The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has lined up the next key phase of NEET UG Counselling 2026 — Round 3 — as per its revised AIQ counselling schedule issued on 14 September 2026. As per the official timeline, participating institutes will verify the tentative seat matrix on 21 September 2026, and Round 3 registration with fee payment will begin from 22 September 2026.
It's worth clarifying that this isn't a fresh notice being issued today — these dates are already part of MCC's revised schedule. With Round 2-related processes (including verification and document-related updates) nearing their deadlines, candidates are now preparing for Round 3 as the next major counselling window.
What happens on September 21?
On 21 September, colleges and institutes will carry out tentative seat matrix verification for Round 3. In simple terms, institutes will confirm which seats can be offered for Round 3 — typically including seats that become available because candidates didn't join or report after earlier rounds.
Candidates should keep in mind that exact Round 3 seat numbers should only be trusted once MCC uploads the official Round 3 seat matrix. Until then, any seat count being discussed is only provisional.
Round 3 registration and choice filling: key dates
As per MCC's schedule, the Round 3 window will move quickly:
- • Registration & Fee Payment: 22–27 September 2026
- • Registration closes: 27 September, 3:00 PM (server time)
- • Payment closes: 27 September, 6:00 PM (server time)
- • Choice Filling: 23–28 September 2026
- • Choice filling ends: 28 September, 12:00 Noon
- • Choice Locking: 27 September, 7:00 PM to 28 September, 12:00 Noon
- • Allotment Processing: 28–29 September 2026
- • Round 3 Result: 30 September 2026
- • Reporting/Joining: 1–9 October 2026 (last date: 9 October)
- • Joined candidates’ data verification by MCC: 10 October 2026
MCC has also made it clear that because the timeline is tight, Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays will be treated as working days.
Who can take part in Round 3?
Round 3 is open to several categories of candidates, including those who:
• Registered earlier but didn't get a seat in Round 1 or Round 2
• Had their seat cancelled during reporting or verification
• Opted for upgradation (submitted willingness as "Yes")
• Didn't join, or resigned from, an earlier seat — subject to applicable rules, including forfeiture where relevant
In most cases, candidates who were already registered and remained unallotted won't need to register again, while completely new candidates can register fresh for Round 3 as per the rules.
Most important rule: no resignation after Round 3 allotment
Here's a crucial advisory straight from the MCC Information Bulletin: once a seat is allotted and joined in Round 3, resignation or exit is generally not allowed. If a candidate gets a seat in Round 3 and doesn't join it, their security deposit can be forfeited, and they may also be removed from further rounds, as per the scheme.
Fee and security deposit (as per the bulletin)
For AIQ / Central Universities / ESIC / AFMC / AIIMS / JIPMER / B.Sc Nursing:
- UR/EWS: ₹1,000 + ₹10,000 (refundable security)
- SC/ST/OBC/PwD: ₹500 + ₹5,000 (refundable security)
For Deemed Universities:
- ₹5,000 + ₹2,00,000 (refundable security)