Uttarakhand NEET UG 2026 Round 2 Counselling: Eligibility, Dates & Process

Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University (HNBUMU) has released the official instructions for Round 2 of the state-centralised NEET UG 2026 counselling for MBBS and BDS seats. This round is open to candidates who did not register in Round 1, did not receive a seat in Round 1, or chose FLOAT in Round 1 and wish to upgrade their seat. Round 2 is an online-only process with a defined registration window, choice-filling deadline, and seat allotment rules. Understanding the eligibility criteria, fee structure, and procedural steps is critical to avoid rejection and secure your seat.

Who is Eligible for Round 2 Counselling

Round 2 counselling is restricted to four specific groups of candidates. You are eligible only if you fall into one of these categories; if you do not, you cannot participate in Round 2.

The first eligible group consists of candidates who did not register at all in Round 1 and now wish to participate in Round 2 for the first time. The second group includes candidates who registered in Round 1 but received no seat allocation in that round—they can now try again in Round 2. The third group comprises candidates who were allotted a seat in Round 1, chose FLOAT (meaning they did not lock their seat), and now wish to upgrade to a better seat in Round 2. The fourth group includes candidates who were allotted a seat in Round 1, did not choose either FLOAT or FREEZE (meaning they took no action), and now wish to participate in Round 2 for seat upgrade.

• Did not register in Round 1 and wish to participate in Round 2
• Registered in Round 1 but received no seat allocation
• Were allotted a seat in Round 1, chose FLOAT, and wish to upgrade in Round 2
• Were allotted a seat in Round 1, chose neither FLOAT nor FREEZE, and wish to upgrade in Round 2

Who is NOT Eligible for Round 2

One category of candidates is explicitly barred from Round 2 participation: those who chose FREEZE in Round 1 and completed their admission process at the allotted college within the prescribed time. If you locked your seat by choosing FREEZE and completed admission formalities at your college, you have secured your seat and cannot participate in Round 2. Your seat is final. This rule prevents candidates from abandoning confirmed admissions to chase better options.

If you are unsure whether you chose FREEZE or FLOAT, check your Round 1 choice submission confirmation. FREEZE means your seat is locked and you cannot move. FLOAT means your seat is not locked and you can upgrade in Round 2 if you meet the other eligibility criteria.

• Candidates who chose FREEZE in Round 1 and completed admission at their allotted college are NOT eligible for Round 2

Important Dates and Deadlines

The notice does not explicitly state the Round 2 registration opening date or the choice-filling deadline. However, it specifies that the deadline to surrender (withdraw from) a FREEZE seat is 09 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. This is a critical date: if you hold a FREEZE seat from Round 1 and wish to abandon it to participate in Round 2, you must surrender it by this date and time. After 5:00 PM on 09 September 2026, no FREEZE or FLOAT seat can be surrendered, and you will be locked into your Round 1 allocation.

All registration, fee payment, choice filling, and choice submission must be completed within the official Round 2 window. The notice emphasises that once the choice-submission deadline passes, no changes are permitted. You must plan ahead and complete all steps well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues or missed deadlines.

• Deadline to surrender FREEZE/FLOAT seat from Round 1: 09 September 2026 at 5:00 PM (only through prescribed process)
• All Round 2 registration, fee payment, choice filling, and choice submission must be completed within the official Round 2 window (exact dates to be announced on university website)
• No changes or modifications permitted after choice submission deadline

Registration and Fee Payment Process

Round 2 registration and fee payment are conducted entirely online through the university website www.hnbumu.ac.in. You must pay both the registration fee and the security deposit (caution money) using online payment methods only—Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking. No offline or cash payment is accepted.

The notice outlines four scenarios based on your Round 1 payment status. If you paid both registration fee and security deposit in Round 1, you do not need to pay again; simply log in with your registered ID, fill a new online application form, and proceed. If you paid only the registration fee in Round 1 but not the security deposit, you must now pay the security deposit and fill a new online application form; you will not be charged the registration fee again. If you paid neither fee in Round 1, you must now pay both the registration fee and security deposit, register afresh, and fill a new online application form. If you paid both fees in Round 1 and now wish to change your quota (from State Quota to All India–Open Quota or vice versa), you must log in, fill a new online application form with the new quota choice, and submit; no additional security deposit is required unless the new quota demands a higher deposit, in which case you pay the difference.

After completing registration and fee payment, you will receive a confirmation. Print this confirmation and keep it safe—it is your proof of registration and will be needed for all future correspondence and admission formalities.

• Payment method: Online only (Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking) via www.hnbumu.ac.in
• If you paid both fees in Round 1: Log in with registered ID, fill new online form, no additional payment needed
• If you paid only registration fee in Round 1: Pay security deposit now, fill new online form, registration fee not charged again
• If you paid neither fee in Round 1: Pay both registration fee and security deposit, register afresh, fill new online form
• If changing quota: Log in, fill new form with new quota choice, pay any additional security deposit if required

Choice Filling and Submission: Critical Rules

After completing registration and fee payment, you must fill your choice of colleges and programmes (MBBS or BDS) in the online application form. You can select as many colleges and programmes as you wish, in order of preference. The system will rank your choices by priority—your first choice is your highest priority, your second choice is your second priority, and so on. During the choice-filling window, you can modify your choices as many times as you wish. However, once you click 'Submit Choices' (Choice Submit), your choices are locked and cannot be changed under any circumstances.

The notice emphasises that if you fill choices but do not click 'Submit Choices' before the deadline, the system will automatically submit your last saved choices at the deadline. This means your choices will be submitted whether you manually submit them or not. Therefore, you must ensure your choices are correct before the deadline passes. After the deadline, no modifications are allowed at any level—not by you, not by the counselling board, not by the university.

A critical trap: if you filled choices in Round 1, those choices are automatically cancelled and will not carry forward to Round 2. You must fill your choices afresh in Round 2. Do not assume your Round 1 choices will be used; they will not be. You must actively fill and submit new choices in Round 2 or you will not be considered for any seat.

• Fill choices in order of preference (1st choice = highest priority)
• You can modify choices unlimited times during the filling window
• Once you click 'Submit Choices', choices are locked and cannot be changed
• If you do not manually submit, the system will auto-submit your last saved choices at the deadline
• Round 1 choices are automatically cancelled; you must fill new choices in Round 2
• After the deadline, no changes are permitted at any level

Seat Upgrade (Upgradation) Rules for FLOAT Candidates

If you chose FLOAT in Round 1 (meaning you did not lock your seat), you are eligible for seat upgrade in Round 2. Seat upgrade means you can move from your Round 1 allotted seat to a different (usually better) seat if one becomes available based on your merit, eligibility, and new choices. To be eligible for upgrade, you must fill new choices in Round 2 indicating which seats you wish to upgrade to. If you do not fill new choices, you will retain your Round 1 FLOAT seat and will not be considered for upgrade.

If you are allotted a new seat in Round 2 (upgrade), your Round 1 FLOAT seat is automatically cancelled and becomes vacant. This vacant seat will then be offered to the next eligible candidate in the merit list. You will have no further claim on your Round 1 seat. If you are not allotted a new seat in Round 2 (no upgrade), you retain your Round 1 FLOAT seat and will be admitted to that seat. In Round 3 (if it occurs), you will again have the option to upgrade.

Important: If you choose to upgrade in Round 2 but then abandon your Round 1 FLOAT seat during Round 2 (by surrendering it), you will lose eligibility to participate further in Round 2. However, you will retain the right to participate in Round 3 (if it occurs). This rule prevents candidates from gaming the system by abandoning seats mid-round.

• FLOAT candidates can upgrade to a better seat in Round 2 by filling new choices
• If you do not fill new choices, you retain your Round 1 FLOAT seat
• If upgraded, your Round 1 FLOAT seat is cancelled and offered to the next eligible candidate
• If not upgraded, you retain your Round 1 FLOAT seat for admission
• If you surrender your FLOAT seat during Round 2, you lose Round 2 eligibility but retain Round 3 rights

Seat Surrender (Withdrawal) Rules and Deadlines

If you hold a FREEZE seat from Round 1 (meaning you locked your seat and completed admission), you can surrender (withdraw from) that seat only by the deadline: 09 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. After this deadline, no FREEZE seat can be surrendered. If you surrender your FREEZE seat by the deadline, you lose your Round 1 seat but become eligible to participate in Round 2. The detailed procedure for seat surrender is available on the university website; you must follow the prescribed process exactly.

If you hold a FLOAT seat from Round 1 (meaning you did not lock your seat), you can surrender it during the Round 2 window if you wish. The detailed procedure for surrendering a FLOAT seat is also available on the university website. If you surrender your FLOAT seat, you lose that seat but can participate in Round 2 for a new allotment.

After 09 September 2026 at 5:00 PM, no candidate holding a FREEZE or FLOAT seat from Round 1 can surrender it. Your seat becomes final and you cannot participate in further rounds. This is a hard deadline—no extensions or exceptions are granted. If you wish to surrender, you must do so before this deadline through the prescribed online process.

If you are allotted a seat in Round 2 and do not wish to accept it, you can surrender it only if you have not completed admission formalities (i.e., you have not physically reported to the college and submitted original documents). Once you complete admission, you cannot surrender. The deadline for surrendering a Round 2 seat will be specified in the Round 2 allotment notice.

• FREEZE seat surrender deadline: 09 September 2026 at 5:00 PM (prescribed process only)
• FLOAT seat surrender: Can be surrendered during Round 2 window (prescribed process only)
• After 09 September 2026 at 5:00 PM: No FREEZE/FLOAT seat can be surrendered
• Round 2 allotted seat: Can be surrendered only if admission formalities not completed
• Surrender must follow the prescribed online process; no offline surrender accepted

Document Upload and Verification

All candidates participating in Round 2 must upload scanned copies of their required documents online. The notice specifies that candidates who already uploaded documents in Round 1 do not need to upload them again—the system will retain their Round 1 uploads. However, if you are participating in Round 2 for the first time (because you did not register in Round 1), you must upload all required documents.

Documents must be uploaded in the prescribed format and size. The exact list of required documents (such as NEET admit card, mark sheet, category certificate, domicile certificate, etc.) will be specified in the Round 2 information bulletin or on the university website. Ensure you have all documents ready before you begin the online application process. Missing or incorrectly formatted documents can lead to rejection during verification.

After seat allotment, all candidates must physically report to their allotted college with original documents for verification. The college will cross-check your uploaded documents against the originals. Any discrepancy or missing document can result in rejection of your admission. Therefore, ensure your uploaded documents are clear, legible, and match your original documents exactly.

• Upload scanned documents online (Round 1 uploads retained; no re-upload needed if you already uploaded)
• First-time Round 2 participants must upload all required documents
• Documents must be in prescribed format and size
• After allotment, report to college with original documents for verification
• Discrepancies between uploaded and original documents can lead to rejection

Reservations and Category Certificates

Reservations (vertical and horizontal) for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and other categories are applied as per Uttarakhand state policy and the rules in effect on the date of counselling. To claim any category-based reservation, you must submit a valid category certificate issued by the competent authority of Uttarakhand state. A category certificate issued by any other state or authority is not accepted.

OBC (Other Backward Class) certificates are valid for three years from the date of issue. If your OBC certificate was issued more than three years ago, it is invalid and will not be accepted. You must obtain a fresh OBC certificate from the competent authority. The notice cites Government Order No. 310/XVII-2/16-02 (OBC) dated 21 February 2016 for this rule.

SC/ST certificates do not have an expiry date and remain valid indefinitely, provided they are issued by the competent authority of Uttarakhand state. However, ensure your certificate clearly shows your name and is issued in your name only—certificates issued in the name of a parent or guardian are not accepted.

EWS (Economically Weaker Section) certificates are issued as per Government Order No. 123/XXX(2)/2020-30(1)/2020 dated 29 April 2020 and the notification issued by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department. Only the most recent EWS certificate from the competent authority is accepted.

Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates must obtain their disability certificate from a medical board nominated by the National Medical Commission. Certificates from other sources or non-nominated boards are not accepted. If you have any doubt about your certificate's validity, contact the National Medical Commission's nominated board before counselling.

If you do not have a valid category certificate by the time of counselling, you will be considered in the General (unreserved) category. You cannot claim a category after counselling has begun. Therefore, obtain your category certificate well in advance and verify its validity before the counselling deadline.

• Category certificate must be issued by competent authority of Uttarakhand state
• OBC certificate valid for 3 years from date of issue; older certificates are invalid
• SC/ST certificates valid indefinitely (no expiry)
• EWS certificate must be recent and issued per Government Order No. 123/XXX(2)/2020
• PwD certificate must be from National Medical Commission-nominated medical board
• Certificate must be in candidate's name only; parent/guardian names not accepted
• Obtain certificate well in advance; no category claims accepted after counselling begins

Seat Matrix and College-Wise Seat Availability

The seat matrix showing the number of MBBS and BDS seats available at each college, broken down by quota (State Quota and All India–Open Quota) and category (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, General), is available on the university website at a dedicated link. This matrix is based on the status as of 07 September 2026. The seat matrix is updated in real time as candidates surrender or upgrade seats during the counselling process. You should check the seat matrix regularly to understand which seats are available and which have been filled.

The seat matrix is your primary tool for making informed choices. Before filling your choices, study the seat matrix carefully to identify colleges and programmes with available seats in your category. Remember that seats shown as available may be filled by other candidates before your turn, so always have backup choices. The matrix is updated frequently, so check it multiple times during the choice-filling window.

• Seat matrix available on university website (dedicated link)
• Shows seats by college, quota (State/All India–Open), and category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/General)
• Updated in real time as seats are filled or surrendered
• Check regularly during choice-filling window
• Use matrix to identify available seats and plan backup choices

Fee Structure and Refund Policy

The detailed fee structure for each college (registration fee, security deposit, tuition fees, hostel fees, etc.) is available on the university website at a dedicated link. Before filling your choices, you must review the fee structure of each college you are considering. Different colleges may have different fees, and you are responsible for understanding the financial commitment before accepting a seat.

The security deposit (caution money) paid during registration is refundable. If you are allotted a seat and later surrender it (before completing admission), or if you complete all counselling rounds without being allotted a seat, your security deposit will be refunded. The refund will be processed online to the account from which you made the payment, typically within one month after the entire counselling process is complete. If you change your quota during Round 2 and the new quota requires a higher security deposit, you must pay the additional amount; if the new quota requires a lower deposit, the excess will be refunded after counselling is complete.

The notice explicitly warns candidates: you are solely responsible for verifying the fees, bond requirements, seat recognition status, and other details of each college before accepting a seat. The university and counselling board have no responsibility if you accept a seat at a college with high fees or unfavourable terms. Therefore, contact each college directly, obtain complete information, and satisfy yourself before making your choice.

• Detailed fee structure available on university website (dedicated link)
• Review fees for each college before filling choices
• Security deposit is refundable after counselling or if seat surrendered before admission
• Refund processed online within one month after counselling ends
• If quota changed and new quota requires higher deposit, pay the difference
• Candidate is solely responsible for verifying all fees and college details

Admission Process After Seat Allotment

After Round 2 seat allotment, the counselling board will publish the allotment list on the university website. You must check the list to confirm your allotted seat. If you are allotted a seat, you must report to your allotted college in person with all original documents (as specified in the admission guidelines) within the prescribed time period. Failure to report within the deadline will result in forfeiture of your seat.

For FREEZE candidates: You must report to your allotted college with original documents and complete all admission formalities (submission of documents, fee payment, hostel registration, etc.) within the prescribed time. Once you complete admission, your seat is final and you cannot change it in any subsequent round.

For FLOAT candidates: You must report to your allotted college with original documents and complete admission formalities. However, if you wish to upgrade in a subsequent round (Round 3, if it occurs), you can do so by choosing FLOAT again. If you upgrade, your current seat will be surrendered and you will move to the new allotted seat.

The detailed admission procedure, including the list of required documents, reporting deadline, and fee payment instructions, will be published on the university website after the allotment list is released. Read these instructions carefully and follow them exactly to avoid rejection.

• Check allotment list on university website after Round 2 allotment
• Report to allotted college in person with original documents within prescribed deadline
• Complete all admission formalities (document submission, fee payment, etc.)
• FREEZE candidates: Seat is final after admission; no further changes
• FLOAT candidates: Can upgrade in subsequent rounds if available
• Failure to report within deadline results in forfeiture of seat

Frequently asked questions

To participate in Round 2, verify your eligibility using the four criteria listed above. If eligible, register on www.hnbumu.ac.in, pay the required fees online, upload documents (if first-time participant), fill your choices carefully in order of preference, and submit them before the deadline. Check the seat matrix regularly, review college fees and details, and ensure your category certificate is valid. After allotment, report to your college with original documents within the prescribed deadline. Do not miss any deadline—the counselling board will not grant extensions.