MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 2 Choice Locking Opens Today

Introduction to NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 2

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially commenced the registration, fee payment, and choice locking procedures for NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 2 ^[1][3]. Medical aspirants seeking admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs—including MBBS, BDS, and BSc Nursing—under the All India Quota (AIQ), central universities, and deemed institutions can complete their processes through the official website at mcc.nic.in ^[1][3]. This comprehensive admissions process provides an essential pathway for thousands of medical candidates aiming to secure seats in prestigious institutions across the country.

Choice Locking and Filling Schedule

The choice locking facility for Round 2 opens today, September 8, at 4 PM and will remain active until 10 AM on September 9 ^[1]. Candidates who have registered for the second round must carefully review and lock their preferred choices within this designated window ^[1]. The choice filling facility for Round 2 also concludes concurrently at 10 AM on September 9 ^[1]. Authorities have emphasized that candidates must exercise caution during choice verification ^[1]. Once choices are locked on the portal, they cannot be modified during the remainder of the counselling round ^[1]. Candidates who miss making changes before the 10 AM deadline on September 9 will have their previously saved choices automatically locked as per the established system protocols.

Step-by-Step Guide to Choice Locking

Registered candidates can complete their choice filling and locking by adhering to these systematic steps on the official portal ^[1]:

1. Visit the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in ^[1]. 2. Navigate to the homepage and click on the link designated for NEET UG Counselling 2026 choice filling and locking ^[1]. 3. Enter the required login credentials, such as the registration number and password ^[1]. 4. Submit the credentials to access the dashboard and populate the preferred medical colleges and courses ^[1]. 5. Review the selected options meticulously before clicking the final lock option ^[1]. 6. Download and preserve a hard copy of the final confirmation page for future institutional reporting ^[1].

Seat Matrix Updates and Eligibility Rules

To accommodate more aspirants, the MCC has expanded the seat matrix for Round 2 by introducing additional seats ^[1][3]. Specifically, 30 new seats have been added to the counselling pool for candidates to include during their choice filling ^[1]. This builds upon broader intake expansions that brought in hundreds of additional seats following the conclusion of Round 1, which successfully allotted over 29,000 seats ^[3]. Eligibility criteria for Round 2 are structured to accommodate various candidate categories ^[3]:

• Non-Reported Candidates: Aspirants who secured a seat allocation in Round 1 but chose not to physically report or join their assigned institute remain eligible to participate in Round 2 ^[3].
• New Registrations: Candidates who failed to register during Round 1 are permitted to register afresh, pay the requisite counselling fees, and complete choice filling for Round 2 ^[3].
• Upgradation Options: Candidates who secure an allotment in Round 2 and wish to pursue further upgrades can express their willingness for Round 3 during the physical reporting phase at their allotted college ^[3].

Subsequent Counselling Schedule and Verification

Following the conclusion of choice locking on September 9, the subsequent stages of the Round 2 timeline proceed according to a strict schedule ^[1][3]. The seat allotment processing is conducted from September 9 to September 10 ^[1][3]. Following this processing window, the Round 2 seat allotment results will be officially announced on September 11, 2026 ^[1][3]. Candidates allotted seats must report to their respective colleges between September 12 and September 18, 2026 ^[1][3]. Finally, institutes will conduct the verification of joined candidates' data on September 19, 2026, concluding the core reporting phase ^[1].

Sources

1. MCC NEET UG counselling 2026: Round 2 choice locking begins today at mcc.nic.in; check schedule and steps - The Times of India timesofindia.indiatimes.com
2. NEET UG Counselling 2026 round 2 registration opens; 659 new seats added, state quota updates for UP, AP, and Gujarat - EducationTimes.com www.educationtimes.com