Latest update — 13 August 2026: MCC has issued a Revised Schedule for Round 1 of NEET UG Counselling 2026. Candidates who missed registration now get another opportunity: registration and fee payment are open until 15 August 2026 at 2:00 PM. Choice filling remains open until 17 August 2026 at 6:00 PM, and choice locking is scheduled for 17 August 2026 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The revised notice is listed on MCC's official Current Events UG page.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has revised the Round 1 schedule after the counselling process did not progress as originally planned. The earlier schedule had registration and fee payment closing on 12 August and choice filling/locking running through 13 August. MCC's 13 August revision reopens registration for candidates who missed the earlier window and gives candidates additional time to complete and lock their preferences. The change is especially important for students who were waiting for the choice-filling process, had not completed registration, or had not yet finalized a reliable college preference order.
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 Revised Schedule: The Dates You Need to Know
| Round 1 activity | Revised date / time | What candidates should do |
|---|---|---|
| Registration & fee payment — reopened window | Until 15 August 2026, 2:00 PM | Complete registration, pay applicable fee/security deposit and confirm that your application is submitted. |
| Choice filling | Until 17 August 2026, 6:00 PM | Enter colleges/courses in your real preference order; review quota, category and college details before finalizing. |
| Choice locking | 17 August 2026, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Lock the final preference list during the specified window; do not assume an unlocked list will be treated as your intended final order. |
| Seat allotment processing | As per revised MCC processing schedule | Keep checking the MCC portal after locking; do not rely on third-party date graphics. |
| Seat allotment result | As per revised MCC schedule | Download the allotment result/letter when published and follow the reporting instructions immediately. |
| Reporting / joining | As per revised MCC schedule | If allotted, report within the official joining window and complete the required admission formalities. |
What Changed From the Earlier MCC Schedule?
| Activity | Earlier schedule | Revised position | Impact on candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration / fee payment | Closed on 12 August 2026 | Reopened until 15 August, 2:00 PM | Candidates who had not registered get another opportunity. |
| Choice filling | Scheduled through 13 August 2026 | Extended through 17 August, 6:00 PM | More time to build, review and reorder the preference list. |
| Choice locking | Originally scheduled for 12–13 August | 17 August, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Candidates must be ready to lock during the revised window. |
| Downstream allotment dates | Linked to the earlier timeline | Follow the revised MCC processing schedule | Do not rely on earlier screenshots or old blog tables. |
Why the Revised Schedule Matters More Than a Simple Date Extension
A schedule revision is not just an extra few days. It changes the decision window for candidates. A student who previously had only hours to finish choices now has additional time to compare colleges, verify seat type and fees, check historical allotment trends and decide how aggressively to use the Round 1 choice list. At the same time, the reopened registration window creates a second opportunity for candidates who missed the first deadline. That makes the revised schedule a chance to correct a weak application or poor preference strategy — not a reason to delay again.
Who Gets a Fresh Opportunity After the Revision?
- Candidates who did not complete MCC Round 1 registration: They can use the reopened registration/payment window, subject to MCC's rules and the stated deadline.
- Candidates who registered but have not completed their preferences: They should use the extended choice-filling window to build a serious preference order.
- Candidates who filled choices but were waiting for locking: They should review the entire list again before the revised locking window.
- Candidates who were relying on old dates: They should discard earlier social-media schedules and use the latest MCC notice as the controlling timeline.
How to Use the Extra Time Correctly
| Check | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rank & category | Am I comparing colleges against my actual AIR and eligible category? | A generic cutoff is not enough; seat availability and category affect the practical chance. |
| Quota / seat type | Is this an AIQ, deemed, central, ESIC or other eligible seat category? | The admission rules, fees and competitiveness can differ substantially. |
| College fees | Can my family actually afford the full cost, not just the first-year tuition? | A low cutoff is irrelevant if the financial commitment is not feasible. |
| Historical allotment | Where did the college close in earlier rounds and categories? | Past allotment data gives context for how ambitious a choice is. |
| Clinical environment | What hospital and clinical exposure does the college offer? | The cheapest or easiest seat is not automatically the best MBBS choice. |
| Location & practical fit | Would I realistically be comfortable studying there for five and a half years? | Location, hostel, travel and family constraints affect the actual value of the seat. |
| Upgrade strategy | Am I comfortable with the implications of being allotted this college in Round 1? | Your choice order should reflect what you genuinely prefer, not a random list designed only to get an allotment. |
The Biggest Mistake: Filling Choices Just to Have More Choices
More choices are not automatically better choices. The quality of the list depends on ordering. A common mistake is to place a college high because it is famous, even when the candidate would actually prefer a less-famous college with lower fees, better location or a more suitable seat type. Another mistake is putting colleges in arbitrary order based on someone else's rank list. The revised window gives you more time to compare, but the final list should still be your own preference hierarchy.
31,728 Seats in Round 1: What That Figure Means
MCC's Round 1 process includes 31,728 MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing seats according to reporting on the revised notice. This figure should not be interpreted as 31,728 MBBS government seats. The MCC UG process covers different institutional and quota categories, including All India Quota seats and 100% seats of deemed and central universities, along with other participating categories described by MCC. Candidates should therefore look at the actual seat matrix and the seat type attached to each choice rather than using the headline number as a proxy for the number of MBBS seats available to them.
MCC Counselling vs State Counselling: Do Not Stop at the MCC Deadline
MCC's revised Round 1 schedule controls the MCC counselling process, but state-quota counselling is handled separately by state authorities. A candidate may need to track both processes in parallel where eligible. The revised MCC dates can therefore change the timing of your decision-making even when your state counselling schedule is different. Never assume that an MCC extension automatically changes the deadlines of your state counselling authority.
What You Should Do Before 15 August
- If you have not registered: complete registration and fee payment well before the 2:00 PM deadline.
- If you are registered: start with your preferred colleges and build the list downward logically instead of filling randomly.
- Verify each choice: check the institute, course, quota/seat type and available seat information in the live MCC choice interface.
- Review fees: do not rank a college above another solely on reputation if the total financial commitment is substantially different.
- Prepare for locking: your final preference order should be ready before 17 August; do not wait until the last few minutes.
What Happens After Choice Locking?
After the choice-locking window closes, MCC processes the choices against the available seat matrix and the applicable merit/category rules. Candidates should monitor the official MCC portal for the allotment result and subsequent reporting instructions. The important point is that the revised registration and choice-filling windows are now known, while later dates should be followed from the latest official MCC schedule rather than from an older schedule reproduced by coaching sites or social-media posts.
Official MCC Sources: Check These Before You Submit Anything
| Official resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| MCC Current Events – UG | Latest notices, including the Revised Schedule for Round 1 dated 13.08.2026. |
| MCC UG Medical Counselling | UG counselling portal, candidate activity and counselling information. |
| MCC UG Schedule / eServices | Published counselling schedules and related documents. |
| MCC UG Information Bulletin 2026 | Detailed rules, procedures and candidate instructions. |
Official source: MCC Current Events UG — https://mcc.nic.in/current-events-ug/
Official MCC UG counselling: https://mcc.nic.in/ug-medical-counselling/
Published document: Revised Schedule for Round 1 dated 13.08.2026 — open the current-events page and select the latest revised schedule PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do not use the old MCC Round 1 dates. The schedule was revised on 13 August 2026. Check the latest MCC notice, complete any reopened registration before the deadline, and finalize your preference order before the revised choice-locking window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest MCC NEET UG 2026 Round 1 revised schedule?
MCC's revised notice dated 13 August 2026 reopens registration and fee payment until 15 August 2026 at 2:00 PM, keeps choice filling open until 17 August 2026 at 6:00 PM, and schedules choice locking for 17 August 2026 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Can I register for MCC Round 1 if I missed the earlier deadline?
Yes. The revised notice provides a reopened registration and fee-payment window until 15 August 2026 at 2:00 PM, subject to the eligibility and procedural conditions specified by MCC.
When is MCC Round 1 choice locking 2026?
The revised schedule states that choice locking will be available on 17 August 2026 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Until when can I fill choices in MCC Round 1 2026?
Choice filling is available until 17 August 2026 at 6:00 PM under the revised Round 1 timeline.
Did the revised schedule change state counselling dates too?
Not automatically. State counselling is conducted by the respective state authorities and candidates must follow each state's official notice separately.
How many seats are in MCC Round 1 2026?
Reporting on the revised MCC notice states that 31,728 MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing seats are included in Round 1. Candidates should check the live MCC seat matrix to determine which seats are actually relevant to their eligibility.
Should I wait until the last day to lock my choices?
No. Use the additional time to review your list, but finish before the deadline. Last-minute submission creates avoidable risk, especially if the portal is slow or you discover a mistake late.
