NEET Counselling System Explained — MCC, State, Deemed, NRI.
The Indian NEET counselling system has multiple parallel tracks. Here's the plain-language map — what each authority does, who can participate, and the timeline.
MCC AIQ · State Quota · Deemed Counselling.
MCC AIQ (15%)
15% All-India quota seats in government medical colleges. Single national counselling process via MCC portal. Open to all-India candidates.
Authority: Medical Counselling Committee (DGHS)
State Quota (85%)
85% state-quota seats in government colleges + private medical college state seats. Each state runs its own authority — Maharashtra CET Cell, KEA Karnataka, KNRUHS Telangana, etc.
Authority: State DME / CET Cell (domicile required)
Deemed (MCC)
100% of deemed-to-be-university seats — handled separately by MCC alongside AIQ. Open all-India, includes NRI quota sub-process. Used for the 33 deemed medical colleges in our network.
Authority: MCC deemed counselling
A typical NEET counselling year.
Week 1-2 (Late June)
NEET-UG result published. MCC Round 1 registration opens. State authority registration starts in parallel.
Week 3-4 (Early July)
MCC Round 1 choice filling and locking. State counselling Round 1 begins. Deemed counselling slot allocation.
Week 5-6 (Mid July)
MCC Round 1 allotment + reporting (48–72hr windows). State quota Round 1 allotments.
Week 7-9 (Late July - Early Aug)
MCC Round 2 + State Round 2 begin. Float/Freeze decisions. Vacancy data released.
Week 10-12 (Mid Aug)
Mop-up rounds across all authorities. NRI quota counselling intensifies. MP's unique 3rd-round NRI opening to all happens here.
Week 13-14 (Late Aug)
Stray vacancy round. Final seat lock. College reporting and classes begin.
Counselling system — questions answered.
What is the difference between MCC and state counselling?
MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) handles 15% AIQ in government colleges, 100% deemed university seats, and central institution seats (AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC). State counselling handles the 85% state-quota seats in government colleges plus private medical college seats in that state.
Can I participate in multiple counselling processes simultaneously?
Yes. AIQ (MCC), state quota, deemed (MCC), and Management/NRI quota counselling can all run in parallel. Most families participate in MCC + state + deemed simultaneously to maximise options.
When does NEET-UG 2026 counselling typically start?
MCC counselling typically opens late June or early July 2026, following NEET-UG results in June. State counselling follows in July. Exact dates vary year on year.
What happens if I lock my Round 1 seat?
You commit to your allotted college and cannot participate in subsequent rounds for that authority. Good if you got your top choice; risky if a better option might open later.
What is the difference between Freeze, Float, and Slide?
Freeze means you accept your current seat and stop counselling. Float means you stay in the next round hoping for a better seat. Slide means you only want to move within the same college to a different branch (engineering specific; not applicable to MBBS).