NEET UG Counselling 2026 Schedule Released: First Round To Begin On August 4; Academic Session Starts From September 8

New Delhi: The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) has released the counseling schedule for NEET UG 2026 admissions. This includes All India Quota (AIQ), Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and State Quota seats. The first round of counselling for admission to MBBS and other undergraduate medical courses under the All India Quota (AIQ) will begin on August 4. 

When will the first round start?

The first round of counseling for AIQ, Deemed, and Central Universities will start on August 4 and conclude on August 17, 2026. Those who got their seat alloted in this round should make sure that they do the entire admission process till August 22, 2026.

Then comes the Second round for AIQ counseling which will run from August 24 till September 2 with the last day being set as September 8, 2026 for getting into your alloted college. Then there's the third round which will happen from September 10-18.

What about the state quota seats?

For the state quota seats, their respective counseling authorities will have a first-round process starting from August 13 and ending on August 22, 2026. That last date for joining will then shift to August 28, 2026 before moving onto their second round of state counseling that happens during August 31 through September 8 with the end of the admissions happening on September 14.

A stray vacancy round will take place from September 28 to October 3, giving candidates another chance if they didn't land one spot already. If you still haven't been able find anywhere after that special round though, chances are slim that there would be spots left over, but those who manage it can sign up until October 10, 2026 at the latest.

What about academic session?

The academic session for the undergraduate medical course shall commence on September 8, 2026. The MCC had also asked the colleges to complete their counselling process as per stipulated time frame and mentioned that all Saturdays, Sundays and Government Holidays will be considered as working day. The State Directorate Of Medical Education (DME), the State Counseling Authority would share the data of the candidates who have joined with the MCC for seat processing during round 3.