NEET-UG 2026 Counselling Schedule: Key Dates and Changes You Need to Know

The NEET-UG 2026 counselling process is set to begin on August 4, with significant changes aimed at enhancing transparency and convenience for candidates. The academic session will start on September 8, and various rounds of counselling are scheduled throughout August and September. Key updates include the elimination of mandatory physical reporting for seat upgrades and the introduction of an online resignation facility. This article outlines the complete schedule and important changes that candidates should be aware of to navigate the admission process smoothly.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 2, 2026, 11:51 IST

Counselling Timeline for NEET-UG 2026

New Delhi: The initial round of counselling for MBBS and other undergraduate medical programs under the All India Quota is set to commence on August 4, with the academic year for the 2026-27 cohort starting on September 8.

As per the Medical Counselling Committee's released schedule, the first counselling round for deemed and central universities will run from August 4 to August 17, with the deadline for joining being August 22.

The second counselling round is scheduled from August 24 to September 2, followed by the third round from September 10 to September 18.

A stray vacancy round is planned from September 28 to October 3, with the final joining date after this round set for October 10.

For state quota seats, the first counselling round will take place from August 13 to August 22, requiring candidates to join by August 28. The second round will be from August 31 to September 8, and the third from September 16 to September 26. The stray vacancy round for state quota seats will occur from October 3 to October 5.

The schedule also outlines the timelines for the verification of candidates who have joined, managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state counselling authorities after each round to streamline seat processing and allocations.

The MCC has emphasized that the academic session for undergraduate medical courses will kick off on September 8, even as counselling for remaining vacant seats continues.

All participating institutions, state counselling authorities, and designated agencies have been instructed by the MCC to strictly follow the outlined schedule. Institutions are also advised to consider all Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays as working days to ensure the counselling process is completed on time.

In a bid to enhance the NEET-UG 2026 counselling process, the MCC, under the Union health ministry, has implemented several improvements. These include eliminating the requirement for candidates to physically report for seat upgrades and allowing online resignation from allotted seats, aiming to create a more transparent and student-friendly admission process.

One significant change is that candidates who receive a seat and choose to upgrade in subsequent rounds will no longer need to visit the allotted college in person to finalize admission procedures.

Their admission will remain valid within the counselling system while they participate in later rounds, adhering to the relevant counselling regulations.

Additionally, the MCC has introduced an online resignation option, enabling candidates to resign from their allotted seats via the MCC counselling portal, where permitted by counselling rules and within specified timelines, without needing to submit physical documents at the institution.

Candidates seeking NRI reservations in deemed universities will also have the ability to upload their documents online through the counselling portal.