NEET UG Counselling 2026: State-Wise Schedule

NEET UG Counselling 2026 is running on two parallel tracks, the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling conducted centrally by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), and state quota counselling, run independently by each state's Directorate of Medical Education (DME) or designated body. Together, these two tracks fill all MBBS, BDS, and BSc Nursing seats across the country for the 2026-27 academic session.

Since AIQ accounts for only 15% of government medical seats while states manage the remaining 85%, most candidates end up tracking two separate calendars. This guide breaks down the MCC schedule and the state-wise counselling dates released so far.

MCC AIQ Counselling Schedule 2026

The MCC released the official AIQ and state schedule on August 1, 2026. Here's the round-wise breakdown for the 15% AIQ seats (covering government, deemed, and central university seats, plus AIIMS/JIPMER):

Total MBBS seats available nationally this year stand at roughly 1,36,939, of which approximately 18,000–20,000 fall under MCC's AIQ process

State Quota Counselling: How It Works

The remaining 85% of seats are filled by individual states, each running their own registration, merit list, choice filling, and allotment cycles. Broad Round 1 state-quota timelines that have been indicated:

• Registration: August 13 – 22, 2026 (varies by state)
• Reporting/Joining deadline: By August 28, 2026 (varies by state)

Round 2 and Round 3 dates are finalised separately by each state after Round 1 concludes, so there's no single all-India date for these stages.

State-Wise NEET UG Counselling 2026 Schedule

Common Stages Across State Counselling

1. Registration & Fee Payment : Candidates register on the state counselling portal and pay the security deposit/registration fee.
2. Choice Filling/Option Entry : Preferences for colleges and courses are submitted in order of priority.
3. Merit List/Rank List Publication : State authority publishes the category-wise merit list based on NEET UG scores.
4. Seat Allotment Result : Seats are allotted based on rank, category, and choices filled.
5. Document Verification & Reporting : Allotted candidates report to the college with original documents within the stipulated window.
6. Subsequent Rounds : Vacant seats after Round 1 move into Round 2, Round 3, and finally a Stray Vacancy round.

Documents Typically Required

Exact document lists and fee structures vary by state, so candidates should verify against their state's official prospectus before the registration window opens.

Key Takeaways for Candidates

• Track two calendars, not one: AIQ (MCC) and your home state's counselling run independently missing either window can cost a round.
• Round 1 state registration is already closing/closed in several states (UP, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar) as of mid-August 2026 — candidates in these states should act immediately if they haven't registered.
• States like Rajasthan and West Bengal had not released confirmed Round 1 schedules at the time of writing — candidates should monitor official portals rather than unofficial sources.
• Category change is generally not permitted after registration in most states, so details must be verified carefully before submission.

NEET UG Counselling FAQs