On this page
When you are allotted a seat in Round 1 of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) counselling, you have a major choice to make: take the seat and stop, or try for a better one. Trying for a better college is called upgradation.
The rules for Round 2 upgradation can be stressful. If you do not follow them carefully, you risk losing your seat and your security deposit. Here is exactly how the process works and what happens to your security deposit if you change your mind.
How does upgradation work in Round 2?
If you get a seat in Round 1 and want a better one, you must report to the allotted college and complete the admission formalities. During this process, you must express your "Willingness for Upgradation" to participate in Round 2.
In Round 2, you are required to fill fresh choices. Your Round 1 choices do not carry over automatically. You should only list colleges that you prefer more than your current Round 1 seat.
Float vs. Freeze: What do they mean?
During the counselling process, you often hear the terms "Float" and "Freeze". Here is what they mean for your seat:
Float (Willing to Upgrade): You accept and join the current seat but want to participate in the next round to try for a higher-preference college. Your current seat acts as a safety net.
Freeze (Not Willing to Upgrade): You are satisfied with your allotted seat and do not wish to participate in further rounds. Your admission to that college is final.
What happens if your seat is upgraded?
If you successfully get a new seat in Round 2, your Round 1 seat is automatically cancelled. You cannot choose to go back to it, as it will be offered to someone else.
You must now join the new Round 2 college. If you fail to report and join the upgraded college, your security deposit is forfeited. For All India Quota (AIQ) and central universities, this deposit is ₹10,000 for General/EWS candidates and ₹5,000 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates, while for deemed universities, the forfeited deposit is a steep ₹2,00,000.
If you are not upgraded in Round 2, you simply retain your original Round 1 seat, and your security deposit remains safe.
Is there a free exit in Round 2?
Unlike Round 1, there is no "free exit" in Round 2. If you are allotted a fresh seat or upgraded in Round 2 and you choose not to join, you will exit the counselling process for that round and lose your security deposit. To participate in Round 3, you would have to register again and pay a fresh security deposit.
When to stay with your current seat
Upgrading makes sense if you missed your dream college by a small margin. However, you should freeze your seat if:
You are happy with the college and its location.
The remaining colleges on your preference list are not places you actually want to attend.
You do not want the stress of waiting for another round and potentially having to travel to a new college for admission.
As you prepare for the academic year ahead, Fermi's AI tutor can help you build a plan for your study sessions. The tutor works out what you already know and where you get stuck, so you sit down to a clear next step instead of a blank page. You can also read our guide on Behind on chapters? A triage plan to clear your JEE or NEET backlog or set up A school holiday study plan that still leaves room to rest before your classes begin.
*Note: Counselling rules can change slightly from year to year. Always check the official MCC Information Bulletin for the current year's exact deadlines and procedures.*
