NEET UG Round 2 Counselling 2026: Registration Open, Key Dates & Eligibility

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registration for NEET UG Round 2 counselling on September 3, 2026, at mcc.nic.in. This round is your chance to secure a seat in MBBS, BDS, or BSc Nursing under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) if you did not get one in Round 1, or to upgrade to a better college or course if you chose the 'Float' option. Understanding the timeline, eligibility rules, and choice-filling strategy is critical—missing deadlines or making the wrong selections can cost you your seat.

Who Can Register for NEET UG Round 2 Counselling?

Not every NEET-qualified candidate is eligible for Round 2. The MCC has set clear rules to determine who can participate. If you did not register for Round 1 at all, you can register now. If you registered for Round 1 but were not allotted any seat, you are eligible. If you were allotted a seat in Round 1 and chose the 'Float' option (meaning you want to try for a better seat), you can participate in Round 2 for upgradation.

However, if you were allotted a seat in Round 1 and chose 'Freeze' (meaning you want to keep that seat and not participate further), you should NOT register for Round 2—your Round 1 seat is already yours and will be retained. Similarly, if you joined a Round 1 seat and do not wish to upgrade, do not register. Registering when you should not can lead to confusion and loss of your existing seat.

• Eligible: Did not register in Round 1
• Eligible: Registered in Round 1 but got no seat
• Eligible: Got a Round 1 seat and chose 'Float' for upgradation
• NOT eligible: Got a Round 1 seat and chose 'Freeze'
• NOT eligible: Already joined a Round 1 seat and do not want to upgrade

NEET UG Round 2 Counselling Timeline: All Key Dates

The MCC has released a strict schedule for Round 2. Registration and payment must be completed between September 3 and September 8, 2026, by 3 PM. If you miss this deadline, you cannot register. Choice filling (entering your preferred colleges and courses) can happen from September 3 to September 9 at 10 AM. You can lock your choices (finalize them so they cannot be changed) from September 8 at 4 PM to September 9 at 10 AM.

After you lock your choices, the MCC will process seat allotments on September 9 and 10. The results will be announced on September 11. Once you know your allotted seat, you must report to your college between September 12 and September 18, 2026. If you do not report within this window, your seat may be cancelled. Institutes will verify your documents and finalize admissions on September 19.

• Registration & Payment: September 3–8, 2026 (by 3 PM)
• Choice Filling: September 3–9, 2026 (by 10 AM)
• Choice Locking: September 8 (4 PM) to September 9 (10 AM)
• Seat Allotment Processing: September 9–10, 2026
• Allotment Result: September 11, 2026
• Reporting & Joining: September 12–18, 2026
• Institute Document Verification: September 19, 2026

How to Register for Round 2 at mcc.nic.in

Registration is straightforward but must be done carefully. Visit mcc.nic.in and look for 'New Registration For UG Counselling 2026' under the 'Candidate Activity Board.' Log in using your NEET UG roll number and password. You will then be asked to submit required personal details and documents. After filling in all information, you must make an online payment of the registration fee and refundable security deposit. Once payment is confirmed, print your registration confirmation page—keep this safe.

The registration fee varies by category. General and EWS candidates must pay a refundable security deposit of ₹10,000 for AIQ and Central University seats. SC, ST, OBC, and PwD candidates pay ₹5,000. These amounts are refundable if you do not join or if you resign within the specified window. Complete registration well in advance to avoid last-minute web traffic issues or payment delays.

• Visit mcc.nic.in → 'New Registration For UG Counselling 2026'
• Log in with NEET UG roll number and password
• Fill in all personal details and upload required documents
• Make online payment of registration fee and security deposit
• Print and save your registration confirmation page
• General/EWS: ₹10,000 refundable security deposit
• SC/ST/OBC/PwD: ₹5,000 refundable security deposit

Filling Your Choices: Strategy and the Seat Matrix

After registration, you can log in and fill your choice of colleges and courses. This is one of the most important steps. You must enter your choices in order of preference—your first choice is your highest preference, your second choice is your next preference, and so on. The allotment algorithm will try to match you with your highest preference first. If that seat is not available, it will move to your second preference, and so on.

Before you fill your choices, download and study the seat matrix released by the MCC. The seat matrix shows how many MBBS, BDS, and BSc Nursing seats are available at each college under AIQ, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, and Deemed Universities. Use this to make realistic choices. If your NEET rank is very high, you can aim for top colleges in your first few choices. If your rank is moderate, choose colleges where your rank is likely to get you a seat. Always include at least one or two 'safe' choices where you are confident of getting a seat based on past cutoffs and the current seat matrix.

• Enter choices in strict order of preference
• Download the MCC seat matrix before filling choices
• Check seat availability for MBBS, BDS, and BSc Nursing
• Match your NEET rank to realistic college options
• Include at least one 'safe' choice where you are likely to get a seat
• Remember: once you lock your choices, you cannot change them
• Allotment is based on your choices, your rank, and seat availability

Locking Your Choices: The Point of No Return

Once you have filled your choices, you must lock them. The choice-locking window opens on September 8 at 4 PM and closes on September 9 at 10 AM. Locking means you are finalizing your choices and confirming that you cannot change them after that point. This is critical: once locked, your choices are fixed, and the allotment will be based on exactly what you have submitted.

Do not lock your choices in a hurry. Take time to review them, cross-check against the seat matrix, and ensure they are in the right order. If you realize after locking that you made a mistake, you cannot undo it. The allotment will proceed based on your locked choices. If you do not lock your choices by 10 AM on September 9, your registration may be cancelled or your choices may not be considered for allotment.

• Choice Locking Window: September 8 (4 PM) to September 9 (10 AM)
• Once locked, choices cannot be changed or rearranged
• Review your choices carefully before locking
• Ensure choices are in correct order of preference
• If you do not lock by the deadline, your registration may be cancelled
• Allotment is based entirely on your locked choices

What Happens If Your Upgradation Fails?

If you chose the 'Float' option in Round 1 and are now trying to upgrade in Round 2, you may be wondering: what if I do not get a better seat? The MCC has a safety net for this. If you do not get allotted a higher-preference seat in Round 2, you will retain your Round 1 seat. You will not lose your original allocation. This means if you were allotted a seat in Round 1 and chose Float, you can safely try for an upgrade without the risk of losing your existing seat.

However, this protection only applies if you chose Float in Round 1. If you chose Freeze, you already have your seat locked in and should not register for Round 2. If you were not allotted any seat in Round 1, there is no 'fallback' seat—you are competing fresh in Round 2, so your choices must be realistic and well-researched.

• Float candidates: If upgradation fails, you keep your Round 1 seat
• Freeze candidates: Do not register for Round 2; your seat is already yours
• Fresh candidates (no Round 1 seat): You are competing for a new seat; no fallback
• Upgradation failure does not mean you lose your existing seat (for Float candidates)
• This is why Float candidates can take calculated risks in Round 2

Documents You Must Carry When Reporting to Your College

Once you are allotted a seat and you report to your college, you must bring original copies of several documents. The college will verify these before finalizing your admission. Missing or incorrect documents can delay your admission or, in some cases, lead to cancellation of your seat. Start gathering these documents now so you are ready when the allotment result is announced.

The essential documents include your NEET UG Admit Card, NEET UG Scorecard or Rank Letter, Provisional Seat Allotment Letter (which you will download from mcc.nic.in), Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates, a government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license), 8 passport-size photographs, Transfer Certificate (TC) and Migration Certificate from your school, a Medical Fitness Certificate (you may need to get this from a doctor), and your Caste Certificate or EWS Certificate if applicable. If you have a gap in your education, bring a Gap Affidavit. If you are a PwD candidate, bring your PwD Certificate and Domicile Certificate if required by your state.

• NEET UG Admit Card (original)
• NEET UG Scorecard / Rank Letter (original)
• Provisional Seat Allotment Letter (from mcc.nic.in)
• Class 10 Mark Sheet & Certificate (original)
• Class 12 Mark Sheet & Certificate (original)
• Government Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar, passport, or DL)
• 8 Passport-Size Photographs
• Transfer Certificate (TC) from school
• Migration Certificate (if applicable)
• Medical Fitness Certificate
• Caste Certificate (if SC/ST/OBC)
• EWS Certificate (if applicable)
• PwD Certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (if required by state)
• Gap Affidavit (if there is a gap in education)

Refundable Security Deposit: What You Need to Know

When you register for Round 2, you must pay a refundable security deposit along with the registration fee. This deposit is not a fee you lose; it is money held by the MCC that will be returned to you under certain conditions. The amount depends on your category. General and EWS candidates pay ₹10,000 for AIQ and Central University seats. SC, ST, OBC, and PwD candidates pay ₹5,000.

This deposit is refundable if you do not join any seat after allotment, or if you join a seat and then resign within the specified resignation window. If you join a seat and stay, the deposit is typically adjusted against your college fees or returned after the admission process is complete. Make sure you understand the refund policy of your college and the MCC before assuming your deposit is lost.

• General/EWS: ₹10,000 refundable security deposit
• SC/ST/OBC/PwD: ₹5,000 refundable security deposit
• Refundable if you do not join any seat
• Refundable if you resign within the specified window
• May be adjusted against college fees if you join
• Check your college's refund policy for clarity

Seat Resignation: If You Want to Withdraw After Round 1

If you joined a seat in Round 1 but now want to resign and participate in Round 2 for a better option, you can do so. However, you must resign within the specified resignation window before Round 2 seat allotment processing begins. The MCC provides an online 'Seat Resignation' portal on mcc.nic.in where you can formally resign from your Round 1 seat.

Once you resign, you will be eligible to participate in Round 2 as a fresh candidate (not as a Float candidate). Your refundable security deposit from Round 1 will be returned to you, and you will need to pay a new deposit for Round 2 registration. Be careful: if you resign and then do not get a seat in Round 2, you will have no seat at all. Only resign if you are confident about your chances in Round 2.

• Use the online 'Seat Resignation' portal on mcc.nic.in
• Resign before Round 2 allotment processing begins
• After resignation, you compete as a fresh candidate in Round 2
• Your Round 1 security deposit will be refunded
• You must pay a new security deposit for Round 2
• Risk: If you do not get a seat in Round 2, you have no seat
• Only resign if you are confident about Round 2 prospects

Frequently asked questions

Round 2 registration is now live, and the timeline is tight. Register by September 8, fill and lock your choices by September 9, and be ready to report to your college by September 18. Use the seat matrix to make smart choices, and do not miss any deadline. If you have questions about your eligibility or the process, visit mcc.nic.in or contact the MCC directly.