Admissions
NEET UG 2026 Counselling: MCC Revises Round 1 Schedule; Choice Locking on August 17
Published on
14 August 2026
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has revised the schedule for Round 1 of NEET UG 2026 counselling, extending the registration and choice-filling timeline for candidates seeking admission to undergraduate medical and dental programmes.
Under the revised schedule, candidates can continue filling their college and course preferences until 6 PM on August 17, 2026. The choice-locking facility will be available on August 17 from 10 AM to 6 PM.
MCC will process the Round 1 seat allotment on August 18, with the Round 1 seat allotment result scheduled for August 19.
| Counselling Activity | Revised Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Registration | August 15 till 2 PM |
| Fee Payment | August 15 till 5 PM |
| Choice Filling | Until August 17, 6 PM |
| Choice Locking | August 17, 10 AM–6 PM |
| Seat Allotment Processing | August 18 |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment Result | August 19 |
| Reporting / Joining | August 20–25 |
| Verification of Joined Candidates | August 26 |
The revised dates replace the earlier Round 1 timeline, so candidates should plan their counselling activities according to the latest MCC schedule.
The Round 1 choice-filling window, which opened on August 6, will now remain available until 6 PM on August 17.
During this stage, candidates can select and arrange their preferred medical or dental colleges and courses. The order of preferences is important because seat allotment considers factors including the candidate's rank, category, submitted choices and seat availability.
Candidates should therefore use the additional time to review their college preferences carefully rather than filling choices randomly.
The choice-locking facility will be available between 10 AM and 6 PM on August 17.
Before locking preferences, candidates should review:
Candidates should follow MCC's official instructions regarding saved and locked choices.
After the choice-filling and locking process closes, MCC will process the seat allotment on August 18.
The NEET UG 2026 Round 1 seat allotment result will be declared on August 19.
Candidates receiving an allotment should carefully check the college, course and category mentioned in their allotment result and follow the reporting instructions applicable to Round 1.
Candidates allotted seats in Round 1 will be required to report to their respective institutions between August 20 and August 25, 2026.
Verification of candidates who have joined their allotted institutions is scheduled for August 26.
Students should keep their original documents and required certificates ready before reporting.
Depending on the applicable counselling requirements, candidates may need documents such as:
Candidates should verify the official document list before reporting, as requirements can vary according to category and institution.
Choice filling is one of the most important stages of NEET counselling.
Candidates should arrange colleges according to their actual preference, not simply according to what they believe they are most likely to receive.
A practical choice list can include ambitious, realistic and safer options while still keeping the candidate's preferred institutions at the top.
Students should also consider factors beyond previous cut-offs, including fees, hospital exposure, location, bond requirements, infrastructure and overall academic environment.
Candidates participating in Round 1 should immediately review the revised schedule and make sure all pending counselling steps are completed within the updated deadlines.
Those who have already entered their choices can use the extended period to review the order carefully before the locking window opens.
MCC has also advised candidates to regularly monitor the official counselling portal for further updates.
