Lucknow, 29 October 2026: The choice-filling window for the third round of UP NEET UG 2026 counselling is currently open for eligible medical and dental aspirants. Candidates who have completed registration and paid the prescribed fee must submit and lock their preferences by 5 pm on 31 October 2026 through the official counselling portal, upneet.gov.in.

Conducted by the Directorate General of Medical Education and Training (DGME), Uttar Pradesh, the counselling process covers eligible MBBS and BDS seats in government and private institutions across the state for the 2026–27 academic session.

Merit List and Seat Matrix Available

The Round 3 State Merit List, important counselling instructions and the latest seat matrix have been listed in the notification section of the UPNEET portal. Candidates should examine these documents carefully before entering their college preferences.

The merit list enables aspirants to verify their name, NEET roll number, state merit rank and applicable category details. Meanwhile, the seat matrix provides crucial information about the seats available across different colleges, courses and categories.

Candidates should rely only on the latest Round 3 seat matrix, rather than referring to vacancy figures from previous rounds.

Important Dates to Remember

The Round 3 schedule was issued on 26 October. The registration and payment windows have already closed, making choice filling the immediate priority.

  • Registration deadline: 28 October, 2 pm

  • Fee payment deadline: 28 October, 3 pm

  • State Merit List: 28 October

  • Choice filling commenced: 28 October, 5 pm

  • Choice filling and locking deadline: 31 October, 5 pm

  • Seat allotment result: 2 November

  • Allotment letter and admission process: 3–7 November

Although the allotment result is scheduled for 2 November, the published timetable does not specify an exact declaration time.

How to Complete Choice Filling

Eligible candidates can complete the process by following these steps:

  • Visit upneet.gov.in and open the UG Counselling section.

  • Select the Choice Filling and Locking facility.

  • Log in using the registered credentials.

  • Study the latest seat matrix before selecting colleges and courses.

  • Arrange choices in a thoughtful order of preference.

  • Review, save and lock the final list before the deadline.

  • Download or preserve the confirmation record, if available.

Aspirants should avoid limiting their selections to only one or two highly preferred colleges. Allotment depends on several factors, including state merit, preference order, seat availability, eligibility and reservation rules. A broader yet realistic list may improve the possibility of securing a suitable seat.

What Happens After Allotment?

Candidates allotted a seat on 2 November will be required to download their allotment letter and report to the designated institution between 3 and 7 November 2026. They should keep their original academic certificates, NEET UG admit card and scorecard, identity proof, domicile certificate and applicable category documents ready.

Applicants must also remember that UP State Counselling is separate from the Medical Counselling Committee’s All India Quota process. The two have distinct portals, seat pools and procedural rules.

Candidates are advised not to wait until the final hours to lock their choices, as technical congestion or an unstable internet connection could jeopardise submission. All instructions and deadlines should be reconfirmed on the official UPNEET portal.