The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), conducts the centralized online counselling for Post Graduate (MD, MS, DNB, NBE Diploma, and MDS) admissions across India.
Seats Covered Under MCC Counselling 2026
- 50% All India Quota (AIQ) Seats: Domicile-free seats contributed by all state government medical colleges.
- 100% Deemed University Seats: Open nationwide to all eligible candidates, including NRI and Minority quota seats.
- Central Universities & Institutes (50% AIQ / 50% Internal Quota): Delhi University (LHMC, UCMS, MAMC, MAIDS), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and IP University Central Institutes (VMMC & SJH, ABVIMS & RML, ESIC Basaidarapur).
- 100% Central Institutes: Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) Ranchi and LGBRIMH Tezpur.
- 100% DNB & NBE Diploma Seats: All India domicile-free seats in Government and Private DNB-affiliated hospitals.
- AFMS Seats: Priority III, IV, and V candidates for Armed Forces Medical Services teaching hospitals.
Eligibility Criteria
General Eligibility
- NEET PG Qualification: Must have qualified the NEET-PG entrance examination conducted by NBEMS with scores above the prescribed cut-off percentile.
- Educational Qualification: Must possess an MBBS degree or Provisional Pass Certificate recognized under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act.
- Internship Completion: Satisfactory completion of 12 months of compulsory rotatory internship on or before the official cutoff date notified by NMC/MCC.
- Medical Registration: Must hold a Permanent or Provisional Medical Registration certificate issued by the NMC or a State Medical Council (SMC).
Quota-Specific & Category Eligibility
- AIQ & DNB Seats: 100% domicile-free; candidates from any state/UT can apply.
- Central University Internal Quotas: Candidates must have passed their final MBBS from the respective institutions (DU, AMU, BHU, or IPU).
- OCI Cardholders: Treated at par with Indian citizens and eligible for Unreserved (UR) general seats as well as NRI quota seats.
- NRI Quota Eligibility: Candidates sponsored by real parents, first-degree relations (real brother/sister), or nearest blood relations ordinarily residing abroad can claim NRI seats subject to providing valid proof.
Major New Rules & Protocol Upgrades for 2026
Categorized Willingness System
A strict choice between FREEZE and FLOAT status after every seat allotment.
100% Online Operations
Admissions & resignations are valid only via the Intra-MCC portal.
Pre-Populated Registration
Email and mobile numbers are strictly locked to NBE data.
Document Scrutiny Protocol
Digital verification introduced for Float status candidates.
The Categorized Willingness System: FREEZE vs. FLOAT
| Function | FREEZE | FLOAT |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate Intent | "I am fully satisfied with my allotted seat." | "I want to secure this seat, but seek upgradation." |
| Upgradation Eligibility | No — candidate locks the seat and exits the upgradation pool. | Yes — candidate remains eligible for Round 2 or Round 3 upgradation. |
| Reporting Protocol | Physical reporting — must travel to the allotted institute to join and pay fees. | Online verification only — do not travel physically to the college yet. |
| Document Verification | Physical handover — original documents scrutinized in person by college authorities. | Online scrutiny — scanned documents uploaded to the MCC portal and verified digitally. |
| Resignation Procedure | Must visit the institute physically to resign (valid only within R1/R2 timelines). | Online seat surrender request submitted directly to the Nodal Officer via portal. |
Online Document Verification Anomaly Loop (Float Protocol)
For candidates opting to FLOAT:
- Candidate uploads mandatory scanned documents to the MCC portal (one-time upload).
- The Digital Document Verification Centre (DVC) / Nodal Officer conducts online scrutiny.
- If an anomaly is detected, a query is raised by the DVC. The candidate must re-upload corrected documents within a strict timeframe, followed by re-verification.
- If the discrepancy remains, the seat is cancelled and the candidate becomes eligible for the next round as unallotted.
The 4-Round Counselling Architecture
Round 1 — The Opening
Seats shown: Clear-cut vacancies only.
Options: Free Exit (no penalty), Join & Freeze, or Join & Float.
Round 2 — The Shuffle
Seats shown: Clear-cut vacancies + Virtual Vacancies.
Eligibility: Fresh registrations allowed.
Upgradation: Candidates upgraded in R2 are automatically relieved from their R1 seat and can opt for Float to Round 3.
Penalty: If allotted a fresh/upgraded seat in R2 and the candidate chooses not to join, the security deposit is forfeited.
Round 3 — The Point of No Return
Seat conversion: Unfilled reserved category seats (ST, SC, OBC, PwD, EWS, NRI/Minority) are converted to Unreserved (UR) pools.
The permanent lock: Joining a seat in Round 3 permanently locks the candidate — no resignation allowed. Candidate data is shared with states to block double-booking.
Stray Vacancy Round — The Final Sweep
Execution: Conducted centrally by MCC for 100% of remaining seats.
Eligibility: Only candidates who do NOT hold any seat in AIQ or State Quota.
Penalty: Failure to join an allotted Stray Vacancy seat results in security deposit forfeiture and debarment from NEET PG for 1 year.
DNB & NBE Diploma Seats
- Domicile Free: 100% All India Quota open to all candidates.
- Private DNB Institutions: Zero reservation; allotted purely on Open Unreserved Merit.
- Government DNB Institutions: Central reservation roster applies.
- Financials: Tuition fees collected directly by NBEMS after seat allotment.
Registration Fees & Security Deposit
| Counselling Quota / Category | Non-Refundable Fee | Refundable Deposit | Total Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ / Central University / DNB (UR / EWS) | ₹1,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹26,000 |
| AIQ / Central University / DNB (SC / ST / OBC / PwD) | ₹500 | ₹10,000 | ₹10,500 |
| Deemed Universities (All Categories) | ₹5,000 | ₹2,00,000 | ₹2,05,000 |
Note: Candidates opting for both AIQ/DNB and Deemed Universities pay only the higher fee total (₹2,05,000).
Documents Required for Admission
Candidates must keep original documents (and scanned PDFs for Float candidates) ready:
- MCC Provisional Allotment Letter
- NEET PG Admit Card & Result/Rank Card
- MBBS Mark Sheets (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional)
- MBBS Degree Certificate / Provisional Pass Certificate
- Internship Completion Certificate
- Permanent / Provisional Medical Registration Certificate
- Class 10 / High School Certificate / Birth Certificate (Age Proof)
- Valid Government Photo ID Proof
- Category Certificates (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD/NRI) if applicable
Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) Admissions
Counselling for civilian medical graduates seeking admission to AFMS PG teaching institutes is conducted by MCC under Priorities III, IV, and V.
- Priority III: Sponsored medical officers from Para-Military or Government Organizations.
- Priority IV: Ex-SSC AFMS Officers within 3 years of release.
- Priority V (Civilian Candidates): Must be under 30 years of age, must serve 5 years as SSC Officers post-completion, and sign a Surety Bond of ₹59,00,000. Final admission is strictly subject to clearing the AFMS medical fitness examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if I do not report to my Round 1 allotted college?
A: Round 1 offers a "Free Exit." You will not lose your security deposit and can participate directly in Round 2.
Q: Can I upgrade my seat in Round 3 if I join a seat in Round 2?
A: Yes. Under the new rules, you can select the FLOAT option after reporting in Round 2 to participate in Round 3 upgradation.
Q: Can I resign from a seat joined in Round 3?
A: No. Joined Round 3 seats are permanently locked. Resignation is not permitted, and you are eliminated from all further AIQ and State rounds.