Campus Times | Lucknow 

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has commenced the registration process for NEET UG Counselling 2026 from August 5, marking the beginning of the admission process for MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical programmes under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and participating central institutions.

Eligible candidates can complete the Round 1 registration through the official MCC counselling portal from 1 pm onwards. The counselling process covers admissions to AIQ seats, AIIMS, JIPMER, deemed universities, central universities, ESIC institutions, AFMS colleges and other participating medical institutes.

Candidates seeking admission under the 85% state quota should note that state counselling is conducted independently. They will be required to register separately on the counselling portals of their respective state authorities, even if they are participating in the MCC counselling process.

Round 1 Schedule at a Glance

As per the official counselling calendar, the registration window will remain open until August 9 (12 noon), while the fee payment facility will close at 3 pm on the same day. Choice filling will be available from August 6 to August 10, with choice locking scheduled between 4 pm and 11:55 pm on August 10.

The seat allotment process will be carried out on August 11 and 12, followed by the declaration of Round 1 results on August 13. Candidates allotted seats must report to their respective institutes between August 14 and August 18, while institutes will complete verification of joined candidates by August 20. Registration for Round 2 is scheduled to begin on August 22.

MCC Introduces New Digital Counselling Features

This years counselling process includes several technology-driven upgrades aimed at simplifying admissions and reducing the need for multiple visits to institutions.

A key reform is the one-time physical reporting system. Candidates who opt to Freeze their allotted seat will complete admission formalities by reporting to the allotted college. Those selecting the Float option can continue participating in subsequent counselling rounds while undergoing document verification online, with physical reporting required only after the third round if they retain a seat.

The MCC has also launched an online resignation facility, enabling eligible candidates to surrender their allotted seats directly through the counselling portal without visiting the institution.

Additional reforms include online document verification, a digitised NRI admission process, enhanced support for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), stronger cybersecurity measures and an improved grievance redressal mechanism.

Documents Candidates Should Keep Ready

Applicants are advised to keep all required documents prepared before starting the registration process. These include:

• NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard

• Class 10 certificate as proof of date of birth

• Class 12 mark sheet and passing certificate

• Valid government-issued photo ID

• Recent passport-size photographs

• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), where applicable

• PwBD certificate, if applicable

• Domicile certificate, wherever required

• Supporting documents for NRI candidature, if applying under the NRI quota

• Any additional documents specified in the MCC Information Bulletin or by the allotted institute

After completing registration, candidates must pay the prescribed counselling fee, fill in their preferred colleges and courses, and lock their choices within the stipulated timeline. Final seat allotment will be determined based on the candidates NEET UG 2026 rank, reservation category, filled preferences and seat availability.