NEET Counselling 2026 — MCC, State & Deemed Process
NEET 2026 counselling complete guide — MCC AIQ process, state quota counselling, deemed university admission, round-wise schedule, documents needed, and seat.
NEET 2026 counselling has 3 parallel tracks: MCC AIQ counselling (15% All India Quota + AIIMS/JIPMER), state quota counselling (85% state seats), and deemed university counselling. Register for ALL three to maximise your admission chances. MCC registration is at mcc.nic.in; state counselling portals vary by state.
NEET Counselling — 3 Tracks Explained
Track 1: MCC AIQ Counselling (All India Quota)
Seats Available Through MCC
| Institution Type | Seats | Fee Range |
|---|---|---|
| Government Medical Colleges (15% AIQ) | ~8,000–9,000 | ₹10,000–₹50,000/year |
| AIIMS (all institutes) | ~1,800 | ₹1,628/year (highly subsidised) |
| JIPMER Puducherry | ~200 | ₹10,000/year |
| ESIC Medical Colleges | ~800 | ₹25,000–₹50,000/year |
| AFMC Pune | ~150 | ₹56,000/year |
MCC Round-by-Round Process
| Round | What Happens | Expected Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Registration & Choice Filling | Register at mcc.nic.in. Fill college-course preferences (can fill 500+ choices). | July 2026 |
| Round 1 | First allotment. Most seats filled. Pay security deposit if allotted. | Late July |
| Round 2 | Vacant seats from Round 1. Cutoffs may drop 10–20 marks. | Early August |
| Mop-up Round | Remaining vacant seats. Fresh registration allowed. Cutoffs drop significantly. | Late August |
| Stray Vacancy | Final round for unfilled seats. Walk-in reporting at colleges. | September |
MCC Choice Filling Strategy
- Fill maximum choices. There is no penalty for adding more. Fill 300–500+ preferences to maximise chances.
- Priority order: AIIMS Delhi → Top state GMCs (MAMC, KGMU, Maulana Azad) → Other AIIMS → Good state GMCs → JIPMER → ESIC → Remaining GMCs.
- Course preference: MBBS → BDS (only if you are open to dentistry). Do NOT add BDS unless you would actually join.
- Use previous year data: Download Opening & Closing Ranks from mcc.nic.in for the last 3 years. Your allotment will closely follow these patterns.
Know your NEET college options
Use Super Tutor's NEET college predictor to see which medical colleges match your expected score and category.
Predict Your College — 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 + 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: You must be a domicile of the state to participate in state quota. Some states accept candidates who passed Class 12 from the state even without domicile.
- Choice filling: Rank government and private colleges within the state in order of preference.
- Rounds: Typically 2–3 rounds + mop-up round.
- Cutoffs are lower than AIQ for most states because fewer candidates compete for state seats.
State Counselling Portals (Major States)
| State | Conducting Body | Govt MBBS Seats (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | DMER (dmer.org) | ~5,500 |
| Tamil Nadu | Selection Committee (tnmedicalselection.net) | ~5,000 |
| Karnataka | KEA (kea.kar.nic.in) | ~4,000 |
| Uttar Pradesh | DGME UP (upneet.gov.in) | ~5,500 |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan Medical Education (rajugmedical.com) | ~3,000 |
| West Bengal | WBMCC (wbmcc.nic.in) | ~2,500 |
| Gujarat | ACPUGMEC (medadmgujarat.org) | ~3,200 |
| Madhya Pradesh | DME MP (dme.mponline.gov.in) | ~2,800 |
| Kerala | CEE Kerala (cee.kerala.gov.in) | ~2,000 |
| Bihar | BCECEB (bceceboard.bihar.gov.in) | ~2,000 |
Register on your state portal separately — MCC registration does NOT cover state counselling.
Track 3: Deemed University Counselling
Deemed universities conduct their own counselling or participate in centralised deemed counselling through MCC.
| University | NEET Cutoff (Approx. Gen) | Annual Fee (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | 580–620 | ₹15–20 lakh |
| SRM Medical College, Chennai | 450–520 | ₹18–22 lakh |
| Saveetha Medical College, Chennai | 400–480 | ₹15–20 lakh |
| JSS Medical College, Mysore | 480–540 | ₹15–18 lakh |
| Amrita Institute, Kochi | 500–560 | ₹12–18 lakh |
| Sri Ramachandra, Chennai | 450–520 | ₹18–22 lakh |
Fees and cutoffs are approximate. Deemed universities have management quota seats with higher fees. Check individual university websites.
Documents Required for Counselling
- NEET scorecard (downloaded from neet.nta.nic.in)
- NEET admit card
- Class 10 marksheet & certificate (for date of birth and name verification)
- Class 12 marksheet (original + 4 photocopies)
- Category certificate — OBC-NCL (must be recent, issued within 1 year), SC/ST, EWS (for current financial year)
- Domicile certificate — for state quota counselling
- Transfer certificate from school
- Character certificate
- Medical fitness certificate
- Passport-size photographs — 10 copies
- Aadhaar card
- Gap year affidavit — if applicable (notarised)
Critical: Get ALL documents ready before counselling begins. Missing documents at the reporting centre = seat cancellation. OBC-NCL certificates expire after 1 year — get a fresh one issued.
Timeline — NEET 2026 Counselling (Expected)
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| NEET Result | June 2026 |
| MCC Registration Opens | Late June / Early July |
| MCC Round 1 | Late July |
| MCC Round 2 | Early August |
| State Counselling Rounds | August–September |
| MCC Mop-up | Late August |
| State Mop-up Rounds | September–October |
| Stray Vacancy | October–November |
5 Tips for NEET Counselling
- Register for ALL tracks. MCC + state + deemed. Each gives you different options. Do not limit yourself to just one.
- Study previous year cutoffs carefully. Your allotment will closely mirror last year's closing ranks. Download data from mcc.nic.in and your state portal.
- Prioritise government colleges. Fees: ₹10,000–₹50,000/year vs ₹10–25 lakh/year for private. Quality of training is comparable or better at government colleges.
- Always participate in mop-up rounds. Cutoffs can drop 30–50 marks. Students who missed earlier rounds sometimes get excellent colleges in mop-up.
- Keep documents ready NOW. OBC-NCL certificate takes 2–4 weeks to issue. Domicile certificate may need multiple visits. Start the process immediately after NEET.
Counselling process based on MCC 2025 guidelines. MCC may modify the process, fee structure, or timeline for 2026. State counselling processes vary significantly — check your state's medical education directorate website. Deemed university fees and cutoffs are approximate. Last updated: February 2026.
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Start free practiceFrequently Asked Questions
What is MCC NEET counselling?
MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) conducts centralised counselling for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical colleges, plus all seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC, and AFMC. Registration is at mcc.nic.in. MCC conducts 4 rounds of seat allotment. This is separate from state counselling (which handles the remaining 85% state quota seats).
How many rounds are there in NEET counselling?
MCC AIQ counselling has 4 rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round. State counselling typically has 2–3 rounds plus mop-up. Deemed universities have their own counselling (2–3 rounds). Total process: July–October. Some state mop-up rounds extend to November.
Should I register for both AIQ and state counselling?
Yes, absolutely. Register for BOTH. AIQ gives you access to seats across India (15% quota + central institutions). State counselling gives you access to 85% of seats in your home state. You can participate in both simultaneously and choose the better option. Many students get a better college through state counselling than AIQ.
What is the security deposit for NEET counselling?
MCC AIQ counselling: ₹2,00,000 (General/OBC/EWS) or ₹50,000 (SC/ST). This is refundable if you do not get a seat or if you join and complete the course. If you accept a seat and then withdraw, you forfeit the deposit. State counselling deposits vary by state (typically ₹25,000–₹1,00,000).
Can I switch from AIQ seat to state quota seat?
Yes, but with conditions. If you accept an AIQ seat and later get a better state quota seat, you can resign from AIQ and join state counselling — but you will forfeit the AIQ security deposit. Strategy: if your state quota options are likely better, wait for state counselling results before confirming AIQ seat. But do NOT miss AIQ deadlines while waiting.
What happens in the mop-up round?
Mop-up round fills seats that remain vacant after Rounds 1 and 2. These are seats where: (1) allotted candidates did not report, (2) candidates withdrew, (3) new seats were added. Cutoffs in mop-up rounds can drop significantly — sometimes 30–50 marks lower than Round 1. Always participate in mop-up rounds even if you think your score is low.