order, enter your password, and click 'Lock Choices.' Download and print the confirmation PDF.
When will the Round 1 seat allotment results be announced?
The Round 1 seat allotment results will be announced on October 24, 2026. After that, candidates who receive an allotment must download their allotment letter and report physically to their allotted college between October 26 and November 2, 2026, for document verification and admission.
What if I miss the registration and fee payment deadline today?
The registration and fee payment deadline is October 21, 2026, at 3:00 PM. If you miss this, you will not be eligible to fill or lock choices for Round 1. You will have to wait for subsequent rounds or explore other counselling options, depending on your eligibility.
Can I lock my choices on October 21 itself, or should I wait until October 22?
You can lock your choices as soon as the window opens on October 21 at 4:00 PM. It is advisable to lock early rather than wait until October 22, as this reduces the risk of technical issues, internet outages, or server congestion near the deadline.
What seats are included in this Round 1 counselling?
Round 1 counselling covers 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, Deemed University seats, Central University seats, and DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats. State-quota seats are counselled separately by individual states.
Today is the final day to register and the first day to lock your choices for NEET PG 2026 Round 1. Complete registration by 3:00 PM, then log in at 4:00 PM to lock your preferences carefully. Do not rely on automatic locking—take control of your future by locking manually and downloading your confirmation. Mark October 24 for the allotment result and October 26–November 2 for physical reporting.
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