The NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule is out. Round 1 of All India Quota (AIQ) counselling starts on August 4 and runs through August 17, 2026. Candidates applying for state quota seats get a slightly later window, from August 13 to August 22. This schedule covers admissions to MBBS, BDS, and other UG medical courses across AIIMS, JIPMER, deemed universities, central institutes, and state-run colleges.
Full Schedule: AIQ and State Quota
| Round | AIQ Dates | State Quota Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 counselling | Aug 4 - Aug 17 | Aug 13 - Aug 22 |
| Last date to join | Aug 22 | Aug 28 |
| Round 2 counselling | Aug 24 - Sept 2 | Aug 31 - Sept 8 |
| Last date to join | Sept 8 | Sept 14 |
| Round 3 counselling | Sept 10 - Sept 18 | Sept 16 - Sept 26 |
| Last date to join | Sept 26 | Oct 1 |
| Stray vacancy round | Sept 28 - Oct 3 | Oct 3 - Oct 5 |
| Last date to join | Oct 10 | Oct 10 |
The academic session for UG courses begins on September 8, 2026, right after Round 2 wraps up. That timing matters. Students who miss Round 1 still have a real shot at a seat before classes start.
Dates Every Candidate Should Note
- Round 1 AIQ seat allotment verification by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) happens on August 23.
- State authorities verify their Round 1 joined-candidate data by August 29.
- The stray vacancy round closes fast, just five days for AIQ candidates to join.
- Round 3 has the longest gap between counselling and the joining deadline, giving candidates more time to arrange documents.
Two Details Competitors Are Missing
All participating institutes must treat Saturdays, Sundays, and gazetted holidays as working days during this counselling period. No college can use a weekend as an excuse to delay verification or reporting. This keeps the tight schedule from slipping.
There's also a data-sharing rule tied to Round 3. DMEs and state counselling authorities must share joined-candidate data with the MCC before Round 3 seat processing begins. This step exists to weed out candidates who already secured a seat elsewhere, so seats don't get blocked or double-allotted.
What Happens Next
Round 2 begins right after the Round 1 joining deadline closes. Candidates who want to upgrade their seat, or who didn't get one in Round 1, will register again during this window. The stray vacancy round, the final chance for a seat this year, runs from late September into early October, closing out just before the October 10 final joining deadline.
