The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) counselling for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing seats, has put out the full round-by-round schedule for NEET UG 2026 on its website mcc.nic.in. This matters to every NEET-qualified candidate because it tells you exactly when to register, pay fees, fill choices, and report to a college — miss a date and you lose that round entirely. States run their own 85% State Quota counselling on a closely aligned but not identical timeline, so aspirants need to track two calendars, not one. With three regular rounds and a stray vacancy round already mapped out through early October, this is the master timetable that will decide how the 2026 admission season unfolds.
Mark the AIQ and your state's counselling dates on separate calendars now — the two run in parallel with different deadlines, and a missed registration or choice-locking window in either can cost you a seat.
What MCC has announced
MCC has confirmed the schedule for 15% AIQ counselling covering MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing seats in central universities, deemed universities and other AIQ-participating institutions. The information brochure and admission calendar are available on mcc.nic.in.
Separately, individual states have started rolling out their own dates for the 85% State Quota, which every state government or its designated authority (usually the Directorate of Medical Education, DME) manages independently for government and private medical/dental colleges within that state.
Round-by-round schedule
The table below lays out the key dates for both AIQ and State Quota counselling as released. Note that AIQ and State Quota dates overlap rather than run one after the other — this is intentional, since a candidate's choices and joining status in one quota can affect eligibility and seat availability in the other.
| Round | AIQ Counselling Window | AIQ Verification by MCC | State Quota Window | State Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 4 Aug – 17 Aug 2026 (joining till 22 Aug) | 23 Aug 2026 | 13 Aug – 22 Aug 2026 (joining till 28 Aug) | 29 Aug 2026 |
| Round 2 | 24 Aug – 2 Sep 2026 (joining till 8 Sep) | 9 Sep 2026 | 31 Aug – 8 Sep 2026 (joining till 14 Sep) | 15 Sep 2026 |
| Round 3 | 10 Sep – 18 Sep 2026 (joining till 26 Sep) | 27 Sep 2026 | 16 Sep – 26 Sep 2026 (joining till 1 Oct) | 2 Oct 2026 |
| Stray Vacancy | 28 Sep – 3 Oct 2026 (joining till 10 Oct) | 3 Oct 2026 (data shared) | 3 Oct – 5 Oct 2026 (joining till 10 Oct) | — |
Why the academic-session date matters
The academic session for the new MBBS/BDS batch is set to begin on 8 September 2026 — which is also the last date of joining for Round 2 of AIQ counselling. In practice, this means students who secure and confirm a seat in Round 1 or early Round 2 will start attending classes on schedule, while those who get allotted in Round 3 or the stray vacancy round will join a class that has already begun.
This is normal in NEET counselling and colleges do accommodate late joiners, but it is one more reason to fill your choices carefully and aim to lock a seat as early as possible rather than waiting for later rounds hoping for a 'better' college.
What aspirants should do before Round 1 opens
Registration and fee payment for AIQ Round 1 begin in the first week of August 2026, per the MCC schedule. Before that window opens, get your paperwork and access details ready so you are not scrambling at the last minute.
- Keep your NEET UG roll number, application number and security PIN handy — these are needed to log in on mcc.nic.in.
- Have scanned copies of category, domicile, income (for EWS) and other eligibility certificates ready for upload.
- Budget for both the non-refundable registration fee and the refundable security deposit that MCC requires at registration.
- Research your target colleges and courses in advance so your choice list is ready the moment registration opens — don't wait to think it through after logging in.
- Check your respective state's counselling website too, since State Quota registration dates and document requirements can differ from AIQ.
AIQ vs State Quota — the practical difference
AIQ seats (15% of MBBS/BDS seats in state government colleges, plus all seats in central/deemed universities and institutions like AIIMS/JIPMER where applicable) are open to candidates from anywhere in India and are counselled centrally by MCC.
State Quota seats (the remaining 85% in state government colleges, and often private/state-run colleges) are reserved primarily for candidates who meet that state's domicile or residency criteria, and are counselled by each state's own authority with its own registration portal, fee structure and choice-filling process.
2 minute · Free preview
Which MBBS colleges can your NEET rank actually get?
See the real colleges your rank can reach — every state and All India Quota — with official closing ranks and the exact fee for each seat.
See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Where do I register for AIQ counselling?
On the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, under the 'UG Medical' section. You will need your NEET UG roll number, application number and security PIN to log in.
When does Round 1 registration for AIQ open?
According to the MCC schedule, Round 1 registration and choice-filling for AIQ runs through the first two weeks of August 2026, with joining/reporting to allotted colleges due by 22 August 2026.
Do I need to register separately for State Quota?
Yes. State Quota counselling is run independently by each state's medical education authority on its own portal, with its own dates, fee and document requirements — it is not automatically linked to your AIQ registration.
What happens if I don't get a seat in Round 1?
You can carry forward and participate in Round 2, Round 3, and finally the stray vacancy round, both under AIQ and State Quota, as long as you remain within the eligibility and choice-locking rules for each round.
Is there a fee at registration, and is it refundable?
MCC's process involves a non-refundable registration fee plus a security deposit that is refundable, typically adjusted or returned depending on whether you join an allotted seat.
When do MBBS/BDS classes actually start for the 2026 batch?
The academic session is scheduled to begin on 8 September 2026, which coincides with the Round 2 joining deadline for AIQ — so early rounds mean an on-time start to classes.
What is the stray vacancy round?
It is a final round, held after Round 3, to fill any seats that remain vacant — for AIQ this runs from 28 September to 3 October 2026, with joining permitted till 10 October 2026.
The counselling clock for NEET UG 2026 has effectively started, and every week matters — from registration and choice-locking to document verification and reporting deadlines. Aspirants should bookmark both mcc.nic.in and their own state counselling portal, keep documents ready in advance, and avoid leaving choice-filling to the last day of any round.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.