NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Registration, Dates & Key Steps

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registration for NEET PG counselling 2026 round 1, marking the start of the admission process for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in MD, MS, PG Diploma, and DNB programmes across government, private, and deemed medical institutions. Qualified NEET PG candidates must register by October 21 and fill their college and course preferences by October 22 to participate in the seat allotment process. The first round of allotments will be announced on October 24, with reporting deadlines between October 26 and November 2. Understanding the timeline, fees, and documentation requirements is essential for a smooth admission journey.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Complete Timeline

The MCC has released a structured schedule for round 1 counselling spanning from October 10 to November 3, 2026. Colleges are currently verifying the seat matrix (October 10–12), after which the candidate registration window opens. This phased approach ensures that all institutions confirm their available seats before candidates begin selecting their preferences.

The registration and payment phase runs from October 12 to October 21, 2026. During this period, you must create your MCC login, complete the registration form, upload required documents, and pay the non-refundable registration fee along with the refundable security deposit. Choice filling and locking occur simultaneously from October 13 to October 22, allowing you to enter and finalize your college and course preferences while registration is still open.

After the choice-filling window closes, MCC will process allotments on October 22–23 and announce results on October 24. You will then have until November 2 to report to your allotted college and complete the admission process. On November 3, MCC will verify and share data on joined candidates with institutions.

• Seat matrix verification: October 10–12, 2026
• Registration and payment: October 12–21, 2026
• Choice filling and locking: October 13–22, 2026
• Seat allotment processing: October 22–23, 2026
• Seat allotment result announcement: October 24, 2026
• Reporting and joining deadline: October 26–November 2, 2026
• Joined candidate data verification: November 3, 2026

Registration Fees and Security Deposits for NEET PG 2026

The MCC has set category-specific fees to ensure fair access across all candidate groups. 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. Candidates from SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) categories pay a reduced registration fee of Rs 500 with a security deposit of Rs 10,000.

Deemed university candidates face higher fees: Rs 5,000 non-refundable registration fee and Rs 2,00,000 refundable security deposit, reflecting the higher cost structure of private institutions. The security deposit is refundable upon completion of the admission process or if you do not join the allotted college. Payment must be completed by October 21 to proceed with choice filling. Multiple payment methods—credit card, debit card, net banking, and UPI—are accepted through the MCC portal.

• AIQ/Central Universities (General): Rs 1,000 registration + Rs 25,000 security deposit
• AIQ/Central Universities (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD): Rs 500 registration + Rs 10,000 security deposit
• Deemed Universities (All categories): Rs 5,000 registration + Rs 2,00,000 security deposit
• Payment deadline: October 21, 2026
• Accepted payment methods: Credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI

How to Register for NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1

Begin by visiting the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in and navigating to the PG Medical Counselling section. Click on the 'New Registration' link under the candidates' activity section. You will be prompted to enter your NEET PG exam details, including your roll number, application number, and other personal information. Ensure all details match your NEET PG scorecard exactly to avoid registration errors.

After entering your details, create your login credentials (username and password) and sign in to the counselling portal. Complete the registration form by filling in personal information such as name, date of birth, contact details, category, and nationality. Upload all required documents in the specified format—typically PDF or image files. Once you have uploaded documents, proceed to the payment section and pay the applicable registration fee and security deposit using your preferred payment method.

After successful payment, submit your registration form. The system will generate a confirmation page with your registration number and details. Save and print this confirmation page for your records, as you will need it for future reference and during document verification at the allotted college.

• Visit mcc.nic.in and click on PG Medical Counselling section
• Select 'New Registration' and enter NEET PG details
• Create login credentials and sign in
• Fill personal and academic information in the registration form
• Upload all required documents
• Pay registration fee and security deposit
• Submit the form and save the confirmation page

Essential Documents for NEET PG Counselling Registration

You must have your NEET PG scorecard and admit card ready before starting registration. These documents prove your eligibility and contain your rank and marks. Additionally, you will need your MBBS degree certificate or provisional degree certificate, MBBS marksheets from all professional years, and an internship completion certificate. These academic documents establish your qualification to pursue postgraduate medical education.

Medical registration is mandatory: you must possess either a permanent or provisional registration certificate from the National Medical Commission (NMC) or your state medical council. Government-issued photo identity proof (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license) and date of birth proof are required for verification. If you belong to a reserved category, bring your category certificate. If you have a disability, bring your PwBD certificate issued by a competent authority. NRI candidates must provide additional NRI-related documents as specified by MCC.

Recent passport-size photographs (typically 4–6 copies) are needed for document verification and college admission processes. Some colleges may request additional documents during verification, so keep copies of all submitted documents. Ensure all certificates are valid and not expired before reporting to your allotted college.

• NEET PG scorecard and admit card
• MBBS degree or provisional degree certificate
• MBBS marksheets (all professional years)
• Internship completion certificate
• Permanent or provisional medical registration certificate
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Date of birth proof
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Category certificate (if applicable)
• PwBD certificate (if applicable)
• NRI-related documents (if applicable)
• Any additional documents specified by MCC or the allotted institution

Choice Filling and Seat Allotment Strategy

After registering, you will enter the choice-filling phase from October 13 to October 22. During this window, you can view the seat matrix showing available seats at each college for each course and category. Research colleges and specialties carefully before filling your choices. Consider factors such as college reputation, location, course competitiveness (based on previous year's closing ranks), and your own rank and preferences.

The MCC will allot seats based on your rank, the choices you have filled in order of preference, and the availability of seats. Higher-ranked candidates get priority. After receiving an allotment, you will have the option to choose between 'Freeze' and 'Float'. Selecting 'Freeze' means you accept the seat and will not participate in subsequent rounds. Choosing 'Float' allows you to seek an upgraded seat in round 2 or round 3, though you risk losing your current allotment if no better seat is available.

Previous year's closing ranks can guide your choice-filling strategy. For example, in 2025, MD General Medicine at top institutions like ABVIMS Delhi closed at rank 15, while seats at other government colleges closed at ranks ranging from 62 to 519. Use this data to estimate your chances at different colleges based on your NEET PG rank.

• Review the seat matrix carefully before filling choices
• Research colleges, specialties, and previous year's closing ranks
• Fill choices in order of preference
• Understand the Freeze and Float options for seat upgradation
• Freeze: Accept seat, no participation in further rounds
• Float: Seek upgradation in subsequent rounds (risk of losing current seat)
• Use previous year's data to estimate your chances

NEET PG 2026 Seat Availability and Distribution

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released the NEET PG 2026 seat matrix showing a total of 63,177 seats across MD, MS, PG Diploma, DM, and MCh programmes. Of these, 58,468 seats are available through NEET PG for MD, MS, PG Diploma, and six-year DNB courses. This represents an increase of approximately 5,827 seats compared to the previous year, reflecting the government's commitment to expanding postgraduate medical education capacity.

Seat distribution varies significantly by state. Karnataka leads with 8,323 PG seats, followed by Maharashtra with 6,992, Tamil Nadu with 6,306, and Uttar Pradesh with 6,082 seats. Government colleges account for 27,371 seats across 280 institutions, while private colleges offer 18,849 seats across 247 institutions. The 50% AIQ seats managed by MCC are distributed across central universities, deemed universities, ESIC (Employees' State Insurance Corporation) institutes, and AFMS (Armed Forces Medical Services) institutions.

• Total NEET PG 2026 seats: 63,177 (across all programmes)
• Seats available through NEET PG: 58,468 (MD, MS, PG Diploma, DNB)
• Increase from previous year: ~5,827 new seats
• Government colleges: 27,371 seats across 280 institutions
• Private colleges: 18,849 seats across 247 institutions
• Top states by seat availability: Karnataka (8,323), Maharashtra (6,992), Tamil Nadu (6,306), Uttar Pradesh (6,082)

State-Specific Counselling and Recent Policy Changes

While MCC manages 50% AIQ seats, the remaining 50% state quota seats are handled by individual state authorities through their respective counselling portals. Maharashtra has made a significant change: it has scrapped the physical institutional-level admission rounds for NEET PG 2026. All postgraduate medical and dental seats in Maharashtra will now be filled through a centralised online counselling process managed by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, streamlining the admission process and reducing delays.

Assam has released its provisional merit list for state quota seats on the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) website at dme.assam.gov.in. Candidates whose names do not appear on the list have until October 16 to submit missing documents. Karnataka's counselling is being conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), with registration open from October 5 to October 15 without a late fee. These state-level processes run parallel to MCC's AIQ counselling, so candidates eligible for both should track deadlines carefully.

• 50% AIQ seats: Managed by MCC at mcc.nic.in
• 50% State quota seats: Managed by individual state authorities
• Maharashtra: Centralised online counselling (no institutional rounds)
• Assam: Merit list released; October 16 deadline for missing documents
• Karnataka: KEA counselling; registration October 5–15 without late fee
• Candidates must track both MCC and state counselling timelines

Important Changes and New Features in NEET PG 2026 Counselling

The MCC has introduced several procedural improvements for NEET PG 2026 counselling. Document verification for candidates choosing the Float option (seeking seat upgradation) and NRI quota applicants will now be conducted online, reducing the need for physical visits and making the process more accessible. Additionally, MCC has established a dedicated 24/7 email address (mcc2026@gov.in) for counselling-related queries, enabling candidates to seek clarification on any aspect of the process at any time.

For candidates with disabilities, the Primary Medical Assessment Board will remain open from October 1 to October 9, 2026. Candidates must visit the designated Primary Medical Assessment Centre within this window to complete the assessment process, which is a prerequisite for PwBD category consideration in counselling. This early deadline ensures that disability assessments do not delay the main counselling process.

• Online document verification for Float candidates and NRI applicants
• 24/7 dedicated email support: mcc2026@gov.in
• Primary Medical Assessment Board: October 1–9, 2026 (for PwBD candidates)
• Freeze and Float options for seat management
• Three main counselling rounds plus a stray vacancy round

Future Rounds and Stray Vacancy Process

After round 1 concludes on November 3, MCC will conduct round 2 from November 6 to November 14, 2026, with seat allotment on November 15 and reporting by November 23. Round 3 will follow from November 26 to December 4, with allotment on December 5 and reporting by December 12. Candidates who do not secure a seat in the first three rounds or wish to upgrade can participate in the stray vacancy round scheduled from December 16 to December 24, with a final reporting deadline of December 31, 2026.

In each round, the seat matrix is updated to reflect newly available seats from candidates who did not join or who upgraded to other colleges. Before filling choices in subsequent rounds, always check the updated seat matrix to understand current availability. The stray vacancy round is the final opportunity to secure a PG seat through MCC counselling, so candidates should carefully plan their choices across all rounds.

• Round 2: November 6–14, 2026; allotment November 15; reporting by November 23
• Round 3: November 26–December 4, 2026; allotment December 5; reporting by December 12
• Stray Vacancy Round: December 16–24, 2026; reporting by December 31
• Seat matrix updated after each round
• Check updated availability before filling choices in subsequent rounds

Frequently asked questions

Register for NEET PG counselling 2026 round 1 immediately at mcc.nic.in if you have qualified the exam. Pay close attention to the October 21 registration deadline and October 22 choice-filling deadline to avoid missing this critical window. Keep all required documents ready, research colleges using previous year's closing ranks, and plan your choices strategically to maximise your chances of securing a seat in your preferred speciality and institution.