The NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule has not been changed, even as the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced revised guidelines for assessing Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates. Medical Council officials clarified that the latest update applies to disability assessment and does not constitute a revision of the ongoing counselling timeline.

The clarification comes after reports suggested that a notice postponing Round 1 choice filling had briefly appeared on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal. However, no such notice was available on the portal at the time of reporting, and MCC had not officially confirmed any change to the counselling schedule.

The revised PwBD guidelines modify parts of the disability assessment framework notified earlier. Designated disability assessment boards will follow the updated provisions while evaluating candidates seeking admission under the PwBD quota. The changes are intended to bring greater consistency to disability certification and assessment during medical counselling.

What Has Changed for PwBD Candidates?

The latest NMC update primarily concerns the assessment and certification process for PwBD candidates.

The revised provisions will be followed by designated disability assessment boards during counselling. Candidates applying under the PwBD category should therefore carefully review the latest guidelines and ensure that their documentation meets the applicable requirements.

Important Update for NRI and OCI Candidates

MCC has also issued separate instructions for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) candidates seeking NRI quota seats.

Candidates must first complete document verification through MCC's NRI Document Verification Team to establish eligibility. Only after successful verification will eligible candidates be able to view both NRI quota and Unreserved (UR) seats during choice filling.

NRI and OCI candidates have also been advised to select “Yes” for the NRI quota option during registration and complete the verification process early to avoid problems during choice filling.

Other Important NEET UG 2026 Counselling Changes

This year's counselling process also introduces candidate-friendly procedural changes. Candidates seeking seat upgradation in a subsequent round no longer need to physically report to the college allotted in Round 1 before participating further. MCC has also introduced an online seat resignation facility, replacing the earlier offline process.

These changes are intended to reduce unnecessary travel and make counselling procedures easier to manage online.

What Candidates Should Do Now

Candidates participating in NEET UG 2026 counselling should continue following the existing MCC counselling schedule unless an official revision is announced. PwBD candidates should review the revised assessment requirements, while NRI and OCI applicants should complete the required document verification before choice filling.

Students should rely on official MCC and NMC notifications rather than unofficial or circulating notices when making admission decisions.

Key Highlights

• No official change has been announced to the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule.
• NMC has revised PwBD assessment guidelines for medical admissions.
• NRI and OCI candidates must undergo MCC document verification before accessing NRI quota choices.
• Candidates opting for upgradation can participate in the next round without physically reporting to their Round 1 allotted college.
• MCC has enabled online resignation of allotted seats.