The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs admissions to the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing courses, has put out its complete counselling calendar for 2026 on mcc.nic.in. This matters to every NEET-UG qualifier because it fixes the exact dates on which they can register, pick colleges, and get admitted, leaving no room for guesswork. Alongside the AIQ schedule, individual states have started publishing their own timelines for the 85% State Quota seats, which is where most candidates ultimately get admitted. With three regular rounds and a final stray vacancy round planned before the new academic session begins, aspirants now have a fixed window to plan documents, choice-filling and travel. Missing any of these deadlines can mean losing a seat for the year, so the schedule deserves careful attention.
Mark the AIQ Round 1 registration and choice-locking window on your calendar now, because seat allotment in NEET UG counselling is driven entirely by rank, category and the preferences you lock — a delay of even a day can cost you a seat.
What MCC has actually announced
MCC oversees the 15% AIQ seats in government and deemed medical and dental colleges across the country, along with seats in central universities and B.Sc. Nursing programmes. The remaining 85% of seats in each state's government colleges, plus most private and management-quota seats, are handled by that state's own counselling authority under its own timeline.
The newly released calendar lays out three full rounds of counselling for both AIQ and State Quota, followed by a stray vacancy round to fill any seats left empty after Round 3. It also fixes dates for candidate verification by MCC and by state Directorates of Medical Education (DMEs), and confirms that the new MBBS/BDS academic session is expected to start on 8th September 2026.
Round-by-round dates at a glance
The table below summarises the key windows for registration, choice-filling and joining across the three rounds and the stray vacancy round. Candidates should treat the 'last date of joining' entries as hard deadlines — a seat allotted but not joined by that date is normally forfeited.
| Round | AIQ Window | AIQ Last Date to Join | State Quota Window | State Quota Last Date to Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 4 Aug – 17 Aug 2026 | 22 Aug 2026 | 13 Aug – 22 Aug 2026 | 28 Aug 2026 |
| Round 2 | 24 Aug – 2 Sep 2026 | 8 Sep 2026 | 31 Aug – 8 Sep 2026 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Round 3 | 10 Sep – 18 Sep 2026 | 26 Sep 2026 | 16 Sep – 26 Sep 2026 | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Stray Vacancy | 28 Sep – 3 Oct 2026 | 10 Oct 2026 | 3 Oct – 5 Oct 2026 | 10 Oct 2026 |
How to register on the MCC portal
Registration for AIQ seats happens only on mcc.nic.in, and candidates need their NEET-UG roll number, application number and security PIN to log in. The process is the same broad structure every year, but a few steps are easy to fumble under time pressure.
- Go to mcc.nic.in and open the 'UG Medical' section from the homepage menu.
- Register using your roll number, application number and security PIN, then upload the required certificates.
- Pay the registration fee (non-refundable) along with the security deposit (refundable, subject to conditions).
- Fill in your college and course preferences in order of priority — this order is what MCC's algorithm uses to allot your seat.
- Lock your choices before the deadline and save or download your choice slip for your records.
AIQ versus State Quota: why both timelines matter
Most NEET UG candidates will interact with both AIQ and State Quota counselling at some point, since the two run in parallel with slightly staggered dates. A candidate can register for both and, depending on the rules, may need to choose between an AIQ allotment and a state allotment if both come through in overlapping windows.
Because state authorities set their own exact registration dates, fee structures and eligibility conditions (such as domicile requirements), aspirants must check their specific state's counselling website in addition to mcc.nic.in. The dates in the national schedule act as a broad reference point, but states may open or close their windows a few days earlier or later within that frame.
What aspirants should do right now
With Round 1 registration opening in the first week of August 2026, the practical to-do list is short but urgent.
- Keep NEET-UG scorecard, category certificates, ID proof, address proof and passport-size photos scanned and ready in the formats MCC and your state portal require.
- Research colleges and cut-off trends in advance so you can rank your preferences quickly once the choice-filling window opens — don't wait to research after registration begins.
- Track your specific state's counselling website separately from mcc.nic.in, since state deadlines do not always match the AIQ dates exactly.
- Set reminders for both the choice-locking deadline and the joining deadline in each round; both carry consequences if missed.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Where do I register for NEET UG 2026 AIQ counselling?
Only on the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, under the 'UG Medical' section. State Quota registration happens on your respective state's own counselling portal.
When does Round 1 registration start?
The AIQ Round 1 process runs from 4th August to 17th August 2026 for registration and choice-locking, with joining to be completed by 22nd August 2026. State Quota Round 1 runs from 13th to 22nd August 2026.
How many rounds of counselling will there be in 2026?
Three regular rounds followed by a stray vacancy round for both AIQ and State Quota, aimed at filling as many seats as possible before the academic session starts.
What happens if I don't join after being allotted a seat?
Missing the 'last date of joining' for your allotted round typically means forfeiting that seat, so it is treated as a firm deadline, not a suggestion.
Can I participate in both AIQ and State Quota counselling?
Yes, most candidates register for both, since they are separate processes running on separate portals with staggered timelines. Rules on choosing between simultaneous allotments vary, so check the guidance on each portal.
When does the new academic session begin?
The academic session for MBBS, BDS and related UG courses is expected to commence on 8th September 2026, even as later rounds and the stray vacancy round continue for candidates still awaiting seats.
Does this schedule cover private and deemed medical colleges too?
AIQ seats include deemed and central university seats; private college seats outside management quota are largely covered under State Quota counselling run by the respective state authority.
The dates are now fixed, so the only variable left is how prepared each candidate is when the portals open. Keep documents ready, watch both mcc.nic.in and your state's counselling website, and treat every deadline in this schedule as final.
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