MCC NEET PG 2026 seat matrix: 13,522 AIQ MD/MS seats; Round 1 choices close Oct 22
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The MCC's NEET PG 2026 Round 1 seat matrix lists 13,522 All India Quota MD/MS seats; registration ends October 21 and choice filling on October 22, 2026.
What Happened
The MCC NEET PG 2026 seat matrix for Round 1 of postgraduate medical counselling is out, and choice filling is under way. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has listed 13,522 All India Quota (AIQ) seats in MD and MS courses, 9,201 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats and 7,537 seats in deemed universities for the first round. Registration for Round 1 opened on October 12, 2026 and closes at noon on Wednesday, October 21, with fee payment due by 3 pm that day. Candidates can fill and lock their choices until Thursday, October 22, and the Round 1 result is scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
Key Facts
- Seat matrix verification by institutions ran from October 10 to 12, 2026, before registration opened.
- Round 1 seats as published: 13,522 AIQ MD/MS seats, 9,201 DNB seats and 7,537 deemed university seats, with separate matrices for other quotas such as the central institutions' internal quota.
- Registration and fee payment: October 12 to 21, 2026; registration closes at 12 noon and payment at 3 pm on October 21.
- Choice filling and locking: October 13 to 22, 2026.
- Seat allotment processing: October 22 and 23; Round 1 result: October 24, 2026.
- Reporting to allotted colleges is listed by most outlets as October 26 to November 2, 2026; candidates should confirm the final dates on the MCC website.
Why It Matters
NEET PG is the single gateway to postgraduate medical seats in India, and the counselling that follows it decides where tens of thousands of young doctors will spend the next three years training as specialists. For most candidates, the first round matters most: it offers the widest choice of colleges and branches, and seats taken in Round 1 are not available later. The seat matrix is the list that tells candidates exactly how many seats exist in each college, course and category, so it is the starting point for every choice a candidate makes.
The MCC, which runs counselling for All India Quota seats, deemed universities, central institutions and DNB courses, publishes separate matrices for each pool. Choosing well means comparing a candidate's NEET PG rank with previous years' closing ranks for each branch and college, then ordering choices from most to least preferred. Candidates are advised to fill as many realistic options as possible, because a short list can leave them without a seat even when seats remain at their rank.
This year's schedule is also tight. Registration, choice filling and allotment are packed into about two weeks, with only a day between the close of choice filling and the start of seat processing. Candidates who miss the registration deadline on October 21 cannot take part in Round 1, so the next few days are the most important of the counselling season. Applicants in special categories, such as NRI-quota candidates and candidates with disabilities, should read the latest MCC notices on documents and certification before locking their choices.
| NEET PG 2026 Round 1 counselling | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration and fee payment | October 12 to 21, 2026 |
| Choice filling and locking | October 13 to 22, 2026 |
| Seat allotment processing | October 22 to 23, 2026 |
| Round 1 result | October 24, 2026 |
| Reporting to colleges | October 26 to November 2, 2026 (as reported) |
Impact
Short-term: Over the next week, candidates must register, pay fees and finalise their choice lists. After the October 24 result, those allotted seats will have to report with their documents within the reporting window or lose the seat.
Long-term: The number and spread of PG seats shape how many specialists India produces in each branch and region. How many seats are filled in Round 1, and how many are carried into later rounds, will show how demand is spread across branches and colleges this year.
Who is affected: Doctors who cleared NEET PG 2026 and their families, medical colleges and deemed universities filling their PG seats, hospitals that depend on resident doctors, and state counselling authorities, whose own rounds run alongside the MCC's.
Key Takeaway
With 13,522 AIQ MD/MS seats on the Round 1 matrix and choice filling closing on October 22, NEET PG 2026 candidates have only days to register and lock a well-planned list.
Questions and Answers
How many seats are in the MCC NEET PG 2026 seat matrix for Round 1?
The MCC's Round 1 matrix lists 13,522 All India Quota MD/MS seats, 9,201 DNB seats and 7,537 seats in deemed universities, with separate lists for other quotas. The official PDFs are on the MCC's PG counselling website.
What is the last date for NEET PG 2026 Round 1 registration?
Registration closes at 12 noon on October 21, 2026, and the fee must be paid by 3 pm the same day.
When does NEET PG Round 1 choice filling end?
Choice filling and locking run from October 13 until October 22, 2026, after which the MCC processes seat allotment on October 22 and 23.
When will the NEET PG 2026 Round 1 result come out?
The Round 1 seat allotment result is scheduled for October 24, 2026, after processing on October 22 and 23.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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