Candidates who have qualified in the NEET UG 2026 examination can participate in the counselling process for admission to MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical programmes for the academic session 2026-27.

The MCC NEET UG Seat Matrix 2026 has also been released for the AIQ counselling process. Meanwhile, state counselling authorities in states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have announced or commenced their admission processes.

Candidates are advised to carefully track the registration deadlines, fee payment dates, choice filling, choice locking, merit list publication, seat allotment and reporting schedules applicable to their respective counselling authority.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 by MCC: 15% All India Quota

The MCC is conducting NEET UG Counselling 2026 for admission against 15% All India Quota seats in participating medical and dental institutions. Candidates interested in participating in the MCC counselling process must complete registration, fee payment, choice filling and choice locking within the prescribed schedule.

The complete MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 schedule is given below:

Candidates should ensure that the registration and fee payment are completed before the respective deadlines. They should also carefully fill in their preferred colleges and courses during the choice filling period and lock their choices within the specified window.

MCC NEET UG Seat Matrix 2026 Released

The MCC NEET UG Seat Matrix 2026 has been released for the 15% AIQ counselling process. The seat matrix enables candidates to check the number and availability of seats offered through the All India Quota counselling process.

Candidates should refer to the latest seat matrix before filling their choices, as the availability of seats can play an important role in determining allotment outcomes.

State-Wise NEET UG Counselling 2026: 85% State Quota

Apart from the 15% AIQ seats administered by MCC, the remaining 85% state quota medical seats are being filled through individual state counselling authorities.

Several states have already started the NEET UG 2026 counselling process. Candidates seeking admission under the state quota must register through the respective state counselling authority or Directorate of Medical Education portal.

The latest state-wise updates are provided below.

Bihar NEET UG Counselling 2026

The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB) has released the Bihar NEET Seat Matrix 2026 for MBBS and BDS admissions. As per the available seat details, 1,392 MBBS seats have been notified for government medical colleges in Bihar, while 2,450 MBBS seats are available in private medical colleges in the state.

The Bihar NEET UGMAC counselling schedule 2026 has also been released. Candidates can check the important Round 1 and Round 2 counselling dates below:

Candidates should carefully follow the schedule and complete the registration, choice filling, document verification and admission requirements within the specified deadlines.

UP NEET UG Counselling 2026

The Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), Uttar Pradesh commenced the UP NEET UG Counselling 2026 process on August 7, 2026.

Candidates seeking admission through the Uttar Pradesh state quota should complete the Round 1 registration and fee payment within the specified deadline.

Candidates are advised to complete the UP NEET UG registration process before the deadline to remain eligible for the subsequent counselling stages.

Karnataka NEET Counselling 2026

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has invited eligible candidates to participate in the option entry process for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026.

Registered candidates can complete their NEET UG option entry until August 13, 2026. The Round 1 counselling schedule has been released along with the seat matrix through the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.

Candidates should carefully enter their preferred courses and colleges during the option entry period.

Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has started the Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026 registration process through medical2026.mahacet.org.

The online registration window for MBBS and BDS admissions is open from August 6 to August 12, 2026, up to 11.59 PM. Candidates must also complete fee payment, document uploading and verification within the prescribed timeline.

The complete Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling Round 1 schedule is provided below:

Candidates participating in Maharashtra NEET counselling should ensure that all required documents are uploaded correctly and that the applicable fees are paid within the deadlines.

NEET Counselling 2026 Schedule of Other States

Several other states have also opened or announced their NEET UG counselling registration windows for admission to undergraduate medical programmes. Candidates can check the registration dates below:

NEET UG Counselling 2026: AIQ vs State Quota

NEET UG counselling is being conducted through two major channels. The MCC manages 15% All India Quota seats, while the respective state counselling authorities conduct admissions for the 85% state quota seats, subject to applicable rules.

Candidates interested in AIQ admissions must participate in the MCC counselling process. Those seeking admission through state quota seats must register separately with their respective state counselling authority wherever required.

Candidates should therefore carefully check the eligibility conditions, domicile requirements, registration deadlines, seat matrix, choice filling process and admission rules applicable to their preferred counselling route.

What Candidates Should Do Now

With several NEET UG counselling registration windows closing soon, candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to complete the application process.

Candidates participating in MCC NEET UG Round 1 should complete registration by August 12, 2026, at 3 PM and fee payment by 6 PM on the same day. Choice filling is scheduled through August 13, while choice locking will take place from August 12 to August 13.

Candidates participating in state counselling should similarly check the relevant state deadline. In particular, registration deadlines are approaching for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Candidates should keep scanned copies of the required documents ready, verify personal and academic details carefully and retain copies of their application form and fee payment receipt.

NEET UG Counselling 2026: Key Takeaways

The NEET UG Counselling 2026 process is currently underway for admission to MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical courses for the 2026-27 academic session.

The MCC Round 1 counselling registration is open until August 12, 2026, with the Round 1 seat allotment result scheduled for August 17, 2026. Candidates allotted seats through MCC will have to report to their respective colleges between August 18 and August 22, 2026.

At the state level, counselling processes are also progressing at different stages. Bihar has begun Round 1 and Round 2 registration and choice filling, Uttar Pradesh started Round 1 registration on August 7, Karnataka is conducting option entry, and Maharashtra is accepting registrations for MBBS and BDS admissions.

Candidates should regularly check the official MCC and respective state counselling portals for the latest information regarding registration, seat matrix, merit list, choice filling, seat allotment, reporting and document verification.