NEET Counselling Dates 2026: Full Schedule for AIQ and State Rounds

NEET Counselling Dates 2026: Full Schedule for AIQ and State Rounds

NEET counselling dates 2026 have been announced for MCC All India Quota and state counselling rounds. Candidates seeking MBBS, BDS and other participating undergraduate medical seats must track registration, choice filling, seat allotment, reporting and joining deadlines separately.

MCC handles specified All India Quota, deemed-university, central and other notified seats. State counselling authorities conduct admission for state quota and many private medical and dental colleges.

## Quick Peek

- MCC AIQ Round 1: Scheduled from 4 August to 17 August 2026

- State Round 1: Scheduled from 13 August to 22 August 2026

- MCC Round 2: Scheduled from 24 August to 2 September 2026

- State Round 2: Scheduled from 31 August to 8 September 2026

- MCC and state counselling: Require separate registration

- Registration, choice filling, allotment and joining: Have different deadlines

- State portals: May publish additional state-specific dates, so students should check their own authority's notice

## NEET Counselling 2026: Important Notice

The dates below are based on the published NEET-UG 2026 All India Quota and State Quota schedule. The official schedule provides broad round-wise timelines, but registration and choice-filling sub-windows may be published separately by MCC or individual state authorities.

Candidates should check the official portal before making payment or locking choices. A revised notice can change the deadline, reporting date or order of activities.

Students can use the complete [NEET counselling guide](https://www.collegeforme.in/neet-counselling) to understand eligibility, registration, choice filling and seat allotment.

## MCC AIQ Counselling Dates 2026

The following schedule applies broadly to MCC counselling for specified AIQ, deemed, central and other participating institutions.

MCC AIQ Counselling Schedule:

| MCC Counselling Stage | Dates |

| --- | --- |

| Round 1 counselling | 4–17 August 2026 |

| Round 1 last date to join | 22 August 2026 |

| Round 2 counselling | 24 August–2 September 2026 |

| Round 2 last date to join | 8 September 2026 |

| Round 3 counselling | 10–18 September 2026 |

| Round 3 last date to join | 26 September 2026 |

| Stray Vacancy Round | 28 September–3 October 2026 |

| Stray Vacancy Round last date to join | 10 October 2026 |

## MCC Round 1 Sub-Schedule

MCC Round 1 includes several separate activities.

Round 1 Activity Timeline:

| Round 1 Activity | Date or Timeline |

| --- | --- |

| Seat matrix verification | 4 August 2026 |

| Registration and payment | 5–12 August 2026 |

| Choice filling | 6–13 August 2026 |

| Choice locking | 12–13 August 2026 |

| Seat processing | 13–16 August 2026 |

| Seat allotment result | 17 August 2026 |

| Reporting and joining | 18–22 August 2026 |

As of 13 August 2026, Round 1 registration and payment have reached the published closing date, while candidates should check the MCC portal for the exact choice-locking status and deadline.

## State NEET Counselling Dates 2026

The broad state counselling schedule is as follows:

State Counselling Schedule:

| State Counselling Stage | Dates |

| --- | --- |

| Round 1 counselling | 13–22 August 2026 |

| Round 1 last date to join | 28 August 2026 |

| Round 2 counselling | 31 August–8 September 2026 |

| Round 2 last date to join | 14 September 2026 |

| Round 3 counselling | 16–26 September 2026 |

| Round 3 last date to join | 1 October 2026 |

| Stray Vacancy Round | 3–5 October 2026 |

| Stray Vacancy Round last date to join | 10 October 2026 |

The state schedule is a broad framework. Individual authorities may announce different registration, choice-filling, allotment and reporting dates within the applicable round.

For example, a state may close registration before the general Round 1 period ends. Students must follow their own state counselling website rather than relying only on the national schedule.

## MCC vs State Counselling Dates

Comparison Table:

| Point | MCC AIQ Counselling | State Counselling |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Main authority | Medical Counselling Committee | State or Union Territory authority |

| Round 1 | 4–17 August 2026 | 13–22 August 2026 |

| Round 2 | 24 August–2 September 2026 | 31 August–8 September 2026 |

| Round 3 | 10–18 September 2026 | 16–26 September 2026 |

| Stray round | 28 September–3 October 2026 | 3–5 October 2026 |

| Joining deadline after final round | 10 October 2026 | 10 October 2026 |

| Registration | MCC portal | State portal |

| Main seats | Specified AIQ, deemed, central and notified seats | State quota and many private-college seats |

MCC registration does not automatically complete state counselling registration. Candidates interested in both routes should register separately and track both schedules.

## What Happens During Each Round?

The counselling dates shown in the table represent the complete round window. Within that window, the authority may schedule:

- Registration

- Fee payment

- Choice filling

- Choice locking

- Seat processing

- Seat allotment result

- Reporting

- Joining verification

A candidate can miss admission even when the overall round is still open if they miss a smaller deadline for payment, choice locking or reporting.

## NEET Counselling Process by Date

## Before Registration

Prepare:

- NEET scorecard

- NEET admit card

- Class 10 certificate

- Class 12 certificate

- Category certificate

- Domicile certificate

- Identity proof

- Passport-size photographs

- Valid email ID and mobile number

- Fee payment method

Students can review the [NEET counselling document checklist](https://www.collegeforme.in/neet-counselling/documents) before registration begins.

## During Registration

Enter:

- NEET roll number

- Application number

- Date of birth

- Personal details

- Academic details

- Category information

- Domicile details

- Contact details

Check the form carefully before final submission. Incorrect category or domicile information can affect eligibility.

## During Fee Payment

Pay the applicable:

- Registration fee

- Security deposit

- Private or deemed-university fee, where applicable

- State counselling fee

Save the receipt, transaction ID and confirmation page.

## During Choice Filling

Add colleges and courses according to genuine preference.

Consider:

- Government or private status

- MBBS or BDS

- Category and quota

- Previous closing rank

- Fees

- Hostel

- Location

- Hospital facilities

- Internship exposure

- Family budget

## During Choice Locking

Before locking:

- Review every choice

- Remove colleges you cannot afford

- Confirm course and quota

- Check the order of preference

- Save a copy of the final list

Locked choices usually cannot be changed unless the authority officially reopens the window.

## During Allotment

The authority considers:

- NEET rank

- Category

- Reservation

- Choices

- Seat availability

- Eligibility

- Counselling rules

Download the allotment letter if a seat is assigned.

## During Reporting

Report to the allotted college with original documents, photocopies, allotment letter and fee receipt.

Failure to report by the joining deadline may result in cancellation of the seat. The consequences depend on the round and official rules.

## State-Wise Schedule: How to Check Your State

There is no single practical registration date for every state because authorities may open and close their portals at different times.

To check your state schedule:

- Identify the official state counselling authority

- Open its official website

- Locate the NEET UG 2026 counselling notice

- Download the information bulletin

- Check registration and fee deadlines

- Note the choice-filling and locking dates

- Check the allotment result date

- Note the reporting and joining deadline

- Save the helpline details

State schedules may cover:

- Government MBBS seats

- Government BDS seats

- Private MBBS seats

- Private BDS seats

- Management quota

- NRI quota

- State-specific reserved seats

Do not use an old schedule from 2025 or an unofficial coaching calendar as the final authority.

## Important State Counselling Considerations

## Domicile

State quota admission may require a valid domicile certificate. The definition of domicile can differ between states.

## State Merit List

Some states publish a separate merit list after registration and document verification. Your state rank may be different from your overall NEET rank.

## Private College Fees

State private-college counselling may include high-fee seats. Check the complete fee structure before adding a college.

## Category Certificates

A certificate accepted for state counselling may not automatically be accepted for MCC counselling. Check the required format and issuing authority.

## Local Eligibility

Some states may apply conditions related to:

- Schooling

- Domicile

- Parent residence

- State board education

- Category

- NRI sponsorship

- Institutional preference

## Round-Wise Strategy

## Round 1

Round 1 is the first major opportunity. Candidates should:

- Register as soon as the portal opens

- Review the seat matrix

- Fill a broad choice list

- Avoid adding unaffordable colleges

- Lock choices before the deadline

- Download the allotment letter

## Round 2

Round 2 may provide opportunities after upgrades, withdrawals and vacant seats.

Before participating:

- Read the round-specific rules

- Check whether fresh registration is allowed

- Review the new seat matrix

- Fill fresh choices if required

- Understand the effect of joining or not joining a Round 1 seat

## Round 3

Round 3 may be one of the final regular opportunities. Choices should be realistic and based on available seats.

Candidates should not assume that the same choice list will automatically continue.

## Stray Vacancy Round

The Stray Vacancy Round fills seats remaining after regular rounds. Rules can be stricter, and candidates may need to:

- Register afresh

- Submit fresh choices

- Pay a fee or security deposit

- Give an undertaking

- Report quickly after allotment

A candidate should participate only after reading the official stray-round instructions.

## Cutoff and Choice Planning

NEET counselling dates and cutoffs are connected. A candidate may not receive a seat in Round 1 but may find an option in Round 2 or Round 3.

Cutoffs change because of:

- Candidate preferences

- Seat withdrawals

- College upgrades

- Category conversion

- New seat additions

- Fee affordability

- State-specific demand

Students can check [NEET cutoff trends](https://www.collegeforme.in/neet-counselling/cutoff) and use previous closing ranks to create preferred, realistic and backup choices.

Do not treat a previous closing rank as a guaranteed 2026 cutoff.

## Documents Required by Reporting Date

Carry:

- NEET-UG scorecard

- NEET-UG admit card

- Class 10 marksheet and certificate

- Class 12 marksheet and certificate

- Transfer certificate

- Migration certificate

- Character certificate

- Government identity proof

- Category certificate

- EWS or OBC-NCL certificate, if applicable

- Domicile certificate

- PwD certificate, if applicable

- Medical fitness certificate

- Passport-size photographs

- Seat allotment letter

- Counselling registration form

- Fee payment receipt

Keep multiple photocopies and digital backups.

## Deadline Checklist

Maintain separate calendars for MCC and state counselling:

| Task | What to Record |

| --- | --- |

| MCC registration | Opening and closing date |

| Fee payment | Last payment time |

| Choice filling | Opening and closing date |

| Choice locking | Exact portal deadline |

| Allotment result | Result date |

| Reporting | College reporting window |

| State registration | State-specific deadline |

| Document verification | Centre or college date |

| Fee payment after allotment | College deadline |

| Joining | Final reporting date |

## What If You Miss a Deadline?

The response depends on the missed deadline.

## Missed Registration

You may need to wait for the next round, if fresh registration is allowed.

## Missed Payment

Registration may remain incomplete until payment is successful. Check the portal and official instructions.

## Missed Choice Locking

The choices may not be considered according to the applicable rules. Contact the official helpline immediately.

## Missed Reporting

The allotted seat may be cancelled. You may also face security-deposit or future-round consequences.

## Wrong Choice

If a wrong college is allotted, read the freeze, upgrade, exit and resignation rules before taking action.

## Final Advice

NEET counselling dates 2026 should be treated as a deadline calendar, not just a general announcement. Register on the correct portal, note the exact payment and choice-locking times, prepare documents in advance and check state-specific notices regularly.

A balanced choice list, timely reporting and careful reading of round-specific rules can help students avoid losing an eligible medical or dental seat.

## Common Questions

What are the NEET counselling dates 2026 for AIQ?

MCC AIQ Round 1 is scheduled from 4 August to 17 August 2026. Round 2 is from 24 August to 2 September, Round 3 from 10 to 18 September and the Stray Vacancy Round from 28 September to 3 October 2026.

What are the state NEET counselling dates 2026?

The broad state schedule lists Round 1 from 13 to 22 August, Round 2 from 31 August to 8 September, Round 3 from 16 to 26 September and the Stray Vacancy Round from 3 to 5 October 2026.

Is the state counselling schedule the same for every state?

No. The broad round schedule may be common, but registration, choice filling, allotment and reporting dates can differ by state.

Is MCC registration enough for state quota admission?

No. State quota candidates generally need separate registration on the state counselling portal.

When is the MCC Round 1 result?

The MCC Round 1 allotment result is scheduled for 17 August 2026, followed by reporting and joining during the specified window.

Can I participate in Round 2 if I did not get a seat in Round 1?

Usually, candidates may participate in a later round if they satisfy the applicable registration and eligibility conditions. Check whether fresh choices or registration are required.

Can I change my choices after locking?

Usually, locked choices cannot be changed unless the authority officially reopens the choice window.

What is the final joining date for NEET counselling 2026?

The published schedule lists 10 October 2026 as the last joining date for the MCC and state Stray Vacancy Rounds. Always verify the latest authority notice.