NEET UG MCC Counselling 2026: Seat Allotment
Qualifying the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) is only the first hurdle. Securing a seat in an MBBS, BDS, or B.Sc. Nursing program depends directly on your choice-filling strategy during the centralized online counselling. The Medical Counselling Committee manages seat distribution across premier medical colleges through four distinct stages: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and the Online Stray Vacancy Round.
Because seat retention rules and forfeiture conditions become significantly stricter after Round 1, understanding the differences between "Free Exit", "Exit with Forfeiture", and "Seat Upgradation" protects your security deposit and preserves your admission eligibility for state-level counselling rounds.
NEET UG MCC Counselling 2026: Overview
| Particular | Official Specification |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) / DGHS |
| Exam Level | Undergraduate Medical (NEET-UG) |
| Courses Covered | MBBS, BDS, B.Sc. Nursing |
| Seat Quotas Covered | 15% AIQ, 100% AIIMS, JIPMER, Central & Deemed Universities, ESIC |
| Counselling Mode | Online Registration, Choice Filling & Central Allotment |
| Number of Rounds | 4 Rounds (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Stray Vacancy) |
| Official Website | mcc.nic.in |
Official Round-Wise Counselling Schedule 2026
The MCC follows a strict, time-bound calendar. Candidates must track each window to avoid missing seat acceptance or reporting deadlines.
| Counselling Event | Round 1 Timeline | Round 2 Timeline | Round 3 Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Registration & Fee Payment | 05 August - 15 August 2026 | 25 August - 29 August 2026 | 11 September - 15 September 2026 |
| Choice Filling & Choice Locking | 06 August - 17 August 2026 | 25 August - 30 August 2026 | 11 September - 16 September 2026 |
| Processing of Seat Allotment | 18 August 2026 | 31 August - 01 September 2026 | 16 September - 17 September 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Result Publication | 19 August 2026 | 02 September 2026 | 18 September 2026 |
| Physical Reporting to Allotted College | 20 August - 25 August 2026 | 03 September - 08 September 2026 | 19 September - 26 September 2026 |
Participating Quotas and Institutional Coverage
The MCC conducts admissions for various institutional categories. Candidates can choose their target institutions based on rank, category, and budget:
- 15% All India Quota (AIQ): 15% of total MBBS/BDS seats in all government medical and dental colleges across India are open to all qualified candidates without domicile restrictions.
- 100% Central Institutions: All seats in AIIMS campuses across India, JIPMER (Puducherry and Karaikal), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
- Delhi University (DU) Quota: 15% AIQ seats plus 85% institutional internal quota for candidates who completed Class 11 and 12 in Delhi (MAMC, LHMC, UCMS).
- 100% Deemed Universities: Open to all eligible candidates based on merit, subject to private fee structures.
- ESIC Quota: Seats reserved for wards of insured persons (IP Certificate holders) across ESIC medical colleges.
- AFMC Pune: MCC handles the initial registration; physical screening and fitness tests are conducted by the Armed Forces Medical College directly.
MBBS Internship Stipend (Final Year of 5.5-Year Course)
During the Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI), the monthly stipend varies significantly based on the college authority:
| Institute / College Type | Estimated Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Central Institutions (AIIMS, JIPMER, VMMC, MAMC, LHMC) | ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 per month |
| State Government Medical Colleges (State GMCs) | ₹12,000 to ₹22,000 per month (State dependent) |
| Private & Deemed Medical Universities | ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per month (Nominal/Varies) |
Post-MBBS Salary (Junior Resident / Medical Officer)
After completing the MBBS degree and obtaining registration from the State Medical Council / National Medical Commission (NMC):
Junior Resident (Non-Academic) / GDMO (Central Government Hospitals)
- Pay Scale: 7th CPC Pay Level-10 (Basic Pay ₹56,100 + DA + HRA + NPA)
- In-Hand Monthly Pay: ₹85,000 to ₹1,10,000 per month
State Government Medical Officer (MO)
- In-Hand Monthly Pay: ₹60,000 to ₹85,000 per month (Varies by state)
Private Hospitals / Nursing Homes
- Starting Monthly Pay: ₹50,000 to ₹80,000 per month for entry-level doctors
Registration Fees & Security Deposit Structure
Candidates must submit both a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit via net banking or credit/debit card. The refundable deposit is returned to the source account after the completion of all rounds if no penalty rules are breached.
| Institute Category | Non-Refundable Registration Fee | Refundable Security Deposit | Total Initial Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ / Central Universities / ESIC (General / EWS) | Rs. 1,000 | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 11,000 |
| AIQ / Central Universities / ESIC (SC / ST / OBC / PwD) | Rs. 500 | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 5,500 |
| Deemed Universities (All Categories) | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 2,00,000 | Rs. 2,05,000 |
Critical Admission Rules: Free Exit, Forfeiture & Upgradation
Misinterpreting round rules can result in lost security deposits or immediate disqualification from the national allotment pool. The rules operate under specific terms:
1. Free Exit (Round 1 Only)
If you are allotted a seat in Round 1 and choose not to report or join the college, you do not lose your security deposit. You remain fully eligible to participate in Round 2 without any financial deduction or penalty.
2. Exit with Forfeiture (Round 2)
If you receive a seat in Round 2 but do not report or join, your entire refundable security deposit is forfeited. You can still register fresh for Round 3 by paying the security fee again.
3. Upgradation Rules
Candidates who join their Round 1 allotted college can opt for "Willingness to Upgrade" during reporting. If upgraded in Round 2, the previous seat is automatically cancelled and released to other candidates. Upgradation is permitted up to Round 3.
4. Seat Locking in Round 3 & Stray Vacancy
Once a candidate joins a seat allotted in Round 3, resignation is prohibited. Such candidates cannot participate in the Stray Vacancy Round or state quota counselling, preventing seat blocking across systems.
Step-by-Step Online Registration & Choice Filling Process
Careful execution during the registration process prevents portal errors during peak traffic periods:
- Step 1 - New Registration: Visit mcc.nic.in, click on "UG Medical Counselling", select "New Registration", and log in using your NEET UG Roll Number, Application Number, and Date of Birth.
- Step 2 - Category & Quota Selection: Select your desired quotas (AIQ, Central Universities, Deemed Universities). The required fee updates based on your selections.
- Step 3 - Fee Payment: Complete the transaction using net banking or card payment. Retain the payment reference receipt for your records.
- Step 4 - Choice Filling: Review the official Seat Matrix. Add your preferred colleges and courses in strict order of priority. Keep high-cutoff medical colleges at the top of your list.
- Step 5 - Choice Locking: Lock your saved preferences before the specified window closes. Unlocked choices automatically lock based on the last saved order once the deadline expires.
- Step 6 - Download Allotment Letter: Check the published allotment results. Download and print your Provisional Allotment Letter if a seat is assigned.
Mandatory Documents for Verification & Physical Reporting
Candidates must report to the allotted medical college within the prescribed dates carrying original documents and two sets of self-attested photocopies:
- NEET UG Admit Card issued by NTA.
- NEET UG Scorecard / Rank Letter.
- MCC Provisional Seat Allotment Letter.
- Class 10 Certificate & Mark Sheet (for Date of Birth verification).
- Class 12 Passing Certificate & Mark Sheet.
- Eight passport-sized photographs (matching the photograph used on the NEET application).
- Valid Government Photo Identity Proof.
- Category Certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS) in Central Government format, valid for the current financial year.
- PwD Certificate issued by an authorized MCC disability board (if applicable).
Important Links
| NEET UG MCC Counselling Portal Links | |
|---|---|
| MCC UG Portal Login | mcc.nic.in |
| View Round-Wise Seat Matrix | Check Seat Matrix |
| Download Information Bulletin PDF | Download Brochure |
Key Highlights Summary
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Allotment Authority | Medical Counselling Committee (DGHS) |
| Scope of Admission | MBBS, BDS, B.Sc. Nursing |
| AIQ Seat Share | 15% in all State Govt Medical Colleges |
| Deemed University Share | 100% Institutional Seats |
| Total Counselling Stages | Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Stray Vacancy |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Q1: Who is eligible to participate in NEET UG MCC Counselling 2026?
Ans: Any candidate who has qualified the NEET UG examination with the minimum category-wise qualifying percentile (50th percentile for General/EWS, 40th for SC/ST/OBC) is eligible to register for AIQ and Central/Deemed university counselling on mcc.nic.in.
Q. Q2: What is the Free Exit rule in MCC Round 1?
Ans: Under Free Exit in Round 1, if an applicant is allotted a seat but chooses not to join the college, they can simply skip reporting without losing their security deposit. They remain fully eligible to take part in Round 2 without paying any penalty.
Q. Q3: Can a candidate participate in both MCC All India Counselling and State Quota Counselling?
Ans: Yes. MCC conducts counselling for 15% AIQ and central seats, while state authorities manage 85% state quota seats. Candidates can apply to both simultaneously. However, once a seat is accepted in Round 3 of AIQ, candidate data is shared with states, making them ineligible for subsequent state rounds to prevent seat blocking.
Q. Q4: What happens if I do not lock my choices on the MCC portal?
Ans: If choices are filled and saved but not manually locked before the deadline, the MCC system automatically locks the saved preferences in their recorded order when the choice-locking window closes.
Q. Q5: Is the security deposit refunded if no seat is allotted across all rounds?
Ans: Yes. If a candidate does not receive any seat allotment through Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and the Stray Vacancy Round, the full refundable security deposit is returned to the original bank account used during registration.
Q. Q6: What is the official website for NEET UG MCC Counselling 2026?
Ans: The official portal for central AIQ NEET UG counselling is mcc.nic.in.
Q. Q7: What percentage of seats are allotted through MCC AIQ counselling?
Ans: MCC conducts counselling for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in state government colleges, 100% seats in AIIMS/JIPMER/Central Universities, and 100% seats in Deemed Universities.
Q. Q8: What is the Free Exit rule in MCC Round 1?
Ans: If an allotted seat in Round 1 is not joined, the candidate can exit without forfeiture of their refundable security deposit and participate directly in Round 2.
Q. Q9: Do MBBS students get a salary or stipend during their medical studies?
Answer: Medical students do not receive any salary or stipend during their initial 4.5 years of academic coursework. They begin earning during the final phase of the MBBS program—the 1-year mandatory Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI)—in the form of a monthly stipend (ranging from ₹12,000 to ₹30,000 per month depending on the institution). Full regular salaries begin only after graduation and official medical council registration.
Q. Q10: Do medical students receive a monthly stipend during their one-year mandatory internship?
Answer: Yes, MBBS interns receive a fixed monthly stipend during their 1-year compulsory internship. Central government institutes (such as AIIMS, JIPMER, and VMMC) provide between ₹25,000 and ₹30,000 per month, while state government medical colleges offer around ₹12,000 to ₹22,000 per month based on state government norms.
Q. Q11: At what stage do MBBS students start earning regular salaries?
Answer: Medical students start earning regular full-time salaries after completing the entire 5.5-year MBBS curriculum (4.5 years of study + 1 year of internship) and obtaining registration from the State Medical Council / National Medical Commission (NMC). At this stage, doctors join as Junior Residents (Non-Academic) or Medical Officers (MO) with starting salaries typically ranging from ₹60,000 to ₹1,10,000 per month.
Q. Q12: Is there any payment or stipend provided to students in the final year of MBBS?
Answer: No, students do not receive any stipend or payment during their final academic year (Final MBBS Part-I and Part-II). Stipend payments begin strictly after passing the final university professional examinations, once the student officially joins the mandatory 1-year rotatory clinical internship.
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