NEET PG Counselling 2026: Dates(Out), Registration, Eligibility, Process & Seat Allotment

The NEET PG 2026 counselling dates have been announced by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for postgraduate medical admissions. The MCC NEET PG counselling 2026 will begin with Round 1 registration on October 12, 2026. The counselling schedule includes Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the Online Stray Vacancy Round for admissions to postgraduate medical courses covered under the MCC counselling process.

Candidates who have qualified NEET PG 2026 should complete registration, fee payment and choice filling within the prescribed deadlines. The NEET PG 2026 result was declared on September 24, while the scorecard and answer key were released on October 1. Candidates can also check the detailed NEET PG 2026 Result and NEET PG 2026 Cutoff before participating in counselling.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Key Highlights

Important: The dates above are based on the MCC tentative counselling schedule dated October 7, 2026. Candidates should follow subsequent MCC notices for any revisions.

What Is NEET PG Counselling 2026?

NEET PG counselling 2026 is the seat allocation process through which eligible NEET PG candidates compete for postgraduate medical seats based on their rank, category, choices and seat availability. MCC conducts the central counselling process for 50% All India Quota seats and other institutions and seat categories covered under its counselling jurisdiction.

Candidates first register on the MCC portal and pay the applicable counselling fee. They then enter their preferred colleges and courses. MCC processes these choices against the available seat matrix and publishes the allotment result. Candidates who receive a seat must complete the prescribed reporting and joining formalities within the allotted period.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Dates and Round-Wise Schedule

The MCC schedule covers the complete counselling cycle, including seat matrix verification, registration, payment, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment and reporting. The deadlines differ across rounds, so candidates must track the dates for the round in which they participate.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Dates

Important: Round 1 registration closes at 12 noon on October 21, while payment remains open until 3 PM. Choice filling closes at 10 AM on October 22.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 2 Dates

Important: Round 2 registration closes at 12 noon on November 11, with payment available until 3 PM. Choice filling closes at 10 AM on November 12.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 3 Dates

Important: Round 3 registration closes at 12 noon on December 1, with payment available until 3 PM. Choice filling closes at 10 AM on December 2.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 Online Stray Vacancy Round Dates

Important: Registration closes at 12 noon on December 21, while payment remains open until 3 PM. Choice filling and locking remain open until 11:55 PM on December 21.

Who Is Eligible for NEET PG Counselling 2026?

Candidates who have qualified NEET PG 2026 and meet the applicable eligibility conditions can participate in counselling. For NEET PG 2026, candidates must have an MBBS or provisional MBBS qualification from a recognised institution and must complete the required one-year Compulsory Rotating Resident Internship by September 30, 2026. Valid permanent or provisional medical registration is also required. State-specific eligibility conditions may apply during state counselling.

The NEET PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria page covers the eligibility requirements for Indian graduates, foreign medical graduates and other applicable categories.

How to Register for NEET PG Counselling 2026?

NEET PG counselling registration is completed online through the MCC counselling portal. Candidates should use their NEET PG credentials and provide the required personal, academic and registration details before proceeding to fee payment.

The basic registration process involves the following steps:

1. Visit the official MCC counselling website.
2. Open the NEET PG counselling registration link.
3. Complete the registration using the required details.
4. Pay the applicable counselling fee.
5. Confirm the registration details.
6. Proceed to choice filling after the registration window opens.
7. Lock the final choices within the prescribed deadline.

Candidates should carefully check the information entered during registration because incorrect details can affect subsequent counselling formalities.

What Is NEET PG 2026 Choice Filling?

NEET PG 2026 choice filling allows candidates to select their preferred colleges, courses and seat options in order of preference. MCC uses the submitted choices along with the candidate's rank, category and seat availability to determine allotment.

Candidates should arrange choices according to their actual preference rather than selecting colleges only on the basis of previous closing ranks. A larger and well-planned choice list can provide more opportunities during seat allotment.

Choice locking is a separate stage. Candidates must lock their choices within the specified window because the deadline differs from the final choice-filling date.

How Does NEET PG 2026 Seat Allotment Work?

MCC processes the choices submitted by candidates after the choice-filling and locking period. Seat allotment depends on factors such as NEET PG rank, category, choice preference and availability of seats in the relevant course and college.

The allotment result is published online for each counselling round. Candidates who receive a seat must follow the instructions mentioned in their allotment result and report to the allotted institution within the specified period.

The allotment process continues across subsequent rounds, allowing eligible candidates to participate according to the applicable MCC rules.

What Happens After NEET PG Seat Allotment?

After a seat is allotted, candidates must complete the required admission formalities within the reporting period. The candidate may be required to submit original documents, pay the applicable admission fees and complete verification at the allotted institution.

Candidates should not wait until the final reporting day to complete joining formalities. Failure to report within the prescribed period can affect the candidate's seat and eligibility for subsequent counselling, depending on the applicable MCC rules.

What Documents Are Required for NEET PG Counselling 2026?

Candidates should keep their original documents and required copies ready before reporting to the allotted college. The exact requirements may vary by institution and counselling authority.

Important: Candidates should check the reporting instructions issued for their allotted college and the applicable MCC or state counselling authority before travelling for admission.

What Is the NEET PG 2026 Seat Matrix?

The NEET PG seat matrix 2026 contains the seats available for allotment across participating colleges, courses and categories. MCC verifies the tentative seat matrix before each counselling round and uses the applicable seat matrix during allotment.

The seat matrix can change between rounds because of additions, withdrawals, conversions or other counselling-related updates. Candidates should therefore check the latest matrix before filling or revising their choices.

What Is the NEET PG 2026 Cutoff?

The NEET PG qualifying cutoff 2026 determines whether a candidate has qualified for the examination and can participate in counselling. The qualifying cutoff is different from the closing rank required to secure a particular MD or MS seat.

For NEET PG 2026, the qualifying cutoff is 262 marks at the 50th percentile for General/EWS candidates, 244 marks at the 45th percentile for General PwBD candidates, and 226 marks at the 40th percentile for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates.

Candidates should not treat the qualifying cutoff as the expected admission cutoff for a particular college or specialty. Admission depends on rank, category, college, specialty, quota and the availability of seats.

Candidates can check the detailed NEET PG 2026 Cutoff for qualifying marks and specialty-wise admission trends.

NEET PG 2026 Qualifying Cutoff vs Admission Cutoff

Important: The qualifying cutoff does not guarantee admission. A candidate may qualify NEET PG but still not secure an MD or MS seat if their rank is not competitive for the available choices.

What Is the NEET PG 2026 Reservation Criteria?

Reservation during NEET PG counselling is applied according to the applicable government and MCC rules. Category, PwBD status and the type of institution or seat can affect the seats available to a candidate.

Candidates claiming reservation should have valid certificates in the prescribed format. The reservation rules and applicable seat categories can differ between MCC counselling and state counselling, so candidates should verify the rules applicable to the seats they are targeting.

MCC NEET PG Counselling vs State NEET PG Counselling

MCC conducts the central counselling process for 50% AIQ postgraduate medical seats and other categories covered under its jurisdiction. State counselling authorities conduct admission to seats under their respective state counselling processes. Candidates seeking state-specific admissions should follow the counselling authority of the concerned state because eligibility, domicile requirements, fees, reservation and choice-filling rules can differ.

Important: State counselling schedules, eligibility rules, reservation, fees and seat matrices are determined by the respective state counselling authorities and may differ from the MCC counselling process.

What Are the Important Points for NEET PG Counselling 2026?

Candidates should keep the following points in mind throughout the counselling process:

• Check the latest MCC notice before every counselling round.
• Complete registration and payment before the prescribed deadline.
• Review the latest seat matrix before choice filling.
• Enter choices in the order of actual preference.
• Complete choice locking within the specified window.
• Download and verify the seat allotment result after each round.
• Carry original documents for reporting and admission.
• Check the reporting deadline mentioned for the allotted seat.
• Verify the rules for participation in subsequent rounds before making decisions about an allotted seat.
• Keep copies of the registration form, choices, allotment letter and admission documents for future reference.

NEET PG Counselling 2026 FAQs