NEET UG 2026: MCC Revises Round 1 Counselling Schedule Again, Window Now Runs to 21 August

By the Online Coaching 4u team

Last updated: 20 August 2026.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued a revised All India Quota (AIQ) and State schedule for Round 1 of NEET UG 2026 counselling, dated 19 August 2026, extending the Round 1 process window through 21 August 2026 and setting 31 August 2026 as the last date for allotted candidates to join their college.

What changed

This is the second revision to the Round 1 timeline in under a week. An earlier notice, dated 13 August, had extended choice locking to 17 August and projected the Round 1 result for 19 August. MCC's newest schedule, published on its official "eservices/Schedule" notice board on 19 August, now shows the AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities Round 1 process running from 6 August to 21 August 2026, with a parallel State Counselling window of 13 to 27 August 2026.

Key dates from the revised schedule

• 1st Round of Counselling (AIQ/Deemed AY 2026-27/Central Universities): 6 August 2026 - 21 August 2026. Verification of Deemed-university candidate data by MCC is due 1 September 2026.
• State Counselling (Round 1): 13 August 2026 - 27 August 2026. Verification of joined-candidate data by state DME/State Counselling Authorities is due 6 September 2026.
• Last date of joining for Round 1 (AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities): 31 August 2026, with joined-candidate data verification due 9 September 2026.

What this means for candidates

Candidates who locked choices under the earlier 13 August notice do not need to re-lock; the revision changes the processing and reporting timeline, not the choices already submitted. Anyone allotted a Round 1 seat should confirm the exact reporting deadline directly with their allotted college, since the 31 August joining date applies to AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities seats specifically - state-quota seats follow each state counselling authority's own reporting schedule within the 13-27 August window. Candidates should keep checking mcc.nic.in directly rather than relying on third-party trackers, since this schedule has already shifted twice this month.

Important pointers

• [19 Aug 2026] MCC published a revised AIQ and State schedule for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 counselling, per the official notice on mcc.nic.in.
• [6 Aug 2026 - 21 Aug 2026] The AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities Round 1 counselling process window, per the revised schedule.
• [Deadline: 31 Aug 2026] Last date for candidates allotted an AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities Round 1 seat to complete joining at their allotted college.
• [13 Aug 2026 - 27 Aug 2026] State Counselling window for Round 1 under the revised schedule.
• Myth check: A revised counselling schedule does not mean candidates must re-submit or re-lock choices already locked under the earlier notice - only the processing and reporting dates have moved.

Sources: MCC UG Medical Counselling notice board (mcc.nic.in); Revised AIQ and State Schedule for Round 1 of UG Counselling 2026 (dated 19.08.2026) (mcc.nic.in).

Last updated: 20 August 2026.

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