If you registered for NEET UG 2026 counselling through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), take note: the Round 1 timeline has shifted by a couple of days. Registration, choice filling, choice locking and the seat allotment result date have all been revised, which changes when you need to act and when you can expect to know your first allotted seat. For a process where missing a deadline can cost you a counselling round, these small date changes matter a lot. This piece breaks down the new schedule and what each step actually requires you to do.
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 registration and fee payment now close on August 15, choice filling/locking runs till August 17, and the seat allotment result will be out on August 19 instead of August 17.
What exactly changed
MCC, the body that conducts All India Quota (AIQ) counselling for MBBS, BDS and a handful of other courses, has extended the registration window for NEET UG 2026 counselling. Candidates now have until August 15, 2026 to register and pay the counselling fee, with fee payment closing at 5 PM on that day.
Choice filling and choice locking, which were already open, now run through August 17, 2026. Choices can be filled until 6 PM on August 17, and the choice-locking window opens the same day at 10 AM. The Round 1 seat allotment result, originally due on August 17, will now be declared on August 19, 2026.
| Event | Revised Date |
|---|---|
| Last date to register | August 15, 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment | August 15, 2026, by 5 PM |
| Choice filling and locking window | August 6 to August 17, 2026 (locking opens 10 AM Aug 17) |
| Round 1 seat allotment result | August 19, 2026 |
Why this matters even if you are already registered
A two-day slip in the result date does not sound dramatic, but it has knock-on effects. Reporting to the allotted college, document verification, and the opening of Round 2 registration are all typically sequenced after the Round 1 result. If you were mentally planning travel, hostel arrangements, or fee arrangements around August 17, you now have two extra days — use them, don't waste them.
For candidates who have not yet registered, this extension is a genuine second chance. Missing the original deadline would have meant sitting out Round 1 entirely and hoping for a seat in later rounds, which usually have fewer vacancies, especially in high-demand government colleges.
How to complete registration and choice filling on mcc.nic.in
The process itself has not changed — only the dates have. Here is the sequence you need to follow on the MCC portal.
- Go to the official MCC website (mcc.nic.in) and open the counselling registration link for UG 2026.
- Register using your NEET UG roll number, admit card and scorecard details, along with your mobile number and email ID.
- Pay the counselling registration fee online before the August 15 deadline.
- Log in with your roll number and password, then open the 'Choice Filling' section.
- List every college-course combination you would consider, ranked from most to least preferred — order matters because allotment follows your rank and your choice order.
- Once the locking window opens, lock your choices before the August 17, 6 PM cutoff. Unlocked choices submitted but not locked can still be considered as per MCC's usual rules, but locking removes any risk of accidental changes.
A word of caution on choice order
Many first-time counselling candidates under-think their choice list, either filling too few options or ranking colleges by 'reputation' rather than realistic reach based on their NEET rank. With the extra two days now available, use the time to cross-check previous years' closing ranks for the colleges you are listing, and add safety options lower down the list rather than leaving gaps.
Remember that a seat allotted in Round 1 that you accept and then want to exit from carries consequences depending on the round and category — read MCC's seat allotment and withdrawal rules carefully before locking your list, not after.
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
What is the new last date to register for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling?
August 15, 2026. Fee payment must also be completed by 5 PM on the same day.
Till when can I fill and lock my choices?
Choice filling continues till 6 PM on August 17, 2026. The choice-locking window opens at 10 AM on August 17 and closes the same day.
When will the Round 1 seat allotment result be declared?
On August 19, 2026. This is two days later than the previously announced August 17 date.
Do I need to register again if I already registered before this extension?
No. If you have already registered and paid the fee, you simply continue with choice filling and locking as per the revised window.
What happens if I don't lock my choices by the deadline?
MCC's standard practice is that if choices are filled but not locked, the system considers the last saved order for allotment, but locking is strongly advised to avoid any ambiguity or last-minute technical issues.
Does this schedule apply to state quota counselling too?
No, this revised schedule is specific to MCC's All India Quota counselling. State counselling authorities release and revise their own separate schedules, sometimes around the same period.
With the deadline now pushed to August 15 for registration and August 19 for the Round 1 result, aspirants still in the process should use the extra days to finalise a realistic, well-ordered choice list rather than rushing it. Keep checking mcc.nic.in directly, since counselling schedules can shift again with little notice.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.