NEET UG 2026 AIQ Round 1 Counselling Schedule: Dates & Key Deadlines

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has released the official schedule for Round 1 of online counselling for NEET UG 2026. This schedule applies to candidates eligible for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and those applying to 100% deemed universities, central universities, AFMC, AIIMS institutions, and JIPMER (Puducherry and Karaikal) for MBBS and BDS courses. The counselling process includes registration, choice filling, seat processing, and allotment across a 28-day window starting 4 August 2026. Every date and time in this schedule is in server time, and missing even a single deadline can result in losing your seat opportunity.

What is this counselling round and who needs to know?

This is Round 1 of the national online counselling process for NEET UG 2026 MBBS and BDS seats. It covers three categories of seats: the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats that are filled centrally by DGHS, and 100% of the seats in deemed universities, central universities, AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College), AIIMS institutions, and JIPMER campuses in Puducherry and Karaikal.

If you have qualified NEET UG 2026 and are eligible for any of these categories, you must participate in this counselling to secure a seat. This is not optional — if you want an MBBS or BDS seat in these institutions, you must register and fill your choices within the given windows. Missing a deadline means you lose your chance in this round.

Important dates at a glance

The entire Round 1 process spans from 4 August to 1 September 2026. Below is the complete timeline with exact dates and times. All times are in server time — this is the official time used by the counselling portal, not your local time. If you are in a different time zone, convert accordingly to avoid missing deadlines.

Registration and payment: what you must do

Registration is the first step. You must register on the official counselling portal between 5 August and 15 August 2026. Registration closes at 3:00 PM on 15 August (server time) — this is a hard deadline. You cannot register after this time, even by one minute.

When you register, you must pay the counselling fee. The payment gateway will be open from 5 August until 5:00 PM on 15 August 2026 (server time). Note that the registration deadline (3:00 PM) is earlier than the payment deadline (5:00 PM) — this means you can register up to 3:00 PM and still have until 5:00 PM to pay. However, do not wait until the last moment; technical issues or delays can prevent payment.

Keep your registration number and password safe. You will need them to log in and fill your choices. If you forget your password, you may not be able to recover it in time, so write it down or store it securely.

• Registration window: 5 August to 15 August 2026, 3:00 PM (server time)
• Payment window: 5 August to 15 August 2026, 5:00 PM (server time)
• Payment must be completed to proceed to choice filling
• Keep your registration credentials safe

Choice filling and locking: how to rank your preferences

After registration and payment, you can fill your choices — the list of colleges and courses you wish to be considered for, ranked in order of your preference. The choice-filling window opens on 6 August 2026 and remains open until 11:59 PM on 18 August 2026 (server time).

You can add, edit, and reorder your choices at any time during this window. However, once you lock your choices, you cannot change them. Choice locking begins at 5:30 PM on 17 August 2026 and continues until 11:59 PM on 18 August 2026. This means you have a 26-hour window to lock your choices — from 5:30 PM on 17 August to 11:59 PM on 18 August.

⚠️ **Critical trap:** If you do not lock your choices by 11:59 PM on 18 August, your choices will be automatically locked at that time. You cannot fill or change choices after 11:59 PM on 18 August. Many candidates miss this deadline thinking they have more time. Lock your choices well before the deadline — ideally by 18 August afternoon — to avoid last-minute portal crashes or internet issues.

Rank your choices carefully. The allotment algorithm will try to give you the highest-ranked choice you are eligible for. If you rank a college first but do not meet its cutoff, you will not get that college; the system will move to your second choice, and so on.

• Choice filling opens: 6 August 2026
• Choice filling closes: 18 August 2026, 11:59 PM (server time)
• Choice locking window: 17 August 2026, 5:30 PM to 18 August 2026, 11:59 PM
• Choices are automatically locked at 11:59 PM on 18 August if you have not locked them manually
• You cannot change choices after locking

Seat allotment processing and result declaration

After the choice-filling window closes on 18 August 2026, the system does not immediately declare results. Instead, there is a 2-day processing period: 19–20 August 2026. During these two days, the counselling algorithm processes all registered candidates' choices and generates seat allotments based on merit rank, category, and your choice order.

On 21 August 2026, the allotment result is declared. This is when you will know which college and course you have been allotted. You must check the result on the official portal using your registration number and password. Do not rely on emails or messages — always verify on the portal.

The result will show your allotted college, course (MBBS or BDS), and the date by which you must report and join. If you do not report by the joining deadline, your seat may be cancelled and offered to the next candidate on the waiting list.

• Processing period: 19–20 August 2026 (no candidate action required)
• Result declared: 21 August 2026
• Check result on the official portal immediately
• Note your allotted college and joining deadline

Reporting and joining: the final step

Once you receive your allotment result on 21 August 2026, you must report to your allotted college and complete the admission process. The reporting and joining window is 22–31 August 2026 — a 10-day period. You must physically report to the college, submit original documents, pay the admission fee, and complete all formalities within this window.

If you do not report within this 10-day window, your seat will be cancelled. The college will then offer your seat to the next candidate on the waiting list. There is no extension for reporting — the deadline is firm.

After you join, the college will verify your documents and confirm your admission in the system. On 1 September 2026, institutes will verify and upload the data of all joined candidates to the central system. This is the final step of Round 1.

• Reporting and joining window: 22–31 August 2026
• Report to your allotted college in person
• Submit original documents and pay admission fee
• Failure to report within 10 days results in seat cancellation
• College verifies joined candidates by 1 September 2026

Which institutions and seats are covered?

This Round 1 counselling covers seats in the following categories:

**15% All India Quota (AIQ):** These are MBBS and BDS seats in government medical and dental colleges across India that are reserved for national-level merit-based allocation. Any NEET-qualified candidate from any state can apply for these seats.

**100% Deemed Universities:** Private universities with deemed status can fill all their MBBS and BDS seats through this counselling. Examples include Manipal, Saveetha, and others.

**Central Universities:** Central universities offering MBBS or BDS (if any) fill their seats through this process.

**AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College):** The military medical college in Pune fills its MBBS seats through this counselling.

**AIIMS Institutions:** All AIIMS across India (Delhi, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Patna, Rishikesh, Raipur, Nagpur, Bibinagar, Bathinda, Kalyani, Mangalagiri, Guwahati, Vijaypur, Rae Bareli, and others) fill their MBBS seats through this process.

**JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal):** The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Puducherry and its Karaikal campus fill their MBBS and BDS seats through this counselling.

• 15% AIQ seats in government medical and dental colleges
• 100% seats in deemed universities (MBBS and BDS)
• Central university MBBS/BDS seats
• AFMC MBBS seats
• All AIIMS MBBS seats
• JIPMER (Puducherry and Karaikal) MBBS and BDS seats

Server time: why it matters and how to check

Every deadline in this schedule is in **server time**, not your local time. Server time is the official time maintained by the counselling portal's servers. If you are in a different time zone, you must convert the deadline to your local time to avoid missing it.

For example, if the deadline is 3:00 PM server time and you are in India Standard Time (IST), the server time is typically IST. However, if the portal uses a different server location, the conversion may differ. Check the official counselling portal for clarification on which time zone the server uses.

⚠️ **Critical:** Do not assume your local time is the same as server time. Many candidates miss deadlines because they miscalculate the time difference. Log in to the portal a few hours before the deadline and check the countdown timer displayed on the portal itself — this will show you the exact time remaining and eliminate any confusion.

• All deadlines are in server time, not local time
• Check the official portal for the server time zone
• Use the portal's countdown timer to verify time remaining
• Submit well before the deadline to avoid time zone confusion

Common mistakes that get your application rejected or delayed

**Missing the registration deadline:** Registration closes at 3:00 PM on 15 August. If you register after this time, you cannot participate in Round 1. You will have to wait for Round 2 (if announced) or accept a seat through a different process.

**Not paying the counselling fee:** Registration alone is not enough. You must pay the fee by 5:00 PM on 15 August. If you register but do not pay, you will not be able to fill choices.

**Not locking choices by the deadline:** If you do not lock your choices by 11:59 PM on 18 August, they will be automatically locked. If you have not filled any choices by then, you will have no preferences in the system, and the allotment algorithm will have nothing to work with.

**Filling incomplete or incorrect choice lists:** The more choices you fill, the better your chances of getting a seat. Fill as many valid choices as possible, ranked in order of your preference.

**Not checking the result on time:** The result is declared on 21 August. If you do not check it immediately, you may miss the reporting deadline of 22–31 August and lose your seat.

**Missing the reporting deadline:** You must report to your allotted college between 22–31 August. If you report after 31 August, your seat will be cancelled. There is no extension.

**Submitting incomplete documents at the college:** When you report, bring all original documents (NEET admit card, mark sheet, category certificate if applicable, domicile certificate, etc.). If documents are missing, the college may not complete your admission.

• Register by 3:00 PM on 15 August — no exceptions
• Pay the fee by 5:00 PM on 15 August
• Lock your choices by 11:59 PM on 18 August
• Fill as many choices as possible
• Check the result on 21 August immediately
• Report to your college by 31 August
• Bring all original documents when reporting

What happens if you miss a deadline?

If you miss the registration deadline (3:00 PM on 15 August), you cannot participate in Round 1. You will have to wait for Round 2 counselling (if announced by DGHS) or explore other admission routes.

If you register but do not pay by 5:00 PM on 15 August, your registration will be incomplete, and you will not be able to fill choices.

If you do not fill or lock choices by 11:59 PM on 18 August, you will have no preferences in the system. The allotment algorithm will not know which colleges you want, and you may not receive any seat in Round 1.

If you do not report to your allotted college by 31 August 2026, your seat will be cancelled. The college will offer it to the next candidate on the waiting list. You will lose your opportunity in Round 1.

There are no extensions or exceptions for any deadline. The schedule is fixed and applies to all candidates equally.

• Miss registration deadline → cannot participate in Round 1
• Miss payment deadline → cannot fill choices
• Miss choice-locking deadline → no preferences recorded
• Miss reporting deadline → seat cancelled
• No extensions or exceptions for any deadline

How to prepare now

**Gather your documents:** Collect your NEET admit card, mark sheet, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and any other documents the college may require. Keep them in a safe place.

**Research colleges and courses:** Visit the websites of colleges you are interested in. Note their cutoff ranks, fees, and course details. Make a list of colleges ranked by your preference.

**Plan your choices:** Decide which colleges and courses you will apply for. Rank them in order of preference. Include both aspirational choices (colleges you hope to get into) and safe choices (colleges where your rank is likely to secure a seat).

**Check the official portal:** Bookmark the official counselling portal. Familiarize yourself with its layout and features. Know where to find the registration form, choice-filling interface, and result page.

**Set reminders:** Mark all key dates on your calendar. Set phone reminders for 5 August (registration opens), 15 August (registration closes), 18 August (choice locking closes), and 21 August (result declared).

**Verify server time:** A few days before registration opens, log in to the portal and check what time it displays. This will help you understand the server time zone and avoid confusion on the actual deadline.

• Gather all required documents now
• Research colleges and their cutoffs
• Plan and rank your college choices
• Familiarize yourself with the official portal
• Set calendar reminders for all key dates
• Verify the server time zone before registration opens

Frequently asked questions

Mark these dates on your calendar now: registration opens 5 August, closes 15 August (3:00 PM); choice filling 6–18 August (lock by 11:59 PM on 18 August); result 21 August; reporting 22–31 August. Every deadline is in server time — verify the time zone on the official portal before registration opens. Do not miss any deadline; there are no extensions. Start preparing your choice list and gathering documents today.