If you're waiting on a Round 1 upgrade or are entering the process fresh, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has put out an updated calendar for Round 2 of NEET UG 2026 counselling. This round decides seats under the All India Quota (AIQ, 15% of seats in state government medical colleges reserved for all-India merit), Deemed University seats, and Central University seats — not state quota, which each state handles separately. Getting the dates, fees and paperwork right matters because missing a deadline in this stage can cost you an admission cycle. Below is a plain breakdown of what changed and what to do next.
Register and pay fees between September 3 and 8, lock your choices before 10 AM on September 9, and be ready to report to your allotted college between September 12 and 18 — there is no buffer built into this revised timeline.
What the revised Round 2 schedule actually says
MCC's updated notice sets out a tight, sequential timeline. Seat matrix verification (the list of seats colleges have declared as available for this round) runs from September 1 to 2. Registration and fee payment for candidates open on September 3 and close on September 8. Choice filling — where you rank the colleges and courses you're willing to accept — also runs from September 3 to 9, overlapping with registration.
The choice locking window, where you finalise and freeze your preference order, is unusually narrow: it opens at 4 PM on September 8 and shuts at 10 AM on September 9. Seat allotment processing follows on September 9 and 10, with results declared on September 11. Candidates then report to their allotted institution between September 12 and 18, after which colleges carry out document verification on September 19.
- Seat Matrix Verification: September 1–2
- Registration and Fee Payment: September 3–8
- Choice Filling: September 3–9
- Choice Locking: September 8 (4 PM) to September 9 (10 AM)
- Seat Allotment Result: September 11
- Reporting at Allotted College: September 12–18
- Data Verification by Colleges: September 19
Who should register for this round
Round 2 is open to three groups: candidates who did not get a seat in Round 1 and want to try fresh; candidates who already hold a Round 1 allotment and wish to upgrade to a better college or course; and candidates who were eligible but did not participate in Round 1 at all. All three groups must have qualified NEET UG 2026 and satisfy MCC's eligibility norms.
One point aspirants often get wrong: this round has nothing to do with state quota seats. If you're hoping for a seat under your home state's quota, you need to check your respective state counselling authority's own schedule, which typically runs on a different timeline from MCC's.
Registration fee and security deposit by quota
The amount you pay depends on which quota you're applying under and, for AIQ and Central University seats, your category. The registration fee is non-refundable; the security deposit is refundable once counselling concludes, provided you follow the exit rules correctly. All payments go through online modes on the MCC portal only.
| Quota | Category | Registration Fee | Security Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ and Central Universities | General | Rs 1,000 | Rs 10,000 |
| AIQ and Central Universities | SC, ST, OBC, PwD | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
| Deemed Universities | All Categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
Documents to keep ready for reporting
If you're allotted a seat, you must report in person with originals plus two sets of self-attested photocopies. MCC has been clear that incomplete documentation at reporting can lead to your allotted seat being cancelled — so this is not a step to leave for the last day.
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- Provisional allotment letter issued by MCC
- Valid photo ID such as Aadhaar or PAN card
- Category, PwD, or nativity certificate, where applicable
- Eight passport-size photographs matching your NEET application photo
No weekend or holiday relief this round
MCC has specifically clarified that Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays will count as working days through Round 2. In practice this means the process does not pause for a weekend the way many other admission timelines do — every date on the schedule above is a hard date, including any that happen to fall on a Sunday. This is designed to keep Round 2 and the eventual Round 3 on track without slippage.
What this means for your admission strategy
For candidates upgrading from a Round 1 seat: think carefully before locking new choices. Depending on MCC's rules for the year, seeking an upgrade can sometimes mean forfeiting your current allotment if you don't get a better one — always read the specific upgrade condition in the official notice before you lock choices.
For fresh candidates entering Round 2: use the seat matrix released after September 2 to gauge realistic options based on your NEET rank, rather than relying only on last year's cutoffs, since seat numbers and vacancies shift between rounds.
Everyone should keep funds for the security deposit ready in advance — especially deemed university aspirants, where the refundable deposit is a significant Rs 2,00,000 — so payment on the portal isn't delayed by last-minute banking issues.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When does NEET UG Round 2 registration open and close in 2026?
Registration and fee payment run from September 3 to September 8, 2026, on mcc.nic.in.
When will Round 2 seat allotment results be declared?
MCC has scheduled the Round 2 seat allotment result for September 11, 2026.
Does Round 2 cover state quota seats?
No. This MCC round covers only All India Quota, Deemed University and Central University seats. State quota admissions are handled separately by each state's counselling authority.
Can I apply in Round 2 if I already have a Round 1 allotment?
Yes, candidates with a Round 1 allotment can participate to try for an upgrade, alongside those who didn't get a seat or didn't participate in Round 1.
What is the choice locking deadline?
The choice locking window opens at 4 PM on September 8, 2026, and closes at 10 AM on September 9, 2026. Choices not locked in time may not be considered.
How much is the registration fee for deemed university seats?
For deemed universities, the registration fee is Rs 5,000 for all categories, along with a refundable security deposit of Rs 2,00,000.
By when must I report to my allotted college?
Reporting to the allotted institution must be completed between September 12 and September 18, 2026, with document verification by colleges on September 19.
Bookmark mcc.nic.in and check it directly rather than relying on secondhand screenshots, since MCC has already revised this schedule once and could adjust it again. Keep your documents, ID proof and fee amount ready well before September 3 so you're not scrambling during the narrow choice-locking window.
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