If you cleared NEET UG 2026 and are eyeing a government medical or dental college, the clock has started on the first and most important step: MCC counselling registration. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the central body that allots seats through the All India Quota and central institutions, has opened registration on its portal, mcc.nic.in. This round decides seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities, deemed universities, and the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) share of government medical and dental colleges across states. Missing the registration or choice-locking deadline in this round can cost you a shot at your preferred college, so the dates below deserve your full attention.
Register on mcc.nic.in and pay the counselling fee by August 12, and lock your college choices by 11 AM on August 13 — skipping either step removes you from Round 1 seat allotment entirely.
Round 1 Schedule at a Glance
The counselling process runs on a tight, sequential timeline. Registration and choice filling overlap for a few days, but each activity has its own hard deadline, so it helps to mark all of them rather than just the final date.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and fee payment | August 5 to 12, 2026 |
| Choice filling | August 6 to 13, 2026 |
| Choice locking | August 12 (4 PM) to August 13 (11 AM), 2026 |
| Provisional seat allotment result | August 17, 2026 |
| Reporting at allotted college | August 18 to 22, 2026 |
Which Seats Fall Under This Round
MCC counselling in Round 1 is not for every MBBS or BDS seat in the country — it covers a specific set of seats, while the rest go through respective state counselling authorities. Knowing this distinction matters because your NEET rank may be competitive for one pool but not another.
This year's AIQ pool is described as the largest in central counselling's history, which should translate into somewhat wider choices for candidates ranked in the middle bands compared to earlier years — though actual movement will only be clear once the seat matrix and cutoffs are out.
- 15% All India Quota seats in government medical and dental colleges run by states.
- 100% seats in AIIMS institutions and JIPMER (Puducherry and Karaikal).
- 100% seats in Central Universities and Deemed Universities.
- Overall seat pool nationally: over 1.36 lakh MBBS seats across 823 medical colleges and 27,868 BDS seats across 319 dental colleges, plus BSc Nursing seats at select central and deemed institutions.
Registration Fee and Security Deposit
Two separate payments are involved: a non-refundable registration fee that covers processing, and — only for deemed university seats — a refundable security deposit. Category matters for the fee amount in the AIQ and central university stream, but not for deemed universities.
| Institution Type | Category | Registration Fee (Non-refundable) |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ, Central and Deemed (general slab) | General | Rs 1,000 |
| AIQ, Central Universities | SC, ST, OBC, PwD | Rs 500 |
| Deemed Universities | All categories | Rs 5,000 |
The Rs 2 Lakh Deemed University Deposit — Read This Carefully
If any of your choices include a deemed university seat, MCC requires an additional refundable security deposit of Rs 2,00,000 on top of the Rs 5,000 registration fee. This amount comes back if you do not end up accepting or joining an allotted deemed university seat, subject to MCC's rules on timing and category of withdrawal.
Families should plan for this deposit in advance since it is a significant sum to arrange within the short registration window, and delays in payment can mean missing the choice-locking deadline altogether.
What's New in Counselling This Year
MCC has introduced a few procedural changes aimed at making seat acceptance and NRI (Non-Resident Indian) document handling simpler and faster. These affect what happens after you get an allotment, so understand them before Round 1 results are out on August 17.
- Freeze option: lock your allotted seat and opt out of further rounds — useful if you are satisfied with the seat and don't want to risk losing it in an upgrade attempt.
- Float option: keep your current seat while still being considered for an upgrade in the next round, without losing the seat you already have.
- Online resignation: candidates who wish to give up an allotted seat can now do so directly through the MCC portal instead of visiting a reporting centre.
- NRI document upload: this is the first cycle where all NRI quota documents are submitted digitally on the portal, removing the earlier requirement of in-person verification in initial rounds.
Step-by-Step: How to Register
The process is entirely online. Keep your documents scanned and ready before you start, since the registration window is short and any last-minute scramble can cost you time you don't have.
- Go to mcc.nic.in and click on the New Registration link for UG Counselling 2026.
- Log in using your NEET UG 2026 roll number and required credentials.
- Fill in personal, academic and category details accurately — mismatches can delay verification.
- Pay the registration fee (and security deposit, if applying for a deemed university seat) online.
- Move to choice filling: list colleges and courses in genuine order of preference, not just aspirational order.
- Lock your choices before 11 AM on August 13 — unlocked choices at deadline may not be considered.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Who should register for this MCC Round 1 counselling?
Any NEET UG 2026 qualified candidate hoping to compete for the 15% All India Quota seats in state government colleges, or for seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities, or deemed universities, should register by August 12.
What happens if I don't lock my choices by the deadline?
Choice filling is open until August 13, but locking must be completed between 4 PM on August 12 and 11 AM on August 13. If you fill choices but fail to lock them, MCC's system may still consider your last saved choices for allotment, but it is safest to lock manually to avoid uncertainty.
Is the Rs 2,00,000 security deposit required for every seat?
No. It applies only if you are including deemed university seats among your choices. AIQ, central university, AIIMS and JIPMER choices only require the base registration fee, without this deposit.
What is the difference between the Freeze and Float options?
Freeze means you accept your allotted seat and exit further rounds. Float means you keep the seat you got while still being considered for a possibly better seat in the next round, without risking the one you already have.
When will I know my allotted college?
The provisional Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled for August 17, 2026. If allotted a seat, you must report to the college between August 18 and 22 to confirm admission.
Does this counselling cover all MBBS and BDS seats in India?
No. It covers only the AIQ share (15%) of government college seats plus 100% seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, central and deemed universities. The remaining state quota seats are allotted separately through each state's own counselling body.
How has the NRI application process changed this year?
Previously, NRI quota candidates needed in-person document verification in the early rounds. This year, all NRI documents are uploaded directly on the MCC portal, making the process fully online from the start.
With registration closing on August 12 and choice locking ending the next morning, this is not the week to wait and see. Get your scorecard, certificates, category proof and fee payment ready today, fill your choices thoughtfully rather than in a rush, and watch mcc.nic.in on August 17 for the provisional allotment result.
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