NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling starts at 4:00 PM on August 7, 2026, according to a fresh MCC notice issued today. This resolves the immediate confusion created after an earlier postponement notice was reported and then removed. Candidates should now follow the active MCC notice and the current Round 1 schedule rather than older expected dates circulating on education websites and social media.
The current Round 1 schedule keeps registration open until 3:00 PM on August 12, payment until 6:00 PM on August 12, choice filling until 11:00 AM on August 13, and choice locking from 4:00 PM on August 12 to 11:00 AM on August 13. MCC has not announced that the Round 1 result itself is postponed: the current schedule still lists seat-allotment processing from August 13–16, result on August 17 and reporting from August 18–22.
Direct answer
Is NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling postponed?
No current MCC notice says it remains postponed. MCC’s August 7 notice states that Round 1 choice filling will be available from 4:00 PM onwards on August 7. Candidates should treat that as the current operational instruction unless MCC publishes another revision.
Current status
Choice filling starts August 7 at 4 PM
Registration is already active. Choice filling starts at 4 PM on August 7. The current MCC schedule still shows the choice-filling deadline as 11 AM on August 13 and locking from 4 PM on August 12 to 11 AM on August 13.
Confirmed
- Round 1 registration has started.
- Choice filling starts August 7 at 4:00 PM.
- Registration closes August 12 at 3:00 PM.
- Payment closes August 12 at 6:00 PM.
- Choice filling closes August 13 at 11:00 AM.
- Choice locking runs from August 12 at 4:00 PM to August 13 at 11:00 AM.
- The current Round 1 result date remains August 17.
Do not assume
- Do not use the old August 6 choice-filling start as the current operational start.
- Do not assume the removed postponement notice remains controlling.
- Do not confuse registration with choice filling.
- Do not assume saving choices means they are locked.
- Do not assume NRI choices will appear before MCC completes required document verification.
Table of contents
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling: current MCC status
MCC published a one-page notice dated August 7 stating that Round 1 choice filling for UG Counselling 2026 will be available from 4:00 PM onwards on August 7. The MCC UG Medical homepage also says Round 1 registration has started and currently lists the August 7 choice-filling notice under News & Events.
This is the most important operational update for candidates today. MCC’s August 1 schedule had listed choice filling from August 6 to August 13, but the newer August 7 notice establishes the current practical opening time.
Editorial interpretation
This should be treated as an official operational timing change, not evidence that the entire Round 1 calendar has been postponed. The active MCC schedule still carries the existing registration, locking, allotment, result and reporting dates.
NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling dates
| Round 1 event | Current MCC date/time | Candidate action |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | August 5–12; up to 3:00 PM on August 12 | Complete registration before the server-time cutoff. |
| Payment | Up to 6:00 PM on August 12 | Registration alone is not enough if fee payment remains incomplete. |
| Choice filling opens | August 7 at 4:00 PM | Use the candidate dashboard after registration and fee payment. |
| Choice filling closes | August 13 at 11:00 AM | Complete preference ordering before the deadline. |
| Choice locking | August 12, 4:00 PM to August 13, 11:00 AM | Lock only after final review. |
| Seat-allotment processing | August 13–16 | Wait for the official result unless MCC issues another notice. |
| Round 1 result | August 17 | Check the MCC result and provisional allotment letter. |
| Reporting / joining | August 18–22 | Follow the allotted institute’s reporting instructions. |
Why did the NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling date become confusing?
Reports published on August 7 said MCC briefly posted a notice saying Round 1 choice filling had been postponed and later removed it. That left candidates uncertain over whether the August 1 schedule still applied.
The new active MCC notice resolves the immediate action question by giving candidates a specific opening time: 4:00 PM on August 7.
Use the newest official notice
When an older schedule, a news report and a newer MCC notice disagree, candidates should use the newest active MCC instruction and their live candidate dashboard. Third-party counselling pages can remain stale after an MCC operational change.
How to complete NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling
MCC’s 2026 Candidate User Guide confirms that choice filling is not permitted without registration-fee payment. After payment, candidates can view the choices available according to their eligibility, filter by institute type, institute and programme, and add institute-programme combinations in preference order.
Complete registration and payment
MCC says choice filling is not allowed without registration-fee payment.
Open Available Choices
Review only the institutes and programmes displayed according to your eligibility.
Open Choice Filling
Enter your password, request the OTP on the registered mobile/email and validate it.
Add preferences in order
Select institute-programme combinations and arrange them in your genuine order of preference.
Save and review
MCC allows candidates to save choices without locking them immediately. If the difference between saved and locked choices is unclear, see our MCC choice filling and locking guide.
Lock after final review
Once choices are locked, MCC says no further changes can be made.
Saving choices and locking choices are not the same
Saving preserves the preferences without finalising them. MCC’s Candidate User Guide provides “Save and Continue” and “Save and Go to Home” options so candidates can save choices and return later.
Locking is the final step. MCC states that seat allotment is carried out according to the order of preferences submitted and locked by the candidate. Once locked, those choices cannot be modified.
If you want the full explanation of filled, saved, manually locked and system-locked choices — including what happens if you forget to manually lock — read ThePulseSignal’s evergreen MCC choice filling and locking guide. This Round 1 page tracks the live 2026 dates; the evergreen guide explains the underlying choice mechanics.
This means candidates should not simply place the college they believe is “most likely” at the top. The order should reflect their actual preference because the counselling system evaluates choices according to the submitted order, subject to rank, eligibility and seat availability.
NRI candidates: why some choices may not appear
The 2026 MCC Candidate User Guide says NRI, OCI, Foreign National and Indian-to-NRI candidates become eligible for the relevant choice-filling options after MCC completes required document verification. Until verification is completed, NRI seat options may remain unavailable.
For the separate relationship, sponsorship and guardianship requirements, read ThePulseSignal’s NEET 2026 NRI quota sponsor eligibility guide. That existing article owns the sponsor-eligibility intent and should be used alongside this Round 1 choice-filling guide rather than duplicating those rules here.
Karnataka candidates: MCC and KEA are different counselling systems
Karnataka candidates should not confuse MCC Round 1 choice filling with KEA’s state counselling process.
KEA has separate candidate registration, NEET roll-number linking, verification and option-entry requirements. If you are participating in Karnataka counselling, use ThePulseSignal’s KEA NEET roll number linking guide for the Karnataka-specific workflow.
In practical terms: MCC choices affect MCC-controlled counselling seats, while KEA operates Karnataka’s separate counselling workflow.
5 mistakes to avoid before locking Round 1 choices
- Following the old August 6 start date. The current MCC notice says choice filling begins at 4 PM on August 7.
- Waiting until the last hour. Registration, payment, choice filling and locking have different deadlines.
- Ranking colleges by predicted chance rather than genuine preference. Put the course/college you actually want more above the option you want less.
- Locking too early. MCC says locked choices cannot be changed.
- Assuming missing NRI choices are automatically a portal fault. NRI options may remain disabled while MCC verifies documents.
Official MCC sources for NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling
- MCC UG Medical Counselling 2026 homepage
- MCC notice dated August 7, 2026 — Start of Round 1 Choice Filling
- MCC UG AIQ Counselling Schedule 2026 dated August 1
- MCC Candidate User Guide — NEET UG Counselling 2026
How this was verified
ThePulseSignal checked the live MCC UG Medical Counselling 2026 homepage, which currently says Round 1 registration has started and lists a new “Notice for start of Choice Filling Round 1 dated 07.08.2026”.
The August 7 notice was opened directly. It says Choice Filling for Round 1 of UG Counselling 2026 will be available from 4:00 PM onwards on August 7.
The August 1 MCC schedule was separately checked for the remaining Round 1 deadlines: registration, fee payment, choice-filling close, locking, seat-allotment processing, result and reporting.
The 56-page MCC Candidate User Guide was also reviewed for the current portal workflow including registration-fee payment, available choices, password/OTP access, saving choices, locking and NRI document verification.
Last verified: August 7, 2026, approximately 3:49 PM IST.
Limitations and unresolved facts
- The earlier postponement notice reported by media is no longer visible on the current MCC UG page.
- MCC has not publicly explained why that notice was removed.
- The August 7 notice provides a new opening time but does not itself publish a complete replacement Round 1 schedule.
- The remaining dates in this article therefore use MCC’s currently available August 1 Round 1 schedule unless another revised schedule is issued.
- Individual seat choices depend on category, quota, eligibility, seat matrix and candidate-specific verification.
- NRI seat options depend on successful MCC document verification for relevant categories.
- Portal status can change rapidly; candidates should recheck the MCC dashboard before any deadline.
Frequently asked questions
When does NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling start?
MCC’s August 7 notice says choice filling starts at 4:00 PM on August 7, 2026.
Is Round 1 choice filling still postponed?
No current MCC notice says it remains postponed. The active August 7 notice gives a 4 PM start time.
What is the choice-filling deadline?
The current MCC schedule lists 11:00 AM on August 13.
When does choice locking start?
Choice locking is currently scheduled from 4:00 PM on August 12 to 11:00 AM on August 13.
Can I fill choices before paying the registration fee?
No. MCC’s Candidate User Guide says choice filling is not allowed without registration-fee payment.
Can I edit saved choices?
Yes, while choice filling remains open and before the choices are locked. For the difference between saved, manually locked and system-locked preferences, see the MCC choice filling and locking guide.
Can I change choices after locking?
No. MCC says no further change can be made after choices are locked.
Why are NRI seats missing from my choice list?
For applicable NRI/OCI/Foreign National/Indian-to-NRI categories, MCC says the relevant options are enabled after successful document verification.
Is MCC choice filling the same as KEA option entry?
No. MCC and KEA are separate counselling systems.
When is the Round 1 result?
The current MCC schedule lists August 17, 2026, unless MCC publishes another revision.