The Medical Counselling Committee has extended the deadline for choice filling and choice locking in Round 1 of the NEET UG Counselling 2026 process. The extension gives registered candidates additional time to finalise their preferred colleges and courses before the seat allotment process begins.
Under the revised schedule, candidates can submit and lock their choices until 11.59 pm on August 18, 2026. The choice locking facility became available from 5.30 pm on August 17.
The extension is important for candidates who have already registered for the counselling process but have not yet completed their preference submission or locking.
Choice filling deadline extended
The MCC has allowed candidates additional time to complete their Round 1 preferences.
Candidates can log in to the official MCC counselling portal and select the medical and dental colleges and courses they want to be considered for.
The order of preference is important because seat allocation is carried out based on factors including the candidate's NEET UG merit, category, available seats and preferences submitted during counselling.
Candidates should therefore avoid selecting colleges randomly and should carefully review their preferred institutions and courses before submitting the final list.
Choice locking deadline
Along with extending the choice filling facility, MCC has also extended the choice locking facility.
Candidates can lock their final preferences until 11.59 pm on August 18.
Once choices are locked, candidates may not be able to modify their preferences for Round 1. Therefore, applicants should verify the complete preference list before completing the locking process.
Candidates who have already locked their choices should also check the latest MCC notice to determine whether any further action is required.
What candidates need to do
Registered candidates should visit the official MCC counselling website and log in using their counselling credentials.
After logging in, candidates should open the choice filling section and review the available colleges and courses.
They can arrange their preferred options according to their admission priorities.
Before locking the choices, candidates should check the order of preferences carefully.
After confirming the list, they should complete the choice locking process within the revised deadline.
Candidates should retain confirmation details or screenshots of the completed process for their records.
Round 1 seat allotment
The choice filling stage is followed by the Round 1 seat allotment process.
According to the latest schedule, the Round 1 allotment result is scheduled to be published on August 19, 2026. Candidates who receive seats will subsequently have to follow the reporting and admission procedures specified by MCC.
The allotment will depend on the candidate's NEET UG rank, category, choices submitted, seat availability and applicable counselling rules.
Medical and dental admissions
MCC conducts counselling for undergraduate medical and dental seats falling under its jurisdiction.
The process includes admissions to MBBS and BDS courses through the applicable All India Quota and other participating institutions and categories covered by MCC counselling.
The committee has published the 2026 UG counselling information and Round 1 seat matrix on its official website.
Candidates should therefore use the official MCC information when making decisions about their preferences.
Why choice order matters
The order in which candidates list colleges and courses can have a significant role in the allocation process.
Candidates should place their most preferred eligible options higher in the list.
They should also consider factors such as course availability, college location, fee structure, academic facilities and previous admission trends while preparing their preference list.
However, candidates should not rely only on previous year cutoffs because seat availability and competition can change from one counselling year to another.
Candidates should check eligibility
Before locking choices, applicants should confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements for the courses they select.
A candidate should not choose a course simply because it appears in the counselling portal.
The candidate should check the applicable eligibility conditions, category requirements and other admission rules.
The official MCC information bulletin should be used as the primary reference for counselling related requirements.
Important deadline
The revised deadline is August 18, 2026, at 11.59 pm.
Candidates who have not completed their choice filling or locking should not wait until the final minutes.
Technical problems, internet connectivity issues or heavy website traffic could potentially make it difficult to complete the process close to the deadline.
Completing the process earlier provides candidates with time to review their selections and resolve any technical issues.
What happens after Round 1
After the Round 1 result is published, candidates who receive seats will need to follow the instructions provided by MCC.
The reporting and admission process will require candidates to complete the prescribed formalities within the specified dates.
Candidates should keep their original documents and other required certificates ready.
The exact requirements may vary depending on the allotted institution and category.
Candidates who do not receive a seat
Candidates who do not receive a seat in Round 1 should monitor subsequent counselling rounds.
MCC conducts further rounds according to the availability of seats and the counselling schedule.
Candidates should not assume that the Round 1 outcome is the end of the counselling process.
Further opportunities may be available depending on the vacancies and applicable rules.
Importance of official updates
NEET UG counselling schedules can change based on administrative decisions, court directions, seat availability or other circumstances.
The latest extension itself demonstrates why candidates should regularly check official MCC announcements.
Candidates should rely primarily on the MCC website rather than unverified social media messages or unofficial counselling schedules.
The MCC website currently provides information for the 2026 admission and counselling session.
Final advisory for candidates
NEET UG 2026 candidates participating in MCC Round 1 should complete their choice filling and locking by 11.59 pm on August 18.
Before locking, candidates should carefully review the complete preference list and make sure that the selected colleges and courses match their admission priorities.
Candidates should also keep their login credentials secure and retain confirmation of the completed choice locking process.
The Round 1 allotment result is scheduled for August 19, followed by the reporting process for candidates who receive seats.
The extension provides a final opportunity for eligible registered candidates to review and submit their preferences. Candidates should complete the process within the revised deadline and continue monitoring the official MCC website for subsequent announcements.