NEET UG 2026 Counselling: AIQ Candidates Must Be Filtered Before State Round-3

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued an urgent notice on 10 October 2026 directing all state counselling authorities to filter out candidates who have already joined seats under the All India Quota (AIQ) before processing Round-3 of state UG counselling. This order follows a Supreme Court direction in the Shubhankar Patnaik case to prevent candidates from holding seats in both AIQ and state counselling simultaneously. Round-3 reporting has already closed (09.10.2026), and state authorities are now processing allotments. The notice is critical for candidates who secured AIQ seats and are waiting for state counselling results — you must understand whether you are protected from double allotment or at risk of losing your state seat.

What This Notice Means: The Double-Allotment Problem

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that no candidate can hold two medical seats at the same time — one from All India Quota counselling and another from state counselling. This is called 'double allotment' and it wastes seats that other deserving candidates could fill.

Until now, some candidates who joined AIQ seats were still being allotted seats in state counselling Round-3. This notice stops that. MCC is ordering every state counselling authority to cross-check their Round-3 allotment list against the list of candidates who have already joined AIQ seats, and remove those candidates before final seat processing.

This is not a new rule — it is a Supreme Court order being enforced now. The notice is urgent because Round-3 reporting has just closed and state authorities are about to process and announce Round-3 allotments.

Who Is Affected: AIQ Candidates and State Counselling Candidates

**If you joined an AIQ seat in any round up to Round-3 (2026):** You are affected. Your name will be filtered out of state counselling Round-3 allotment. You cannot receive a state seat because you already have an AIQ seat. This is final — you must join your AIQ seat and cannot switch to a state seat.

**If you did NOT join an AIQ seat and are waiting for state Round-3 allotment:** You are also affected, but positively. Candidates who joined AIQ seats will be removed from the state allotment pool, which means more seats become available for candidates like you who are competing only in state counselling.

**If you are a fresh candidate applying in state counselling for the first time:** This notice does not directly affect your eligibility, but it clarifies the rule: once you join any seat (AIQ or state), you cannot hold another seat simultaneously.

The Supreme Court Order Behind This Notice

This notice is based on Contempt Petition No. 289 of 2022 in W.P. No. 223 of 2022, titled Shubhankar Patnaik Vs. K. Ramesh Reddy & Ors., decided by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The Court ruled that filtering out joined AIQ candidates is **mandatory** before the stray vacancy round of state UG counselling.

A 'stray vacancy round' is a round where seats that remain unfilled after all regular rounds are offered to candidates. The Supreme Court's direction ensures that only candidates who have NOT joined any seat can compete for these stray vacancies.

This is a binding legal order, not a suggestion. All state counselling authorities must comply. If they do not, they can face contempt of court proceedings.

What MCC Is Asking State Authorities to Do

MCC has instructed all state counselling authorities to take the following steps before finalizing Round-3 allotments:

1. **Download the AIQ allotment list:** State authorities can access the list of all candidates who have been allotted and have joined AIQ seats up to Round-3 from the MCC data sharing portal.

2. **Cross-check against state Round-3 allotment:** Before seat processing of Round-3, authorities must compare their state allotment list with the AIQ joined candidates list.

3. **Remove AIQ candidates:** Any candidate appearing in both lists must be removed from the state Round-3 allotment.

4. **Process remaining candidates:** Only candidates who have NOT joined any AIQ seat will be allotted state seats in Round-3.

This filtering must happen **before** the final allotment is announced, not after. Once a candidate is removed, they cannot appeal or request reinstatement — they already have an AIQ seat.

• Download AIQ allotment list from MCC data sharing portal
• Cross-check state Round-3 allotment against AIQ list
• Remove all candidates who joined AIQ seats
• Process and announce allotment for remaining candidates only

Important Dates and Timeline

**09.10.2026:** Round-3 reporting deadline — candidates had to report/join their allotted seats by this date.

**10.10.2026:** This notice issued — MCC directs state authorities to filter AIQ candidates immediately.

**After 10.10.2026:** State counselling authorities are processing Round-3 allotments with the filtering in place. The exact date of Round-3 allotment announcement will be announced by your state counselling authority separately.

The notice does not specify when Round-3 allotment will be announced, so check your state counselling authority's website (e.g., OJEE for Odisha) for the exact date.

• 09.10.2026 — Round-3 reporting closed
• 10.10.2026 — MCC issues filtering order
• After 10.10.2026 — State authorities process allotments with filtering

What Happens If You Joined an AIQ Seat

If you received an AIQ allotment in Round-1, Round-2, or Round-3 and you reported/joined that seat by 09.10.2026, you are now locked into that seat. Your name will be removed from state counselling Round-3 allotment processing.

**You cannot switch to a state seat.** Even if a state seat with a better college or course is allotted to you, you will not receive it because you have already joined an AIQ seat. The state seat will go to the next eligible candidate.

**You must join your AIQ seat.** If you have not yet reported to your AIQ college, do so immediately. Failure to join within the stipulated time may result in forfeiture of your seat.

**This is final.** There is no appeal or exception process. The Supreme Court order is absolute.

What Happens If You Did NOT Join an AIQ Seat

If you did not receive an AIQ allotment, or you received one but did not report/join it, you remain eligible for state counselling Round-3. Your name will NOT be filtered out.

**You can compete for state Round-3 seats.** Your eligibility depends on your NEET rank, category, and state counselling merit list — not on this filtering notice.

**Benefit from filtering:** Because AIQ candidates are being removed, more state seats may become available for candidates competing in state counselling. This increases your chances of allotment.

**Check your state counselling authority's website** for Round-3 allotment announcement and merit list. Do not assume you will get a seat — allotment depends on your rank and the number of available seats.

How to Check If You Are Filtered Out

You will know you are filtered out when Round-3 allotment results are announced. If you joined an AIQ seat and your name does not appear in the state Round-3 allotment list, it is because you have been filtered out as per this notice.

**Do not panic.** This is expected and correct. You already have an AIQ seat, so you should not receive a state seat.

**If you believe you were filtered incorrectly** (e.g., you did not actually join an AIQ seat, or there was an error), contact your state counselling authority immediately with proof. However, such cases are rare because MCC's data is cross-verified.

**If you did not join an AIQ seat but are still filtered out,** contact your state counselling authority with proof that you did not join. Provide your AIQ allotment letter (if you received one) showing that you did not report.

Common Mistakes and Traps to Avoid

**Trap 1: Assuming you can hold both seats.** You cannot. Once you join any seat (AIQ or state), you are locked in. If you later get allotted a state seat, you will be filtered out and cannot claim it.

**Trap 2: Not reporting to your AIQ seat on time.** If you received an AIQ allotment and did not report by the deadline, you may have forfeited it. Check with MCC or your AIQ college immediately. If you forfeited it, you may still be eligible for state counselling.

**Trap 3: Confusing 'allotment' with 'joining'.** Being allotted a seat is not the same as joining it. You must physically report to the college and complete admission formalities to 'join'. Only joined candidates are filtered out.

**Trap 4: Ignoring state counselling authority announcements.** Each state has its own counselling schedule and process. Do not rely only on this MCC notice — check your state authority's website (e.g., OJEE for Odisha) for Round-3 allotment dates and procedures.

**Trap 5: Assuming filtering is automatic.** While MCC has ordered filtering, it is the state authority's responsibility to execute it. If you believe filtering was not done correctly, raise a complaint with your state authority, not MCC.

What This Notice Does NOT Change

This notice does not change your eligibility criteria, merit list position, or category status. It only removes candidates who have already joined AIQ seats from state allotment processing.

**It does not open new seats.** The total number of state seats remains the same. Filtering just ensures those seats go to candidates who have not already joined another seat.

**It does not affect previous rounds.** Round-1 and Round-2 allotments are final. This filtering applies only to Round-3 processing.

**It does not change the stray vacancy round.** After Round-3, if seats remain unfilled, a stray vacancy round will be held. The same filtering rule will apply there too — only candidates who have not joined any seat can participate.

Frequently asked questions

If you have joined an AIQ seat, understand that you are now locked into that seat and will be filtered out of state Round-3 allotment — this is final and correct. If you have not joined an AIQ seat, check your state counselling authority's website (e.g., OJEE for Odisha) for Round-3 allotment announcement and merit list. Do not wait passively — verify your status and take action immediately if there is any confusion about whether you joined an AIQ seat or not. Contact your state counselling authority if you have questions about your eligibility or filtering status.