Your pulse on NEET 2026 admissions — the whole counselling roadmap.
Results are out. 11.2 lakh aspirants qualified for roughly 1.37 lakh MBBS seats. Here is exactly what happens next at mcc.nic.in — dates, cutoffs, seats, fees and the step-by-step process, in plain language.
NEET 2026 admissions — the quick answer
- Who counsels you: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) runs national counselling at mcc.nic.in; your state authority runs the 85% state-quota round separately.
- When: Schedule expected late July 2026; Round 1 registration likely by early August. Four rounds run through roughly November.
- Cutoff to enter: 715–213 (General/EWS), 212–177 (OBC/SC/ST). Qualifying ≠a seat — your rank and choices decide that.
- What it costs: AIQ registration ₹1,000/₹500 + a refundable deposit of ₹10,000/₹5,000. Deemed universities: ₹5,000 + ₹2,00,000 deposit.
- Golden rule: Fill many choices, lock before the deadline, and never confuse MCC counselling with your state's.
Why is NEET 2026 different this year?
The 2026 cycle did not run like a normal year. After the original paper was compromised, the National Testing Agency conducted a re-test (RE-NEET) on 21 June 2026 and declared results on 16 July 2026. Nearly 20 lakh candidates sat the exam across 551 cities, and more than 11.2 lakh qualified for counselling.
One practical consequence matters for every aspirant: qualifying cutoffs jumped sharply — by roughly 64–69 marks across categories versus a typical year. That means closing ranks for government seats are likely to tighten, so plan your choice list on this year's data, not last year's comfort zone.
When will NEET 2026 counselling start? (Expected dates)
Quick answer: MCC is expected to release the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule in late July 2026, with Round 1 registration opening around early August. The full process runs across four rounds until roughly November 2026.
MCC publishes the exact schedule after results. The dates below are the realistic expected window, anchored to the 16 July result and to 2025's calendar (schedule on 12 July, Round 1 registration on 21 July). Treat them as a planning guide, not gospel.
- 16 Jul 2026 · DoneRE-NEET 2026 result & qualifying cutoffs declaredScorecards and category-wise percentiles released by NTA.
- Late Jul 2026MCC releases official counselling scheduleRound-wise dates go live on mcc.nic.in.
- Early–mid Aug 2026Round 1 — registration, fee payment & choice fillingThe window usually stays open for under a week. Do not wait.
- Mid–late Aug 2026Round 1 seat allotment & reportingAllotment PDF + opening/closing ranks published; report to college with documents.
- Late Aug – Sep 2026Round 2 (fresh entry + upgrades)Second shot at a seat or a better one.
- Sep–Oct 2026Round 3Remaining seats offered as the pool narrows.
- Oct–Nov 2026Stray Vacancy RoundFinal fill-up. No fresh registration; choices are effectively binding.
Who is eligible for NEET 2026 counselling?
Quick answer: You must have qualified NEET UG 2026 at your category cutoff, meet NMC/MCC norms and the Class 12 subject requirements, register online within the window, and hold all original documents for verification.
Before you touch the registration form, make sure you clear every one of these. Failing any of them at document verification can cost you an allotted seat.
- You qualified NEET UG 2026You scored at or above the category qualifying cutoff and hold a valid All India Rank.
- You meet NMC & MCC normsAge and Class 12 subject requirements (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotech + English) are satisfied.
- Your category percentile checks outGeneral/EWS at 50th percentile; OBC/SC/ST at 40th; PwBD at 45th.
- You register within the windowOnline, on time — MCC rarely extends deadlines for illness, exams or "I didn't know."
- Your original documents are readyEvery certificate below, in original plus self-attested copies, before reporting.
How many MBBS and BDS seats are there in 2026?
Quick answer: NEET 2026 offers 1,36,939 MBBS seats across 823 medical colleges (63,296 government and 73,643 private) and 27,868 BDS seats across 319 dental colleges.
For the 2026–27 session the pool grew: 9,911 more MBBS seats than last year, split as 2,111 new government and 7,800 new private seats.
| Course / stream | Seats | Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| MBBS — Government | 63,296 | — |
| MBBS — Private | 73,643 | — |
| MBBS — Total | 1,36,939 | 823 |
| BDS — Total | 27,868 | 319 |
MCC updates the matrix before every round to reflect vacant, newly added and surrendered seats — so the numbers you plan around in Round 1 are not the numbers you'll see in Round 3.
What is the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff?
Quick answer: The RE-NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff is 715–213 marks for General/EWS (50th percentile) and 212–177 for OBC, SC and ST (40th percentile); PwBD (UR/EWS) is 212–194.
This is the qualifying cutoff — the minimum to be eligible for counselling. It is not the admission cutoff, which shows up later as college-wise opening and closing ranks after each round.
| Category | Percentile | Marks range |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th | 715–213 |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40th | 212–177 |
| UR & EWS — PwBD | 45th | 212–194 |
MCC vs state counselling: what’s the difference?
Quick answer: MCC runs national counselling for the 15% All India Quota plus AIIMS, JIPMER and central/deemed universities; your state authority handles the 85% state-quota seats. Eligible candidates can register for both.
The single most expensive mistake aspirants make is treating these as one thing. They run in parallel, with separate portals, fees and deadlines — and you can, and usually should, register for both.
| MCC (national) | State counselling |
|---|---|
| Run by the Medical Counselling Committee | Run by your state's authority |
| Covers the 15% All India Quota | Covers the 85% state quota |
| Includes AIIMS, JIPMER, central & deemed universities, ESIC | State government & private colleges |
| Portal: mcc.nic.in | Your state's own portal |
Beyond the 15% AIQ, MCC also fills 100% seats at AIIMS, JIPMER, BHU and AMU, all deemed-university seats, and ESIC seats. AFMC is registered through MCC but admits via its own process.
How does the MCC NEET counselling process work?
Quick answer: Each round repeats four steps: register and pay, fill and lock choices, seat allotment, then report to the allotted college for document verification.
Every round repeats the same four moves. Miss the order or the deadline and the round is gone.
- Register & payCreate your account on mcc.nic.in, enter your NEET roll number, rank and details, then pay the non-refundable registration fee and refundable security deposit.
- Fill & lock choicesAdd as many colleges and courses as you genuinely want, in true order of preference — then lock. Unlocked choices may auto-lock, but never rely on that.
- Seat allotmentMCC runs the allotment on rank + choices + seat availability + reservation, and publishes a result PDF with opening/closing ranks.
- Report & verifyReport to your allotted college within the reporting window and complete document verification with originals. No-show = cancelled seat.
How much does NEET 2026 counselling cost?
Quick answer: For 15% AIQ and central universities, registration is ₹1,000 (General) or ₹500 (reserved) plus a refundable deposit of ₹10,000 or ₹5,000. Deemed universities charge ₹5,000 registration and a ₹2,00,000 refundable deposit.
Two payments exist: a small non-refundable registration fee and a larger refundable security deposit that comes back to the same account if you don't take a seat (or exit under the free-exit rule).
| Counselling type | Registration (non-refundable) | Security deposit (refundable) |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ & Central Universities — General | ₹1,000 | ₹10,000 |
| AIQ & Central Universities — SC/ST/OBC/PwD | ₹500 | ₹5,000 |
| Deemed Universities — all categories | ₹5,000 | ₹2,00,000 |
Which documents are required for NEET 2026 counselling?
Keep originals plus a stack of self-attested photocopies. Reservation or PwD candidates: your original category and disability certificates are non-negotiable.
- NEET UG 2026 admit card
- NEET 2026 scorecard / rank letter
- Class 10 certificate (DOB proof)
- Class 12 mark sheet & certificate
- Photo ID (Aadhaar / passport / PAN)
- 8–10 passport-size photographs
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate from an MCC centre (if applicable)
- Domicile certificate (where required)
- Provisional seat allotment letter
What are the institutional quotas in MCC counselling?
A handful of premier institutes reserve seats for their own eligible candidates alongside the All India Quota. If one is on your list, know the split before you rank it.
| Institute | Quota split |
|---|---|
| Delhi University — LHMC, UCMS, MAMC | 85% Delhi Class 12 candidates · 15% AIQ |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | 50% AMU-school internal · 50% AIQ |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | 100% open, all-India |
| Jamia Millia Islamia — Faculty of Dentistry | 47 AIQ seats · 3 internal (Jamia schools) |
| GGSIPU — VMMC & Safdarjung | 85% Delhi · 15% AIQ |
What is free exit vs exit with forfeiture?
Free exit — Round 1 only
If you're allotted a seat in Round 1 and decide not to take it, you can walk away without penalty. Your security deposit stays safe and you remain eligible for later rounds. This is your one clean escape hatch.
Exit with forfeiture — later rounds
Leave the process after the specified stage, or break the round's rules, and you lose your security deposit. Exact conditions differ round to round, so read the guidelines for the round you're in before you click anything irreversible.
10 common NEET counselling mistakes to avoid
| # | The mistake |
|---|---|
| 1 | Missing the registration deadline (MCC almost never extends) |
| 2 | Filling too few college choices |
| 3 | Forgetting to lock choices before the cut-off |
| 4 | Ignoring the seat matrix and last year's rank trends |
| 5 | Not checking the allotment result on time |
| 6 | Failing to report to the college within the window |
| 7 | Submitting incomplete or wrong documents |
| 8 | Misreading exit, upgrade and free-exit rules |
| 9 | Confusing MCC counselling with state counselling |
| 10 | Trusting social media over official MCC notices |
NEET 2026 admissions: frequently asked questions
When will NEET 2026 counselling start?
What is the NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff?
How many MBBS and BDS seats are available in 2026?
Does qualifying NEET guarantee an MBBS seat?
What is the difference between MCC and state counselling?
How much does MCC NEET counselling cost?
Can I apply for both AIQ and state counselling?
What is the official website for NEET counselling?
Where this information comes from
Every figure in this guide is drawn from official bodies and cross-checked against the latest 2026–27 data. Always confirm final dates and fees against the primary sources below before you pay or report.
- MCC — Medical Counselling Committee: national counselling, schedule & seat allotment · mcc.nic.in
- NMC — National Medical Commission: MBBS seat matrix & admission norms · nmc.org.in
- NTA — National Testing Agency: NEET UG 2026 result & qualifying cutoffs · neet.nta.nic.in
- DCI — Dental Council of India: BDS seats & dental college data · dciindia.gov.in
One deadline decides everything
Bookmark mcc.nic.in, keep your documents scanned, and build your choice list today — not the night registration opens.
Go to the MCC portal →