The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which runs NEET UG admissions to the 15% All India Quota seats plus AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC, AFMC, Central Universities and Deemed Universities, has issued a revised Information Bulletin for the 2026 counselling cycle. The update matters because it changes how you handle a seat once it is allotted to you — a decision every one of the roughly 15 lakh candidates who clear NEET UG eventually has to make. The biggest addition is a Freeze-and-Float mechanism that lets you hold on to an allotted seat while still trying for something better, without the old headache of reporting twice. MCC has also allowed online resignation of an allotted seat and removed compulsory physical reporting for candidates who upgrade mid-way. Along with these process changes, the bulletin also carries the revised fee structure and an extended Round 1 schedule.
Once you get a seat in NEET UG counselling 2026, you can now choose to Freeze it, or Float and stay in the race for an upgrade — and if you upgrade, you only have to report physically once, at your final college, not twice.
What has actually changed
Three changes in the revised bulletin directly affect how you behave after an allotment result is declared.
Together they are meant to reduce the number of times a candidate has to travel to a college campus, and to cut down on lost teaching days that used to happen when students joined one college, attended classes for a few weeks, and then left after an upgrade.
- Freeze and Float system: after allotment, you can Freeze (accept the seat and stop participating further) or Float (accept it but remain in the pool for a better seat in a later round).
- Online resignation: an allotted seat can now be surrendered through the MCC portal itself, within the notified deadline, instead of only through physical withdrawal at a reporting centre.
- No double physical reporting on upgrade: if you Float and get upgraded, you no longer need to first report at your Round 1 college before moving to the upgraded one — physical reporting is now needed only once, at the final allotted college.
How Freeze and Float work in practice
After an allotment result, the MCC portal will show both options within the reporting window notified for that round. The choice you make has consequences, so it is worth understanding clearly before Round 1 results are out.
If you Freeze, you are telling MCC you are satisfied with this seat, you report physically to the college, and you exit the counselling process — you cannot try for a different college or course in a later round.
If you Float, you keep the seat provisionally and remain eligible for a possibly better allotment in the next round. You submit your willingness and documents online rather than reporting in person immediately. If you do get upgraded, you then report physically only at the new, upgraded college.
Registration fee and security deposit for 2026
The fee you pay depends on which category of institute you are counselling for, and your reservation category. A candidate registering for both government-quota seats and Deemed University seats pays only the higher of the two applicable amounts, not both. The registration fee itself is non-refundable in every case; the security deposit is refundable if you exit the process by following the notified rules.
| Institute type | Category | Registration fee | Refundable security deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ, Central Universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER, BSc Nursing | UR / EWS | Rs 1,000 | Rs 10,000 |
| AIQ, Central Universities, AFMC, ESIC, AIIMS, JIPMER, BSc Nursing | SC / ST / OBC / PwD | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
| Deemed Universities | All categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
Revised Round 1 schedule
MCC has pushed the choice-filling window further out in this revised bulletin, and the Round 1 result date has moved accordingly. If you are registering for Round 1, these are the dates to track.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration for Round 1 | August 5 to August 12, 2026 |
| Choice filling | Till 11:59 PM, August 18, 2026 |
| Choice locking | From 5:30 PM, August 17, 2026 |
| Round 1 seat allotment result | August 21, 2026 |
Limits you must keep in mind before choosing Freeze or Float
The flexibility of Float is not unlimited. MCC has kept firm boundaries around when upgrades and exits are allowed, and missing these deadlines can leave you without any further options in that cycle.
- Seat upgradation is permitted only across Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3 — there is no upgrade window after that.
- Online resignation of an allotted seat is allowed only within the deadline notified for that specific round.
- Once Round 3 closes, you cannot resign a seat or re-enter the counselling process through MCC.
- A candidate who already holds an allotted seat under MCC counselling or a state counselling authority cannot apply for the Stray Vacancy round.
What this means for your admission strategy
For an aspirant, the practical effect of these changes is fewer forced trips and less risk of losing your seat by mistake. If your Round 1 allotment is a seat you are genuinely willing to join, Freezing locks it in without further uncertainty. If you believe a better college or course is realistically within reach in Round 2 or Round 3 based on your rank, Floating lets you try for it without giving up your current seat and without having to report twice.
The risk to watch is timing: Float and resignation decisions must be made within the specific window MCC notifies for each round, and no exceptions are made once Round 3 ends. Aspirants should read the exact dates in the official bulletin on mcc.nic.in rather than relying on general summaries, since round-wise deadlines can shift as they did for Round 1 this year.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the Freeze option in NEET UG Counselling 2026?
Freeze means you accept your allotted seat, report physically to the college, and exit the counselling process. You cannot participate in later rounds once you Freeze.
What is Float and how is it different from earlier years?
Float means you accept the allotted seat provisionally but stay in the pool for a possibly better seat in the next round. Earlier, upgrading meant reporting at two colleges; now you report physically only once, at your final allotted college.
Can I resign from an allotted AIQ seat without visiting a reporting centre?
Yes, the revised bulletin allows online resignation of an allotted seat directly through the MCC portal, but only within the deadline notified for that round.
Do I still need to report in person if I get upgraded after Floating?
You need to report physically only once, at the college you are finally allotted, not at every intermediate allotment.
How much is the registration fee for Deemed University seats compared to AIQ seats?
AIQ and related seats cost Rs 1,000 (UR/EWS) or Rs 500 (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) with a security deposit of Rs 10,000 or Rs 5,000 respectively. Deemed University seats cost Rs 5,000 registration with a Rs 2,00,000 refundable security deposit for all categories.
Can I upgrade my seat in every round of counselling?
No. Upgradation is allowed only in Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3. There is no upgrade facility after Round 3 closes.
If I already have a seat, can I still apply for the Stray Vacancy round?
No. Candidates who already hold an allotted seat through MCC or a state counselling authority are not eligible for the Stray Vacancy round.
What is the last date to lock choices for Round 1 in 2026?
According to the revised schedule, choice locking is open from 5:30 PM on August 17, 2026, and choice filling closes at 11:59 PM on August 18, 2026, with the Round 1 result declared on August 21, 2026.
If you are entering NEET UG counselling 2026, read the full revised bulletin on mcc.nic.in before Round 1 results are out, and decide in advance whether Freeze or Float suits your rank and preferences. Keep your NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 marksheets, and ID proof ready, and track mcc.nic.in closely for the Round 2 schedule once Round 1 results are declared.
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