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How NEET counselling actually works.
One exam, two parallel routes, four rounds, and a handful of rules that decide everything. Here it is, in order.
Step zero · understand the split
Two registrations, two authorities, one goal.
Your NEET seat can come from either route. They run separately and on separate portals — most aspirants should register for both.
All India Quota — MCC / DGHS
Centralised, nationwide
- ◆15% of seats in every government medical & dental college, open across India.
- ◆100% of deemed & central universities, ESIC, AFMC, AIIMS, JIPMER, DU, BHU, AMU.
- ◆Single portal — mcc.nic.in — same merit list for everyone.
- ◆No domicile restriction for the AIQ government share.
State Quota — State authority
Domicile-based, state-run
- ✓85% of government college seats for that state's domiciles.
- ✓All seats in private, aided, minority and self-financing colleges in the state.
- ✓Each state runs its own portal, schedule and reservation rules.
- ✓You usually must register separately for every state you're eligible in.
The sequence that matters
The four rounds, and what each one is really for.
MCC conducts AIQ counselling across these rounds; states mirror a similar structure. Order is everything — what you do in Round 1 shapes Round 2.
R1
Register, Fill Choices, Lock & Get Your First Allotment
Round 1 is your first opportunity to secure an MBBS/BDS seat based on your NEET rank, category, and the choices you locked during counselling. Once the results are announced, you can either accept the allotted seat and report to the college or choose not to join.
Important: Round 1 offers a Free Exit. If you are not satisfied with the allotted seat, you may choose not to report without losing your security deposit. You can also participate in Round 2 for a better preference.
R2
Improve Your Allotment or Secure a Seat
Round 2 is for candidates who did not get a seat in Round 1 or those who wish to upgrade to a better college or course. Seat allotment is again based on merit and your fresh choice preferences.
Important: There is No Free Exit in Round 2. If you are allotted a seat and accept it, you are expected to join the allotted college. Failure to join may lead to forfeiture of the security deposit as per counselling rules. Candidates who join can continue with their admission or proceed further only if eligible under the counselling guidelines.
R3
Another Chance for Vacant Seats
The Mop-Up Round is conducted to fill seats that remain vacant after Round 2, especially in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and other participating institutions. Fresh registration may be required for eligible candidates, depending on the counselling authority.
Important: Seat allotment in the Mop-Up Round is generally final, and candidates allotted a seat are expected to join. Exit rules are much stricter, and failure to join may attract penalties or loss of the security deposit according to the applicable counselling regulations.
R4
Last Chance to Secure an MBBS Seat
The Stray Vacancy Round is the final stage of counselling and is conducted to fill the last remaining vacant seats. This round is usually conducted directly by the participating colleges or institutions from the list of eligible candidates provided by the counselling authority.
Important: There is No Exit in this round. If a seat is allotted, the candidate must join the institution. Non-reporting may result in disqualification from future counselling processes and other actions as per MCC regulations.
The exact number of rounds, exit rules and refund terms can change each season and differ slightly between AIQ, deemed and state counselling. Confirm the current rules in the official MCC notice before every round.
Inside every round
The same five actions repeat each round.
Order your options
Add every college and course you'd accept, ranked by genuine preference. There's usually no limit on how many you add.
Lock before the deadline
Locking is mandatory. Unlocked choices may auto-lock at the cut-off — so review carefully and lock deliberately.
Result is published
The system allots the best seat your rank, category and locked preferences allow. Download your allotment letter.
Report & verify at the college
Take your allotment letter and original documents to the allotted college within the deadline, complete verification and pay the admission fee. Your seat is confirmed only after this.
Free exit, upgrade, forfeit — know the difference
A "free exit" after Round 1 lets you decline without losing your deposit; an upgrade moves you to a better-preferred seat in the next round; a forfeit happens if you abandon a seat you were bound to join. These rules are where most mistakes — and lost deposits — happen.
State quota · 85%
Each state runs its own counselling.
A sample of state authorities. You register on your own state's portal (and any state where you're eligible by domicile or category). Always start from the official portal listed in your state brochure.
Tamil Nadu
DME / TN Medical Selection — online counselling for 85% state quota and self-financing colleges, for TN domiciles.
Karnataka
KEA — counselling for government and private medical/dental seats under the state share.
Andhra Pradesh
Dr. NTR UHS — UG medical/dental counselling for Andhra Pradesh domiciles.
Telangana
KNRUHS — online counselling for Telangana residents via the state admissions portal.
Pondicherry
CENTAC — UG medical/dental counselling for Pondicherry domiciles.
Don't navigate four rounds alone.
We'll build your choice list, watch every deadline across AIQ and your state, and tell you plainly when to hold, upgrade or exit.