Admissions
NEET UG 2026 Counselling: Round 1 Choice Filling Ends Today; Choice Locking Underway
Published on
17 August 2026
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is set to close the NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice-filling window today, August 17, for candidates participating in the counselling process for undergraduate medical and dental admissions.
The choice-locking facility is also available today, allowing candidates to finalise the colleges and courses they have entered before the Round 1 seat-allotment process begins.
Under the revised counselling schedule, choice filling and locking will close at 6 PM on August 17. MCC will process the Round 1 seat allotment on August 18, while the result is scheduled to be announced on August 19, 2026.
| Counselling Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 Choice Filling Ends | August 17, 2026 |
| Choice Locking | August 17, 2026 |
| Choice Filling & Locking Deadline | 6 PM |
| Seat Allotment Processing | August 18, 2026 |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment Result | August 19, 2026 |
| Reporting / Joining | August 20–25, 2026 |
| Verification of Joined Candidates | August 26, 2026 |
Candidates should complete all pending choice-related activities before the deadline rather than waiting until the final minutes.
Candidates who have already selected their preferred colleges and courses should carefully review the order before completing the locking process.
Choice order can directly influence the allotment outcome. Candidates should therefore arrange preferences according to where they actually want to study, rather than simply placing colleges according to previous cut-offs.
Before locking choices, students should check:
Once choices are finalised according to MCC's counselling rules, candidates should save relevant confirmation details for their records.
The Round 1 allotment process considers multiple factors, including the candidate's NEET UG rank, category, submitted preferences and seat availability.
For example, if a candidate is eligible for several colleges on their list, the allotment system will consider the highest-preference option available according to the applicable counselling rules.
This makes preference order extremely important.
Candidates should not place a less-preferred college above an institution they genuinely want simply because they believe the first option is easier to obtain.
Once choice filling and locking close, MCC will move to Round 1 seat-allotment processing on August 18.
During this stage, candidates will not need to submit additional preferences. The allotment will be processed using the information and choices already submitted during the counselling window.
Candidates should therefore ensure their preference list is complete before today's deadline.
The NEET UG 2026 Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled for August 19.
After the result is released, candidates should check:
Candidates receiving an allotment should carefully follow MCC's Round 1 instructions before taking any further action.
Candidates allotted seats in Round 1 will be required to report or join their allotted institutions between August 20 and August 25.
Verification of candidates who have joined their institutions is scheduled for August 26.
Students should begin organising their original certificates and admission documents now rather than waiting for the allotment result.
Candidates should check MCC's official requirements, but commonly required documents may include:
Individual institutions may also require additional documents during physical reporting.
Candidates participating in Round 1 should treat August 17 as an important counselling deadline.
Before the window closes:
Candidates should also avoid relying solely on screenshots or social-media updates and monitor MCC's official counselling portal for notices.
