NEET PG 2026 Counselling: Complete Guide to Process, Dates, Eligibility & Seat Allotment

NEET PG 2026 Counselling Process: Central vs State Quota

NEET PG 2026 counselling is conducted through two parallel systems—Central (All India Quota) counselling and State Quota counselling. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) manages admission to national-level seats, while respective state authorities conduct counselling for state quota and private medical colleges. Both systems follow a structured online process involving registration, choice filling, seat allotment, and reporting.

Types of NEET PG 2026 Counselling (Central vs State Quota)

The MCC counselling system ensures uniform national-level allocation, while state counselling provides domicile-based reservation and state-specific admission opportunities.

NEET PG 2026 Counselling Schedule (Tentative)

The counselling process is expected to be conducted in multiple rounds from September to December 2026.

This schedule provides a structured timeline for candidates to complete registration, lock preferences, and secure admission across multiple counselling phases.

NEET PG 2026 Counselling Fees Structure

The registration fee is non-refundable and varies depending on the type of institution and candidate category.

NEET PG 2026 Counselling Eligibility Criteria

NEET PG counselling eligibility is strictly based on qualifying NEET PG examination and meeting the minimum percentile criteria prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Only eligible candidates are allowed to participate in MCC or state counselling rounds.

Eligibility Conditions:

• Must qualify NEET PG 2026 exam
• Must hold MBBS degree from a recognised medical institution
• Completion of internship on or before prescribed cutoff date
• Registration with NMC/State Medical Council is mandatory
• Minimum qualifying percentile:
  • General: 50th percentile
  • SC/ST/OBC: 40th percentile
  • PwD: 45th percentile

Candidates who fail to meet eligibility criteria are not allowed to participate in either AIQ or state counselling rounds.

Reservation Policy and Key Counselling Rules

The AIQ counselling follows central reservation norms:

• SC: 15%
• ST: 7.5%
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 27%
• EWS: 10%
• PwD: 5% horizontal reservation

Important Counselling Regulations:

• No seat reversion to states after Round 2 of AIQ counselling
• Unfilled NRI/minority seats convert to Indian seats in later rounds
• Stray Vacancy Round is conducted online by MCC for remaining AIQ/central seats
• Candidates from Jammu & Kashmir (except contributing seats) are not eligible for AIQ
• OCI/PIO/Foreign Nationals are not eligible for AIQ seats

Step-by-Step NEET PG 2026 Counselling Registration Process (MCC)

The MCC conducts online counselling through its official portal: mcc.nic.in/

Registration Steps:

1. Visit the MCC official website
2. Click on “PG Medical Counselling” on the homepage
3. Select “New Registration”
4. Enter NEET PG details (roll number, rank, DOB, etc.)
5. Complete registration and pay counselling fee
6. Fill in college and course preferences
7. Lock choices before deadline (auto-lock applies if not locked manually)
8. Download confirmation slip for reference

Candidates can fill unlimited choices, increasing their chances of seat allotment across multiple institutions.

NEET PG 2026 Documents Required for Counselling

Candidates must carry original documents during reporting for verification.

Mandatory Documents:

• NEET PG 2026 Admit Card
• NEET PG 2026 Scorecard
• MBBS Degree Certificate
• Internship Completion Certificate
• Valid ID Proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport)
• Medical Council Registration Certificate
• Caste Certificate (if applicable)
• PwD Certificate (if applicable)
• Passport-size photographs

Failure to produce valid documents may result in cancellation of admission.

NEET PG 2026 Seat Allotment Process

The seat allotment process in NEET PG counselling is conducted in multiple rounds based on candidate rank, category, preferences, and seat availability.

How Seat Allotment Works:

• Rank-based automated allocation system
• Higher-ranked candidates get first preference
• Choices filled during counselling determine allotment outcome
• Once allotted, seat must be accepted or upgraded in next round

Key Rules:

• If a candidate does not join allotted seat, they may be excluded from further rounds (as per MCC rules)
• Upgradation option is available in Round 2 and Mop-Up
• Seat allotment is purely merit + preference based

MCC Seat Coverage in NEET PG Counselling

This centralized system ensures transparent and merit-based allocation across top national medical institutions.

NEET PG 2026 Expected Cutoff Percentile and Seat Allotment Trends

The NEET PG cutoff is defined in percentile format and varies by category. Seat allotment depends on rank, category, and availability of seats in government and private institutions.

These percentile cutoffs determine eligibility for counselling participation but do not guarantee seat allotment.

Expected Seat Allotment Trends (Based on Previous Year Analysis)

Highly competitive branches like Radiology and Medicine generally close at much higher ranks in government institutions due to limited seat availability and high demand.

NEET PG 2026 Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy Rounds (Central vs State Level)

The Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy rounds represent the final stages of NEET PG counselling, designed to ensure maximum seat occupancy across medical colleges. These rounds are conducted after the main allotment phases.

Central (MCC) Mop-Up & Stray Vacancy Highlights

• Conducted for AIQ, deemed, central universities, ESIC, AFMS, AIIMS
• Mop-Up round fills remaining vacant seats after Round 2
• Stray Vacancy round is conducted online by MCC
• No seat transfer back to states after Round 2 completion
• Final admission depends on vacancy availability and merit

State-Level Mop-Up & Stray Vacancy Examples

Example state authority: Directorate General of Medical Education & Training (UP)

Central vs State NEET PG 2026 Counselling: Key Differences

NEET PG counselling is divided into central and state systems, each with different eligibility rules, seat distribution patterns, and reservation policies.

NEET PG 2026 Counselling Registration and Fee Structure

The counselling registration process is conducted online and includes fee payment, choice filling, and locking of preferences.

Registration Highlights (MCC Counselling)

• Registration mode: Online only
• Official website: mcc.nic.in/
• Choice filling: Unlimited options available
• Choice locking: Mandatory before deadline
• Auto-lock system: Enabled if not locked manually

Counselling Fee Structure

Additionally, a refundable security deposit is required for seat confirmation in many categories, especially deemed universities.