The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has granted Round 1 aspirants an extra two hours: Choice Filling and Choice Locking now close at 12:00 noon on October 22, 2026, instead of the original 10:00 a.m. cut-off. The extension covers both stages — not just one. Registration and fee payment, however, remain untouched.

What Actually Changed

  • Deadline moved: Both Choice Filling and Choice Locking were due at 10:00 a.m. on October 22; they now run until 12:00 noon.

  • What did not move: Registration closed on October 21 at 12:00 noon, and fee payment ended at 3:00 p.m. that same day. The extra time applies only to submitting your preferences.

  • Official confirmation: The update appeared under Latest News on MCC’s official PG Medical Counselling portal (mcc.nic.in/pg-medical-counselling).

Timeline at a Glance

Stage

Date

Seat matrix verification

10–12 Oct 2026

Registration opens / closes

12–21 Oct (closes 12 noon, 21 Oct)

Fee payment deadline

21 Oct, 3:00 p.m.

Choice Filling + Choice Locking

22 Oct, till 12:00 noon

Seat allotment

22–23 Oct

Declaration of Round 1 outcomes

24 Oct

Reporting and assumption of duty at allotted colleges

26 Oct – 2 Nov

Colleges’ records transmitted to MCC

3 Nov

Choice Filling Versus Choice Locking — Discern the Distinction

  • Choice Filling: You rank your preferred colleges and programmes in order of priority, guided by your rank, eligibility, budget and distance.

  • Choice Locking: You seal that list forever. Once locked, there is no edit and no undo.

Golden rule: Never lock what you haven’t double-checked. After locking, verify the status on the dashboard and download the Locked Choices Letter as proof.

Five Steps Before You Lock

  • Log in through the Candidate Activity Board at mcc.nic.in/pg-medical-counselling.

  • Cross-check the seat matrix — compare your college’s claimed seats with what MCC displays. MCC issued a seat-matrix verification notice on October 15 asking institutions to confirm their numbers before filling choices; a mismatch reported late can delay allocation.

  • Rank by reality, not glamour. Weigh fees, annual intake, bond conditions and location — not just brand names.

  • Lock early, review once. Submit no later than 12:00 noon on October 22.

  • Preserve your proof. Capture a screenshot of your locking status and safeguard the Locked Choices Letter.

Don’t Expect Miracles

Locking on time guarantees nothing. Final allotment depends on your rank, available seats, eligibility, reserved categories and how many others locked the same course. Think of the two-hour cushion as a safety net — not a promise of admission.

What’s Next: Later Rounds Are Unchanged

Round

Allotment Date

Reporting Window

Round 2

14 Nov

16–23 Nov

Round 3

4 Dec

5–12 Dec

Stray Vacancy (Online)

24 Dec

24–31 Dec

These follow MCC’s published schedule and may shift if fresh vacancies arise.

Bottom Line

MCC has bought candidates breathing room — but the clock still stops at noon on October 22. Choose fewer, better-ranked options, lock only after verification, and archive every confirmation. In NEET PG, patience wins rounds.