The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), has released the official schedule for Round 1 of NEET-UG 2026 counselling. This notice, dated 19 August 2026, lays out the exact dates for All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, Deemed and Central university counselling, and State Quota counselling, along with the deadlines by which allotted candidates must join their seats. It also fixes the dates by which MCC and state authorities will verify which candidates have actually joined. This is a schedule announcement, not a results or seat-allotment notice — it tells candidates the timeline they must follow, not who has been allotted a seat.
Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 of AIQ/Deemed/Central counselling must join by 31st August 2026, and those allotted through State Quota counselling must join by 5th September 2026 — missing these joining deadlines can mean losing the seat.
What this notice covers
Every year, MBBS and BDS seats in India are filled through two broad streams: All India Quota (AIQ) seats — the 15% of state government medical/dental college seats plus 100% seats of central universities, ESIC, AFMC and deemed universities — counselled centrally by MCC; and State Quota seats, filled by each state's own counselling authority through its Directorate of Medical Education (DME) or equivalent body.
This notice synchronises the timelines for both streams for Round 1 of NEET-UG 2026 counselling, so that a candidate's move between AIQ and State rounds happens smoothly without seats getting blocked or wasted.
Round 1 counselling schedule
The table below gives the exact dates issued by MCC for Round 1. Note that AIQ/Deemed/Central counselling and State counselling run on slightly different, overlapping windows.
| Activity | AIQ / Deemed & Central Universities | State Counselling |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 counselling window | 4th August 2026 to 21st August 2026 | 13th August 2026 to 27th August 2026 |
| Last date to join allotted seat | 31st August 2026 | 5th September 2026 |
| Verification of joined-candidate data | 1st September 2026 (by MCC) | 6th September 2026 (by state DMEs / State Counselling Authorities) |
Why the 'joining' date matters so much
Getting an allotment letter is not the end of the process — a candidate must physically report to the allotted college and complete the joining/admission formalities by the stated joining deadline. If a candidate does not join by that date, the seat can be treated as vacant and released for the next round of counselling.
The 'verification of joined candidates' step that follows is an internal check — MCC and state authorities confirm which allotted candidates have actually reported and joined. This data feeds directly into deciding which seats are available for Round 2 and later rounds (mop-up, stray vacancy, etc.), so any delay in joining can affect a candidate's own options as well as those of other candidates waiting for vacant seats.
No holidays during counselling
The notice specifically directs all participating institutes and colleges to treat all Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days during this period. This is because the counselling window is tight, and colleges cannot use a holiday as a reason to keep admission/reporting counters closed. Candidates should not assume a weekend or public holiday means the college will be shut — always confirm reporting timings directly with the allotted institute if unsure.
What this notice does not cover
This particular document only gives dates for Round 1. It does not mention choice-filling dates, seat allotment result dates, document lists, or any details about Round 2, mop-up round or stray vacancy round — those will come through separate MCC notices closer to those stages. Candidates should keep checking the official MCC website (mcc.nic.in) and their respective state counselling authority's website for those follow-up notices, rather than assuming any date beyond what is listed here.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Does this notice mean NEET UG 2026 results or seat allotment are out?
No. This notice only fixes the schedule (dates) for Round 1 of counselling — the counselling window, joining deadline, and data verification dates. It does not itself announce any seat allotment result.
What is the last date to join a seat allotted under AIQ, Deemed or Central university quota in Round 1?
31st August 2026, as per this notice.
What is the last date to join a seat allotted under State Quota counselling in Round 1?
5th September 2026, as per this notice.
What happens if I don't join by the deadline?
The notice does not spell out the consequence directly, but under the standard counselling process this means the seat can be treated as not joined and can be released for the next round. Always join and complete formalities within the given window.
Are counselling offices open on weekends during this period?
Yes. The notice directs all participating institutes/colleges to treat all Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days for the purpose of this counselling schedule.
Is the AIQ counselling window the same as the State counselling window?
No, they overlap but are not identical. AIQ/Deemed/Central counselling runs from 4th to 21st August 2026, while State counselling runs from 13th to 27th August 2026.
Where can I check further updates on Round 2 or later rounds?
This notice does not cover Round 2 or later rounds. Candidates should watch the official MCC website and their state counselling authority's website for further notices.
Mark these Round 1 dates carefully — especially your joining deadline — since missing it can cost you the seat you were allotted. Keep tracking the official MCC and your state counselling authority's websites for the next set of notices on choice-filling, results and later rounds.
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