NEET Counselling — MCC, State & Deemed University Process
How NEET counselling works: MCC All India Quota, state quota and deemed universities — the rounds, the 2026 MCC schedule, security deposits and documents.
NEET counselling has three tracks: MCC All India counselling (15% AIQ seats plus AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities and AFMC), deemed university seats (also counselled by MCC), and state quota counselling (85% of state government seats plus private colleges). Register for both MCC and your state to maximise your admission chances. MCC registration is at mcc.nic.in; state counselling portals vary by state. The 2026 MCC rounds run until the online stray vacancy round in October 2026.
NEET Counselling — 3 Tracks Explained
Track 1: MCC AIQ Counselling (All India Quota)
Seats Available Through MCC
| Institution Type | What MCC Fills |
|---|---|
| State government medical colleges | 15% All India Quota seats |
| AIIMS (all institutes) | 100% of seats |
| JIPMER Puducherry & Karaikal | 100% of seats, including the Puducherry domicile quota |
| Central universities (BHU, AMU, Delhi University colleges and others) | Their seats, including internal quotas such as the Delhi University quota |
| ESIC medical colleges | AIQ seats and the ESI (insured persons) quota |
| AFMC Pune | Registration through MCC; AFMC then runs its own screening before admission |
| Deemed universities | 100% of seats (see Track 3) |
Source: MCC's 2026 counselling schedule ("15% AIQ and 100% Deemed/Central Universities/AFMC/AIIMS/JIPMER") and MCC allotment results. Fees at central institutes are nominal; deemed university fees run to lakhs a year — check each fee notice.
MCC Round-by-Round Process (2026)
| Round | What Happens | 2026 Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Register at mcc.nic.in, pay the fee and deposit, fill and lock college-course choices. First allotment — most seats are filled. | Registration opened in early August; result in late August |
| Round 2 | Seats vacated after Round 1 plus upgrades. Registration reopens. | Registration 3–8 September; result 11 September; reporting 12–18 September |
| Round 3 | Remaining vacant seats. Closing ranks can move a long way. | Registration 22–27 September; result 30 September; reporting 1–9 October |
| Online Stray Vacancy Round | Final online round for seats still unfilled. | Registration 12–14 October; result 17 October; reporting 19–26 October |
Rounds 2, 3 and stray: MCC schedule. Round 1: as reported.
MCC Choice Filling Strategy
- Fill plenty of choices. There is no penalty for adding more — list every college and course you would genuinely join.
- Order by your own preference. The system gives you the highest choice your rank allows, so put the college you want most first — don't skip a dream college just because last year's closing rank looks tight.
- Course preference: MBBS first, then BDS only if you are open to dentistry. Do NOT add BDS unless you would actually join.
- Use previous year data: Download the opening and closing ranks from mcc.nic.in for recent years. In 2025, for example, AIIMS New Delhi closed at AIR 48, Maulana Azad Medical College at 103, JIPMER Puducherry at 260 and AIIMS Jodhpur at 392 (Open category).
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Start NEET prep — freeTrack 2: State Quota Counselling (85% Seats)
This is where most students get their MBBS seats. Each state conducts its own counselling for 85% of government college seats plus private college seats within the state.
How State Counselling Works
- Register on your state's counselling portal (different from MCC). Each state has its own website.
- Domicile requirement: State quota seats are usually reserved for candidates who meet that state's domicile rules. Some states also accept candidates who studied in the state.
- Choice filling: Rank government and private colleges within the state in order of preference.
- Rounds: Several rounds, followed by later rounds for vacant seats — the number and names vary by state.
- Closing ranks differ from AIQ and vary widely between states, depending on seats and applicants.
State Counselling Portals (Major States)
| State | Conducting Body |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | State CET Cell (cetcell.mahacet.org) |
| Tamil Nadu | Selection Committee (tnmedicalselection.net) |
| Karnataka | KEA (kea.kar.nic.in) |
| Uttar Pradesh | DGME UP (upneet.gov.in) |
| Rajasthan | NEET UG Medical & Dental Admission/Counselling Board (portal changes each year) |
| West Bengal | WBMCC (wbmcc.nic.in) |
| Gujarat | ACPUGMEC (medadmgujarat.org) |
| Madhya Pradesh | DME MP (dme.mponline.gov.in) |
| Kerala | CEE Kerala (cee.kerala.gov.in) |
| Bihar | BCECEB (bceceboard.bihar.gov.in) |
Register on your state portal separately — MCC registration does NOT cover state counselling.
Track 3: Deemed University Counselling
MCC counsels 100% of deemed university MBBS seats, in the same four rounds as AIQ, with a higher registration fee and deposit. Their closing ranks are far lower than government colleges because the fees are many times higher.
| University / College | Open Closing AIR, MCC 2025 (Rounds 1–3) |
|---|---|
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | 43,835 |
| JSS Medical College, Mysuru | 1,67,972 |
| Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi | 2,90,052 |
| Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai | 3,33,238 |
| Saveetha Medical College, Chennai | 5,25,685 |
| SRM Medical College, Chennai | 7,04,056 |
Deemed/paid seats quota, MBBS, Open category (MCC 2025 allotment results). Fees change every year and include large hostel and other charges — check each university's current fee notice before filling choices. NRI quota seats have separate, higher fees.
Documents Required for Counselling
Check your allotment letter and MCC's document list for the round. Colleges typically ask for:
- Provisional allotment letter
- NEET admit card and scorecard (downloaded from neet.nta.nic.in)
- Class 10 certificate (for date of birth and name verification)
- Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and Class 12 pass certificate
- Valid photo ID — such as Aadhaar, PAN card, passport or driving licence
- Category certificate — OBC-NCL in the central-list format, SC/ST, or EWS, valid under current rules; PwBD certificate if applicable
- Domicile certificate — for state quota counselling
- Passport-size photographs — the same as in your NEET application
- Anything else the college lists — for example a medical fitness certificate or gap-year affidavit
Critical: Get ALL documents ready before counselling begins. Missing documents at reporting can cost you the seat. If your OBC-NCL or EWS certificate is old, get a fresh one issued early.
NEET Counselling Timeline — 2026 (and 2027 Expectations)
| Event | 2026 |
|---|---|
| NEET Result | 16 July 2026 (after the 21 June re-exam) |
| MCC Round 1 | Registration from early August; result late August |
| MCC Round 2 | 3–18 September (registration to reporting) |
| State Counselling Rounds | August–October, varying by state |
| MCC Round 3 | 22 September – 9 October |
| MCC Online Stray Vacancy Round | 12–26 October |
The 2026 calendar ran late because of the re-exam. With NEET 2027 expected in May 2027, 2027 counselling is expected to run from about July to October — see NEET 2027 important dates.
5 Tips for NEET Counselling
- Register for ALL tracks. MCC (including deemed, if you would consider it) + state. Each gives you different options. Do not limit yourself to just one.
- Study previous year closing ranks carefully. Download data from mcc.nic.in and your state portal — they are the best guide to where your rank can reach.
- Prioritise government colleges. Their fees are a fraction of private and deemed fees, and the degree is the same MBBS.
- Always stay in the later rounds. In MCC 2025 the last Open AIQ government seat went at AIR 21,190 in Round 1 but 27,332 in the stray round. Students who drop out early sometimes miss better options.
- Keep documents ready NOW. Category and domicile certificates can take weeks to issue. Start the process immediately after NEET.
Counselling process based on MCC's 2026 schedule, MCC's 2026 fee and deposit rules (as reported) and MCC 2025 allotment results. MCC may change the process, fees or timeline for 2027. State counselling processes vary significantly — check your state's counselling authority website.
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Start freeFrequently Asked Questions
What is MCC NEET counselling?
MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) runs centralised counselling for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in state government medical colleges, plus 100% of seats at AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities, deemed universities and AFMC, and the ESI quota seats — for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing. Registration is at mcc.nic.in. MCC runs four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and an online stray vacancy round. State counselling for the remaining 85% of state government seats is separate.
How many rounds are there in NEET counselling?
MCC has four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the online stray vacancy round. In 2026 they ran from early August to October — the stray vacancy round result is on 17 October, with reporting until 26 October. State counselling has its own rounds and dates, which vary by state.
Should I register for both AIQ and state counselling?
Yes, absolutely. Register for BOTH. MCC gives you access to seats across India (15% AIQ, AIIMS, JIPMER, central and deemed universities). State counselling gives you access to 85% of government seats in your home state, plus private college seats there. You can take part in both at the same time and choose the better option. Many students get a better college through state counselling than AIQ.
What is the security deposit for NEET counselling?
For MCC counselling in 2026: government, central university, AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC and ESI seats need a ₹1,000 registration fee plus a ₹10,000 security deposit for UR/EWS candidates, or ₹500 plus ₹5,000 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates. Deemed universities need a ₹5,000 registration fee plus a ₹2,00,000 security deposit. The registration fee is not refunded. The deposit is refunded after counselling unless it is forfeited — for example if you are allotted a seat in Round 2 or a later round and don't join. State counselling deposits vary by state.
Can I switch from an AIQ seat to a state quota seat?
Yes, but check the rules for the round first. Not joining a Round 1 seat doesn't cost you the deposit, but from Round 2 onwards, not joining an allotted seat forfeits your MCC security deposit (2026 rules, as reported). Strategy: if your state quota options are likely better, keep an eye on the state's schedule — but do not miss MCC deadlines while waiting. Read MCC's current counselling scheme before you decide.
What happens in Round 3 and the stray vacancy round?
The later rounds fill seats left vacant because allotted candidates did not join, withdrew, or upgraded elsewhere. Closing ranks move a lot: in MCC 2025, the last Open-category AIQ government MBBS seat went at AIR 21,190 in Round 1, 26,178 in Round 3 and 27,332 in the stray round. At Grant Medical College, Mumbai (AIQ, Open), the closing rank went from 2,368 in Round 1 to 6,251 in Round 3 and 10,798 in the stray round. Stay in the later rounds even if you think your rank is low.