UP NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 1 Registration Now Open — Dates, Fee, and Choice-Filling Steps

If you're a NEET UG 2026 candidate hoping for an MBBS or BDS seat through Uttar Pradesh's state quota, the first real step in that process has begun. The Directorate General of Medical Education and Training (DGMET), Uttar Pradesh, has opened Round 1 registration for UP NEET UG Counselling 2026 on the official portal, upneet.gov.in. Registration, fee payment, and choice filling all run on tight, overlapping timelines this week, so missing a deadline by even a few hours could cost you a shot at Round 1 seat allotment. This piece breaks down exactly what to do, by when, and what documents and eligibility conditions apply.

What's happening and why it matters

UP NEET UG Counselling is the state-level admission process that allots MBBS, BDS, and other medical/dental seats in Uttar Pradesh's government and private colleges to NEET-qualified candidates under the state quota. Round 1 registration opened on August 7, 2026, and this is the gateway step: without registering and paying the fee in this window, you cannot participate in choice filling or seat allotment for this round.

The entire process — registration, document upload, fee payment, and choice filling — happens online through upneet.gov.in. There is no offline option, so a stable internet connection and scanned copies of your documents ready in advance will save you a lot of stress in the final hours before the deadline.

Round 1 schedule at a glance

Note that choice filling actually opened a day before registration closes, so many candidates will be registering and filling choices almost simultaneously. Keep both deadlines marked separately — they are not the same date.

Registration fee and payment

Candidates must pay a non-refundable registration fee of Rs 2,000 to be considered a valid applicant for this round. Payment can be made online via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI, and it must go through before August 12, 6:00 PM.

A crucial point aspirants sometimes miss: registering without completing the fee payment does not count as a finished application. If the fee doesn't reflect in your account before the deadline, your registration will not be processed, and you'll be locked out of Round 1 entirely.

Who is eligible

Before you start filling the form, check that you meet the basic conditions DGMET has set for this round.

• Must have qualified NEET UG 2026 with a valid score
• Must be an Indian citizen, or an OCI/PIO candidate
• State quota applicants need a valid Uttar Pradesh domicile certificate; All India Quota (AIQ)-eligible candidates can also participate under applicable rules
• Must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English
• Minimum 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying exam (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates)
• Minimum age of 17 years; there is no upper age limit

Documents to keep ready

Uploading blurry or incomplete documents is one of the most common reasons applications get flagged for correction, costing candidates valuable time in a short registration window. Have clear scanned copies of the following ready before you log in.

• NEET 2026 admit card and score card
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
• Graduation certificate, if applicable
• Caste certificate for SC/ST/OBC candidates, and non-creamy layer certificate for OBC candidates
• EWS certificate, where applicable
• A valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, or Driving Licence)
• Recent passport-size photograph and signature scan

Choice filling: the step that decides your college

Registration only makes you eligible to participate — it's the choice-filling step that actually determines which college and course you might be allotted. The window runs from August 6 to August 13, 2026, and you can add, remove, or reorder your preferences as many times as you like until you lock them.

Once locked at 11:00 AM on August 13, no further edits are possible, and failing to lock your choices altogether can result in being excluded from this round of counselling. Treat the order of your list seriously: allotment is based on your NEET rank and the sequence in which you've ranked colleges and courses, so listing a genuinely undesirable option too high, or leaving out a realistic backup, can affect where you land.

• List every college-course combination you would actually accept, not just your top picks
• Order preferences from most wanted to least wanted — the system allots based on this sequence and your rank
• Cross-check previous years' closing ranks for colleges you're considering before finalising the order
• Lock your choices well ahead of the 11:00 AM deadline to avoid last-minute site traffic or technical glitches

Frequently asked questions

If you're eligible for UP's state quota, don't wait until the last day — register early, get your fee payment confirmed, and use the choice-filling window to research colleges rather than rushing through it on August 13. Keep checking upneet.gov.in directly for any schedule revisions, as counselling dates can shift with short notice.