NEET PG Counselling 2026: MCC Issues Round-Wise Rules on Exit, Upgrade and Joining

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has explained the round-wise rules for NEET PG counselling 2026 in its counselling scheme. The rules cover registration, choice filling, upgrade, exit and reporting in each of the four rounds. Candidates should note that each round has separate rules, and the rules of a new round apply even to candidates already allotted a seat earlier.

Round 1 Rules

• Registration includes payment of a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit. The deposit is refunded only to the account from which it was paid.
• After registration, candidates fill and lock their choices. MCC then processes the allotment and publishes the Round 1 result on its website.
• Candidates allotted a seat must report to the allotted college or institute with original documents.
• Candidates can take a free exit from Round 1 and participate directly in Round 2.
• A candidate who wants to upgrade from Round 1 to Round 2 must give willingness online. The nodal officer of the college must also be informed by telephone. Documents are uploaded online.
• A registered candidate who is not allotted a seat in Round 1 can join Round 2 directly, without fresh registration.

Round 2 Rules

• Candidates who registered in Round 1 but got no seat do not need to register again.
• Candidates who resigned or did not report in Round 1 also do not need to register again.
• Only candidates who did not register in Round 1 must complete fresh registration, with full payment of fees.
• Fresh choice filling and locking is required for Round 2.
• Candidates allotted a seat must report to the college with original documents.
• A candidate who upgrades in Round 2 must take relieving online from the Round 1 seat and join the Round 2 seat. Such candidates have no claim on the Round 1 seat.
• Candidates freshly allotted a seat in Round 2 can opt to upgrade to Round 3. They must first upload documents online at the allotted college or institute and then give willingness.
• A candidate who freshly registered in Round 2 and got no seat can join Round 3 directly, without fresh registration.

Round 3 Rules

Round 3 needs fresh registration with payment of the Round 3 fee for these candidates:

• Candidates who did not register in Round 1 or Round 2, with full payment of fees
• Candidates who resigned from Round 2, with full payment of fees
• Candidates who registered in Round 2 and exited with forfeiture of fees without joining, with fresh payment of fees

Candidates who registered but were not allotted a seat in Rounds 1 and 2 do not need to register again. All candidates must do fresh choice filling and locking.

Other Round 3 rules:

• Physical reporting at the allotted college with original documents is required after Round 3.
• A candidate who upgrades must take relieving from the Round 2 seat and join the Round 3 seat. Once joined, the candidate cannot upgrade or resign from the Round 3 seat.
• A candidate who does not join the Round 3 seat can exit, but with forfeiture of the security deposit and elimination from further MCC counselling rounds.
• A candidate who freshly registers in Round 3 and gets no seat can take part in the stray and further rounds.
• A candidate who upgrades in Round 3 has no claim on the earlier allotted seat.

Seat Conversion Algorithm in Round 3

MCC converts categories in the third round when the following seats remain vacant:

Seat Category	Converted To
ST (PwD)	ST
SC (PwD)	SC
UR (PwD)	UR
OBC (PwD)	OBC
ST	SC
SC	UR
EWS	UR
NRI / Jain Minority / Muslim Minority	UR

Stray Vacancy Round Rules

• The Stray Vacancy Round needs fresh registration and fresh choice filling. Choices filled in Round 3 are not considered.
• Candidates who are not holding any seat, or who did not take part in Rounds 1, 2 and 3 (AIQ, state, deemed), can participate.
• Candidates who were freshly allotted a seat in Round 3 and did not join cannot take part.
• Data is shared between the Centre and the states after the state Round 3. Any candidate named in the state list is eliminated before the All India Stray Vacancy Round is processed.
• MCC conducts the Stray Vacancy Round for deemed universities, as directed by the Supreme Court.
• Seat allotment is done online through software.
• A candidate allotted a seat in the Stray Vacancy Round must report and join the college, or the security deposit is forfeited.

Points Candidates Should Note

• Each round has its own rules, and a candidate’s earlier-round status does not change them.
• Documents for upgrade or freeze/float must be uploaded online on the MCC portal. Candidates should keep their scanned copies ready.
• Upgraded candidates give up all claim on the earlier seat.
• Resignation and exit options reduce as rounds progress, and Round 3 seats cannot be resigned.
• Candidates should follow only the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, for updates.