NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 2 Dates & Latest Updates

The NEET UG Counselling 2026 process has entered the Round 2 phase after the MCC Round 1 final allotment result was released. Candidates allotted seats in Round 1 can now report to their respective colleges as per MCC instructions. The counselling authority has also released the revised Round 2 AIQ schedule, with registration beginning on September 3.

At the state level, counselling is moving on a separate timeline. The latest MCC AIQ and State schedule places Round 2 state counselling from September 3 to September 11, while the last date for joining is September 18. Individual states will continue to publish their own registration, choice-filling, allotment and reporting notices.

NEET UG Counselling 2026: Latest Update

The immediate focus has shifted from Round 1 choice filling to seat reporting, vacant seats and Round 2 choice filling. MCC has published the Round 1 final allotment result and the Round 1 MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing seat matrix on its official counselling portal.

MCC's latest Round 2 schedule will cover 15% AIQ and 100% Deemed/Central Universities, AFMC, AIIMS institutions and JIPMER for MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing admissions. Registration and fee payment will remain open from September 3 to September 8, followed by choice filling and locking.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Highlights

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 2 Schedule

MCC has released the Round 2 AIQ counselling schedule dated August 27, 2026. The process begins with verification of the tentative seat matrix on September 1 and 2, followed by registration and choice filling from September 3.

The schedule also specifies that choice filling will remain available until 10 AM on September 9, while choice locking will open at 4 PM on September 8 and close at 10 AM on September 9. Fee payment will remain available until 6 PM on September 8, as per server time.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Process

The counselling process follows a straightforward sequence in every round. Once registration is completed, candidates move to choice filling and locking. The submitted preferences are then considered during seat allotment based on rank, choices, category, quota and seat availability.

The important change at this stage is that Round 1 has already reached the final allotment stage. Therefore, the immediate task for candidates participating in Round 2 is to study the new seat matrix and prepare a revised preference list.

NEET UG Seat Matrix 2026

The NEET UG seat matrix determines which colleges and courses are available for allotment in a particular counselling round. It is therefore the starting point for preparing the preference list.

MCC has already published the Round 1 MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing seat matrix for UG Counselling 2026. The Round 2 matrix will determine the seats available for the next allotment cycle.

The matrix generally provides information such as the institution, course, quota, category and number of available seats. As seats are allotted, upgraded, resigned or carried forward, the availability can change between rounds.

How to Use the NEET UG Seat Matrix

The purpose of this sequence is simple: check what is actually available first, then build the preference list around eligible options.

Previous-year closing ranks can help assess the competitiveness of a college, but they should not replace the current seat matrix. The number and type of seats available can change from one counselling round to another.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Result

MCC has released the Final Allotment Result for Round 1 of UG Counselling 2026. Candidates who have been allotted seats can proceed with reporting to the allotted college after checking the official reporting instructions.

MCC has also issued a separate notice covering the Round 1 final result and reporting instructions, along with a notice regarding document uploading for Float candidates.

This makes the Round 1 allotment result important for Round 2 as well. The seats that become available after reporting, non-joining or other changes can influence the subsequent seat matrix and allotment process.

NEET UG State Counselling 2026

State counselling is progressing alongside MCC counselling but does not follow the same detailed schedule. The latest MCC AIQ and State Round 2 schedule lists the state counselling admission window from September 3 to September 11, 2026, with September 18 as the last date of joining.

The broad schedule does not replace the state-specific notification. Each state counselling authority will continue to publish its own detailed dates for registration, choice filling, allotment and reporting.

NEET UG State Counselling 2026: Current Updates

The state counselling pages now need to be tracked according to their actual counselling stage, rather than using one common Round 1 timeline.

Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026

Maharashtra has published the final merit list of registered MBBS/BDS candidates dated August 26, 2026. DMER Maharashtra has also issued an important notice regarding the MBBS/BDS choice-filling process and published the state seat matrix.

For the Maharashtra page, the stronger current search intent is now around merit list, seat matrix, choice filling and allotment, rather than initial registration.

West Bengal NEET UG Counselling 2026

West Bengal's counselling authority has published updates relating to the revised Round 1 seat matrix and candidate list. The state page should therefore focus on the revised seat availability, allotment and subsequent counselling stages rather than the original Round 1 registration schedule.

Gujarat NEET UG Counselling 2026

Gujarat has moved into the allotment and admission stage. The state's counselling portal is publishing allotment-related information, making Round 1 result, college-wise allotment, last rank and vacant seats more relevant than the earlier registration-focused content.

NEET UG Counselling 2026: MCC vs State Counselling

The two counselling routes should not be treated as one process.

A candidate can therefore be at the Round 1 reporting stage in MCC counselling while a state counselling process is at a different stage. This distinction is particularly important while tracking Round 2 dates and vacant seats.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Choice Filling

Choice filling becomes the most important part of the process once the Round 2 registration window opens.

The preference list should be built around the current seat matrix, rather than simply copying the Round 1 choices. Seats may have changed because of allotments, upgrades, non-joining and other adjustments.

A practical preference order should consider:

• College preference
• Course preference
• Current seat availability
• Category and quota
• Previous-round closing rank
• Fees and other financial considerations
• Location
• Bond or service conditions, where applicable

The final list should reflect the colleges the candidate is actually prepared to join. A college should not be placed higher only because its previous-year cutoff was more favourable.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Reporting and Admission

A seat allotment does not by itself complete the admission process. Candidates allotted seats must report to the respective institution within the notified period and complete the required admission formalities.

The process generally involves allotment letter verification, document verification, fee payment and confirmation of admission. The exact requirements can vary between MCC and state counselling authorities.

For MCC Round 2, the reporting window is September 12 to September 18, 2026.

NEET Counselling 2026 Fee

MCC counselling fees consist of a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit, with the amount depending on the category and type of institution/seat being applied for.

Candidates should verify the applicable fee shown on the MCC portal before making payment, particularly where multiple seat categories or institutions are involved.

NEET UG 2026: Complete MCC Counselling Schedule

MCC initially released the NEET UG Counselling 2026 schedule on August 1. However, the Round 1 choice filling, seat allotment and result dates were subsequently revised. The updated Round 1 schedule is given below, while the schedules for subsequent rounds remain subject to further MCC notifications.

Note: The Round 2, Round 3/Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy schedules shown above are based on the previously released MCC timeline. Candidates should check the latest MCC notifications, as changes in the Round 1 schedule may lead to revisions in the dates for subsequent counselling rounds.

NEET Counselling 2026 FAQs