One of the most common questions aspirants ask is: how many rounds are there in NEET counselling and what each round means for their seat. Because NEET counselling is an important and final gateway for medical aspirants to fulfil their medical dream, which they’ve worked so hard for. Each year, lakhs of candidates compete not just for ranks but for the right seat through multiple NEET UG counselling rounds that decide their future in MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will commence the NEET UG 2026 counselling process following the declaration of the NEET UG results, tentatively in July 2026. Typically, NEET counselling is conducted in two ways: the 15% All India Quota (managed by the MCC) for Central Government medical colleges, and the 85% State Quota (managed by state counselling authorities) for State Government medical colleges and private colleges within the respective states.
Knowing how many rounds are in NEET counselling matters; each round is a fresh chance to secure a better college, preferred course, or an upgraded seat. Understanding AIQ and state quota admissions also helps students make smarter, timely decisions.
How Many Rounds are in NEET Counselling?
NEET Counselling is typically conducted in four main rounds, which is a standard structure for both 15% All India Quota Seats and 85% State Quota Seats. The NEET UG counselling rounds are as follows.
NEET Counselling Round 1
This is a fresh round for all candidates for registration, choice filling, and seat locking. Candidates who are allotted a seat in Round 1 have the option to either accept it or go for a further round to upgrade it.
NEET Counselling Round 2
Round 2 is for those candidates who didn’t get a seat in Round 1 or wish to upgrade their college. In case you accepted a seat allotted in Round 1, you cannot participate in further counselling rounds. A fresh registration is allowed in this round.
NEET Counselling Round 3 (Mop-Up Round)
If there is still a vacant seat remaining even after both rounds are completed, a Mop-up round will be conducted. No fresh registration is allowed for AIQ seats. Only the previously registered candidates without a seat can participate in this round to get a seat for admission.
NEET Counselling Round 4 (Stray Vacancy Round)
The stray vacancy round is the last and final round in NEET counselling. It is conducted to fill any leftover, vacant medical seats. It is only for candidates who didn’t hold any seat in previous rounds. Candidates who were allotted a seat but failed to report to the college or did not formally withdraw through the official counselling portal will not be eligible for the stray vacancy round.
What is NEET Counselling?
NEET counselling is a centralised seat allotment process for candidates who successfully cleared the NEET UG result 2026. Only candidates who qualify for the NEET UG exam are eligible for seats in undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, B.Sc Nursing, and other allied medical programs across India. The NEET counselling is divided into two types as mentioned below.
- 15% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats, and
- 85% State Quota (SQ) Seats.
Who Conducts the NEET Counselling?
The NEET counselling is conducted separately for 15% All India quota seats by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and the remaining 85% State Quota seats by the respective state counselling authority to fill the medical seats. The counselling is distributed as follows.
NEET Counselling for 15% All India Quota
The NEET Counselling for 15% All India Quota is conducted by MCC. AIQ seats are highly competitive because students from across India compete for limited seats. Refer to the table below for key details on AIQ counselling.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Quota | 15% All India Quota |
| Counselling Body | MCC |
| Courses | MBBS and BDS |
| Colleges | Government medical and dental colleges under AIQ |
| Selection Basis | NEET rank, category, choices and seat availability |
| Mode | Online registration and choice filling |
NEET Counselling for State Quota Seats
The NEET counselling for 85% State Quota seats is conducted by the state’s respective counselling authorities. It generally covers state government medical colleges and state-level private colleges for medical course admissions. You are referred to the table below for more details.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Quota | 85% State Quota |
| Counselling Body | State’s respective counselling authority |
| Eligibility | Usually, state domicile candidates |
| Colleges | Government and private colleges under state rules |
| Reservation | As per state policy |
| Website | State counselling portal |
NEET Counselling for Deemed Universities
To fill deemed universities’ MBBS and BDS seats, MCC conducts the NEET counselling, and candidates across India are eligible to participate.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Counselling Body | MCC |
| Seat Coverage | 100% deemed university seats |
| Courses | MBBS and BDS |
| Fee Structure | Usually higher than government colleges |
| Eligibility | NEET-qualified candidates |
| Important Check | Fee, location, recognition, hospital exposure and bond rules |
NEET Counselling for AYUSH Courses
Beyond MBBS and BDS, candidates interested in AYUSH programs such as BAMS or BHMS should note that a separate counselling process applies. The Central AYUSH counselling is conducted by AACCC, while state AYUSH seats are conducted by state authorities.
| Course | Counselling Source |
| BAMS/ BSMS/ BUMS/ BHMS/ B.Pharm-ITRA | AACCC / State AYUSH counselling |
What is the NEET Counselling Registration Fee?
While registering for NEET counselling, you are required to pay the counselling fee. The counselling fee includes the non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit or tuition fee. The following table includes the specific amount that every candidate must submit at the time of counselling registration.
| Category | Registration Fees (Non-Refundable) | Security Deposit (Refundable) | ||
| Institutes | 15% AIQ/Central Universities | Deemed University | 15% AIQ/Central Universities | Deemed University |
| UR | INR 1,000 | INR 5,000 | INR 10,000 | INR 2,00,000 |
| SC/ST/OBC/PWD | INR 500 | INR 5,000 | ||
Note: Fee details are based on previous year data and may be revised for 2026. Refer to the official MCC notification for confirmed amounts.
NEET Counselling Schedule and Round Sequence
The NEET counselling will be conducted in 4 rounds, including the mop-up round and stray vacancy round. These rounds are common for both AIQ and state quota seats, conducted by MCC and the state’s counselling authority.
| Events in 2026 | Tentative Schedule |
|---|---|
| NEET UG Exam Date | June 21, 2026 (Rescheduled) |
| NEET Result Date | July 2026 |
| NEET Counselling 2026 Round 1 | |
| Seat Matrix | July 2026 |
| Registration & Payment | August 2026 |
| Choice Filling/locking | August 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Processing- | August 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Final Result | August 2026 |
| Reporting to the allotted college | August 2026 |
| NEET Counselling 2026 Round 2 | |
| Registration & Payment | September 2026 |
| Choice Filling/locking | September 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Final Result | September 2026 |
| Reporting to the allotted college | September 2026 |
| NEET Counselling 2026 Round 3 (Mop-up Round) | |
| Registration & Payment | October 2026 |
| Choice Filling/locking | October 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Final Result | October 2026 |
| Reporting to the allotted college | October 2026 |
| Document Verification | October 2026 |
| NEET Counselling 2026 Round 4 (Stray Vacancy Round) | |
| Registration & Payment | October 2026 |
| Choice Filling/locking | October 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Final Result | October 2026 |
| Reporting to the allotted college | November 2026 |
Note: All dates are tentative and subject to official MCC notification.
Documents Required for NEET Counselling
The following are the documents commonly used in the NEET counselling while registering. The same will also be required when a candidate is allotted a seat for admission and reporting to the college to confirm their seat. Check out the documents list below.
| Compulsory Documents for Indian Students | Compulsory Documents for Foreign Students |
|---|---|
| 1. NEET UG Admit Card | 1. A hard copy of the official passport |
| 2. NEET Score Card | 2. Sponsorship affidavit |
| 3. 8 Passport-size photographs as uploaded in the application form | 3. Relationship affidavit |
| 4. Provisional NEET UG Allotment Letter | 4. Other documents, such as marksheets, admit card, photographs, and provisional allotment letter, will remain the same as for Indian students. |
| 5. Class 10 and Class 12 Marksheet and Certificate | – |
| 6. A Valid Government-Issued ID Card | – |
| 7. Category certificate (If applicable) | – |
| 8. PwD certificate, if applicable | – |
| 9. Domicile certificate (for state quota counselling) | – |
How to Register for NEET Counselling?
To participate in the NEET Counselling, every candidate has to register using the official NEET website for AIQ seats and the respective state counselling authorities’ website for state quota seats. Follow the steps below for a step-by-step guide.
- For AIQ, visit the official MCC website, i.e. mcc.nic.in
- For State Quota Seat, visit the state’s respective counselling website.
- Click on the “New Registration” tab on the website dashboard.
- Enter your NEET UG Roll Number, Application Number, Name, Date of Birth, and security PIN.
- For authentication, enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number or email address.
- After registration, a username and password will be assigned to you.
- You can change the password and generate a strong password for further login.
- Use the new login credentials to submit the application, which includes your personal details and academic details.
- Upload the required documents in the given format and size.
- Pay the registration fee (non-refundable) and security deposit (refundable) in online mode.
- Now, click on the final submission to complete the process.
- A confirmation page will appear on the screen. Download it for future use.
Reservation Criteria for NEET Counselling
During NEET counselling, the NEET reservation policy helps candidates get admission to medical courses at top medical colleges across India. To avail the reservation benefit during NEET counselling, carefully select your category as the reservation criteria are given in the table below.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| General-EWS | 10% |
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| PwD | 5% |
Important Rules for Every NEET Counselling Round
The following are the important rules you should follow carefully during the NEET counselling. The rules are very important and vary depending on the stage of your counselling process.
| Important NEET Counselling Rules | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Separate Registration | Register separately for MCC (AIQ) and State counselling. |
| Choice Filling | Fill in colleges in the correct preference order carefully. |
| Choice Locking | Lock choices before the deadline, or the system may auto-lock them. |
| Free Exit in Round 1 | Usually, leaving a seat in Round 1 has no penalty in MCC counselling. |
| No Free Exit After Round 2 | Leaving a seat after Round 2 may cause a security deposit loss. |
| Upgradation Option | You can upgrade to a better college in later rounds. |
| Correct Documents | All certificates and documents must match official records. |
| Security Deposit Rules | The deposit may be forfeited if the counselling rules are violated. |
| Stray Vacancy Rules | The final round is strict; non-reporting can lead to penalties. |
| Fresh Registration | Some rounds may require new registration/payment. |
| AIQ + State Participation | Eligible students can participate in both counselling sessions together. |
| Seat Matrix Checking | Always check available seats before choice filling. |
| Reporting Deadline | Report to the allotted college before the last reporting date. |
| Official Websites Only | Use only official MCC and state counselling portals. |
| Read Notifications Carefully | Counselling rules may change every year or round. |
Conclusion
If you have cleared the NEET UG Result and wish to secure a seat for admission, then NEET counselling is important for you. Soon, MCC will conduct NEET counselling for 2026 in June or July. Before participating in the NEET counselling, you should clearly understand the All-India Quota seat and the state quota seat, because these are conducted separately by MCC and the state’s counselling authorities.
The NEET counselling contains 4 rounds, and each round has its unique rules of participation. You should understand each round before you begin the counselling process. You need to register separately for MCC (for AIQ) and the state’s counselling authority (for state quota) through their official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
MCC will commence NEET counselling in July 2026, following the declaration of results
You can apply for NEET Counselling using the official MCC website or the state counselling portal for state quota seats.
The NEET counselling generally contains 4 main rounds as follows.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3 (Mop-Up Round)
Round 4 (Stray Vacancy Round)
To become eligible for NEET counselling, the minimum age should be 17 years, clear the NEET UG exam, and fulfil nationality, documents, and domicile requirements.
Yes, anyone can participate in both AIQ seat counselling and State quota counselling for NEET UG 2026.
Yes, you have to pay a registration fee to participate in the counselling process. This is a non-refundable fee for every participant.
Yes, the security deposit is a refundable amount under strict conditions. However, the registration fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
