New Delhi, 2026: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released a comparative schedule for the NEET UG 2026 counselling timeline covering All India Quota, Deemed and Central Universities, and State Quota counselling.
The schedule includes Round 2, Round 3 and Round 4, also known as the Stray Vacancy Round, along with the last date for joining and verification of joined candidate data.
NEET UG 2026 Counselling Schedule: All India Quota Vs State Quota
| S. No. | Admission Schedule | AIQ/Deemed & Central Universities | MCC Verification of Joined Candidate Data | State Counselling | State Authority Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round 2 counselling | September 3 to 11, 2026 | September 19, 2026 | September 7 to 11, 2026 | September 20, 2026 |
| 2 | Last date of joining | September 18, 2026 | — | September 19, 2026 | — |
| 3 | Round 3 counselling | September 22 to 30, 2026 | October 10, 2026 | September 28 to October 9, 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
| 4 | Last date of joining | October 9, 2026 | — | October 14, 2026 | — |
| 5 | Round 4/Stray Vacancy Round | October 12 to 17, 2026 | Data shared by MCC on October 17, 2026 | October 17 to 21, 2026 | — |
| 6 | Last date of joining | October 26, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | — | — |
Academic Session Start Date
The academic session for NEET UG courses will commence on:
September 15, 2026
Candidates should complete admission and reporting formalities according to the deadline applicable to their counselling authority and quota.
Round 2 Counselling Dates
Round 2 counselling for AIQ, Deemed and Central Universities will be conducted from September 3 to September 11, 2026. Candidates allotted seats under this quota must join by September 18, 2026.
State counselling will take place from September 7 to September 11, 2026, with the last date for joining set as September 19, 2026.
Round 3 Counselling Dates
The MCC Round 3 process will begin on September 22, 2026, and the result will be completed by September 30, 2026. The last date for joining an AIQ, Deemed or Central University seat is October 9, 2026.
State Round 3 counselling will begin on September 28 and continue until October 9, 2026. Candidates allotted State Quota seats must join by October 14, 2026.
Round 4 Stray Vacancy Schedule
The Stray Vacancy Round is the final counselling stage.
- AIQ, Deemed and Central University Stray Round: October 12 to 17, 2026.
- State Stray Vacancy Round: October 17 to 21, 2026.
- Last date for joining AIQ or Deemed/Central University seats: October 26, 2026.
Candidates should participate in the Stray Vacancy Round only after checking eligibility, seat availability and the applicable resignation and admission rules.
AIQ vs State Counselling: Key Differences
| Point | AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities | State Counselling |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | MCC | State counselling authority |
| Round 2 start date | September 3, 2026 | September 7, 2026 |
| Round 3 start date | September 22, 2026 | September 28, 2026 |
| Stray Round | October 12 to 17, 2026 | October 17 to 21, 2026 |
| Final joining deadline | October 26, 2026 | As notified by the respective state |
State counselling dates may vary slightly within the broader timeline issued by MCC. Candidates must follow the separate schedule published by their State Directorate or counselling authority.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Track both the MCC and State counselling websites.
- Check the applicable registration and choice-filling dates.
- Complete fee payment before the deadline.
- Lock choices within the notified time.
- Report to the allotted institute before the last date.
- Complete document verification and admission formalities.
- Do not rely only on the national schedule because state authorities may issue additional instructions.
- Treat Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days during counselling.
NEET UG 2026 Counselling: Key Takeaway
NEET UG 2026 counselling will continue through Round 2, Round 3 and the Stray Vacancy Round. AIQ counselling generally begins earlier than State Quota counselling, while the final AIQ joining deadline is October 26, 2026. Candidates should closely monitor MCC and State counselling updates to avoid missing any registration, choice-locking or reporting deadline.
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