Quick Answer: MCC counselling has 4 rounds — Round 1 (July–Aug), Round 2 (Aug–Sep), Mop-up (Sep–Oct), Stray Vacancy (Oct–Nov 2026). Registration fee: Rs. 1,000 (General). Security deposit: Rs. 10,000 (refundable). Float in Round 1 unless you got your absolute first-choice college. Run state counselling in parallel. Verified July 25, 2026.

MCC Counselling 2026
All 4 Rounds — Complete Guide

MCC fills 15% of government MBBS seats + all AIIMS, JIPMER, and deemed university seats. 4 rounds — from registration to college reporting. Everything you need to know.

15%
Govt Seats via AIQ
4
Counselling Rounds
Rs. 10K
Security Deposit
mcc.nic.in
Official Portal
Written by Priya Singh, NEET Admissions Specialist Based on 3 years of MCC counselling cycles Includes 8 mistakes we see every cycleLast reviewed: July 25, 2026

Run both in parallel: MCC counselling (15% AIQ) and state counselling (85% of govt seats) run simultaneously. Register for both separately on Day 1. Many students lose 85% of available government MBBS seats by only focusing on MCC.

MCC Counselling 2026 — Quick Summary

AuthorityMCC — Medical Counselling Committee, Ministry of Health
Seats Filled15% All India Quota (AIQ) govt + all AIIMS/JIPMER/Central + Deemed universities
Official Portalmcc.nic.in
Number of Rounds4 — Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up, Stray Vacancy
Round 1July–August 2026 (expected)
Round 2August–September 2026 (expected)
Mop-up RoundSeptember–October 2026 (expected)
Stray Vacancy RoundOctober–November 2026 (expected)
Registration FeeRs. 1,000 (General/OBC/EWS) · Rs. 500 (SC/ST/PwD) — non-refundable
Security DepositRs. 10,000 (General/OBC/EWS) · Rs. 5,000 (SC/ST/PwD) — refundable
Choice Filling LimitUp to 100 choices
Expert SupportCollege For Me — Rs. 19,999 for Govt Package · +91 76685 05189

MCC counselling is not just a form to fill — it is a 4-month process with 10+ distinct deadlines, real-time strategic decisions, and permanent consequences for a 5-year career.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) fills the 15% All India Quota seats in government medical colleges, plus all seats in AIIMS (21 institutions), JIPMER (2 campuses), central institutions, and all deemed university MBBS seats across India. Every year, thousands of NEET qualifiers make avoidable errors: Freeze in Round 1 when they should Float, fill 8 choices instead of 80, miss the security deposit deadline, or ignore state counselling entirely.

This guide covers all 4 MCC rounds in detail, the Freeze/Float/Slide decision logic, the 8-step process, MCC vs state counselling comparison, and 8 expert tips from counsellors who have worked through 3 complete NEET cycles.

MCC NEET UG 2026 — All 4 Rounds

Round 1July–August 2026

Seats: All AIQ 15% govt + all Deemed/Central

Largest seat pool. Fill 50–100 choices. Float if allotted seat is not your #1 — nothing to lose.

Round 2August–September 2026

Seats: Vacated seats from Round 1 + unfilled seats

Floaters from Round 1 may upgrade. New registrations allowed. Freezers do not participate.

Mop-up RoundSeptember–October 2026

Seats: Remaining seats from Round 1 + 2 + private deemed

Key round for deemed universities. Separate registration required. Choice strategy differs.

Stray Vacancy RoundOctober–November 2026

Seats: Final remaining seats — all categories

Last chance through MCC. Tight deadlines. Physical verification required.

Freeze, Float, Slide — Detailed Guide

The single most consequential decision you make in MCC counselling. Getting this wrong is the #3 most common reason students lose a better government college.

🔒

FREEZE

Use when: When you got your absolute first-choice college and do not want to risk anything

Risk: Low — but closes off any possible upgrade

Use only for dream-college allotments

🌊

FLOAT

Use when: Allotted a good college but not your top preference — want to try for better

Risk: None — you keep current seat if no upgrade comes

Default choice for Round 1 and Round 2

↕️

SLIDE

Use when: Want a different course or category seat within the same specific college

Risk: Medium — current seat released during attempt

Use rarely; only if you understand the mechanics

The Rule: If you got a government college in Round 1 but not your #1 — choose FLOAT. You keep the seat. You try for better. No downside. Only choose FREEZE when upgrading would be a mistake you would regret. Never Slide unless you fully understand that your current seat is released.

MCC vs State Counselling — Key Differences

Both must run simultaneously. Understanding the difference prevents the most common error: ignoring state counselling while watching MCC results.

FactorMCC CounsellingState Counselling
% of Govt Seats15% (All India Quota)85% (State Quota)
Who Can ApplyAny NEET qualifier from any stateDomicile/residents of that state only
Seats IncludedGovt AIQ + AIIMS + JIPMER + DeemedState govt colleges + state private quota
Portalmcc.nic.inState-specific portals (DMER, RUHS, KEA, etc.)
Number of Rounds4 rounds2–3 rounds (varies by state)
RegistrationOne registration, all central roundsSeparate registration per state
Run simultaneously?Yes — with stateYes — with MCC

MCC Counselling — 8-Step Process

1

Register on mcc.nic.in

Create account with NEET roll number and DOB. Pay Rs. 1,000 (Gen) / Rs. 500 (SC/ST/PwD). Keep login safe — used for all 4 rounds.

2

Pay Security Deposit

Rs. 10,000 (Gen/OBC/EWS) or Rs. 5,000 (SC/ST/PwD) online. Refundable if no seat accepted or surrendered before deadline.

3

Fill Choices (50–100)

Add colleges in priority order. Most preferred = position 1. MCC allots best possible from your list based on rank. More choices = more chances.

4

Lock Choices

Click "Lock Choices" before the deadline. Unlocked choices are treated as final at window close. Once locked, no changes allowed.

5

Check Allotment Result

Log in on the allotment date. Check your allotted college — or no allotment. Print the allotment letter.

6

Freeze / Float / Slide

Float = keep seat + try for better (recommended for most). Freeze = final accept. Slide = try within same college only.

7

Confirm Security Deposit

Confirm deposit to activate your seat. Missing this deadline cancels the seat automatically. Set phone alarms.

8

Physical Reporting

Report to college with originals + 3 copies of all documents within the window. Non-reporting cancels the seat.

8 Common MCC Counselling Mistakes

Every one of these is avoidable. Every one costs students government seats every cycle.

1

Filling only 5–10 choices

You can fill up to 100. At AIR 15K there may be 40+ reachable colleges — list them all. Empty slots are lost opportunities with no downside to filling.

2

Wrong choice order — preferred college not at #1

MCC allots from your most preferred downward. If your dream college is at position 12, you will not receive it even if your rank is sufficient.

3

Freezing too early in Round 1

Unless you got your absolute first-choice college, Float is almost always better. You keep Round 1 seat. You have nothing to lose from Floating.

4

Missing the security deposit deadline

After accepting a seat (Freeze or Float), you must confirm by paying/verifying security deposit within the window. One missed deadline = automatic seat cancellation.

5

Not registering for state counselling in parallel

MCC fills 15% of govt seats. State counselling fills 85%. They run simultaneously. Missing state registration means losing 85% of government MBBS seats permanently.

6

Submitting an expired OBC NCL certificate

OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificates expire each financial year. A 2024-25 certificate is invalid in 2026. Get a fresh one before counselling opens.

7

Choosing Slide without understanding the risk

Slide releases your current seat during the attempt. If no better seat is available in the same college, you may end up with no allotment. Only Slide if you fully understand the mechanics.

8

Skipping Mop-up Round for deemed universities

Mop-up is the main route to deemed university MBBS through MCC. Students who stop after Round 2 miss this option entirely.

8 Expert Tips for MCC Counselling 2026

From counsellors who have watched 350+ students navigate 3 complete MCC counselling cycles.

1

Register Day 1 — do not wait for a "good" rank day

Registration windows are short. Portals crash near deadlines. Register on mcc.nic.in the moment registration opens, regardless of rank confidence.

2

Build your choice list before the window opens

Choice filling windows are typically 3–5 days. Researching 50 colleges under time pressure leads to wrong ordering. Build your list in advance, copy-paste when the window opens.

3

Float in Round 1 unless you got your absolute #1 college

Float has no downside — you keep your current seat and try for better. Freeze only when upgrading would be a mistake. Almost no one should Freeze in Round 1.

4

Run state counselling registration simultaneously

Day 1 of MCC registration = Day 1 of state registration. Both portals, same day. No exceptions. Missing state registration loses you 85% of government seats.

5

Set calendar alerts for every MCC deadline

There are 8–10 distinct deadlines across 4 rounds. Set phone calendar alerts at 24 hours and 2 hours before each. Security deposit deadline especially — missing it cancels your seat.

6

Research bond conditions for your shortlisted colleges

Some government colleges (especially UP, Bihar, MP) have Rs. 30–50L rural posting bonds. Know this before putting them at #1 in your choice list.

7

Save every receipt and confirmation screenshot as PDF

Security deposit receipt, registration confirmation, allotment letter — save PDF backups and email them to yourself. Required at college reporting.

8

Print your allotment letter immediately on result day

The portal can be slow or unstable on allotment days. Download and print as soon as results are live. You need the physical printout for document verification.

MCC Counselling — FAQs

What is the difference between Freeze, Float, and Slide?

Freeze = accept seat permanently, no upgradation. Float = accept seat temporarily, try for better next round (safest). Slide = try for different seat within same college only (current seat released). Float in Round 1 is correct for almost everyone.

When is MCC NEET UG counselling 2026?

Round 1: July–August. Round 2: August–September. Mop-up: September–October. Stray Vacancy: October–November 2026. Exact dates released on mcc.nic.in after NEET results.

What is the MCC fee and security deposit?

Registration: Rs. 1,000 (General), Rs. 500 (SC/ST/PwD) — non-refundable. Security deposit: Rs. 10,000 (General/OBC/EWS), Rs. 5,000 (SC/ST/PwD) — refundable if no seat accepted.

Can I participate in both MCC and state counselling?

Yes — and you must. Register for both simultaneously. They run in parallel. If allotted in both, accept one and surrender the other before deadlines.

What if I do not get a seat in Round 1 or 2?

Participate in the Mop-up Round (includes deemed university seats) and then Stray Vacancy Round. Also run state counselling in parallel — most govt seats are filled through state quota.

How many choices should I fill?

As many as possible — up to 100. More choices = more chances. At AIR 15,000 there may be 40+ reachable colleges. List all of them. Most preferred at position 1.

Is the security deposit refundable?

Yes, if no seat is accepted or surrendered before deadlines. Forfeited if you accept a seat but do not report to college, or miss the surrender window.

What documents are needed for MCC counselling?

NEET admit card + scorecard, Class 10 certificate (DOB), Class 12 marksheet + pass certificate, Aadhaar, 8–10 passport photos, category certificate if applicable, Transfer Certificate. Originals + 3 attested copies.

Navigate All 4 MCC Rounds With Expert Support

Choice filling strategy, Freeze/Float decisions, security deposit timing, state counselling in parallel — all covered in one flat-fee package.

+91 76685 05189 · Mon–Sat 9AM–8PM IST