All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling Process 2026

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), operating under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), is responsible for the NEET 2026 All India counselling. This is a highly competitive, national-level process open to students from all states.

The MCC conducts counselling for the following specific seat matrices:

• 15% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats: This comprises 15% of the total seats in every government medical/dental college across all states in India.
• 100% Deemed Universities: Admission to highly sought-after deemed universities (like KMC Manipal, Symbiosis, etc.) happens exclusively through MCC.
• 100% Central Universities: Includes institutions like Delhi University (DU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
• 100% Seats in AIIMS & JIPMER: All campuses across India.
• AFMC (Pune): MCC conducts the initial registration, though AFMC has its own separate physical screening process later.

State Quota Counselling Process 2026

While the AIQ covers 15% of government seats, what happens to the remaining 85%? This is where State quota NEET counselling 2026 comes in. These seats are controlled by the respective state medical directorates (e.g., KEA in Karnataka, DMER in Maharashtra, DME in UP).

State counselling is generally more favorable to local students because the cutoffs are often significantly lower than AIQ cutoffs. However, it comes with strict rules:

• Domicile Rule: You can only claim the 85% state quota in the state where you hold a valid domicile (proof of long-term residence or schooling).
• Private Medical Colleges: 100% of seats in private medical colleges (non-deemed) are filled through state counselling authorities.
• Separate Registration: You must register separately on your state's portal and pay a separate registration fee.
• Reservation Policies: State-level reservation policies (which often differ from central categories) apply here.

AIQ vs State Counselling – Key Differences

To avoid missing opportunities, candidates frequently participate in both processes simultaneously. Here is a clear breakdown of the differences:

NEET 2026 Counselling Rounds Explained

The MCC and state authorities conduct counselling in multiple sequential phases. Understanding the rules of each round is critical to mastering your NEET choice filling process.

1. Round 1

This is the initial round where maximum seats are available. After choice filling, seats are allotted. Here, the "Free Exit" rule applies. If you are allotted a college but do not wish to join, you can simply ignore it. Your security deposit is not forfeited, and you are eligible for Round 2.

2. Round 2

Competition tightens here. If you did not get a seat in Round 1, or if you took admission but opted for an "upgrade," you participate here. Warning: The Free Exit rule does not apply here. If you are allotted a seat in Round 2 and do not join, your security deposit will be forfeited, and under new NMC rules, you may be barred from further AIQ counselling.

3. Mop-Up Round (Round 3)

Seats that remain vacant after Round 2 (due to non-joining or state quota shifting) are pooled into the Mop-Up round. Fresh registration is allowed here for candidates who have not yet secured any seat.

4. Stray Vacancy Round

This is the final phase to fill any residual seats. Previously, this was conducted offline by the colleges themselves, but MCC now conducts this online to ensure transparency. No fresh registrations are allowed in this round; seats are given to waitlisted candidates based strictly on merit.

Step-by-Step Registration Process (MCC Portal)

When the MCC announces the dates, follow these exact NEET counselling registration steps to avoid technical glitches:

• Step 1 - New Registration: Visit `mcc.nic.in`. Click on 'UG Medical Counselling'. Enter your NEET Roll Number, Registration Number, Name, Mother's Name, and Date of Birth as printed on your scorecard.
• Step 2 - Payment of Fees: You must pay two fees: a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit. (Detailed in Section 9).
• Step 3 - Choice Filling: This is the most critical step. Select colleges from the drop-down menu in order of your preference. There is no limit to the number of choices you can fill.
• Step 4 - Choice Locking: Once satisfied, you must "lock" your choices. If you forget to lock them, the system will auto-lock your last saved choices on the deadline day.
• Step 5 - Seat Allotment Result: MCC will process the choices based on AIR and reservation criteria, and release a provisional, followed by a final, seat allotment list.
• Step 6 - Reporting to College: If allotted, download the allotment letter and physically report to the college within the stipulated timeframe for medical checkups and document verification.

Documents Required for NEET Counselling 2026

Colleges are ruthless regarding documentation. A missing original certificate will lead to immediate cancellation of your allotted seat. Keep the following NEET counselling documents required ready in a physical folder:

Seat Allotment & Result Declaration Process

How exactly does a computer decide who gets which seat? The NEET UG 2026 seat allotment algorithm processes inputs strictly based on Merit (your AIR) and Preferences (your choice filling order).

Suppose Candidate A (Rank 5000) and Candidate B (Rank 5001) both put Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) as choice #1. The software evaluates Candidate A first. If a seat is available at MAMC, Candidate A gets it. When it evaluates Candidate B, if MAMC is full, it moves to Candidate B's choice #2, and so on.

The Upgrade Mechanism: If you get your 5th choice in Round 1, you can take admission and select "Willingness to Upgrade." In Round 2, the software will only try to allocate your choices 1 to 4. If successful, your previous seat is cancelled and given to someone else.

Refund & Security Deposit Rules

The MCC mandates a security deposit to prevent candidates from blocking seats unnecessarily. Understanding these fees is vital.

When is it refunded? If you join the allotted seat in Round 1/2, or if you don't get a seat at all, the deposit is refunded to the same bank account used for payment (usually 2-3 months after counselling ends).

Warning: Do not use a cyber cafe's debit card to pay the security deposit, as the refund will go to their account.

Choice Filling Strategy for Better Seat Allotment

A smart NEET choice filling strategy is the difference between getting an average college and a top-tier institution. Follow the "Dream, Safe, Backup" strategy:

• Top 10 Choices (Dream Colleges): Even if your rank is 15,000, put top AIIMS or central universities at the top. You never know how the seat matrix might shift due to category adjustments. There is no penalty for aiming high.
• Next 20 Choices (Realistic/Safe Colleges): Based on previous year cutoffs, list colleges where candidates with your rank secured seats last year. Organize them by location, bond rules, and fee structure.
• Bottom Choices (Backup Colleges): List newer government colleges or slightly remote institutions as a safety net to ensure you do not go empty-handed.
• Never Leave Blanks: Fill as many choices as you realistically would be willing to attend. If you put only 5 choices and miss the cutoff for all, you will not get a seat.

Frequently Asked Questions