The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has not yet released the NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule, even as the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare confirmed on July 28, 2026, that the process for MBBS and BDS admissions will begin soon. As of July 31, the “Latest News” section on the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, still reads “Will update soon.” Meanwhile, MCC has already notified a set of procedural changes that will apply to this year’s counselling, including the removal of mandatory physical reporting for candidates seeking seat upgradation.
Key Highlights
- MCC counselling schedule for NEET UG 2026 has not been officially released; registration is widely expected to open in early August.
- A Health Ministry notification dated July 28, 2026 confirmed new “student-friendly” measures for this year’s UG and PG counselling.
- Candidates opting for seat upgradation in later rounds will no longer need to physically report to their allotted college.
- MCC has introduced an online resignation facility, letting candidates give up an allotted seat through the counselling portal.
- NRI quota candidates for deemed universities can now upload supporting documents directly on the MCC portal.
- MCC conducts counselling for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities, deemed universities, ESIC and AFMS institutes, and BSc Nursing seats.
- NEET UG 2026 result was declared on July 16, with 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying; Aryan Gupta (Punjab) and Panshul Bansal (Haryana) topped with 715 out of 720 marks.
MCC Announces New Counselling Rules Ahead of Schedule Release
According to the Health Ministry’s July 28 notification, the changes apply to both UG and PG medical admissions from the current academic session and are aimed at making the counselling process more transparent. Three changes stand out for NEET UG candidates this year.
No Physical Reporting for Seat Upgradation
Candidates who opt for upgradation will keep their admission valid in the counselling system while participating in later rounds, subject to the applicable rules, without visiting the college in person.
Online Resignation Facility
MCC has also launched an online resignation option. Candidates who wish to give up an allotted seat, wherever permitted under counselling rules and within the prescribed timeline, can now do so through the MCC portal instead of submitting a resignation letter at the college.
Document Upload for NRI Quota Candidates
Applicants seeking NRI reservation benefits in deemed universities can upload the required supporting documents online through the counselling portal, rather than submitting them physically.
When Will the MCC Counselling Schedule Be Released?
MCC has still not published the counselling schedule, seat matrix, or registration dates for NEET UG 2026. The schedule is typically released after the National Medical Commission (NMC) finalises the seat matrix. Based on the current admission cycle and past years’ patterns, registration is expected to open in the first half of August 2026, though MCC has given no confirmed date.
For reference, MCC opened NEET UG counselling registration on July 21 in 2025 and on August 14 in 2024, in both cases days after announcing the schedule. Candidates are advised to rely only on mcc.nic.in for confirmed dates rather than unofficial estimates.
Who Can Apply for MCC Counselling 2026?
MCC conducts online counselling for:
- 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical and dental colleges
- 100% MBBS and BDS seats at AIIMS institutions
- JIPMER Puducherry and Karaikal
- Central universities, including Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, and Jamia Millia Islamia
- Deemed universities
- ESIC and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) seats
- BSc Nursing seats
Official Website and Important Links
- MCC official website: mcc.nic.in
- NEET UG result and scorecard: neet.nta.nic.in
- National Medical Commission: nmc.org.in
