NEET 2026 Counselling Process(AIQ + State Quota)

NEET 2026 counselling is a dual-process system where the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) manages 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 100% Deemed/Central University seats, while state bodies handle 85% state quota seats. It involves four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up, and Stray Vacancy.

1. All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling has 15% seats which is conducted by the MCC, which is open to all Indian students, regardless of their state of residence.

15% of all Government Medical Colleges (MBBS/BDS),
100% seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities and Deemed Universities.

Process

Register on mcc.nic.in
Pay Fees
Choice Filling
Seat Allotment
Reporting/Joining.

Rules

One can participate in both AIQ and state counselling simultaneously. But once you join a seat in Round 2 or later, you cannot resign or participate further.

2. State Quota Counselling has 85% Seats and is conducted by the respective State Medical Directorates like, KEA, DMER, DME

Seats Covered: 85% of Government Colleges within that state, and 100% of Private Medical/Dental Colleges within that state.

Rule

Required to prove residency in that state. Candidates can only apply for the 85% quota in their home state.

Process:

Separate registration on the official website of the respective state’s medical counseling authority (e.g., Maharashtra state CET, Karnataka NEET, etc.)
Cut offs are generally lower so it is easier to get a seat as compared to AIQ.

Counseling Process for NEET UG

The counselling process for NEET UG, 2026 covers registration, choice filling, seat allotment, document verification and reporting to the allotted college.

The counselling process will be conducted in multiple rounds to fill all medical seats.

The number of vacant seats will be confirmed during each round.

Candidates will be allotted seats on the basis of their NEET rank, preferences, and availability.

Eligibility Criteria For NEET 2026 Counselling

The NEET 2026 eligibility criteria and guidelines for the applied candidates are:

Candidates should have completed or appeared in their Class 12 exams having subjects including Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English.
For General and EWS categories, a minimum of 50% in the qualifying subjects is required, and for Reserved Categories need at least 40%, and PwD candidates need 45%.
Students who come from open school boards and who have opted for Biology as an additional subject are also eligible.
Candidates must be at least 17 years old by December 31, 2026.
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET

Documents Required For Admission To NEET 2026

Candidates are required to submit the following documents in original as well as their attested photocopies at the time of admission:

NEET 2026 admit card
Class 10 certificate
Class 12 certificate
Class 12 mark sheet
The allotment letter issued by MCC
NEET UG 2026 result or rank card
Birth certificate
Eight passport-size photographs same as that affixed on the application form.
Proof of identity
SC or ST certificate
OBC-NCL certificate
Disability Certificate

Many high-scoring students lose top colleges because of lack of understanding regarding choice filling, upgrade rules, and security deposits. Counselling is the official mechanism through which medical seats in government, private, and deemed universities across India are allocated based on your NEET All India Rank (AIR).

NEET 2026 counselling process flowchart

All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling Process 2026

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), operating under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), is responsible for the NEET 2026 All India counselling. This is a highly competitive, national-level process open to students from all states.

The MCC conducts counselling for the following specific seat matrices:

15% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats: This comprises 15% of the total seats in every government medical/dental college across all states in India.
Admission to highly sought-after deemed universities happens exclusively through MCC.
100% Central Universities: Includes institutions like Delhi University (DU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
100% Seats in AIIMS & JIPMER: All campuses across India.
AFMC (Pune): MCC conducts the initial registration, though AFMC has its own separate physical screening process later.

State Quota Counselling Process 2026

While the AIQ covers 15% of government seats, what happens to the remaining 85%? This is where State quota NEET counselling 2026 comes in.
State counselling is generally more favorable to local students because the cutoffs are often significantly lower than AIQ cutoffs. However, it comes with strict rules.
One can only claim the 85% state quota in the state where you hold a valid domicile (proof of long-term residence or schooling).
100% of seats in private medical colleges (non-deemed) are filled through state counselling authorities.
Candidates must register separately on your state’s portal and pay a separate registration fee.

AIQ vs State Counselling – Key Differences

To avoid missing opportunities, candidates frequently participate in both processes simultaneously. Here is a clear breakdown of the differences:

Seat type	Conducted by	Eligibility
15% Govt MBBS/BDS	MCC	All India Candidates (No Domicile Req.)
100% Deemed Universities	MCC	All India Candidates
100% AIIMS & JIPMER	MCC	All India Candidates
100% Central Univ (BHU/AMU	MCC	All India Candidates

(neet.feeteducation.com)

For NEET, ,there are 289 MBBS and BDS seats allotted in government and medical colleges, with the cutoff marks on the basis of category and the specific round of allotment.

One should remember some of the practical points to avoid fake NEET counselling agents:

1. Don’t trust random calls or messages like if someone calls saying “We can guarantee you an MBBS seat” that’s a red flag.

2. Do your counselling only through:

Medical Counselling Committee for All India Quota.

3. Never pay money to individuals because no genuine process asks you to send money to a personal bank account.

4. No one can “guarantee” a seat as Admissions depend on:

NEET rank

Cut-offs

Seat availability

If anyone promises a “confirmed seat” it seems likely he is cheating you.

5. Verify college information yourself before believing anyone, check the college on the National Medical Commission website

6. Don’t share personal documents blindly likeAadhaar, NEET scorecard,Certificates

7. Beware of “management quota shortcuts”but it still goes through official counselling not through private middlemen

8. Always ask for proof if someone claims to be official:

Ask for ID

Cross-check on official websites

Conclusion

In conclusion it can be said that NEET 2026 counselling is starting around July 2026 which involves two parallel processes: 15% All India Quota (AIQ) for government/central seats (via MCC) and 85% State Quota for local government/private seats by the help of state authorities. So it is necessary for the candidates to register separately for both, providing domicile proofs for state seats and merit-based choices.

FAQ

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