The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has confirmed the reservation structure for NEET UG Counselling 2026 in its Information Bulletin dated August 1, 2026, applying SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10% and a 5% horizontal quota for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) to the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats.
The policy applies across AIQ MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing admissions handled by MCC under the Directorate General of Health Services, while deemed universities continue to operate without SC, ST, OBC, EWS or PwBD reservation. Round 1 registration closed at 3:00 PM on August 12, 2026, with choice locking open until 11:00 AM on August 13 and the seat allotment result due on August 17.
Key Highlights
- AIQ reservation for 2026: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, PwBD 5% (horizontal).
- The same central pattern applies to AIIMS, ESIC Insured Persons quota, BHU, JIPMER All India seats, Delhi University, VMMC & SJH, ABVIMS & RML, ESIC Dental and central B.Sc. Nursing institutes.
- Deemed universities have no SC, ST, OBC, EWS or PwBD reservation; 15% of their seats go to NRI candidates.
- AMU open seats carry no category reservation except the 5% PwBD horizontal quota.
- PwBD candidates must obtain an Eligibility Certificate from an MCC Medical Assessment Board; 65 primary boards and five appellate boards are currently notified.
- Only a Central list OBC-NCL certificate is valid for AIQ seats; state OBC certificates are not accepted.
- Unfilled reserved seats are converted to other categories only in Round 3.
Reservation in 15% All India Quota Seats
MCC applies the central government reservation policy to AIQ seats contributed by states, with the roster prepared as per DoPT and Ministry of Health norms.
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| OBC-NCL (Central list) | 27% |
| EWS (Central government norms) | 10% |
| PwBD (as per NMC norms) | 5% horizontal |
Note: AIQ seats are domicile-free. Candidates seeking state quota seats in government or private colleges must approach their respective state counselling authority, as MCC has no role in those admissions.
Institution-Wise Quota Rules
The reservation pattern changes depending on which institution contributes the seat.
| Institution | Reservation applied |
|---|---|
| All AIIMS (100% seats) | SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwBD as above, plus Foreign National seats for OCI/PIO/foreign nationals |
| ESIC Insured Persons quota | Same central pattern; domicile-free |
| Banaras Hindu University | SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, PwBD 5% |
| JIPMER Puducherry and Karaikal | Central pattern on All India seats; state quota as per Puducherry domicile list |
| Delhi University (15% AIQ + 85% Delhi quota) | Central pattern, plus CW reservation in the Delhi quota only |
| VMMC & SJH, ABVIMS & RML, ESIC Dental | Central pattern, plus 5% horizontal CW reservation in state quota |
| B.Sc. Nursing (central institutes) | Central pattern, with PwBD 5% as per INC norms |
| Deemed universities | No SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD reservation |
| Aligarh Muslim University | No reservation in open seats except 5% PwBD; internal quota entirely UR |
Remember: At the Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, the university follows its own policy. The BDS seat distribution lists 20 general, 3 PwD, 15 Muslim, 5 Muslim Women, 4 Muslim OBC, 1 Muslim ST and 2 Jamia internal seats across 50 seats, subject to the final seat matrix.
Deemed universities may offer Jain Minority or Muslim Minority seats. Candidates should confirm eligibility with the institution before selecting those choices.
Category Conversion in Round 3
Vacant reserved seats are not converted mid-process. Conversion happens only in Round 3, and only after all eligible candidates in that category are exhausted.
| Original category | Converted to |
|---|---|
| ST (PwD) | ST |
| SC (PwD) | SC |
| UR (PwD) | UR |
| OBC (PwD) | OBC |
| ST | SC |
| SC | UR |
| EWS | UR |
| NRI | UR |
Note: For deemed universities, unfilled NRI, Jain Minority and Muslim Minority seats convert to self-financed merit seats in Round 3.
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and payment | August 5 to August 12, 2026 (till 3:00 PM) |
| Choice filling | August 6 to August 13, 2026 (till 11:00 AM) |
| Choice locking | August 12 (4:00 PM) to August 13 (11:00 AM) |
| Seat allotment processing | August 13 to August 16, 2026 |
| Round 1 result | August 17, 2026 |
| Reporting and joining | August 18 to August 22, 2026 |
Note: Round 2 registration opens on August 25, Round 3 on September 11, and the online stray vacancy round on September 28.
Official Links
- MCC UG counselling portal: https://mcc.nic.in/ug-medical-counselling/
- UG Information Bulletin 2026 and AIQ schedule: available under Current Events and eservices/Schedule on the MCC UG page
- NEET UG: https://neet.nta.nic.in/
- National Medical Commission: https://www.nmc.org.in/
- MCC helpline: 1800 102 7637 and 7824848020
- Email: mcc2026@gov.in
