Updated · based on MCC's 2026 information bulletin
NEET PG Counselling 2026: Dates, Rounds, Fees & Process
NBEMS declared NEET PG 2026 results on 24 September 2026, and MCC's All India Quota counselling is under way. This guide covers the round-wise schedule, what you pay and when you can lose your deposit, the new freeze-and-float joining rules, the documents you need, and where to register for state quota counselling.
Where counselling stands
Round 1 seat allotment result expected today, 24 Oct
As of . Confirm every deadline on mcc.nic.in.
- Exam held
- 30 Aug
- 180 questions · 720 marks
- Result declared
- 24 Sep
- 2,65,960 appeared
- MCC rounds
- 4
- R1 · R2 · R3 · Stray
- PG seats via MCC, 2025
- 28,750
- across 1,985 institutes
- Candidates, 2025
- 1,03,596
- in MCC PG counselling
NEET PG 2026 counselling schedule (MCC)
MCC runs the same four rounds for All India Quota, deemed university, central university and DNB seats. These are MCC's tentative dates and MCC can revise them, so check mcc.nic.in before every deadline.
| Round | Registration & payment | Choice filling | Result | Reporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 12–21 Oct | 13–22 Oct | 24 Oct | 26 Oct – 2 Nov |
| Round 2 | 6–11 Nov | 7–12 Nov | 14 Nov | 16–23 Nov |
| Round 3 | 26 Nov – 1 Dec | 27 Nov – 2 Dec | 4 Dec | 5–12 Dec |
| Stray vacancy round | 16–21 Dec | 16–21 Dec | 24 Dec | 24–31 Dec |
All dates 2026. Registration closes at 12 noon on the last day and fee payment at 3 PM. Choice locking closes at 10 AM on the last day of choice filling (11:55 PM for the stray vacancy round).
Which seats MCC fills — AIQ vs state quota
NEET PG seats are filled by two separate systems with separate registrations. Knowing which seats sit where is the first decision in your counselling plan.
- 50% All India Quota seats of state government colleges
- 100% of deemed university seats
- 100% of DNB seats
- Central universities and institutes — DU, BHU, AMU, VMMC & Safdarjung, ABVIMS & RML, ESIC Basaidarapur — including their 50% institutional quota
- Four rounds: R1, R2, R3 and stray vacancy
- The remaining 50% of government college seats in the state
- Private college seats in the state, under state rules
- Eligibility (domicile, or MBBS from the state) varies by state
- Own schedule, fees, rounds and reservation rules
- Separate registration on the state portal
Reservation in AIQ seats
- 15%SC
- 7.5%ST
- 27%OBC (non-creamy layer, central list)
- 10%EWS
- 5%PwD (horizontal)
PwD reservation needs an eligibility certificate from an MCC-designated medical board; no other disability certificate is accepted. State quota seats follow each state's own reservation rules.
How MCC counselling works, step by step
Register and pay
Register on mcc.nic.in with the mobile number and email you used with NBEMS, then pay the non-refundable registration fee and the refundable security deposit. Each candidate may submit only one registration.
Fill and lock choices
Add college and course choices in order of preference. There is no limit; MCC advises 30–40. Choices still unlocked at the deadline lock automatically, and locked choices cannot be edited.
Seat allotment
MCC allots seats by NEET PG rank and your choice order, applying reservation rules. If no seat is allotted, you stay eligible for the next round.
Choose freeze or float
Freeze: keep the seat, no upgrade — report to the institute in person for document verification and admission. Float: you want an upgrade — join online on the MCC portal and receive a provisional admission letter while you wait for the next round.
Upload your documents
Freeze and float candidates both upload clear scans of their documents once, for all rounds, within 2–3 days of the allotment result. The institute may raise queries that you must answer within the reporting window.
Report or upgrade
Freeze candidates report within the reporting dates. After the Round 3 result, every allotted candidate, and every float candidate who was not upgraded, must report in person.
Registration fee and security deposit
| Seat type and category | Registration fee (non-refundable) | Security deposit (refundable) |
|---|---|---|
| All India Quota — UR / EWS | ₹1,000 | ₹25,000 |
| All India Quota — SC / ST / OBC / PwD | ₹500 | ₹10,000 |
| Deemed universities — All categories | ₹5,000 | ₹2,00,000 |
Applying for both AIQ and deemed seats? You pay only the higher deemed university amount. MCC refunds the deposit after all rounds end, to the account you paid from, without interest — unless it is forfeited under the rules below.
Free exit, forfeiture and resignation rules
Each round has its own rules, and once a round starts its rules apply to everyone — including candidates holding a seat from an earlier round.
| Round | Rule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Free exit | If you do not join your Round 1 seat, your security deposit is safe and you can take part in Round 2. |
| Round 2 | Exit with forfeiture | Not joining or resigning a Round 2 seat forfeits your security deposit. You can still enter Round 3 by paying the fee again. |
| Round 3 | Must join | Round 3 seats cannot be resigned. Not joining forfeits the deposit and you cannot take part in later rounds. |
| Stray vacancy | Must join | Not joining a stray vacancy seat forfeits the security deposit. |
The deposit is also forfeited in any round if an admission is cancelled because of wrong information at registration or documents you could not produce.
Documents needed at joining
Carry originals. Colleges do not accept a letter saying your originals are deposited elsewhere, and some ask for more than this list, so check with your allotted college.
- MCC allotment letter
- NEET PG admit card and result / rank letter issued by NBEMS
- Class 10 certificate or birth certificate (proof of date of birth)
- MBBS 1st, 2nd and 3rd professional mark sheets
- MBBS degree or provisional pass certificate
- Internship completion certificate (internship must be complete by 30 September 2026)
- Permanent or provisional registration with a State Medical Council
- Photo ID: Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence
- SC / ST, OBC-NCL or EWS certificate in the central format, if you claim a category (OBC and EWS income based on the financial year ending 31 March 2026)
- PwD eligibility certificate from an MCC-designated medical board, if you claim PwD
How to build your choice list
List seats in true preference order
MCC gives you the highest choice you can get at your rank, so putting a dream seat above a safer one never costs you the safer one.
Fill enough choices
MCC advises 30–40. A short list is how candidates end a round with no seat at a rank that could have got one.
Use last year's closing ranks as a guide
MCC publishes previous years' allotments under Archives on mcc.nic.in. They are indicative, not a promise for this year.
Check fees, bond and stipend first
Especially for deemed and high-fee colleges. MCC shows what institutes report but takes no responsibility for it — confirm with the college before you add it.
Lock early and save a printout
Unlocked choices are locked at the deadline as they stand, and MCC cannot unlock them for you.
See which seats your score can reach
Enter your NEET PG 2026 score and profile. The predictor estimates your rank range and matches it against 2025 closing ranks across AIQ, state and deemed seats, so you can build a realistic choice list before locking closes.
Start free predictionState quota counselling authorities
Each state fills its own quota on its own schedule. MCC registration does not cover state counselling, so register on your state's portal as well.
| State | Counselling authority | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences | drntr.uhsap.in |
| Assam | Directorate of Medical Education, Assam | dme.assam.gov.in |
| Bihar | Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) | bceceboard.bihar.gov.in |
| Gujarat | Admission Committee for Professional Medical Courses | medadmgujarat.org |
| Haryana | Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak | uhsr.ac.in |
| Karnataka | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in |
| Kerala | Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) | cee.kerala.gov.in |
| Madhya Pradesh | Directorate of Medical Education, MP | dme.mponline.gov.in |
| Maharashtra | State Common Entrance Test Cell | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Punjab | Baba Farid University of Health Sciences | bfuhs.ac.in |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) | ruhsraj.org |
| Tamil Nadu | Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education | tnmedicalselection.net |
| Telangana | Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) | knruhs.telangana.gov.in |
| Uttar Pradesh | Directorate General of Medical Education & Training (DGME) | upneet.gov.in |
| West Bengal | West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee (WBMCC) | wbmcc.nic.in |
Delhi has no separate state round: MCC fills the institutional quota of Delhi University and the IP University-affiliated central institutes alongside AIQ. If you hold an AIQ seat and want a state seat, resign the AIQ seat first — free in Round 1, with forfeiture in Round 2.
Frequently asked questions
When does NEET PG 2026 counselling start?
MCC Round 1 registration opened on 12 Oct 2026 and closes on 21 Oct. Choice filling runs until 22 Oct, and the Round 1 seat allotment result is due on 24 Oct. Round 2 registration opens on 6 Nov, Round 3 on 26 Nov and the stray vacancy round on 16 Dec. These are MCC's tentative dates; confirm them on mcc.nic.in.
How many rounds of NEET PG counselling does MCC conduct?
Four: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the stray vacancy round. All four are online and cover All India Quota, deemed university, central university and DNB seats.
What is the fee for NEET PG counselling 2026?
For All India Quota seats, UR and EWS candidates pay a ₹1,000 registration fee and a ₹25,000 security deposit; SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates pay ₹500 and ₹10,000. For deemed universities every candidate pays ₹5,000 and ₹2,00,000. If you apply for both, you pay only the deemed university amount. The registration fee is non-refundable; the deposit is refundable.
When is the NEET PG security deposit forfeited?
If you are allotted a seat in Round 2 or any later round and do not join it, or if your admission is cancelled because of wrong information or missing documents. Otherwise MCC refunds the deposit after all rounds end, to the account you paid from, without interest.
What is free exit in NEET PG counselling?
Free exit applies only in Round 1. If you do not join your Round 1 seat, you keep your security deposit and can take part in Round 2. From Round 2 onwards, leaving an allotted seat forfeits the deposit.
What is the difference between freeze and float in MCC counselling?
After an allotment you choose. Freeze means you keep the seat and do not want an upgrade: you report to the institute in person for document verification and admission. Float means you want an upgrade in the next round: you join online on the MCC portal, the institute verifies your uploaded documents online, and you keep that seat unless you are upgraded.
How many choices should I fill in NEET PG choice filling?
There is no limit. MCC advises 30–40 choices, in true order of preference. Choices you do not lock are locked automatically at the deadline, and locked choices cannot be changed.
Can I take part in both AIQ and state quota counselling?
Yes. Register with MCC and with your state authority separately. If you hold an AIQ seat and later want a state seat, you must resign the AIQ seat first. That is free in Round 1 and forfeits your deposit in Round 2.
Who can take part in the stray vacancy round?
Candidates who did not register in Rounds 1–3, and registered candidates who were not allotted any seat in an earlier round. A stray vacancy seat must be joined; not joining forfeits the deposit.
Are deemed university and DNB seats part of MCC counselling?
Yes. MCC fills 100% of deemed university seats and 100% of DNB seats in the same four rounds as All India Quota seats, alongside the seats of central universities and institutes such as DU, BHU and AMU.
Sources
- MCC — PG medical counselling (official site)
- MCC tentative schedule for PG counselling 2026 (AIQ, deemed and central universities)
- MCC NEET-PG Counselling 2026 information bulletin (draft v10, 5 October 2026)
- NBEMS — NEET PG 2026 published result (score and rank of every candidate)
NextPG Predictor is an independent planning tool and is not affiliated with MCC, NBEMS or any state counselling authority. If anything here differs from mcc.nic.in, follow mcc.nic.in.