The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially released the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule, and Round 1 registration for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) has already begun. If you’re a NEET UG 2026 candidate hoping to secure an MBBS, BDS, or B.Sc Nursing seat this year, this is the most important timeline you need to bookmark.
At Shiksha Med, we’ve helped over 30,000 students navigate NEET counselling and secure admission to top medical colleges in India and abroad over the last 26+ years. Here’s a complete, easy-to-follow breakdown of the NEET UG 2026 AIQ counselling schedule, seat matrix details, and everything you need to know to avoid missing a deadline.
The All India Quota (AIQ) covers 15% of seats in government medical and dental colleges across India, along with 100% of seats in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS institutions, and JIPMER (Puducherry and Karaikal). AIQ counselling is conducted centrally by MCC, separate from individual state counselling rounds.
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Institute seat matrix verification | August 4, 2026 |
| Online registration & fee payment | August 5 – August 12, 2026 (up to 3:00 PM) |
| Choice filling & locking | August 6 – August 13, 2026 (up to 11:00 AM) |
| Last date for fee payment | August 12, 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Round 1 seat allotment result | August 17, 2026 |
| Reporting/joining at allotted institute | August 18 – August 22, 2026 |
| Round | Approximate Dates |
|---|---|
| Round 2 seat matrix verification | August 24, 2026 |
| Round 2 counselling | August 24 – September 2, 2026 |
| Round 3 counselling | September 10 – September 18, 2026 |
| Online Stray Vacancy Round | September 28 – October 3, 2026 |
| Final joining deadline | October 10, 2026 |
| Academic session commencement | September 8, 2026 |
Note: All timings are as per MCC server time. Dates are subject to revision by MCC — always cross-check with the official portal before your deadline.
Along with AIQ, MCC has also released the indicative timeline for State Quota counselling:
| Activity | Dates |
|---|---|
| State Quota Round 1 | August 13 – August 22, 2026 |
| Last date to join (State Quota Round 1) | August 28, 2026 |
State-wise schedules (Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and more) are released separately by respective state counselling authorities. Shiksha Med tracks all state updates for you — check our NEET UPDATE 2026 page for the latest state-wise notices.
After Round 1 allotment, candidates must decide:
Choosing incorrectly can cost you a seat altogether, so this decision should be based on your rank, category, and preferred college list — something our counsellors help students evaluate individually.
With NEET UG 2026 seeing a competitive candidate pool and seat matrix figures already published for MBBS colleges (excluding INIs), every day of the counselling window counts. Missing the registration or choice-locking deadline — even by a few hours of server time — can mean losing your shot at Round 1 entirely.
Understanding the seat matrix, predicting your realistic college options, and filling choices strategically based on your NEET UG 2026 rank is where most students go wrong. That’s exactly where Shiksha Med can help.
With 6 offices across North India and a track record of guiding 30,000+ students, our expert counsellors provide:
📞 Call us: +91 9914148080 / +91 9041441450 💬 WhatsApp: +91 9041441450 🌐 Visit: www.shikshamed.com 📍 Head Office: SCO 80-81-82, Sector 34-A, Opposite Passport Office, Chandigarh
Book your free NEET UG counselling session with Shiksha Med today →
Q1. When does NEET UG 2026 Round 1 AIQ registration close? Registration and fee payment close on August 12, 2026, and choice locking closes on August 13, 2026.
Q2. When will Round 1 results be declared? The MCC is expected to announce Round 1 seat allotment results on August 17, 2026.
Q3. Is state quota counselling separate from AIQ counselling? Yes. AIQ is centrally conducted by MCC, while state quota seats are counselled by respective state authorities, though the overall schedule is coordinated to avoid overlap.
Q4. What happens if I miss the Round 1 deadline? You can still participate in Round 2, Round 3, or the Stray Vacancy Round, but your college options may be more limited as better seats get filled in earlier rounds.
Q5. Where can I check the official seat matrix? The seat matrix is published on the MCC website. Shiksha Med also shares updated state-wise and national seat matrix documents on our website for easy reference.
This blog is for informational purposes. Always verify final dates and notices on the official MCC website (mcc.nic.in) or your respective state counselling authority, as schedules are subject to change.
Need one-on-one guidance for your NEET UG 2026 counselling? Contact Shiksha Med — India’s Most Trusted Medical Admission Advisors.