The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is scheduled to commence the first round of NEET PG 2026 counselling registration on October 12. Eligible candidates seeking admission to postgraduate medical programmes can complete the application process through the committee's official portal, mcc.nic.in.

The counselling process will cover 50% of the All India Quota (AIQ) seats, along with seats available at central universities and deemed universities. Applicants must complete registration, pay the prescribed counselling fee and submit their college and course preferences within the notified timelines.

According to the provisional timetable, registration will remain open until October 21, 2026, with the registration window closing at 12 noon. The fee payment facility will remain available until 3 pm on the same day.

NEET PG 2026 Round 1: Complete Counselling Schedule

Candidates can refer to the following schedule for the major activities planned during the first round of counselling.

Applicants should review the available seat matrix before selecting colleges and courses. Preferences should reflect their eligibility, admission priorities and preferred institutions.

Candidates must also ensure that their choices are locked within the prescribed period. Failure to complete the required steps on time may affect participation in the counselling round.

Seat Allotment and Institute Reporting Dates

MCC has provisionally scheduled the Round 1 seat allotment result for October 24, 2026. Candidates should visit the official website to check their allotment status after the result is announced.

Candidates who receive seats are expected to report to their allotted institutions between October 26 and November 2, 2026, to complete admission formalities.

Verification of records for candidates who have joined their allotted colleges is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Participating institutions will check the relevant information and submit the required details to MCC.

Candidates should arrange their admission documents in advance and follow the instructions issued by their allotted institutions. All joining and verification requirements should be completed within the specified period.

NEET PG 2026 Qualifying Marks Reach a Six-Year Low

The NEET PG 2026 results were announced on September 24. The qualifying thresholds across categories reportedly fell to their lowest levels in six years.

• General and EWS categories: 262 out of 720 marks, corresponding to the 50th percentile.
• General category candidates under PwBD: 244 qualifying marks.
• SC, ST and OBC categories: 226 marks, including candidates with benchmark disabilities in these categories, corresponding to the 40th percentile.

An analysis of results published by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) indicated that 2,65,960 candidates appeared for the examination. Among them, 258 candidates received zero or negative scores.

A lower qualifying threshold does not necessarily mean that admission to postgraduate medical courses will become easier. The outcome also depends on candidates' relative performance, examination difficulty, score distribution, applicable reservation policies and the number of available seats.

Meeting the qualifying criteria and securing an admission seat are separate stages. Candidates should review the applicable counselling rules and allotment conditions before making admission decisions.

What Candidates Should Prepare Before Counselling

Preparing for each stage in advance can help applicants avoid last-minute issues during the counselling process. Candidates should consider the following steps:

1. Access the official portal: Use the MCC website for registration and counselling-related notifications.
2. Check application information: Ensure that all personal and academic details are correct and complete.
3. Arrange payment details: Keep an accepted payment method ready and pay the counselling fee before the deadline.
4. Review the seat matrix: Check the availability of seats before choosing colleges and courses.
5. Lock preferences on time: Confirm selections and complete the choice-locking process within the notified window.
6. Prepare admission documents: Organise the records required by the allotted institution.
7. Track official announcements: Monitor the MCC website for schedule revisions and updated instructions.

Where to Find the Latest Counselling Updates

The official MCC website is the primary source for registration guidelines, counselling fee information, seat allotment results and institute reporting instructions.

Since the counselling timetable is provisional, candidates should regularly check official notices for any changes to dates or procedures. The latest instructions issued by the committee should take precedence over older schedules.

Completing registration promptly, entering preferences carefully and meeting institute reporting deadlines will help candidates navigate the first round of NEET PG 2026 counselling.

Editorial note: The dates and examination figures in this article are based on the supplied material. Verify them against official MCC and NBEMS notifications before publication.