NEET UG 2026 Round 2 Counselling Schedule: All India Quota & State Seats

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official schedule for Round 2 of NEET UG 2026 counselling. This round covers All India Quota (AIQ) seats, Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and State Quota seats. The counselling will run from 3 September to 11 September 2026, with a final joining deadline of 18 September 2026. The academic session for all undergraduate medical and dental courses will begin on 15 September 2026. This schedule applies to all participating medical and dental colleges across India, and all colleges have been directed to treat weekends and gazetted holidays as working days to meet the tight timeline.

What is Round 2 Counselling?

Round 2 is the second phase of NEET UG 2026 counselling. It allocates seats that were not filled in Round 1, as well as seats vacated by candidates who did not join or who have now upgraded to better colleges. This round covers three major categories: All India Quota (AIQ) seats, Deemed Universities, and Central Universities, plus State Quota seats managed by individual state counselling authorities.

If you did not get a seat in Round 1, or if you are eligible to participate in Round 2 under the rules of your state or the AIQ system, you will be able to register and fill your choices in this round. The allotment will be based on your NEET rank, category, and the choices you submit.

Important Dates for Round 2 Counselling

The timeline for Round 2 is compressed and strict. All dates are fixed, and colleges have been instructed to work on weekends and gazetted holidays to keep to schedule. Missing any deadline can result in loss of your seat.

The key dates are: counselling registration and choice-filling runs from 3 September to 11 September 2026 for All India Quota and state counselling. Allotment results will be declared on 19 September 2026 for AIQ seats. Verification of joined candidates' data by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) happens on 19 September 2026. State authorities will verify joined candidates' data from 7 September to 11 September 2026. The final joining deadline for all candidates is 18 September 2026. The academic session begins on 15 September 2026.

Who Can Participate in Round 2?

Eligibility for Round 2 depends on your status after Round 1. Generally, candidates who did not receive an allotment in Round 1, or who received an allotment but did not join, are eligible to participate. Additionally, candidates who joined in Round 1 but wish to upgrade to a better college or course may be eligible under the upgrade rules of their state or the AIQ system.

Candidates must have a valid NEET UG 2026 score and must meet the eligibility criteria set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the state counselling authority. Your category (General, OBC, SC, ST) and whether you are a resident of the state (for state quota seats) will determine which seats you can apply for. Check your state's counselling rules or the MCC website for specific eligibility details for your situation.

All India Quota (AIQ) vs. State Quota vs. Deemed & Central Universities

NEET UG 2026 seats are divided into three main categories, each with its own counselling process and timeline. Understanding which seats you are eligible for is crucial.

**All India Quota (AIQ):** These are 15% of seats in government medical and dental colleges across India. They are filled through a national merit list managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Any Indian citizen who qualifies NEET can apply for AIQ seats, regardless of which state they are from. Counselling for AIQ is conducted nationally, and allotment is based purely on rank and choice.

**State Quota:** These are 85% of seats in government colleges within each state. They are reserved for candidates who are domiciled in that state (or meet the state's residency criteria). Each state conducts its own counselling through its Directorate of Medical Education (DME) or state counselling authority. State quota seats have separate merit lists and cutoffs for each state.

**Deemed Universities and Central Universities:** These are private deemed-to-be universities and central universities (like AIIMS, JIPMER). They participate in the national AIQ counselling process managed by MCC. Seats in these institutions are filled through the same AIQ portal and timeline as government AIQ seats.

How to Register and Fill Choices in Round 2

Registration for Round 2 will open on 3 September 2026. You will need to log into the official counselling portal (either the MCC portal for AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities, or your state's counselling portal for state quota seats) using your NEET roll number and password.

After logging in, you will be asked to fill your choices — the colleges and courses you wish to be considered for, in order of preference. You can add, edit, or remove choices until the deadline on 11 September 2026. It is important to fill your choices carefully and in the order you prefer them, because the allotment algorithm will match you to the highest-ranked choice for which you are eligible based on your rank and category.

After 11 September 2026, the portal will close and no further changes to choices will be allowed. The allotment will be processed, and results will be declared on 19 September 2026. You must then report to your allotted college and complete joining formalities by 18 September 2026 to confirm your seat.

• Log in to the counselling portal using your NEET roll number and password
• Fill your college and course choices in order of preference
• You can edit choices until 11 September 2026 at 11:59 PM
• Do not leave the choice-filling to the last moment — the portal may experience heavy traffic
• Save and submit your choices before the deadline
• Take a screenshot or note of your choices for your records

Allotment and Joining Process

After the choice-filling deadline on 11 September 2026, the counselling authority will run the allotment algorithm. This algorithm matches each candidate to a seat based on their rank, category, and the choices they have submitted. The allotment result will be declared on 19 September 2026.

Once your allotment is declared, you will receive a seat allotment letter. This letter will specify the college, course (MBBS or BDS), and seat category (General, OBC, SC, ST, or other) you have been allotted. You must then report to the college in person (or as per the college's instructions) and complete the joining process, including document verification and fee payment.

**Critical:** The last date to join is 18 September 2026. If you do not join by this date, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next eligible candidate. There is no extension. Even if you have been allotted a seat, failure to join on time means you lose it permanently for this round.

• Allotment result declared: 19 September 2026
• Download your allotment letter from the portal
• Report to your allotted college by 18 September 2026
• Complete document verification and fee payment at the college
• Obtain a joining certificate from the college
• Upload the joining certificate to the portal (if required by your state/MCC)

Verification of Joined Candidates' Data

After candidates join their allotted colleges, the colleges will submit data on who has joined to the counselling authorities. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will verify this data for AIQ, Deemed, and Central University seats on 19 September 2026. State Directorate of Medical Education (DME) or state counselling authorities will verify state quota joined candidates' data from 7 September to 11 September 2026.

This verification process ensures that the counselling records match the actual joining records at colleges. It is important for the next phase of counselling (if any) and for official records. As a candidate, you do not need to take any action during this verification — the college and counselling authorities handle it. However, ensure that your joining is properly recorded at your college so that your name appears in the verified list.

Academic Session Start Date

The academic session for all undergraduate MBBS and BDS courses will commence on 15 September 2026. This is the date on which classes, practicals, and other academic activities will begin at your college. You should be prepared to start your course from this date.

Note that the academic session start date (15 September) is before the final joining deadline (18 September). This means some colleges may begin classes before all candidates have joined. Check with your college about whether you are expected to attend from 15 September or whether there is a grace period. Do not miss the start of classes without informing your college.

Weekends and Holidays Are Working Days

The notice explicitly states that all participating colleges have been directed to treat Saturdays, Sundays, and gazetted holidays as working days during the counselling period. This means that even if 6 September or 7 September is a weekend, the college will be open and counselling activities will continue.

This instruction is in place because the counselling timeline is very tight, and there is limited time to complete all rounds before the academic session begins. As a candidate, this means you should not assume that weekends or holidays will give you extra time to complete any counselling-related task. Plan accordingly and complete your registration, choice-filling, and joining well before the deadlines.

Common Mistakes That Cost You Your Seat

**Missing the joining deadline:** The most critical mistake is not joining by 18 September 2026. Even if you have been allotted a seat, if you do not report to the college and complete joining by this date, your seat is cancelled. There is no extension, no exception. Mark this date in red on your calendar.

**Not filling choices:** If you do not fill any choices during the choice-filling period (3–11 September), you will not be considered for any seat in Round 2, even if you are eligible. You must actively participate by logging in and submitting your choices.

**Filling choices in the wrong order:** The allotment algorithm matches you to the highest-ranked choice you are eligible for. If you list a college you do not want first, you may be allotted there even if a better college is listed below. Think carefully about the order.

**Not verifying your allotment letter:** After allotment, check your allotment letter carefully. Verify that your name, roll number, category, and allotted college are correct. If there is an error, report it immediately to the counselling authority.

**Assuming you will get a seat in a later round:** If you do not join in Round 2, do not assume you will get another chance in Round 3 or a subsequent round. Each round has limited seats, and your rank may not be sufficient in later rounds. Participate actively in every round you are eligible for.

What to Do If You Don't Get an Allotment in Round 2

If your rank is not sufficient to secure a seat in Round 2, or if all your choices are exhausted, you will not receive an allotment. In this case, you may be eligible to participate in a subsequent round (if announced) or in a stray vacancy round, depending on your state's rules and the availability of seats.

Keep checking the official counselling portal and your state's DME website for announcements about further rounds. Some states conduct multiple rounds of counselling, and new seats may become available as candidates upgrade or withdraw. However, do not rely on this — it is better to secure a seat in an earlier round if possible.

Frequently asked questions

Round 2 counselling for NEET UG 2026 is your next opportunity to secure a seat in an MBBS or BDS course. Register and fill your choices between 3 and 11 September 2026 on the official counselling portal (MCC for AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities, or your state's portal for state quota). The allotment will be declared on 19 September, but you must join your allotted college by 18 September 2026 — missing this deadline will result in loss of your seat. The academic session begins on 15 September, so be prepared to start classes soon after joining. Act now: mark all dates on your calendar, gather your documents, and be ready to register on 3 September.