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NEET UG Counselling 2026 Begins: MCC Round 1 Registration Link, Seat Matrix, Dates and Admission Process
Now, lakhs of medical aspirants can begin their journey to becoming doctors as the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has begun the NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration process. This is the first step in the admission process for MBBS, BDS, and BSc Nursing seats through the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and some of the other prestigious medical colleges across India. Only those who have cleared NEET UG 2026 are eligible to attend the MCC counselling for medical seats.
The counselling process is applicable for admissions to AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, Deemed Universities, ESIC institutions, AFMS colleges and some of the other participating institutions of the MCC. Along with the registration process, the committee also released the seat matrix and the counselling schedule so that aspirants can check the available seats.
MCC has now started the NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Registration process.
Round 1 registration is the first phase of centralised medical seat counselling in India. Aspirants have to complete an online registration, make a payment towards the counselling process, submit their preferred colleges and courses, and exercise their choice locking within the specified time-frame.
Admission to various medical colleges will be based on the following factors:
- NEET UG 2026 scores
- Category defined by the candidate
- Rules of reservation
The choices submitted by the aspirants, along with the other above-mentioned factors, will determine the final seat allotment process, which will be done through MCC's centralised online counselling system.
NEET UG 2026 Seat Matrix Released
To assist candidates in making decisions, MCC has published seat matrices for the respective institutions before the choice filling process. The seat matrices for all MBBS, BDS, and BSc. Nursing seats, under All India Quota and other participating categories, are institution-wise and category-wise available.
It is important to analyse seat matrices before freezing preferences of the candidates as insight into seat availability for different institutions will be helpful.
How to Register for MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026
Prospective candidates need to follow these rules to complete the registration process.
- Go to the MCC website.
- Click on the “Registration for NEET UG Counselling 2026”.
- Provide the mandatory information.
- Fill in the given information about Personal and Academic details.
- Make the payment for the counselling process.
- Lock your choices before the deadline.
Keep a digital copy of the Confirmation Page for further reference.
Documents Required for NEET UG Counselling
Candidates should carry these documents for the counselling process.
- Admit Card for NEET UG 2026
- Score Card for NEET UG 2026
- Mark Sheets for Classes 10 and 12
- An authentic Photo ID
- Category Certificate, if applicable
- Certificate of Person with Disability, if applicable
- Passport-sized photographs
Any other document mentioned in the MCC Information Bulletin.
What's New in NEET UG Counselling 2026?
This year, our counselling has been restructured to make admissions as smooth and transparent as possible. The following are the notable changes.
- Simplification of counselling steps.
- Allocation of seats with increased transparency.
- Amended reporting and admission guidelines.
- Amended counselling guidelines for the participating institutions.
We advise you to read the MCC information bulletin, especially closely, after registration.
What Happens After Registration?
You can expect to go through the following after the registration window is closed.
- Choice Filling
- Choice Locking
- Seat Allotment
- Reporting to the Allotted College
- Document Verification
Admission Confirmation
You may also choose to take advantage of subsequent counselling rounds in the event of not being allocated a seat or to seek seat upgradation.
Why the Seat Matrix Matters
During counselling, the seat matrix is one of the most important resources. It helps you to create an approachable choice list, i.e., one based on the actual number of seats available. Studying past seat matrix trends and combining them with present trends slightly increases your chance of admission to the college of your choice.
It is suggested by many experts in medical admission that you should include only realistic choices to increase your chances during the initial rounds of counselling, and also avoid prioritizing aspirational colleges.
Final Thoughts
With the start of NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1, the largest medical admission process in India has begun. Aspirants must now complete the registration process, check and verify their documents, and fill in their preferences for colleges. As there will be many rounds of Counselling, a good strategy for filling preferences can make a huge difference during the Counselling process.
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