The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the tentative schedule for Round 1 of NEET PG 2026 online counselling for postgraduate medical admissions. The schedule covers counselling for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 100% seats of Deemed Universities, Central Universities and AFMS-only registration, as applicable.
The official schedule was issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on October 7, 2026. Candidates preparing for NEET PG 2026 counselling should keep track of the registration, fee payment, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment and reporting deadlines.
NEET PG 2026 Round 1: Important Dates
The Round 1 counselling process will begin with verification of the tentative seat matrix by participating institutes.
Counselling Activity | Date / Deadline |
|---|---|
Seat Matrix Verification by Institutes | October 10–12, 2026 |
Registration & Fee Payment | October 12–21, 2026 |
Registration Closes | October 21, 2026, 12:00 Noon |
Fee Payment Closes | October 21, 2026, 3:00 PM |
Choice Filling | October 13–22, 2026 |
Choice Filling Closes | October 22, 2026, 10:00 AM |
Choice Locking | October 21, 4:00 PM to October 22, 10:00 AM |
Seat Allotment Processing | October 22–23, 2026 |
Round 1 Seat Allotment Result | October 24, 2026 |
Reporting / Joining | October 26–November 2, 2026 |
Institute Verification & Data Sharing | November 3, 2026 |
All timings specified in the notice are based on MCC server time.
NEET PG Round 1 Registration
The NEET PG 2026 Round 1 registration and payment window will open on October 12, 2026.
Candidates can register until 12:00 Noon on October 21, 2026. The payment facility will remain available until 3:00 PM on October 21.
Candidates should complete the registration and payment process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
NEET PG 2026 Round 1 Choice Filling
After registration, candidates can submit their preferred courses and colleges during the choice-filling window from October 13 to October 22, 2026.
Choice filling will remain open until 10:00 AM on October 22, 2026.
Candidates should prepare their preference list carefully by considering their preferred speciality, college, location and available seat options.
NEET PG 2026 Choice Locking
Choice locking is a separate stage from choice filling.
For Round 1, choice locking will begin at 4:00 PM on October 21, 2026, and will remain available until 10:00 AM on October 22, 2026.
Candidates should ensure that their final preferences are correctly arranged before locking their choices.
NEET PG Round 1 Seat Allotment Result
After completion of choice filling and locking, MCC will process the submitted preferences and available seats.
The NEET PG 2026 Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled to be released on October 24, 2026.
Candidates should check their allotment status through the official MCC counselling portal and carefully read the instructions provided with the allotment result.
Reporting and Joining After Seat Allotment
Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 will have to complete their reporting and joining process from October 26 to November 2, 2026.
Students should report to the allotted institution within the prescribed period and complete all required admission formalities.
The participating institutes will subsequently verify the joined candidates and share the required data with MCC on November 3, 2026.
Who Is Covered Under NEET PG Round 1 Counselling?
The Round 1 schedule covers the online counselling process for:
50% NEET PG All India Quota (AIQ)
and applicable 100% seats of Deemed Universities, Central Universities and AFMS-only registration categories.
Candidates should check the applicable MCC counselling rules and seat matrix before making their choices.
Important Things to Remember
Candidates should note that registration, fee payment, choice filling and choice locking have different closing times. Completing one step does not automatically complete the others.
It is also important to remember that the schedule follows server time, so candidates should not wait until the last few minutes to complete any activity.
MCC has also advised participating institutes and colleges to treat Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days because of the limited time available for the counselling process.
NEET PG 2026 Academic Session
The official schedule mentions November 20, 2026 as the commencement of the PG academic session 2026.
What Should NEET PG Aspirants Do Now?
NEET PG 2026 candidates should keep their documents ready, monitor the MCC portal for the seat matrix, and prepare a realistic preference list before choice filling begins.
Candidates should also carefully evaluate their preferred specialities and colleges instead of filling choices randomly. A well-planned preference order can be important during seat allotment.
Eduspray India – NEET PG Counselling Guidance
NEET PG counselling involves multiple choices, seat categories and college options. Eduspray India provides guidance for NEET PG counselling, college selection and admission planning, helping aspirants make informed decisions based on their rank, preferred speciality and available options.
Call/WhatsApp: +91 8595684716
Email: indiaeduspray@gmail.com
Official MCC Website: mcc.nic.in
Official Notification: NEET PG 2026 Round 1 Counselling Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
When will NEET PG 2026 Round 1 registration begin?
NEET PG 2026 Round 1 registration is scheduled to begin on October 12, 2026 and will continue until October 21, 2026, 12:00 Noon.
When is the last date for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 fee payment?
Candidates can complete their fee payment until October 21, 2026, at 3:00 PM, as per MCC server time.
When will NEET PG 2026 Round 1 choice filling take place?
The choice-filling window will be open from October 13 to October 22, 2026, with choice filling closing at 10:00 AM on October 22.
When will the NEET PG 2026 Round 1 seat allotment result be announced?
The Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled to be released on October 24, 2026.
What is the reporting date for candidates allotted a seat in Round 1?
Candidates allotted seats in Round 1 must complete reporting and joining from October 26 to November 2, 2026. Candidates should follow the allotted institute's instructions and complete the admission formalities within the deadline.
Written by
Eduspray Team
7 Oct 2026