The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has launched the choice-filling window for Round 1 of NEET UG Counselling 2026. It marks an important stage in the process of admissions in undergraduate medical/dental courses under the All India Quota (AIQ).Candidates who have already completed their registration for the MCC can now fill in and organise their college/course choices in order of their preferences.While registration for Round 1 began on August 5, choice filling began on August 7. Now, as candidates are filling in their choices, the counselling process is proceeding towards the first round of seat allotment.In addition to choice filling, MCC has started the Reset Registration facility for Round 1. This facility is designed to assist those candidates who have by mistake entered wrong information/options while registering.Candidates can use the unlock/reset registration facility to correct their registration information. However, this facility will be available till 11 AM on August 12, 2026.It is advised that candidates must go through all the details once before the deadline since any mistake in registration may become problematic in future counselling rounds.
AIQ and state counselling to follow separate schedules
The counselling procedure for AIQ seats has been carried out separately from the state level NEET UG counselling. Although MCC is responsible for organizing the time frame for AIQ counselling, individual states along with their counselling authorities organize the admissions based on state quota.Therefore, the counselling procedure is presently at different stages in individual states. The candidates who want to take admission through state quota seats need to take into account the schedules provided by their state authorities and not just that of MCC.
Kerala : NEET details submission underway
NEET UG 2026 result information is being gathered by the Commissioner for Entrance Examination (CEE) in Kerala from those candidates who have applied for medical courses in KEAM 2026.Candidates can provide their NEET information and correct their application problems till noon on 10th August.Kerala is still not in the process of MBBS & BDS 2026 Round 1 choice filling/seat allotment. The next process will be carried out after the completion of NEET scores submission/application verification.
Andhra Pradesh: MBBS, BDS registration open
Andhra Pradesh has commenced the application process for MBBS and BDS admissions under the Competent Authority Quota for the 2026-27 academic session.Dr NTR University of Health Sciences has invited applications for the same with the last date for online registration being 9 pm on August 12.After verification of certificates and settling of complaints, the merit list will be prepared by the university based on NEET UG 2026 ranks. Choice filling and round one seat allotment are not yet known.
Telangana: Registration continues until August 12
In Telangana, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has opened registration for MBBS and BDS admissions under the Competent Authority Quota.The university has also released the list of candidates who have qualified for the state NEET UG 2026 counselling process.Registration will remain open until 6 pm on August 12. Once registration is completed, the counselling process is expected to move towards preparation of the state merit list, followed by web options and seat allotment.
Karnataka: Counselling process already underway
Karnataka is further ahead in the state counselling cycle. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has already commenced the UGNEET 2026 counselling process for medical and dental admissions.Candidates participating in Karnataka counselling are required to follow the schedule issued by KEA for document verification, choice entry and subsequent seat allotment.With the state already progressing through the counselling process, candidates should closely monitor the KEA portal for updates concerning Round 1.
Tamil Nadu : Eligibility and grievance process underway
Tamil Nadu has completed the application stage for MBBS and BDS admissions and is currently handling eligibility-related issues and candidate grievances.The Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee has provided facilities for candidates who have been declared ineligible under the Government and Management Quota categories to raise grievances. The portal has also included a facility for uploading PwD certificates along with other category-specific instructions.The schedule for Round 1 choice filling and seat allotment is yet to be announced.
Punjab: State counselling moves through application stage
Punjab has also entered the state counselling process for NEET UG 2026. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has activated the admission portal for MBBS and BDS courses.The state is currently at the application stage. A complete schedule covering Round 1 choice filling and seat allotment has not yet been confirmed through the latest official notifications.Candidates should monitor the BFUHS portal for announcements concerning the state merit list and subsequent counselling stages.
PwBD counselling rules revised
MCC has introduced another important development in the 2026 counselling process by issuing a notice on August 7 concerning arrangements for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).The notice follows an addendum issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) concerning the constitution and functioning of medical assessment and appellate boards for PwBD candidates.State counselling authorities have also started issuing instructions in line with the revised arrangements. In Telangana, KNRUHS has issued directions concerning physical assessment of PwD candidates, while Tamil Nadu has enabled candidates to upload PwD certificates through its counselling portal.The changes are significant for PwBD aspirants as disability assessment and certification can determine eligibility under the applicable reservation and admission provisions.
What candidates should do now
The students who will participate in counselling during the NEET UG 2026 examination should not take choice filling and registration as some formality. Order in which the colleges and courses are filled in can have an effect on seat allotment.Students participating in MCC counselling need to:
- Fill their choices before the prescribed deadline.
- Make use of the facility of reset / unlock in case of errors while filling in registration details.
- Organize college and course preferences properly and not select choices randomly.
- Monitor the MCC website for notification about change in date of counselling.
- Students participating in the counselling of their respective states need to monitor the notifications released by them.
- PwBD candidates must abide by all new requirements regarding disability assessment and certificates.
As MCC’s Round 1 choice filling begins and states progress in their process of counselling in their own pace, the students are going through an important phase in NEET UG 2026 admission process. It is important for students to fill choices before the deadlines and follow the schedule for the right counselling authority.
