The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued the official schedule for Round 2 of NEET UG 2026 counselling. This notice, dated 27 August 2026, lays out the exact dates for Round 2 of the All India Quota (AIQ), Deemed & Central Universities counselling, and for the parallel Round 2 of State Quota counselling run by individual states. It also gives the deadlines by which colleges and states must verify how many allotted candidates actually joined, and the final date for candidates to report and join their allotted college. This is a scheduling notice only — it tells you when things happen, not who has been allotted a seat.
NEET UG 2026 Round 2 counselling (both AIQ/Deemed-Central and State Quota) runs from 3–11 September 2026, and candidates allotted a seat must join their college by 18 September 2026.
What this notice covers
MCC conducts All India Quota (AIQ) counselling for 15% of seats in every government medical/dental college, all seats in Deemed Universities, and all seats in Central Universities (like AMU, BHU). Separately, each state runs its own State Quota counselling for the remaining seats in state government and private colleges within that state. This notice synchronises the schedules of both processes for Round 2 of the 2026 session, so that a candidate who is participating in both AIQ and a state's counselling can plan around the same window.
Round 2 Counselling Dates
The table below sets out the key Round 2 dates exactly as issued by MCC.
| Activity | AIQ / Deemed / Central Universities | State Counselling |
|---|---|---|
| Round-2 of Counselling | 3 September 2026 to 11 September 2026 | 7 September 2026 to 11 September 2026 |
| Verification of joined candidates' data | 19 September 2026 (by MCC) | 19 September 2026 (by State DMEs / State Counselling Authorities) |
| Last date of joining | 18 September 2026 | 18 September 2026 |
What happens in each phase
Round 2 counselling (3–11 Sept for AIQ; 7–11 Sept for states) is the window during which candidates who are eligible for Round 2 fill or edit their choices, and MCC/state authorities process seat allotment based on rank, category and choices submitted. Once seats are allotted, candidates must physically report to and join their allotted college by the last date of joining — 18 September 2026 for both AIQ and State Quota seats. After the joining deadline, MCC and the respective state DME/counselling authority verify, by 19 September 2026, which allotted candidates actually joined. This verified 'joined' data is what feeds into the vacancy position used for planning the next round.
Why the joining deadline matters
If you are allotted a seat in Round 2, joining the college by 18 September 2026 is not optional — it is how you confirm and lock in that seat. Candidates who fail to report and join within this window risk losing the allotted seat, and that seat can then be treated as a vacancy for the next round. This is one of the most common ways students lose seats they have rightfully won through counselling, simply by delaying travel or document submission. Always check your specific college's reporting requirements (documents, fee payment, physical or online reporting mode) as soon as the allotment result is out.
No holidays during counselling
MCC has specifically directed all participating institutes and colleges to treat all Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days during this period. This means colleges cannot refuse to process reporting, verification or joining formalities on a weekend or public holiday within the counselling window. Candidates should not assume a college office will be closed on a weekend during this schedule — plan to complete joining formalities strictly within the given dates, holiday or not.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What exactly does this notice announce — a result or a schedule?
It is a schedule notice. MCC has fixed the dates for Round 2 counselling, joining, and data verification for NEET UG 2026. It does not contain any seat allotment result.
When is Round 2 counselling for All India Quota (AIQ) seats?
AIQ, Deemed University and Central University Round 2 counselling runs from 3 September 2026 to 11 September 2026.
When is Round 2 for State Quota counselling?
State counselling Round 2 runs from 7 September 2026 to 11 September 2026, according to this notice.
By what date must I join my allotted college after Round 2?
The last date of joining is 18 September 2026, for both AIQ/Deemed/Central University seats and State Quota seats.
What happens if I don't join by the deadline?
The notice does not itself state the penalty, but standard MCC/state practice is that candidates who do not join by the last date can lose the allotted seat, which is then treated as a vacancy for the next round. Always confirm your joining status directly with the allotted college.
What is the 'verification of joined candidates' data' step?
After the joining deadline, MCC verifies (by 19 September 2026) which AIQ/Deemed/Central University allottees actually joined, and state DMEs/counselling authorities do the same for state quota allottees by the same date. This confirmed data determines the vacancies carried forward to the next round.
Are weekends and holidays excluded from this schedule?
No. MCC has directed all participating institutes and colleges to treat Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days for the entire counselling process, so there is no pause for weekends or holidays.
Does this notice mention Round 1 or later rounds like mop-up?
No, this particular notice only covers the Round 2 schedule. Details of earlier or later rounds would be issued separately by MCC or the respective state authority.
If you are in the running for Round 2 of NEET UG 2026 counselling, mark 3–11 September (AIQ) or 7–11 September (state) for choice-filling and allotment, and 18 September 2026 as your hard deadline to report and join your allotted college. Keep checking the official MCC and your state counselling authority websites for the actual allotment result and college-specific joining instructions, since this notice only fixes the dates.
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