NEET UG 2026 Counselling choice filling for Round 1 began at 12 noon on August 8, 2026, after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) pushed back the original August 6 start date. The delay was tied to a fresh National Medical Commission (NMC) notification on assessment guidelines for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates seeking MBBS admission. Students who have registered for Round 1 can now log in to the MCC portal mcc.nic.in and lock in their college and course preferences before the window closes.
Key Facts: NEET UG 2026 Round 1 Choice Filling
- Choice filling reopened: 12:00 PM, August 8, 2026, on mcc.nic.in, after being postponed from August 6.
- Round 1 registration window: August 5 to August 12, 2026.
- Choice filling closes: August 13, 2026, according to MCC’s official notice.
- Reason for postponement: a National Medical Commission notice on appellate board assessment norms for PwBD candidates, published August 7, 2026.
- Seats covered: All India Quota, Deemed/Central Universities, ESIC, and AFMC seats for MBBS, BDS, and BSc Nursing.
- New facility: candidates can now retain a seat while upgrading without reporting physically to the allotted college, and an online resignation option is now live.
- Official source: mcc.nic.in, under “News & Events” and “Candidate Activity Board.”
What This Means for Students
If you registered for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling, you can now fill and arrange your choices of colleges and courses in order of preference. The one-day delay does not change your registration status, but it compresses the time available before the choice-filling window shuts on August 13. Students who were waiting for the window to reopen should log in without delay rather than waiting until the last date.
The postponement itself briefly caused confusion, since MCC put out a notice announcing the delay and then took it down from the website without explanation before choice filling actually resumed on August 8. Candidates should rely only on mcc.nic.in for the current status rather than screenshots or social media posts, since notices on the portal have been updated more than once this week.
Steps to Fill Choices for NEET UG 2026 Counselling
- Visit the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in and open the “Candidate Activity Board.”
- Log in using your NEET UG 2026 roll number and the credentials created at registration.
- Go to the choice-filling section and browse the participating institutes using the seat matrix published on the site.
- Arrange your preferred colleges and courses in the order you actually want them, since the algorithm allots seats based on this order and your rank.
- Lock your choices before August 13, 2026, since choices left unlocked or unsaved will not be considered for allotment.
Why the PwBD Notification Matters
The delay is linked to a National Medical Commission (NMC) notice issued on August 7, 2026, covering disability assessment guidelines and appellate boards for PwBD candidates. The notice explains how benchmark disability will be assessed and how candidates can appeal the decision while applying for MBBS seats under the PwBD category. In view of this update, the MCC has revised the counselling schedule and adjusted the choice-filling dates. PwBD candidates should go through the notice carefully before filling in and submitting their choices.
What’s New for Seat Upgrades and Resignation
MCC has also rolled out two candidate-friendly changes alongside this round. Candidates who select “willing to upgrade” after seat allotment no longer need to report physically to their allotted college to hold on to that seat while they wait for a better option in a later round. Separately, MCC has activated an online seat resignation facility, letting candidates give up an allotted seat through the counselling portal itself, within the deadline set for that round, instead of visiting the college in person.
NEET UG 2026 Counselling FAQs
Q. When did NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling actually start?
Ans. Choice filling started at 12:00 PM on August 8, 2026, after MCC postponed the original August 6 start date.
Q. Why was NEET UG 2026 choice filling postponed?
Ans. MCC linked the delay to a National Medical Commission notice on assessment guidelines and appellate boards for PwBD candidates, published on August 7, 2026.
Q. What is the last date to fill choices in Round 1?
Ans. Round 1 choice filling closes on August 13, 2026, according to MCC’s official schedule on mcc.nic.in.
Q. Do candidates still need to report to college if they choose “willing to upgrade”?
Ans. No. MCC has removed the physical reporting requirement for candidates who select “willing to upgrade” after seat allotment; they can retain their seat without visiting the college.
Q. Can candidates resign from an allotted seat online?
Ans. Yes. MCC has launched an online resignation facility on the counselling portal, allowing candidates to surrender an allotted seat within the prescribed deadline without visiting the institute in person.
Next Steps for Candidates
Students who registered for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 should log in to mcc.nic.in now and start arranging their college and course preferences well before the August 13 deadline. Keep checking the official MCC website directly for any further updates, since this week’s notices have changed more than once in a short span.