MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026

Admission to MBBS and BDS courses in India is centrally coordinated for certain categories of seats through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 is the official centralized process for allotting seats under the All India Quota and other special quotas based on NEET UG 2026 ranks. Understanding the counselling procedure is essential because even a small mistake in registration, choice filling, or document verification can cost a student an academic year.

This detailed blog explains everything about MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 including eligibility, seat types, counselling rounds, registration process, choice filling, allotment rules, documents required, and common mistakes to avoid.

What is MCC NEET UG Counselling?

MCC NEET UG Counselling is the centralized admission process conducted by Medical Counselling Committee under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It is responsible for allotting undergraduate medical and dental seats to candidates who qualify NEET UG.

The counselling is entirely online and is conducted in multiple rounds to fill available seats in government, deemed, and central institutions.

Types of Seats Covered Under MCC Counselling

MCC counselling does not include all medical colleges in India. It mainly covers the following categories:

1. All India Quota (AIQ) Seats

15 percent of MBBS and BDS seats from government medical and dental colleges across states participate in AIQ counselling conducted by MCC. These seats are open to students from all states of India.

2. Deemed University Seats

All MBBS and BDS seats in deemed universities are filled through MCC counselling except for management quota seats where applicable.

3. Central Universities and Institutes

Institutions such as AIIMS, JIPMER, AMU, BHU, and other central universities participate in MCC counselling for their MBBS and BDS seats.

4. ESIC and AFMC Seats

Certain seats in ESIC medical colleges and AFMC are included under MCC counselling, subject to specific eligibility criteria.

Eligibility for MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026

A candidate must meet the following conditions to participate in MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026:

The candidate must have qualified NEET UG 2026 with the minimum required percentile.
The candidate must be registered with the MCC counselling portal.
The candidate should be at least 17 years of age by 31 December 2026.
The candidate must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English.
For AIQ seats, candidates must be Indian nationals or OCI as permitted by the authorities.
For deemed university seats, NRI candidates are also eligible as per institutional norms.

Reservation Policy in MCC Counselling

Reservation in AIQ seats is applied according to the Government of India norms. The typical reservation pattern is:

Scheduled Caste – 15 percent
Scheduled Tribe – 7.5 percent
Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) – 27 percent
Economically Weaker Section – 10 percent
Persons with Disabilities – 5 percent horizontal reservation across all categories

Deemed universities follow their own reservation rules, which may differ from government colleges.

MCC NEET UG Counselling Rounds 2026

MCC counselling is conducted in multiple rounds to ensure maximum seat utilization.

Round 1 Counselling

This is the first round where all eligible candidates can participate. Fresh registration and choice filling are allowed. Seats are allotted based on NEET rank, reservation category, and choices filled by candidates.

Candidates who get a seat in Round 1 can either:

Accept the seat and report to the allotted college, or
Participate in Round 2 for seat upgradation.

Round 2 Counselling

Round 2 is mainly for:

Candidates who did not get any seat in Round 1
Candidates who want to upgrade their allotted seat
Candidates whose seats were vacated after Round 1

Fresh registration is usually allowed for candidates who did not register in Round 1.

Mop-Up Round

The Mop-Up Round is conducted for seats that remain vacant after Round 2. Only those candidates who are not holding any seat through MCC counselling are eligible to participate.

Stray Vacancy Round

This is the final round and is conducted at the college level under MCC supervision. Candidates are allotted seats directly by colleges from the list provided by MCC. No fresh registration is permitted at this stage.

Step-by-Step MCC NEET UG Counselling Process

Step 1: Online Registration

Candidates must visit the MCC counselling portal and complete registration by entering NEET roll number, application number, and other personal details. After registration, candidates must create a password and complete the security question process.

Step 2: Fee Payment

Two types of fees are required:

Non-refundable registration fee
Refundable security deposit

The security deposit is returned if a candidate does not take admission or exits counselling as per rules.

Step 3: Choice Filling and Locking

Candidates must select colleges and courses in the order of their preference. There is no limit to the number of choices. Once choices are filled, they must be locked before the deadline. If a candidate does not lock choices, the system automatically locks them.

Step 4: Seat Allotment Result

MCC publishes the seat allotment result online. Candidates can log in and check:

Allotted college
Course
Category
Reporting schedule

Step 5: Reporting to the College

Candidates must physically report to the allotted college within the given time period. Failure to report results in forfeiture of the seat and security deposit as per rules.

Step 6: Upgradation or Exit

After reporting, candidates can:

Choose to upgrade in the next round
Freeze the seat
Exit counselling

Documents Required for MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026

At the time of reporting to the allotted college, candidates must carry the following original documents along with photocopies:

NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
NEET UG 2026 Score Card
Class 10 Certificate and Marksheet
Class 12 Certificate and Marksheet
Valid Photo ID Proof
Category Certificate if applicable
PwD Certificate if applicable
Migration Certificate
Transfer Certificate
Passport size photographs
Provisional allotment letter from MCC portal

Failure to produce required documents may lead to cancellation of admission.

Seat Allotment Criteria

Seat allotment is based on:

NEET UG All India Rank
Category rank
Reservation policy
Choices filled by the candidate
Availability of seats

Higher-ranked candidates get priority during allotment. However, strategic choice filling plays a crucial role in securing a good college.

Deemed University Counselling Through MCC

Deemed universities participate in MCC counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions. These institutions usually have higher tuition fees compared to government colleges. There is no state quota in deemed universities, so students from any state can apply.

NRI candidates can also participate in deemed university counselling as per eligibility rules. Admission is purely merit-based according to NEET rank.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During MCC Counselling

Not registering for counselling despite qualifying NEET
Filling very limited choices
Forgetting to lock choices
Not checking the allotment result on time
Missing reporting deadlines
Carrying incomplete documents
Assuming state quota rules apply to MCC counselling

These mistakes can result in loss of seat and security deposit.

Difference Between MCC Counselling and State Counselling

MCC counselling is for AIQ, deemed, and central institutions, while state counselling is conducted by individual state authorities for 85 percent state quota seats and private colleges within that state.

A candidate can participate in both MCC and state counselling simultaneously, but once a seat is confirmed in one counselling, rules for withdrawal and upgradation must be followed carefully.

Upgradation and Free Exit Rules

In Round 1, candidates can choose free exit if they do not want to take the allotted seat. In Round 2, exit rules are stricter, and security deposit may be forfeited if a candidate leaves after allotment without reporting.

Once a candidate joins a college in Round 2, they are usually not allowed to participate in further MCC rounds except as per specific government guidelines.

Counselling Schedule for MCC NEET UG 2026

The counselling schedule is released after NEET UG 2026 results are declared. Generally, counselling starts within two to three weeks of result declaration and continues for several months until all rounds are completed.

Important events include:

Registration and payment
Choice filling and locking
Seat allotment
Reporting to colleges
Mop-up and stray vacancy rounds

Candidates should check updates regularly to avoid missing deadlines.

Role of NEET Rank in MCC Counselling

NEET rank is the primary factor in seat allotment. A lower rank number (higher merit) gives access to more college options and better chances of securing a government seat. However, candidates with higher ranks can still get seats in deemed universities and mop-up rounds depending on seat availability.

1. What is MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026?

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 is the centralized online admission process conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee for allotting MBBS and BDS seats under the All India Quota, central universities, and deemed universities. It is based strictly on NEET UG 2026 merit and reservation rules. Candidates who qualify NEET UG must register separately for counselling to participate. Without registering for MCC counselling, no candidate can receive an All India Quota or deemed university medical seat.

2. Who is eligible to participate in MCC counselling?

Any candidate who has qualified NEET UG 2026 with the minimum required percentile is eligible to participate in MCC counselling. The candidate must be at least 17 years old by 31 December 2026 and must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English. Indian nationals and OCI candidates are eligible for All India Quota seats, while NRI candidates can apply for deemed university seats as per eligibility conditions.

3. Which seats are allotted through MCC counselling?

MCC counselling allots 15 percent All India Quota seats in government medical and dental colleges, 100 percent seats in deemed universities, and seats in central institutions such as AIIMS, JIPMER, BHU, and AMU. ESIC and AFMC seats are also included under special categories. Private medical college state quota seats are not part of MCC counselling and are filled through respective state counselling authorities.

4. How many rounds are conducted in MCC NEET UG counselling?

MCC NEET UG counselling is conducted in four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round. Round 1 and Round 2 are open for fresh registrations and upgradation. Mop-Up Round is conducted for vacant seats after Round 2 and is open only to candidates without any allotted seat. Stray Vacancy Round is the final round where colleges fill remaining seats from the MCC-provided candidate list.

5. What is the registration process for MCC counselling?

Candidates must register online on the MCC counselling portal using their NEET roll number and application number. After registration, they must pay a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit. Once payment is completed, candidates can proceed to choice filling. Registration is compulsory for each counselling round, and failure to complete registration within the deadline makes the candidate ineligible for that round.

6. How does choice filling work in MCC counselling?

Choice filling allows candidates to select medical colleges and courses in order of their preference. Candidates can add unlimited choices and arrange them based on priority. After completing the list, choices must be locked before the deadline. If a candidate does not lock choices, the system automatically locks the last saved choices. Seat allotment depends on NEET rank, category, and the order of choices filled by the candidate.

7. What documents are required at the time of reporting?

Candidates must carry original documents and photocopies while reporting to the allotted college. These include NEET UG admit card, NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 certificates, valid photo ID, category certificate if applicable, PwD certificate if applicable, migration certificate, transfer certificate, and provisional allotment letter. Failure to present any mandatory document may result in cancellation of admission and forfeiture of the allotted seat.

8. Can a candidate upgrade the allotted seat?

Yes, candidates who receive a seat in Round 1 can opt for upgradation in Round 2 if they are not satisfied with their allotted college or course. During upgradation, the earlier seat is automatically surrendered when a new seat is allotted. However, once a candidate joins a seat allotted in Round 2, they are usually not allowed to participate in further MCC rounds except under special government guidelines.

9. What is the Mop-Up Round in MCC counselling?

The Mop-Up Round is conducted to fill seats that remain vacant after Round 2. Only candidates who are not holding any seat through MCC counselling are eligible to participate in this round. Fresh choice filling is allowed in the Mop-Up Round. Seats are allotted strictly based on merit and availability. Candidates who already joined a seat through MCC counselling are generally not eligible for Mop-Up Round participation.

10. What happens if a candidate does not report to the allotted college?

If a candidate does not report to the allotted college within the specified time, the allotted seat is cancelled automatically. Depending on the counselling round, the refundable security deposit may also be forfeited. The candidate may lose eligibility for further rounds of MCC counselling. Therefore, it is essential to download the allotment letter and report to the college on time with all required documents to secure the admission.

Conclusion

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 is a crucial stage in the journey from NEET qualification to MBBS or BDS admission. It requires careful planning, timely registration, accurate choice filling, and strict adherence to rules and deadlines. Candidates must understand the seat types, rounds of counselling, and eligibility conditions before participating.

A well-informed approach can help students secure admission in reputed government, central, or deemed medical colleges across India. Staying updated with official notices and maintaining complete documentation are key to successful admission through MCC counselling.

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026

What is MCC NEET UG Counselling?