UP NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 1 Registration Window Now Open Till August 14

If you are a NEET-UG 2026 qualifier hoping to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in Uttar Pradesh, take note: the state's medical education authority has extended the Round 1 counselling registration deadline by two days, from August 12 to August 14, 2026. This gives candidates who missed the original cut-off, or who were still gathering documents and fees, a fresh chance to lock in their spot in the process. The extension covers registration, document upload and online fee payment on the official portal, upneet.gov.in. For a state with a large pool of MBBS and BDS seats under its 85% state quota, missing this window would mean losing out on Round 1 entirely and being pushed to later, more competitive rounds.

What exactly changed

The Directorate General of Medical Education and Training (DGME), Uttar Pradesh, which conducts state-level NEET UG counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions, had opened Round 1 registration on August 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM with an original deadline of August 12. That deadline has now been moved to August 14, 2026.

The extension applies to three linked steps that candidates must complete together: registering an account, uploading required documents (photograph, signature, thumb impression), and paying the registration fee along with the security deposit online. All of this happens on upneet.gov.in, the official counselling portal.

Who this affects

This round is open to NEET UG 2026 qualifiers who meet Uttar Pradesh's domicile requirements and wish to compete for the state's 85% quota MBBS and BDS seats across government and private medical and dental colleges. It does not cover the 15% All India Quota seats, which are handled separately by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).

Fee structure and money to keep ready

Before registering, candidates should have the right amount ready, since payment is done online during registration itself. The registration fee of Rs 2,000 is non-refundable, while the security deposit is refundable and depends on the seat type a candidate is competing for.

• Registration fee: Rs 2,000 (non-refundable)
• Security deposit for government college seats: Rs 30,000 (refundable)
• Security deposit for private college seats: Rs 2,00,000 (refundable)

How to complete registration

The process is straightforward but should not be left to the last minute, since portals often slow down close to deadlines.

• Visit upneet.gov.in and open the NEET UG 2026 counselling registration link
• Create an account using personal and academic details
• Log in and upload photograph, signature and thumb impression
• Pay the Rs 2,000 registration fee plus the applicable security deposit
• Review all entries carefully before final submission
• Download and save the confirmation page for your records

What comes after registration

Registration is only the first of several steps in Round 1. DGME UP has indicated the counselling will run across four to five rounds this year, each involving fresh registration or continuation, choice filling (selecting preferred colleges and courses in order of preference), and seat allotment. Candidates who register now still need to watch upneet.gov.in for the choice-filling window and the Round 1 seat allotment result date, since these have not yet been announced alongside the extension.

Why an extension like this matters for your admission chances

A two-day extension may look minor, but in a counselling process with strict, non-negotiable cut-offs, it can be the difference between competing in Round 1 versus being forced into Round 2 or later, when many of the better government seats are already taken by earlier registrants. Candidates who assumed August 12 was fixed and hadn't started the process should register right away rather than waiting until the very last hour of August 14.

Frequently asked questions

If you plan to compete for a state quota MBBS or BDS seat in Uttar Pradesh, register on upneet.gov.in well before August 14 rather than at the last minute, and keep your scorecard, admit card and fee amount ready in advance. Watch the portal closely for the choice-filling schedule and Round 1 allotment date, since those will determine your next move.