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NEET counselling · guide

All India Quota (AIQ) 15%: what it is and who can apply

Every point below links to its official source.

Key facts

  1. MCC (Medical Counselling Committee of DGHS, Health Ministry) allots the 15% All India Quota MBBS/BDS seats in participating government medical and dental colleges, under a Supreme Court-approved scheme dating to its 07.06.2012 order in Sharwan Kumar v. DGHS. [1]
  2. AIQ eligibility has three conditions: the candidate must have qualified NEET UG, the seats are domicile-free, and NMC norms apply. [1]
  3. The 'open, domicile-free' pool counselled by MCC includes 15% AIQ seats of the states, 100% BHU seats, 100% AIIMS MBBS seats, JIPMER open seats, AMU open seats, 15% AIQ of DU/IP University colleges (VMMC, ABVIMS, ESIC Dental), Jamia dental open seats and 15% AIQ of ESIC colleges. [1]
  4. Central reservation applies to AIQ seats: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC (non-creamy layer, central list) 27%, EWS 10%, plus a 5% horizontal quota for persons with disabilities. [1]
  5. There are four AIQ rounds in 2026, all online: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and a Stray Vacancy Round. Since a 2021 Supreme Court order, seats are no longer returned to the states after Round 2. [1]
  6. OCI cardholders are treated on par with Indian citizens for MCC counselling and can take UR (General) seats as well as NRI seats, following the Supreme Court's 03.02.2023 order in Anushka Rengunthwar v. Union of India. [1]
  7. Vacant reserved AIQ seats are converted only in Round 3, and only after eligible candidates of that category run out (for example ST to SC, SC to UR, EWS to UR, NRI to UR). [1]
  8. NTA prepares the merit list for the 15% AIQ from NEET UG marks and sends it to DGHS (MCC) for online seat allotment. [2]
  9. MCC does not handle state quota or state-controlled private college seats; for those, candidates must apply to the state's admission authority or Directorate of Medical Education. [1]

Next steps

Do I need a domicile certificate for AIQ seats?

No. MCC's 2026 bulletin says AIQ counselling is domicile-free; you only need to have qualified NEET UG and meet NMC norms.

Can I take part in AIQ and my state counselling together?

Yes. MCC's flow chart shows AIQ candidates can also take part in state counselling. If you later take a state seat, you must resign the AIQ seat within the allowed round.

Is a state-list OBC certificate valid for AIQ?

No. AIQ uses the central OBC list. NTA says OBCs that appear only on a state list cannot claim OBC reservation in central counselling.

Sources

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