With the NEET UG 2026 Result declared on July 16, aspirants are now awaiting the commencement of the NEET UG 2026 counselling process. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is expected to release the counselling schedule shortly on its official website, mcc.nic.in, for admissions under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and other participating institutions.

Last year, the first round of NEET UG counselling began on July 21, and a similar timeline is expected this year.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has stated that the results were announced on schedule to ensure that the medical admission and counselling calendar remains on track.

Over 11.21 Lakh Candidates Qualified

According to the NTA, nearly 20 lakh candidates appeared for NEET UG 2026 at 5,440 examination centres across 551 cities in India and 14 international cities.

Out of them:

• 11.21 lakh candidates qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH, and allied health courses.
• More than 58% of the qualified candidates are women.
• Most successful candidates belong to the 17–19 years age group.
• Aryan Gupta (Punjab) and Panshul Bansal (Haryana) jointly secured the highest score of 715 out of 720.

NEET UG 2026 Counselling Process

The MCC NEET UG 2026 counselling is expected to be conducted in four rounds, following the previous admission pattern:

1. Round 1
2. Round 2
3. Round 3 (Mop-Up Round)
4. Stray Vacancy Round

Separate counselling will also be conducted by individual states for 85% State Quota seats, while MCC will manage admissions under the 15% All India Quota, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, ESIC, AFMS (where applicable), and other participating institutes.

How to Register for NEET UG 2026 Counselling

Once registration begins, candidates should follow these steps:

1. Visit the official MCC counselling portal.
2. Register using the NEET UG 2026 application details.
3. Fill in the required personal and academic information.
4. Pay the prescribed counselling registration fee.
5. Choose and arrange preferred medical and dental colleges and courses.
6. Lock the choices before the deadline.
7. Download the confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates are advised to carefully research colleges before locking their preferences, as seat allotment largely depends on these choices.

NEET UG 2026 Seat Allotment Process

After each counselling round, seats will be allotted based on:

• NEET UG 2026 rank
• Candidate's category
• Reservation policy
• Choice filling and preference order
• Availability of seats
• Applicable admission rules

Candidates who are allotted a seat must report to the allotted institute within the specified timeline for document verification and completion of admission formalities.

Documents Required for Counselling

Candidates should keep the following documents ready:

• NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
• NEET UG 2026 Scorecard/Rank Letter
• Class 10 Certificate (Date of Birth proof)
• Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
• Valid Photo ID
• Passport-size photographs
• Category Certificate (if applicable)
• PwD Certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (for State Quota admissions, if required)

Additional documents may be requested by the counselling authority or allotted institution.

What Candidates Should Do Now

While waiting for the official counselling notification, candidates should:

• Regularly check the MCC website for counselling dates.
• Keep all original documents and photocopies ready.
• Shortlist preferred colleges and courses based on rank and previous years' cut-offs.
• Stay informed about both All India Quota and State Quota counselling schedules.

The NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule is expected to be released shortly, marking the next crucial step for lakhs of aspiring medical students seeking admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and allied health programmes across India.