NEET PG 2026 Round 1 Counselling Registration Open: Key Dates and Steps

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registration for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling on its official portal. All NEET PG qualified candidates who wish to secure a postgraduate medical seat in India's government and private medical colleges must register and fill their course and college preferences within the announced window. Registration closes on October 21, 2026, and the entire allotment process will conclude by late October, with reporting to colleges beginning in early November. This is a critical phase for every MBBS graduate aiming to pursue an MD, MS, or PG Diploma.

Registration Window and Critical Deadlines for Round 1

The registration portal at mcc.nic.in became active on October 12, 2026, and will remain open for registration and fee payment until October 21, 2026. This is the only window for Round 1 participation; candidates who miss this deadline will not be able to register for the first allotment round and will have to wait for subsequent rounds, which may delay their admission by weeks.

Alongside registration, candidates must complete their choice filling and locking between October 13 and October 22, 2026. This overlapping window gives aspirants a 10-day period to both register and finalize their preferences. The allotment process itself will run from October 22 to 23, with results announced on October 24, 2026. Reporting to allotted colleges begins October 26 and extends until November 2, 2026.

• Registration and fee payment: October 12–21, 2026
• Choice filling and locking: October 13–22, 2026
• Seat allotment process: October 22–23, 2026
• Allotment result announcement: October 24, 2026
• College reporting period: October 26 – November 2, 2026

How to Register: Step-by-Step Process on mcc.nic.in

Candidates must visit the official MCC website (mcc.nic.in) and locate the Round 1 registration link. After logging in with their NEET PG credentials (roll number and password), they will be directed to fill out the online application form with personal and academic details. Accuracy is essential at this stage, as errors may lead to complications during document verification and seat allotment.

Once the form is completed, candidates must submit the registration fee using online payment methods—credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. Fee payment is mandatory to proceed to the choice-filling stage. After payment confirmation, candidates must upload all required documents in the specified format (typically scanned PDFs) and then save and submit their registration. The system will generate a confirmation receipt, which should be saved for future reference.

• Visit mcc.nic.in and click on Round 1 Registration link
• Log in using NEET PG roll number and password
• Fill out the online application form with accurate details
• Submit the registration fee via card, net banking, or UPI
• Upload all required documents in scanned format
• Save and submit the registration form
• Download and retain the confirmation receipt

Essential Documents You Must Upload During Registration

The MCC requires candidates to upload a comprehensive set of documents to verify eligibility and identity. These include the NEET PG 2026 admit card, scorecard or rank letter, MBBS degree or provisional certificate, MBBS mark sheets, and internship completion certificate. Additionally, candidates must provide their medical registration certificate (obtained from the state medical council), proof of date of birth, and a valid government-issued photo ID such as a passport, Aadhaar, or driving license.

Depending on a candidate's category and circumstances, additional documents may be required. These include caste or category certificate (for SC/ST/OBC candidates), PwBD (Person with Benchmark Disability) certificate if applicable, domicile certificate, and NRI documents if the candidate is a non-resident Indian. Passport-size photographs are also mandatory. Ensure all documents are scanned clearly and uploaded in the correct format to avoid rejection or delays during verification.

• NEET PG 2026 admit card
• NEET PG scorecard or rank letter
• MBBS degree or provisional certificate
• MBBS mark sheets (all semesters)
• Internship completion certificate
• Medical registration certificate
• Date of birth proof (birth certificate or 10th mark sheet)
• Valid government photo ID (passport, Aadhaar, or driving licence)
• Passport-size photographs (digital format)
• Caste/category certificate (if applicable)
• PwBD certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile certificate
• NRI documents (if applicable)

NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Scores: Minimum Marks by Category

The National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has released the minimum qualifying marks and percentiles required for NEET PG 2026 admission. These cutoffs determine whether a candidate is eligible to participate in counselling and compete for seats. The cutoff varies by category to ensure equitable representation across different groups.

General and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates must achieve the 50th percentile, corresponding to a minimum score of 262 out of 720. General category candidates with a disability (PwBD) need to score at the 45th percentile (244 marks). Candidates from SC, ST, and OBC categories, including those with disabilities within these groups, must meet the 40th percentile threshold, which translates to 226 marks. Any candidate scoring below their category's cutoff is ineligible for counselling and cannot participate in any round.

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Register for NEET PG Counselling

To be eligible for NEET PG 2026 counselling, a candidate must have qualified the NEET PG entrance examination with a score at or above their category's minimum cutoff. Qualification alone does not guarantee a seat; it only permits participation in the counselling process. Additionally, candidates must hold a valid MBBS degree or a provisional certificate issued by their medical college, confirming that they have completed all academic and clinical requirements.

NEET PG counselling allocates 50% of available postgraduate seats in medical colleges and institutions across India through the All India Quota (AIQ) system. The remaining 50% are filled through state-level counselling conducted by individual state medical authorities. Candidates participating in MCC's Round 1 are competing for these AIQ seats, which span government medical colleges, deemed universities, and certain private institutions participating in the national counselling process.

• Must have qualified NEET PG 2026 with marks at or above category cutoff
• Must hold MBBS degree or provisional certificate
• Must have completed internship
• Must be registered with state medical council
• Eligible to compete for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats
• Can participate in multiple rounds if not allotted in earlier rounds

Registration Fee and Payment Methods

The MCC requires all candidates to pay a registration fee to participate in counselling. This fee is non-refundable and must be submitted online during the registration window. The fee can be paid using multiple convenient methods: credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. The payment gateway is integrated into the registration portal, so candidates can complete the transaction immediately after filling their form.

Fee payment is a mandatory step; without it, the system will not allow candidates to proceed to the choice-filling stage. Candidates should ensure they have a valid payment method available and sufficient funds before beginning registration. It is advisable to complete registration and fee payment well before the October 21 deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues or payment failures.

• Registration fee is mandatory and non-refundable
• Payment methods: credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI
• Payment must be completed during registration window (October 12–21)
• Fee payment is required to unlock choice-filling stage
• Complete payment well before deadline to avoid technical delays

What Happens After Registration: Choice Filling and Allotment

Once registration and fee payment are confirmed, candidates enter the choice-filling phase (October 13–22, 2026). During this window, candidates must log back into the portal and select their preferred postgraduate courses (MD, MS, or PG Diploma) and colleges in order of preference. The system allows candidates to rank multiple options; the allotment algorithm will match candidates to seats based on their rank, category, and preferences, following a merit-based and preference-based matching process.

After the choice-filling window closes on October 22, the MCC will process all registrations and preferences through its allotment algorithm on October 22–23. Results will be announced on October 24, 2026. Candidates who are allotted a seat must report to their assigned college between October 26 and November 2, 2026, with all original documents for verification and admission formalities. Those not allotted in Round 1 can participate in subsequent rounds (typically Round 2 and mop-up rounds) if they wish to continue.

• Choice filling window: October 13–22, 2026
• Rank courses and colleges in order of preference
• Allotment algorithm runs October 22–23
• Results announced October 24, 2026
• Reporting to college: October 26 – November 2, 2026
• Non-allotted candidates can participate in Round 2 and mop-up rounds

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Registration

One of the most frequent errors is providing incorrect or incomplete information in the registration form. Candidates often mistype their NEET roll number, date of birth, or contact details, which can cause mismatches during document verification and seat allotment. Always double-check every field before submission. Another common mistake is uploading documents in the wrong format or with poor image quality; ensure all scans are clear, legible, and in the format specified by the MCC (usually PDF).

Candidates also sometimes forget to lock their choices after filling them, which can result in their preferences not being saved. Always click the 'lock' or 'finalize' button after entering your choices. Additionally, do not wait until the last day to register; the portal may experience high traffic, leading to slow loading or payment failures. Register at least 2–3 days before the deadline to ensure a smooth process. Finally, keep your NEET PG credentials (roll number and password) safe and do not share them with anyone.

• Verify all personal and academic information before submission
• Upload documents in correct format with clear, legible scans
• Lock your choices after filling preferences
• Register well before the deadline to avoid technical issues
• Do not share NEET PG credentials with anyone
• Keep confirmation receipts and registration details for future reference
• Ensure all required documents are uploaded before submitting

Frequently asked questions

Register immediately at mcc.nic.in to secure your spot in NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling; the deadline is October 21, 2026. Ensure all documents are uploaded, fees are paid, and choices are locked by October 22 to be eligible for seat allotment on October 24. Plan your college reporting well in advance, as the reporting window closes on November 2, 2026.