NEET UG counselling: Round 1 choice filling underway, here's what candidates must do

MCC has opened Round 1 choice filling for NEET-UG 2026 counselling. Candidates must finalise preferences before the August 13 deadline and track the correct counselling authority.

In Short

• Registered candidates can select and arrange preferred medical and dental courses
• Choice locking starts on August 12 at 4 pm on portal
• Seat allotment depends on rank, preferences, vacancies and reservation rules

The next major stage of the NEET-UG 2026 admission process has begun, with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) opening Round 1 choice filling for eligible candidates.

Candidates who have registered for MCC counselling can now select the medical and dental colleges and courses they want to be considered for. They need to arrange these choices in their preferred order because the final allotment will depend on several factors, including their NEET rank, category, available seats and the choices they submit.

The choice-filling window opened on August 7 at 4 pm, giving candidates several days to review colleges and courses before the deadline.

ROUND 1 CHOICE FILLING AND LOCKING DATES

Candidates should keep the following dates in mind:

• Choice filling starts: August 7, 4 pm
• Choice locking starts: August 12, 4 pm
• Choice filling and locking closes: August 13, 11 am

Candidates should not confuse the choice-filling deadline with the end of the entire counselling process. These dates apply to the Round 1 stage of MCC counselling.

It is also advisable for candidates not to wait until the last few hours. Once choices are locked, they form the basis for the Round 1 seat allotment.

HOW MCC COUNSELLING WORKS

MCC conducts counselling for seats falling under its designated categories, including the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in participating government medical and dental colleges.

It also handles counselling for certain central and deemed universities and other institutions and categories covered under its mandate.

State authorities, meanwhile, conduct counselling for seats under the respective state quota. Therefore, a candidate seeking admission through both AIQ and a state quota should track both counselling processes separately.

The dates and procedures followed by individual states may differ from the MCC schedule.

CANDIDATES MUST FILL CHOICES CAREFULLY

During choice filling, candidates can select colleges and courses available to them and arrange them according to preference.

For example, a candidate who prefers one particular government medical college over another should place the preferred college higher in the choice list.

Candidates should check the available courses, college type, seat category, quota and eligibility before adding a choice.

A longer choice list can also give candidates more possibilities during allotment, provided the choices are courses and colleges they would actually be willing to join.

AIQ AND STATE QUOTA ARE DIFFERENT

One of the most important points for NEET-UG candidates is that MCC counselling does not replace state counselling.

The AIQ process is handled through MCC, while state authorities manage their respective state-quota admissions. Candidates therefore need to follow notifications issued by their state counselling authority in addition to MCC updates.

This distinction becomes particularly important for candidates who are eligible for both routes and do not want to miss a separate state counselling deadline.

PWD, NRI AND OCI CANDIDATES

The counselling process also includes specific provisions for candidates applying under categories such as Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI).

Candidates in these categories should not rely on information from previous counselling years. They should check the latest MCC notifications and the eligibility and document requirements applicable to their category before submitting choices.

MCC has been issuing separate notices and updates for different categories and counselling-related issues, making the official MCC portal the safest source for candidates.

WHAT CANDIDATES SHOULD DO NOW

Candidates should first log in to the official MCC counselling portal and check the colleges and courses available to them.

They should then prepare a preference list rather than filling choices randomly. College location, course, seat category, previous closing ranks and personal preferences can all be considered while preparing the list.

After entering the choices, candidates should review the entire list carefully before locking it.

Most importantly, candidates should save and lock their choices within the prescribed window. Missing the deadline can affect their participation in that particular round.

The immediate deadline to remember is therefore August 13 at 11 am, when the Round 1 choice-filling and locking window closes.

- Ends