The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has begun Round 1 registration for NEET PG 2026 counselling on October 12, 2026, at mcc.nic.in. This is the gateway to 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in central universities, deemed universities, and ESIC institutes for MD, MS, and PG Diploma courses. Every NEET PG-qualified doctor must register, fill choices, and meet strict deadlines to secure a postgraduate seat. Understanding the timeline and process is critical—missing even one deadline can cost you a round.
Register by October 21, fill and lock your college choices by October 22, and prepare to report to your allotted college between October 26 and November 2, 2026.
Your matched MD/MS/DNB seats
LockedEnter your NEET-PG rank to unlock the real colleges you can get — All India Quota and state — with closing ranks, fees and stipend.
Unlock My College ListNEET PG 2026 Round 1 Counselling Timeline: What You Must Know
The MCC has released a structured schedule for Round 1 counselling that spans from October 10 to November 3, 2026. Colleges completed seat matrix verification (the official count of available PG seats) by October 12. Your registration and fee payment window runs from October 12 to October 21—a 10-day window that is non-negotiable. If you miss this, you cannot participate in Round 1.
Choice filling and locking happens from October 13 to October 22. This means you can begin entering your preferred colleges and specialties as soon as you register, but you must finalize and lock your choices by October 22 at noon. The MCC will then process seat allotments on October 22–23 and announce results on October 24. Candidates who receive a seat must report to their allotted college between October 26 and November 2. On November 3, the MCC will verify joined candidate data and prepare for Round 2.
- Seat matrix verification: October 10–12
- Registration and payment: October 12–21
- Choice filling and locking: October 13–22
- Seat allotment processing: October 22–23
- Seat allotment result: October 24
- Reporting and joining: October 26–November 2
- Data verification: November 3
How to Register for NEET PG 2026 Counselling: Step-by-Step
Registration is entirely online through the MCC portal. Start by visiting mcc.nic.in and navigating to the PG Medical Counselling section. Click on 'New Registration' and enter your basic details: name, date of birth, NEET PG roll number, and NEET PG application number. Verify all information carefully before proceeding—errors here can delay your admission.
Once you submit basic details, the system will generate login credentials. Use these to sign in to the counselling portal and complete the full registration form. You will need to enter personal information (parents' details, contact information, category, nationality) and MCC NEET PG details (application number and roll number). Upload all required documents as PDFs or images. Finally, pay the prescribed registration fee and security deposit. Save your confirmation page—you will need it for reporting and verification.
- Visit mcc.nic.in and select PG Medical Counselling
- Click 'New Registration'
- Enter NEET PG details and personal information
- Create and note your login credentials
- Complete the registration form
- Upload required documents
- Pay registration fee and security deposit
- Submit and save confirmation page
NEET PG 2026 Counselling Fees: What You Pay and What You Get Back
The registration fee structure depends on your category and the type of institution you are applying to. For 50% AIQ and central university seats, general category candidates pay a non-refundable registration fee of Rs 1,000 and a refundable security deposit of Rs 25,000. SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates pay Rs 500 (non-refundable) and Rs 10,000 (refundable). If you are applying to deemed universities, all categories pay Rs 5,000 (non-refundable) and Rs 2,00,000 (refundable).
The security deposit is refundable—you get it back after you complete the admission process and join your allotted college. The registration fee is non-refundable and covers the cost of counselling administration. Ensure you pay the full amount by October 21 to remain eligible for Round 1. If you do not pay, your registration will not be processed.
Know the exact MD/MS/DNB seats your rank can get
Official round-wise closing ranks with fee and stipend, matched to your rank.
- AIQ/Central University (General): Rs 1,000 + Rs 25,000 deposit
- AIQ/Central University (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD): Rs 500 + Rs 10,000 deposit
- Deemed University (All categories): Rs 5,000 + Rs 2,00,000 deposit
- Registration fee: non-refundable
- Security deposit: refundable after joining
| Category/Institution | Non-Refundable Fee | Refundable Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| 50% AIQ/Central Universities – General | Rs 1,000 | Rs 25,000 |
| 50% AIQ/Central Universities – SC/ST/OBC/PwBD | Rs 500 | Rs 10,000 |
| Deemed Universities – All categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
Documents You Must Have Ready Before Registration
The MCC requires a comprehensive set of documents during registration. Start with your NEET PG scorecard, rank details, and admit card—these prove you qualified. You will also need your MBBS degree certificate (or provisional certificate if you have not yet received the final one), MBBS marksheets, and internship completion certificate. Your permanent or provisional medical registration certificate from the Medical Council is mandatory.
Identity and personal documents include a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence), proof of date of birth, and recent passport-size photographs (usually 2–4 copies). If you belong to a reserved category (SC, ST, OBC), bring your category certificate. If you are a person with disability (PwBD), bring your disability certificate. If you are an NRI, bring relevant NRI documentation. The MCC may also ask for additional documents specific to your allotted institution, so keep your email and phone active for any last-minute requests.
- NEET PG scorecard and rank details
- NEET PG admit card
- MBBS degree or provisional certificate
- MBBS marksheets
- Internship completion certificate
- Permanent/provisional medical registration certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof of date of birth
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- PwBD certificate (if applicable)
- NRI documents (if applicable)
- Any other documents specified by MCC or your allotted college
Choice Filling and Locking: How to Rank Your Preferences
After you register, you can begin filling your choices of colleges and specialties from October 13 onwards. The MCC portal will display all available seats across government, private, and deemed institutions. You can rank your preferences in order of priority—for example, if you prefer MD General Medicine at AIIMS Delhi over MD Radiodiagnosis at a private college, rank AIIMS first. The system allows you to enter multiple choices, and the algorithm will allot you the highest-ranked seat for which your rank qualifies.
You must lock your choices by October 22 at noon. Once locked, you cannot change them. This is why research is critical: before you fill choices, study previous years' cutoff ranks for each college and specialty, understand the location and reputation of institutions, and consider your career goals. Many candidates regret their choices after locking, so take time to decide. Remember, the allotment is based on your rank, your choices, and the availability of seats—if your rank does not qualify for your first choice, the system will move to your second choice, and so on.
- Choice filling window: October 13–22
- Rank your colleges and specialties in order of preference
- Research previous years' cutoff ranks before filling
- Consider location, reputation, and career goals
- Lock your choices by October 22 at noon
- Locked choices cannot be changed
- Allotment is based on rank, choices, and seat availability
Understanding NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Ranks and Seat Availability
The MCC released the NEET PG 2026 seat matrix showing 63,177 total PG seats across MD, MS, diploma, DM, and MCh programmes. Of these, 58,468 seats are available through NEET PG for MD, MS, diploma, and six-year courses. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has also approved 5,000 additional PG seats for 2025–26 to 2028–29, so seat availability is increasing. Karnataka leads with 8,323 seats, followed by Maharashtra (6,992), Tamil Nadu (6,306), and Uttar Pradesh (6,082).
Last year's cutoff data shows that top colleges like AIIMS Delhi (Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute) had opening rank 1 and closing rank 15 for MD General Medicine in the 50% AIQ quota. NIMS Hyderabad closed at rank 16, while Maulana Azad Medical College closed at rank 62. For MD Radiodiagnosis, which is highly competitive, closing ranks were much higher—often in the thousands. Your NEET PG rank determines which colleges and specialties you can access. If your rank is 500, you cannot get a seat at a college that closed at rank 200, but you may qualify for colleges that closed at rank 600 or higher.
Every kind of PG seat, one rank
See the real seats your NEET-PG rank can reach.
- Total NEET PG 2026 seats: 63,177 (across all programmes)
- Seats available through NEET PG: 58,468 (MD, MS, diploma, six-year)
- 5,000 additional seats approved for 2025–26 to 2028–29
- Karnataka: 8,323 seats (highest)
- Maharashtra: 6,992 seats
- Tamil Nadu: 6,306 seats
- Uttar Pradesh: 6,082 seats
- Top colleges close at ranks 1–100 for General Medicine
- Competitive specialties like Radiodiagnosis close at ranks 1,000–5,000+
What Happens After Seat Allotment: Reporting and Joining
On October 24, the MCC will announce the Round 1 seat allotment result. You can check your allotted college and specialty on the MCC portal using your login credentials. If you receive a seat, you must report to your allotted college between October 26 and November 2, 2026. Reporting means physically visiting the college, submitting original documents for verification, and completing admission formalities. Do not miss this deadline—if you do not report, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate.
When you report, bring all original documents (degree, marksheets, registration certificate, identity proof, etc.) along with photocopies. The college will verify your documents and conduct a final medical fitness check if required. Once you join, the college will inform the MCC, and on November 3, the MCC will verify joined candidate data. If you do not get a seat in Round 1, you can participate in Round 2 (November 6–14) and Round 3 (November 26–December 4). A stray vacancy round will also be held in December for any remaining seats.
- Seat allotment result announced: October 24
- Reporting period: October 26–November 2
- Bring all original documents to the college
- Complete document verification and admission formalities
- Missing the reporting deadline cancels your seat
- MCC verifies joined candidate data: November 3
- Round 2 counselling: November 6–14
- Round 3 counselling: November 26–December 4
- Stray vacancy round: December 16–24
Special Considerations: PwBD Candidates and State Quota Seats
If you are a person with disability (PwBD), the MCC held a primary medical assessment board from October 1 to 9, 2026. You were required to visit the Primary Medical Assessment Centre during this period to complete the assessment. This assessment determines your eligibility for PwBD reservations and benefits. If you missed this deadline, contact the MCC immediately to see if you can still participate in counselling.
The MCC counselling covers 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. The remaining 50% state quota seats are managed by individual state authorities through their own counselling portals. For example, Karnataka uses the KEA (Karnataka Examination Authority) portal, Assam uses the DME (Directorate of Medical Education) portal, and so on. You may be eligible to participate in both AIQ and state quota counselling. Check your state's official portal for state quota registration deadlines and processes—these often run parallel to MCC counselling and have different schedules.
- PwBD candidates: Primary medical assessment was October 1–9
- Contact MCC if you missed the PwBD assessment
- MCC counselling covers 50% AIQ seats only
- State quota seats (50%) managed by state authorities
- Register separately for state quota counselling
- State counselling portals: KEA (Karnataka), DME (Assam), etc.
- State quota deadlines may differ from MCC deadlines
- You can participate in both AIQ and state quota counselling
Key Takeaways for NEET PG Aspirants: Do Not Miss These Dates
The NEET PG 2026 counselling process is time-sensitive and unforgiving. Missing even one deadline—registration by October 21, choice locking by October 22, or reporting by November 2—can cost you a seat in that round. Plan ahead: gather all documents now, understand the fee structure, research colleges and specialties, and mark all dates on your calendar. Set phone reminders for critical deadlines.
Your NEET PG rank is your most valuable asset in counselling. Use it strategically by filling choices that match your rank and career aspirations. Do not aim too high (you will not get a seat) or too low (you will regret your choice). If you do not get a seat in Round 1, do not panic—you have Round 2 and Round 3. However, seat availability decreases with each round, so participate actively in Round 1 if you are eligible. Finally, stay in touch with the MCC portal and your email for any updates or clarifications.
- Register by October 21 (non-negotiable)
- Lock choices by October 22 at noon
- Report to your allotted college by November 2
- Gather all documents before registration
- Research colleges and specialties before filling choices
- Use your NEET PG rank strategically
- Participate in Round 1 if eligible
- Check MCC portal and email regularly for updates
- Prepare for Round 2 and Round 3 if needed
- Verify state quota counselling deadlines separately
See the exact MD/MS/DNB seats your NEET-PG rank can get
Free 2-minute preview — round-wise closing ranks, fees and stipend for every seat your rank can reach.
See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When does NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling registration start and end?
Registration for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling began on October 12, 2026, and will close on October 21, 2026. You must complete registration and pay the prescribed fee by October 21 to participate in Round 1. After this date, you cannot register for Round 1, but you may be eligible for Round 2 (November 6–14) or Round 3 (November 26–December 4).
What documents do I need to register for NEET PG 2026 counselling?
You need your NEET PG scorecard, rank details, and admit card; MBBS degree or provisional certificate; MBBS marksheets; internship completion certificate; permanent or provisional medical registration certificate; valid government-issued photo ID; proof of date of birth; recent passport-size photographs; and category/PwBD/NRI certificates if applicable. Gather all documents before starting registration to avoid delays.
How much is the NEET PG 2026 counselling registration fee?
For 50% AIQ and central university seats, general category candidates pay Rs 1,000 (non-refundable) + Rs 25,000 (refundable deposit). SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates pay Rs 500 + Rs 10,000. For deemed universities, all categories pay Rs 5,000 + Rs 2,00,000. The registration fee is non-refundable; the security deposit is refunded after you join your allotted college.
When do I fill and lock my college choices, and what happens if I miss the deadline?
You can fill your college choices from October 13 onwards and must lock them by October 22 at noon. Once locked, you cannot change your choices. If you miss the locking deadline, your choices will not be considered for allotment, and you will not receive a seat in Round 1. You can participate in Round 2, but seat availability will be lower.
When will NEET PG 2026 Round 1 seat allotment results be announced?
The MCC will announce Round 1 seat allotment results on October 24, 2026. You can check your allotted college and specialty on the MCC portal using your login credentials. If you receive a seat, you must report to your allotted college between October 26 and November 2, 2026.
What happens if I do not report to my allotted college by November 2?
If you do not report to your allotted college by November 2, 2026, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate. You will not be eligible to participate in subsequent rounds unless you have a valid reason (medical emergency, etc.) and obtain written permission from the MCC. Always report on time to secure your seat.
Can I participate in both MCC (AIQ) and state quota counselling?
Yes, you can participate in both. The MCC counselling covers 50% All India Quota seats. The remaining 50% state quota seats are managed by individual state authorities (e.g., KEA for Karnataka, DME for Assam). You must register separately for state quota counselling on your state's official portal. State quota deadlines and processes may differ from MCC counselling, so check your state's website for details.
What is the difference between 'Freeze' and 'Float' options in NEET PG counselling?
After receiving a seat in Round 1, you can choose 'Freeze' or 'Float'. If you select Freeze, you accept your allotted seat and do not participate in subsequent rounds—your seat is final. If you select Float, you keep your current seat but can participate in Round 2 and Round 3 for a potentially better seat. If you get a better seat in a later round, you move to it; otherwise, you retain your current seat.
How many rounds of NEET PG 2026 counselling will be held?
The MCC will conduct three rounds of NEET PG 2026 counselling: Round 1 (October 12–24), Round 2 (November 6–14), and Round 3 (November 26–December 4). After Round 3, a stray vacancy round will be held (December 16–24) to fill any remaining seats. Seat availability decreases with each round, so participate in Round 1 if you are eligible.
What is the NEET PG 2026 seat matrix, and how does it affect my counselling?
The seat matrix is the official list of all available PG seats across government, private, and deemed institutions. The NMC released a matrix showing 63,177 total seats (58,468 through NEET PG). Karnataka has the most seats (8,323), followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The seat matrix determines which colleges and specialties are available for you to choose during counselling. Your NEET PG rank and your choices determine which seat you receive.
Register immediately at mcc.nic.in if you have not already done so—the October 21 deadline is firm. Research colleges and specialties now, prepare your documents, and plan your choice-filling strategy carefully. Remember, counselling is a one-time opportunity per round, so act decisively and meet every deadline.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.