Big update for NEET UG candidates: Counselling starts August 4 with new admission rules

The first round of counselling for admission to MBBS and other undergraduate medical courses under the All India Quota (AIQ) will begin on August 4, with the academic session for the 2026–27 batch set to commence on September 8.

The schedule, released by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), outlines the timeline for admissions to AIQ seats as well as those in deemed and central universities.

The first round of AIQ counselling for deemed and central universities will be conducted from August 4 to August 17, with candidates required to join their allotted institutions by August 22.

The second round is scheduled from August 24 to September 2, followed by the third round from September 10 to September 18. The stray vacancy round will be held between September 28 and October 3, with the last date for joining fixed as October 10.

For state quota seats, the first round of counselling will take place from August 13 to August 22, with candidates expected to complete admissions by August 28. The second round will be held from August 31 to September 8, while the third round is scheduled from September 16 to September 26. The stray vacancy round for state quota seats will be conducted from October 3 to October 5.

The schedule also includes timelines for verification of joined candidates by the MCC and state counselling authorities after each round to facilitate seat processing and subsequent allotments.

Although counselling will continue for vacant seats in later rounds, the academic session for undergraduate medical courses will officially begin on September 8.

The MCC has directed all participating institutions, state counselling authorities and designated agencies to adhere strictly to the counselling schedule. It has also instructed institutions to treat Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days to ensure admissions are completed on time.

New changes in NEET UG 2026 counselling

The MCC, which functions under the Union Health Ministry, has introduced several changes to make the NEET UG 2026 counselling process more transparent and student-friendly.

One of the key reforms removes the requirement for candidates seeking a seat upgrade in subsequent rounds to report physically to their allotted college. Instead, their admission will remain valid in the counselling system while they continue to participate in further rounds, subject to applicable rules.

The committee has also launched an online resignation facility, allowing eligible candidates to surrender their allotted seats through the MCC counselling portal within the prescribed timelines, eliminating the need to visit the allotted institution in person.

Additionally, candidates applying under the NRI quota in deemed universities will now be able to upload their supporting documents directly through the online counselling portal, streamlining the verification process.