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NEET counselling · guide

MCC NEET UG counselling rounds 2026: Round 1, 2, 3 and Stray

Every point below links to its official source.

Key facts

  1. MCC runs four online rounds for AIQ, deemed universities, central universities, AIIMS, JIPMER and ESIC: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the Stray Vacancy Round. Upgradation is allowed up to Round 3. [1]
  2. New in 2026: after an allotment, each candidate is either a 'Freeze' candidate (keeps the seat, no upgrade) or a 'Float' candidate (wants an upgrade in the next round). [1]
  3. Freeze candidates must report in person at the allotted college with original documents. Float candidates submit their upgrade willingness online and have their documents checked online by the college, with no need to visit. [1]
  4. Both Freeze and Float candidates must upload scanned documents on the MCC portal once. That upload is used for all rounds, and MCC suggests doing it within 2–3 days of the result. [1]
  5. Round 1 allottees have a free exit: they can leave the seat without losing the security deposit. [1]
  6. Anyone allotted a seat in Round 2 or a later round who does not join loses the security deposit. An upgraded candidate is relieved from the earlier seat automatically and has no claim on it. [1]
  7. After the Round 3 result, every Round 3 allottee and every Float candidate of Round 1/2 who was not upgraded must report physically. A Round 3 seat cannot be resigned, and a Round 3 allottee who does not report loses the deposit and is out of further rounds. [1]
  8. You must enter fresh choices in each new round. If you don't, you are not considered for that round and simply keep any seat you already hold. [1]
  9. The 2026 schedule had Round 2 results on 11 Sept 2026, Round 3 results on 30 Sept 2026 with reporting until 9 Oct 2026, and an online stray round in October. [2]
  10. The stray round schedule was extended: registration and choice filling ran until 16 Oct 2026, the result came on 19 Oct 2026, and reporting ran from 19 to 26 Oct 2026. [3]

Next steps

Should I choose Freeze or Float?

Choose Freeze if you are happy with the seat and want to join it physically. Choose Float if you want to try for a better seat next round; it is done online, but if upgraded you lose the earlier seat.

If I don't get upgraded in Round 2, do I lose my Round 1 seat?

No. MCC says you keep the earlier allotted seat if nothing new is allotted to you in the next round.

Do I need to register again for Round 2?

Not if you registered in Round 1 and got no seat, or did not report. Only candidates who never registered must register fresh, with full fees.

Sources

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