NEET UG 2026 Counselling: Over 11.28 lakh successful candidates NEET UG counseling schedule is eagerly awaited. The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) will release it on its official website.mcc.nic.in But very soon the schedule and guidelines of the counselling process are going to be released.
If you are also preparing to take admission in a medical college this year, then complete information from seat matrix to cut-off is given below for you:
Seat math: 9,911 new seats added this year
According to the seat matrix released by the National Medical Commission (NMC), the total number of seats for the counselling process across the country this year is1,36,939 MBBS seats will be available. This time compared to last yearIncrease of 9,911 seats It has happened.
- Government Medical Colleges:63,296 seats (2,111 new seats added)
- Private Medical Colleges:73,643 seats (7,800 new seats added)
In which state did the maximum number of seats increase?
- Government seats:West Bengal has the highest 325 new seats This is followed by Chhattisgarh (295), Andhra Pradesh (225), Bihar (190), Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (150 each).
- Private seats:Karnataka has the highest 1,150 new seats Rajasthan (900), Tamil Nadu (800) and Uttar Pradesh (800) have also seen significant increases in seats.
NEET UG 2026: Expected Cut-Off
| Institute/Quota Type | Expected cut-off marks |
| All India Quota (AIQ – 15%) | 615 – 630+ |
| State Quota (85%) | 590 – 610+ |
| AIIMS Institutes | 700 – 715+ |
Counselling Application Process
- registration:MCC official websitemcc.nic.inVisit and fill the online form.
- Fee Payment:Deposit the non-refundable counselling fee and refundable security deposit.
- Choice Filling:Select the medical colleges and courses of your choice and lock them.
- Seat Allotment:Check your allotment status based on the result released by MCC.
- Reporting:Complete the admission process by reaching the allotted college within the stipulated time limit.
Fee Structure (Counselling & Security Fee)
| Category | Counselling Fee (Non-Refundable) | Security Fee (Refundable) |
| UR (General) | ₹1,000 | ₹10,000 |
| SC / ST / OBC / PwD | ₹500 | ₹5,000 |
| Deemed Universities | ₹5,000 | ₹2,00,000 |
Required Documents
It is mandatory to carry the following original documents at the time of reporting and verification:
- NEET UG Admit Card and Scorecard/Rank Letter
- 10th and 12th mark sheets and passing certificates
- Valid Identity Card (Aadhaar Card / PAN Card / Driving License / Passport)
- 8 passport size colour photographs
- Provisional Allotment Letter
- Caste Certificate/PwD Certificate (if applicable)
Note:Students often make mistakes during counseling, such as filling in too few choices, forgetting to lock their choices, or missing the reporting deadline. Once counseling begins, carefully read every update on the official website.
To secure your desired medical seat in NEET UG counselling, not just good marks but alsoSmart Choice Filling And seat preference Plays the most important role.
Many students miss out on a great college by filling in the wrong preferences based on their rank. Here’s a practical and effective strategy you can follow to create your preference list.
1. Adopt a 3-Tier Preference Formula
When making your choice list, divide the colleges into three categories:
- Dream Colleges (Top 20-30% Choices):
Top colleges that offer slightly better scores than your rank (like AIIMS, MAMC, KGMU, etc.) may offer you a seat if there is an unexpected drop in the cut-off. - Realistic Colleges (middle 50-60% of options):
Colleges that best suit your current rank and previous year cut-off data are the ones where you have the highest chance of getting a seat. - Safe / Backup Colleges (Bottom 10-20% Options):
Colleges that are available even with scores lower than your rank ensure that you don’t return empty-handed from counselling.
2. Be sure to check these 5 things when choosing a college
- Bond Policy:
Many states and colleges impose mandatory rural service of one to five years after completing a course, or penalties of lakhs of rupees. Be sure to check the bond policy for your respective state before locking in your choice. - Patient Inflow / Clinical Exposure:
MBBS studies focus more on practical aspects than theory. An older and larger government hospital will likely have a higher patient load, giving you a better experience. - PG Quota (Internal PG Quota):
Prioritize colleges/universities (such as IPU, BHU, AMU, DU) that offer internal PG quotas. This significantly eases MD/MS admission after MBBS. - Location & Connectivity (Location & Food):
The language, food and connectivity of the state also matter in the 5.5 year journey. - Infrastructure and Hostel:
Older colleges have more established faculty and lab facilities than newly opened medical colleges.
3. Step-by-Step Process of Choice Filling
1. Start with the rough work:Before the counselling begins.
Before the MCC portal opens, prepare a rough list of 30-50 colleges of your choice on paper or on an Excel sheet.
2. Add the option by logging into the portal:MCC Registration.
Log in to the MCC portal and fill in the colleges listed one by one. Add as many options as you like.There is no limit to the options।
3. Re-check the order (Up/Down):The most important step.
Look carefully at the list from top to bottom (priority order). Number 1 should be your most preferred college, not the one you can easily get.
4. Save and lock your choices:Before the deadline.
Continue pressing the ‘Save’ button throughout choice filling. Please save your list on the deadline date.‘Lock’Don’t forget to do it. (Although it auto-locks on the last date if you don’t lock it, still check it yourself).
Avoid These 4 Big Mistakes
- Lower Choice Filling:The biggest mistake is to fill in only 4-5 colleges thinking, “I’ll get it anyway.” Always fill in enough choices.
- Up-down cut-off:Don’t just list colleges based on last year’s cut-offs, rather than your own preferences. Your own preferences (city, distance, fees) should come first.
- Confusion between All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota:Counseling for AIQ (15%) and State Quota (85%) is different. Use both strategies separately.
- Not understanding the rules of Round 2 and Mop-up:Do not add any college to your list without understanding the rules of Free Exit and Security Deposit Forfeiture.
