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A NEET UG rank is only the first step. Seats are then allotted through counselling, which runs on two tracks at once and has rules that change from year to year. This guide explains the basics for parents, using the Medical Counselling Committee's UG page and its revised UG Counselling 2026 Information Bulletin. Treat 2026 details as an example and read the current bulletin each year.
Who runs NEET UG counselling?
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), part of the Directorate General of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, conducts online counselling based on the NEET UG exam conducted by NTA. According to the 2026 bulletin, MCC handles:
15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in participating government medical and dental colleges;
100% of seats in deemed universities;
central universities (including Delhi University, AMU and BHU, with institutional or domicile quota);
ESIC, AFMC (registration part only) and certain Delhi institutions;
100% of AIIMS and JIPMER seats;
B.Sc. Nursing at central institutes.
For state quota seats and private colleges under state authority, candidates must contact the relevant state admission authority or Directorate of Medical Education. The bulletin states that MCC will not be able to guide candidates on state counselling. Many families therefore follow both MCC and their state's process at the same time.
How many rounds are there?
The bulletin describes four online rounds for AIQ: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and a Stray Vacancy Round. Upgradation is available up to Round 3. Candidates who join a seat in Round 3 of AIQ, deemed or central universities are not permitted to resign and cannot take part in any further counselling, so the bulletin advises an informed decision before continuing into Round 3. Centre and states share data, and a candidate allotted a seat in either list is removed from the AIQ Stray Vacancy Round.
Freeze, Float, fees and documents
Freeze and Float in the 2026 scheme
For 2026 the bulletin split allotted candidates into two groups:
Freeze: satisfied with the seat, no upgradation; must report physically to the allotted institute to join.
Float: willing to upgrade in the next round; gives willingness online and uploads documents for online verification, with no need to visit the institute.
Both groups had to upload clear scans of documents on the MCC portal within the reporting window. The bulletin's flow chart shows Round 1 with free exit and Round 2 with forfeiture of the security deposit; the deposit is also forfeited if a candidate allotted a seat in Round 2 or later does not join.
Fees at registration (2026 figures)
From the bulletin's FAQ:
AIQ, central universities, AFMC, ESI, AIIMS, JIPMER, B.Sc. Nursing: non-refundable registration fee of Rs 1,000 (Rs 500 for SC, ST, OBC and PwD), plus refundable security of Rs 10,000 (Rs 5,000 for those categories).
Deemed universities: Rs 5,000 non-refundable plus Rs 2,00,000 refundable security.
Candidates applying to both pay only the higher fee.
Documents to keep ready
The bulletin lists originals and attested copies needed at joining, including:
Allotment letter issued by MCC.
NEET admit card and the result or rank letter issued by NTA.
Date of birth certificate, if the Class 10 certificate does not show it.
Class 10 certificate, Class 12 certificate and Class 12 mark sheet.
Eight passport-size photographs matching the application.
Proof of identity (Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence or passport).
Category certificates where applicable, in the specified format, in English or Hindi or with an attested translation.
A worked example
Priya's family follows two calendars: MCC's AIQ schedule and their state's. In AIQ Round 1, she is allotted a government college in another state. She chooses Float, hoping for a college closer to home in Round 2, and uploads her documents online. Meanwhile, her state counselling offers a seat in her home city that she prefers. Following the bulletin's flow chart, she submits an online resignation of the AIQ seat and joins the state seat. Because she understood which rounds carried forfeiture, the family decided before each deadline, not after.
What parents can do
Download the current bulletin as soon as it appears, mark every deadline for both MCC and your state, and read the Freeze, Float and resignation rules with your child. For the result day itself, see results day as a parent, and for preparation, why NCERT textbooks matter for NEET.
While waiting between rounds, students who want to keep concepts fresh before college can use the Fermi Concept Library, which covers every concept in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computing.
Today, bookmark mcc.nic.in and your state's counselling site, and set reminders for both.
