NEET UG Counselling — Vidyapaath

What Is It

NEET UG Counselling Explained

NEET UG counselling is the process through which qualified students are allotted seats in MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS and other medical courses based on their NEET rank, category, preferences and seat availability.

India has two main counselling streams: Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) handles All India Quota (AIQ) and Deemed/Central university seats, while each state runs its own counselling for State Quota (85%) seats.

Most students lose valuable seats simply because they don't understand the process, fill wrong choices, or miss critical deadlines. That's where expert counselling makes all the difference.

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MCC Counselling (AIQ)

Conducted by Medical Counselling Committee for 15% AIQ seats in government colleges + all Deemed/Central university seats.

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State Counselling

Each state runs its own counselling for 85% state quota seats in government and private colleges within that state.

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Choice Filling Strategy

The most critical step. Wrong choice order = losing your best college. Our rank-wise analysis ensures optimal college ordering.

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Upgrade & Freeze Strategy

Round 1 vs Round 2 decisions — when to upgrade, when to freeze. A wrong call costs you a year.

Two Counselling Tracks

AIQ vs State Quota — Know the Difference

All India Quota (AIQ)

15%

of total MBBS seats in Govt colleges

🏛️Conducted by MCC (mcc.nic.in)

📍Open to candidates from any state

🎓Includes AIIMS, JIPMER & Central Universities

🔢Rank: All India Merit Rank

💰Fee: Central/Govt rates (very low)

🗓️Rounds: 1, 2, and Mop-Up

State Quota

85%

of seats in State Govt colleges

🏛️Conducted by State Counselling Bodies

📍Reserved for state domicile candidates

🎓Includes Private, Deemed, State Govt colleges

🔢Rank: State Merit List (from NEET score)

💰Fee: Varies — State Govt to Private

🗓️Multiple rounds per state

Deemed / Private

100%

seats via management/NRI quota

🏛️Conducted by individual institutions

📍Open to all candidates (no domicile)

🎓Includes top private medical colleges

🔢Merit-based with NEET score

💰Fee: ₹10L–₹25L/year

🗓️Timeline: Alongside state counselling

Why Choose Vidyapaath

Expert Guidance for Every NEET Rank

Whether your rank is 500 or 5,00,000 — there's a medical college for you. Our counsellors have helped students at every rank find the best possible option through AIQ, state quota, deemed, and private seats.

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5 Years of Cutoff Data — Accurate predictions for 706+ colleges across all categories

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AIQ + State + Private — We cover every counselling track, not just AIQ

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Round-by-Round Strategy — Freeze, float or withdraw — we guide every decision

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1.8L+ Students Counselled — India's most trusted NEET counselling platform

Book Free Session

98%Seat Allocation Success Rate

1.8L+Students Counselled

706+Colleges in Database

₹999Starting Counselling Fee

Exam Pattern

NEET UG 2026 Paper Structure

3 hour 20 minute pen-and-paper exam with 200 questions (180 to attempt) across Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

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Physics

50Questions to Attempt

200Max Marks

Section A35 Qs (Compulsory)

Section B15 Qs (Attempt any 10)

High Weightage Topics

Modern PhysicsElectrostaticsOpticsMechanicsMagnetism

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Chemistry

50Questions to Attempt

200Max Marks

Section A35 Qs (Compulsory)

Section B15 Qs (Attempt any 10)

High Weightage Topics

Organic ChemistryCoordination CompoundsThermodynamicsEquilibrium

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Biology

100Questions to Attempt

400Max Marks

Section A (Bot+Zoo)70 Qs (Compulsory)

Section B (Bot+Zoo)30 Qs (Attempt any 20)

High Weightage Topics

GeneticsHuman PhysiologyEcologyCell BiologyEvolution

📌 Marking Scheme

+4Correct Answer

–1Incorrect Answer

0Unattempted

720Total Marks

Score Analysis

Score vs Expected Rank (2025 Trend)

NEET Score	Approx Rank (Gen)	Approx Rank (OBC)	Approx Rank (SC)	College Type Accessible
700–720	1–100	1–60	1–30	AIIMS Delhi, JIPMER
650–699	100–1,500	60–900	30–400	Top Govt Medical Colleges (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai)
600–649	1,500–8,000	900–4,800	400–2,000	State Govt MBBS, AIIMS Tier-2
550–599	8,000–30,000	4,800–18,000	2,000–7,500	State Govt MBBS + Top Private Deemed
500–549	30,000–80,000	18,000–48,000	7,500–20,000	Private Medical Colleges (Good rated)
Below 500	80,000+	48,000+	20,000+	Private / Deemed + AYUSH colleges

*Indicative based on 2025 trends. Actual ranks depend on number of candidates and score distribution.

Eligibility

NEET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Ensure you meet all requirements. Non-compliance can lead to disqualification even after admission.

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Educational Qualification

Passed 10+2 or equivalent exam
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology
Min 50% marks in PCB (General category)
Min 40% for PwD candidates
Min 45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates
English as a subject is mandatory

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Age Criteria

Minimum age: 17 years (as on Dec 31, 2026)
No upper age limit (Supreme Court order 2022)
Born on or before December 31, 2009
Class XII appearing in 2026 also eligible

⚖️ Upper age limit of 25 years was removed by Supreme Court in 2022

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Nationality

Indian Nationals
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)
Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)
Foreign Nationals (limited seats)

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Number of Attempts

No restriction on number of attempts
Can appear every year — no age cap
Only current attempt score is used
Droppers fully eligible to apply

✅ Unlimited attempts — keep improving till you reach your target!

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For AIIMS & JIPMER

Separate registration on MCC portal for AIIMS
AIIMS uses NEET UG score (separate counselling)
JIPMER part of NEET UG / AIQ counselling
State quota seats at AIIMS for state domicile

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Key Documents Needed

NEET UG 2026 Scorecard & Admit Card
Class X & XII Mark Sheets + Certificate
Category Certificate (OBC/SC/ST/EWS)
Domicile Certificate (for state quota)
Photo ID (Aadhar / Passport)
Passport photos (20+ copies recommended)

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Important: OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate must be valid for the year of admission. A certificate issued earlier may be rejected. Always get a fresh certificate before counselling begins.

Top Medical Colleges

Best MBBS Colleges in India 2026

From AIIMS to top state government and private medical colleges — find the right fit for your rank.

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AIIMS New Delhi

📍 New Delhi · Central Govt

NIRF #1₹1,628/yrAIIMS

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 1–50

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JIPMER Puducherry

📍 Puducherry · Central Govt

NIRF #2₹4,850/yrJIPMER

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 1–200

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Maulana Azad Medical College

📍 New Delhi · State Govt

NIRF #3₹23,000/yrDelhi Univ

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 350–1,200

Lady Hardinge Medical College

📍 New Delhi · Central Govt

NIRF #9₹17,000/yrWomen Only

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 800–2,500

Madras Medical College

📍 Chennai · State Govt

NIRF #6₹25,000/yrState Govt

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 2,000–7,000

King George's Medical University

📍 Lucknow · State Govt

NIRF #7₹45,000/yrState Govt

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 6,000–15,000

Christian Medical College

📍 Vellore · Private Deemed

NIRF #4₹1.2L/yrDeemed

Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 2,000–6,000

AIIMS Bhopal

📍 Bhopal · Central Govt

NIRF #11₹1,628/yrAIIMS

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 1,200–3,500

Grant Medical College

📍 Mumbai · State Govt

NIRF #12₹30,000/yrState Govt

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 3,000–10,000

#10

Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

📍 Manipal · Deemed

NIRF #5₹18–22L/yrDeemed

Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 25,000–60,000

#11

BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad

📍 Ahmedabad · State Govt

NIRF #23₹30,000/yrState Govt

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 6,000–20,000

#12

SMS Medical College, Jaipur

📍 Jaipur · State Govt

NIRF #20₹38,000/yrState Govt

AIQ Gen Cutoff 2024: Rank 5,000–15,000

Historical Cutoffs

NEET UG Cutoff Trends (2022–2024)

Category-wise qualifying cutoffs and expected score ranges for Govt MBBS admission.

Qualifying Cutoff (NEET UG 2024)

General / EWS

720 – 164

50th Percentile

OBC / SC / ST

163 – 129

40th Percentile

General PwD

163 – 146

45th Percentile

AIIMS (AIQ Gen)

Rank 1–50

Score 700+

Category-wise NEET UG Cutoff Score (Govt MBBS)

Category	2024 Cutoff	2023 Cutoff	2022 Cutoff	Trend
General (UR)	720–580	720–600	720–590	→ Stable
OBC-NCL	579–440	598–450	582–435	↓ Slightly easier
SC	439–325	449–310	438–318	→ Stable
ST	438–298	447–285	437–290	→ Stable
EWS	579–440	598–450	—	→ Same as OBC
General PwD	558–180	573–175	555–170	↑ Rising

*For AIQ government MBBS seats. State quota cutoffs vary significantly by state.

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State Quota Cutoffs Are Different

State quota cutoffs are much more favourable than AIQ. For example, in West Bengal, a rank of 50,000 can get you a Govt MBBS seat in state quota — the same rank gets nothing in AIQ. Always check both options with a counsellor.

Counselling Process

NEET UG Counselling 2026 — Step by Step

AIQ counselling is conducted by MCC in 2 main rounds + Mop-Up + Stray Vacancy Round.

Registration on MCC Portal

July 2026 (Expected)

Create your account at mcc.nic.in. Submit NEET UG roll number, score, category, personal details. Pay registration fee (₹1,000 General / ₹500 SC/ST/PwD).

✓ Register for both AIQ and State counselling simultaneously

✓ Double-check your category — cannot be changed after submission

Choice Filling & Locking

August 2026 (Expected)

Fill college and course preferences in priority order. You can fill 50–200+ choices. Our counsellors help create an optimised, rank-appropriate preference list.

✓ Fill ALL eligible colleges — more choices = better chance

✓ Order matters: Dream college first, safe options last

Round 1 Seat Allotment

August 2026 (Expected)

Seats allotted based on rank and choices. Three options: Freeze (accept, stop), Float (accept, auto-upgrade), or Slide (upgrade within same college).

FREEZE

Best if allotted seat is exactly what you wanted. No further participation needed.

FLOAT

Accept current seat, remain in pool for automatic upgrade. Recommended for most candidates.

SLIDE

Upgrade only within same college (different course/seat type). Useful for less preferred branch.

Round 2 & Mop-Up Round

September 2026 (Expected)

Round 2 allots vacant seats from Round 1 exits. Mop-Up fills remaining seats. Each round is a new opportunity to upgrade your college.

✓ Many candidates get better seats in Mop-Up round

✓ Participate in all rounds until you have your desired seat

Document Verification & Reporting

September–October 2026

Report to allotted college with original documents within 3–5 days. Missing the joining deadline = seat forfeiture. We provide complete checklist and deadline reminders.

✓ Keep 10+ sets of photocopies of all documents

✓ Carry originals + attested copies of all certificates

Get Expert Help with Choice Filling

Our counsellors have helped 1.8L+ students fill optimised preference lists. One session = better choices = better college.

Book Free Session

State Counselling

State Quota — Your Best Bet for Govt MBBS

85% of government MBBS seats are filled through state counselling. Each state has its own process, timeline, and counselling body.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra CET Cell (DMER)

~5,200 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~560+

Home University, Other Than Home University, SEBC, NRI quotas available

Tamil Nadu

TNMGRMU / Govt of TN

~4,800 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~555+

Strong reservations: 69% OBC quota. Domicile strictly required.

Karnataka

KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority)

~4,000 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~540+

KIMS and RGUHS affiliates. Good Govt-Private ratio.

Rajasthan

Medical Education Dept, Rajasthan

~3,200 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~530+

SMS Medical College Jaipur is the flagship. Competitive state quota.

Uttar Pradesh

DGME UP / DMER UP

~5,800 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~510+

Largest state quota pool. KGMU Lucknow is the top college.

West Bengal

WBMCC

~3,500 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~480+

IPGMER & SSKM, Medical College Kolkata are top choices.

Andhra Pradesh

APSCHE / NTRUHS

~3,800 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~500+

Kaloji NRR University governs. Good seat availability.

Madhya Pradesh

DMER Madhya Pradesh

~3,100 Govt MBBS Seats

Gen Cutoff 2024: Score ~490+

Gandhi Medical College Bhopal is the flagship institution.

💡 Pro Tip: You can participate in both AIQ (MCC) AND your home state counselling simultaneously. If allotted a seat in AIQ, you can still upgrade through state counselling — but joining rules must be followed carefully. Our counsellors guide you on managing both tracks optimally.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything students ask us about NEET UG counselling — answered by our experts.

What is the minimum NEET score needed for a government MBBS seat?

For AIQ (General category), you typically need a rank below 10,000 (score ~600+) for a government medical college MBBS. However, state quota cutoffs are much more lenient — in many states, scores above 480 can secure a government MBBS seat. Category (OBC/SC/ST) significantly lowers the required rank.

Can I appear in NEET UG unlimited times?

Yes. The Supreme Court of India (2022) removed the upper age limit and attempt restrictions. You can appear as many times as needed as long as you are 17 years or older and have completed Class 12 with PCB. There is no cap on attempts.

What is the difference between AIQ and State Quota counselling?

AIQ = 15% of government MBBS seats, open to candidates from any state, conducted by MCC. State Quota = 85% of seats, reserved for state domicile candidates, conducted by state committees. AIQ has stricter cutoffs; state quota is more accessible. Participate in both simultaneously.

What does "Float" mean during counselling?

Float means you accept your currently allotted seat but remain in the pool for Round 2. If a better seat (higher in your preference list) becomes available, it will be automatically upgraded. Most candidates choose Float in Round 1 unless they got exactly their dream seat.

What happens if I miss the joining deadline after seat allotment?

Missing the joining deadline means your allotted seat is cancelled and returned to the pool. You also forfeit your registration fees. In some cases, you may be barred from further participation in that round. Always track deadlines — we send reminder alerts to all our clients.

Can I get MBBS with a low NEET rank in a private college?

Yes. Most private and deemed medical colleges accept candidates with ranks from 50,000 to 7,00,000. Fees range from ₹10–25 lakh per year. AYUSH colleges (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS) are also accessible at lower ranks. Our counsellors help identify the best value-for-money option.

How is AIIMS counselling different from regular NEET counselling?

All AIIMS institutions are now part of MCC counselling using NEET UG scores. You register separately on MCC for AIIMS seats but it's the same portal. AIIMS Delhi typically requires a rank below 50 for General category — the most competitive seats in India.

Is there NRI quota in MBBS admissions?

Yes. Most private and deemed colleges have 15% NRI quota seats with lower NEET cutoffs but significantly higher fees (₹20–50 lakh/year). If you or an immediate family member qualifies as NRI, our counsellors can help you evaluate this option.

Still have questions?

Our NEET counselling experts have helped 1.8L+ students. Get answers in a free 15-min consultation.

Book Free Session

State Counselling

State-wise NEET UG Admission Guide 2026

Every state has its own counselling body, timeline, special quotas and cutoffs. Select your state to get the complete picture — official portal, seats, category cutoffs and expert counselling tips.

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Andhra Pradesh

APSCHE / NTRUHS

3,800+ MBBS

View Details →

Assam

ASTU / DMER Assam

1,200+ MBBS

View Details →

Bihar

BCECEB Bihar

2,400+ MBBS

View Details →

Chhattisgarh

CGDME Chhattisgarh

900+ MBBS

View Details →

Delhi

DGHS Delhi

800+ MBBS

View Details →

Goa

DME Goa

300+ MBBS

View Details →

Gujarat

ACPC Gujarat

3,000+ MBBS

View Details →

Haryana

UHSR Haryana / PGIMS

1,000+ MBBS

View Details →

Jharkhand

JCECEB Jharkhand

800+ MBBS

View Details →

Karnataka

KEA Karnataka

4,000+ MBBS

View Details →

Kerala

CEE Kerala

2,200+ MBBS

View Details →

Madhya Pradesh

DMER MP

3,100+ MBBS

View Details →

Maharashtra

DMER / Maharashtra CET Cell

5,200+ MBBS

View Details →

Odisha

OJEE / DMET Odisha

1,500+ MBBS

View Details →

Punjab

BFUHS Punjab

1,200+ MBBS

View Details →

Rajasthan

DME Rajasthan

3,200+ MBBS

View Details →

Tamil Nadu

TNMGRMU / Govt of TN

4,800+ MBBS

View Details →

Telangana

TSNMDC Telangana

3,400+ MBBS

View Details →

Uttar Pradesh

DGME UP / CPNET

5,800+ MBBS

View Details →

West Bengal

WBMCC West Bengal

3,500+ MBBS

View Details →

Need help with your state counselling?

Our counsellors cover ALL Indian states. Book a free session for state-specific guidance.

NEET UG Counselling
That Gets You Into Your
Dream Medical College.

NEET UG Counselling Explained

AIQ vs State Quota — Know the Difference

Expert Guidance for Every NEET Rank

NEET UG 2026 Paper Structure

Score vs Expected Rank (2025 Trend)

NEET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Best MBBS Colleges in India 2026

NEET UG Cutoff Trends (2022–2024)

NEET UG Counselling 2026 — Step by Step

Get Expert Help with Choice Filling

State Quota — Your Best Bet for Govt MBBS

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

State-wise NEET UG Admission Guide 2026

Choose Your Counselling Plan

Our 4-Step Counselling Process

Ready to Secure Your MBBS Seat?

Vidyapaath Counselling

NEET UG CounsellingThat Gets You Into YourDream Medical College.

NEET UG Counselling Explained

AIQ vs State Quota — Know the Difference

Expert Guidance for Every NEET Rank

NEET UG 2026 Paper Structure

Score vs Expected Rank (2025 Trend)

NEET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Best MBBS Colleges in India 2026

NEET UG Cutoff Trends (2022–2024)

NEET UG Counselling 2026 — Step by Step

Get Expert Help with Choice Filling

State Quota — Your Best Bet for Govt MBBS

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

State-wise NEET UG Admission Guide 2026

Choose Your Counselling Plan

Our 4-Step Counselling Process

Ready to Secure Your MBBS Seat?

Vidyapaath Counselling

NEET UG Counselling
That Gets You Into Your
Dream Medical College.