With the NEET UG 2026 results now declared, the admission process will soon move to the counselling stage. Candidates seeking admission to MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical courses will have to register for counselling through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to participate in seat allotment. Candidates who have qualified NEET UG 2026 by securing the required qualifying percentile are eligible to participate in the counselling process. Applicants must also have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English, while meeting the minimum age requirement prescribed for medical admissions. Indian citizens, NRIs, Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) can also participate under the applicable seat categories. Candidates should note that qualifying NEET does not automatically guarantee admission. They must complete a separate counselling registration process.
Who Conducts NEET UG 2026 Counselling?
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts counselling for:
•   15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical colleges
•   AIIMS
•   JIPMER
•   Central Universities
•   Deemed Universities
•   ESIC medical colleges
•   Other participating institutes
The remaining 85% state quota seats are filled through counselling conducted by the respective state authorities.
How Many Counselling Rounds Will Be Held?
The counselling process is generally conducted in four rounds.
Round 1
Candidates must register online, pay the counselling fee and fill in their preferred colleges and courses. Seats are allotted based on NEET rank, reservation rules and the choices submitted.
Round 2
Candidates who were not allotted a seat in Round 1 or wish to participate again can apply for Round 2, subject to the counselling rules.
Mop-Up Round
This round is conducted to fill seats that remain vacant after the first two rounds.
Stray Vacancy Round
The final counselling round is held to fill any remaining vacant seats. Candidates allotted seats in this round must report to the allotted institute within the given deadline.
How Important Is Choice Filling?
Choice filling is one of the most important stages of NEET counselling. Candidates should carefully arrange colleges and courses according to their preference because seat allotment depends on:
•   NEET rank
•   Reservation category
•   Availability of seats
•   Order of preferences submitted
Candidates must also lock their choices before the deadline.
Documents Required For NEET UG 2026 Counselling
Candidates allotted a seat will have to report to the institute with the required documents for verification.
The commonly required documents include:
•   NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
•   NEET UG 2026 Scorecard/Rank Card
•   MCC Provisional Allotment Letter
•   Class 10 Certificate
•   Class 12 Mark Sheet and Certificate
•   Valid Government Photo ID
•   Category Certificate (if applicable)
•   Passport-size photographs
What Should Candidates Do Next?
Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official MCC website for updates regarding the counselling schedule, registration dates, seat allotment and reporting deadlines. Completing every step within the prescribed timeline is essential to secure admission.
