If you were waiting to start filling your college and course preferences for NEET UG 2026 counselling, there's a short delay you need to know about. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the body that runs All India Quota (AIQ) counselling for MBBS and BDS seats, has pushed the start of Round 1 choice filling to August 8, 2026. The reason isn't a technical glitch — it traces back to a clarification the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued on August 5 for candidates applying under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category. This matters even if you're not in that category, because it affects the overall counselling timeline everyone is following.
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling now opens on August 8, 2026, instead of the earlier date — check mcc.nic.in daily and have your preference list ready so you don't lose time once the window opens.
Why was choice filling postponed?
On July 27, the NMC's Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) had issued a rule requiring PwBD candidates to hold a valid Permanent Unique Disability Identity (UDID) card to be considered for MBBS admission under the disability quota. Many candidates only hold temporary certificates while their permanent UDID is being processed — a common and lengthy administrative delay in India.
On August 5, the NMC issued an addendum softening this requirement. It clarified that a candidate cannot be denied admission merely because their UDID card or disability certificate is temporary, as long as their condition is progressive, non-progressive, or not expected to improve. The final call on this will now rest with the Medical Assessment Board, which has been asked to re-evaluate disability benchmarks using the prescribed assessment methods.
Because this change affects how PwBD candidates are verified and slotted into seats, MCC needed a couple of extra days to update its systems and instructions before opening choice filling to all AIQ candidates — which is why Round 1 now starts on August 8 instead of the earlier scheduled date.
What this means if you are not in the PwBD category
Even if this rule change doesn't apply to you directly, the two-day shift affects the entire Round 1 schedule — registration, fee payment, choice filling window, and the eventual lock-choices deadline are all likely to move by roughly the same margin. Keep checking mcc.nic.in rather than relying on an old printed schedule or a forwarded WhatsApp message.
The safest approach is to treat every date in your counselling calendar as provisional until MCC publishes the final revised schedule, and to build in a buffer of a day or two before any deadline rather than filling choices at the last minute.
What is choice filling and why it decides your seat
Choice filling is the step in NEET counselling where you list, in order of preference, every MBBS/BDS college and course you're willing to accept, based on your NEET rank, category, and quota eligibility (AIQ or state quota). Seat allotment software then matches your rank against seat availability and your preference order — so the order you set genuinely determines which seat you get.
A common mistake aspirants make is filling too few choices, or ranking colleges by 'brand name' alone without checking last year's closing ranks for their category. Given the extra days now available before the window opens, use this time productively rather than treating it as dead time.
- Register on mcc.nic.in with your personal details, mobile number and email ID
- Pay the counselling registration/processing fee online
- List colleges and courses from most preferred to least preferred based on realistic rank expectations
- Cross-check previous years' opening and closing ranks for each college-course-category combination before finalising order
- Lock your choices only after a final review — locked choices cannot be edited afterward
Use the extra days wisely
A short postponement is a good opportunity, not just an inconvenience. Use these two extra days to shortlist colleges by state, fee structure, and seat availability, and to keep all your documents (NEET scorecard, category/PwBD certificates, ID proof, domicile proof where applicable) ready in scanned form.
PwBD candidates specifically should keep both their temporary certificate and any documentation of their permanent UDID application status handy, since the Medical Assessment Board's re-assessment process may require producing these at the time of document verification.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the new date for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling?
MCC has confirmed that Round 1 choice filling will now begin on August 8, 2026, two days later than originally scheduled.
Why was the choice filling window postponed?
The NMC issued an addendum on August 5 relaxing the UDID card requirement for PwBD candidates, and MCC needed time to reflect this change in its counselling process before opening choice filling.
Does this delay affect candidates who are not applying under the PwBD category?
Yes, indirectly. Since the entire Round 1 schedule shifts together, all AIQ counselling candidates should expect the same short delay across registration, choice filling, and locking of choices.
What is the UDID card and why does it matter for PwBD candidates?
The Unique Disability Identity card is an official proof of disability status. Earlier, only a permanent UDID card was accepted for PwBD quota admissions; the new addendum allows candidates with valid temporary certificates to still be considered, subject to assessment by the Medical Assessment Board.
How do I fill choices in NEET UG 2026 counselling?
Register on mcc.nic.in, pay the counselling fee, list your preferred colleges and courses in order of preference based on your rank and quota eligibility, and lock your choices before the deadline.
Where should I check for further updates on the revised schedule?
Rely only on the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, for the confirmed dates and any further changes to the Round 1 timeline.
A two-day shift is minor in the larger scheme of NEET counselling, but it's a reminder that AIQ schedules can move with little notice, especially when policy clarifications for specific categories are involved. Keep mcc.nic.in bookmarked, finalise your preference list in advance, and stay ready to act the moment the window opens on August 8, 2026.
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