The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially released the much-awaited schedule for NEET UG 2026 online counselling for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and 100% seats in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS, and JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal) for MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc Nursing admissions. If you're a NEET UG 2026 aspirant, this is the timeline that will decide your medical college journey — so mark every date carefully.

At Om Educare, we've broken down the entire schedule round-by-round so you don't miss a single deadline. Let's dive in.

Overview: Four Rounds of Counselling

MCC counselling for 2026 will be conducted in four stages:

• Round 1
• Round 2
• Round 3
• Online Stray Vacancy Round

Each round follows a similar structure: seat matrix verification, registration/payment, choice filling and locking, seat allotment processing, result declaration, reporting/joining, and verification of joined candidates.

Round 1 Schedule

Key takeaway: Registration and payment must be completed by 12th August, 2026, and choice locking closes by 11:00 AM on 13th August. Missing this window means missing Round 1 entirely.

Round 2 Schedule

Important: Candidates who did not participate in Round 1, or wish to upgrade their allotted seat, get a fresh opportunity here. Fresh registration is required even for Round 1 participants.

Round 3 Schedule

Note: Round 3 is typically open to all eligible candidates, including fresh applicants, subject to seat availability across categories.

Online Stray Vacancy Round

This is the final chance to secure a seat through MCC counselling for the 2026 academic session. Any seats remaining vacant after Round 3 are filled here.

Important Note from MCC

MCC has clearly directed that all Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted Holidays will be treated as working days throughout this counselling schedule. This means candidates cannot assume any relaxation on weekends — registration, choice filling, and payment deadlines apply strictly as per the calendar, including holidays.

Why Timelines Matter So Much in MCC Counselling

Every stage of MCC counselling runs on a fixed server-time clock, and there are no extensions for candidates who miss a deadline — whether due to technical issues, last-minute document problems, or simple oversight. A few things students and parents must keep in mind:

• Payment deadlines are earlier than choice locking deadlines — plan your registration well in advance.
• Choice locking is irreversible once submitted, so choices must be filled thoughtfully based on realistic rank expectations, not last-minute guesswork.
• Document verification and eligibility checks should be completed before registration opens, not during the counselling window.
• Each round requires fresh action — even allotted candidates from a previous round need to actively participate to upgrade or confirm seats.

Beware of Counselling Fraud

Every counselling season, fraudulent agents and fake "seat guarantee" agents target anxious families with promises of confirmed seats in exchange for advance payments. Please remember:

• MCC counselling is a transparent, merit-based, online process — no agent can guarantee a seat outside this system.
• Never share your NEET login credentials, OTPs, or make payments to individuals claiming to "fast-track" your allotment.
• All official information is available only on the official MCC website — cross-check any communication you receive.

If you're ever unsure about a step in the process, verify with a trusted, registered counselling partner rather than relying on unverified sources or social media groups.

Need Expert Guidance for NEET UG 2026 Counselling?

Navigating four rounds of counselling, choice filling strategy, and seat allotment can be overwhelming — especially when a single wrong choice can cost you a seat. Om Educare has been guiding NEET UG aspirants and their families through this exact process for years, with a presence across Gurugram, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Prayagraj.

Our counsellors help you with:

• Realistic rank-to-college mapping based on previous years' cutoffs
• Strategic choice filling to maximize your chances across rounds
• Document verification support
• Complete guidance through AIQ, Deemed, Central University, AIIMS, and JIPMER admissions

📞 Call our helpline: 7676610620 for personalized, trustworthy counselling support this admission season.