NEET UG Counselling: Your Definitive Guide to MBBS/BDS Admission | MCC and State Quota Process Explained

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is the mandatory gateway for admission into MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) courses in India. The final and most crucial step after the result declaration is the centralized NEET Counselling process. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of the two parallel systems—the MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) Counselling and the State Counselling—that govern the All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota seats.

Understanding the nuances of Registration, Choice Filling, Seat Allotment, and the rules like Free Exit and Forfeiture is essential for securing your medical seat. A strategic approach to this process maximizes your chances of getting into your preferred medical or dental college.

Understanding the Framework: AIQ, State Quota, and MCC

NEET-UG qualified candidates participate in two primary counselling streams simultaneously:

MCC vs. State Counselling: The Two Pathways

Step-by-Step NEET UG Counselling Procedure (MCC)

The MCC counselling process is the central mechanism for AIQ and Central/Deemed Universities admission. State counselling largely follows a similar structure, but with state-specific rules and timelines.

Step 1: Online Registration and Fee Payment 📝

• Mandatory: Candidates must register on the official MCC portal (for AIQ/Deemed) or the respective state portal (for State Quota) using their NEET Roll Number and other credentials.
• Fee Payment: Registration involves paying a Non-Refundable Registration Fee and a Refundable Security Deposit. The deposit amount varies significantly for AIQ seats, Central Universities, and Deemed Universities (Deemed University deposits are substantially higher).
• Eligibility: A candidate must have qualified for NEET-UG by scoring above the minimum qualifying percentile.

Step 2: Choice Filling and Locking ✍️🔒

This is the most critical step, determining the actual seat allotment.

• Preference Order: Log in to the portal and fill the choices of colleges and courses (MBBS first, then BDS if desired) in strict order of preference. Place your most desired combination as Choice-1, followed by the next best, and so on.
• Maximize Choices: Fill as many colleges as possible for which you are eligible to maximize your chances of allotment.
• Choice Locking: After finalizing the list, candidates must Lock their choices before the deadline. If a candidate fails to lock, the last saved choices are usually auto-locked by the system.

Step 3: Seat Allotment Result 📢

• Process: Seats are allocated based on the candidate's NEET-UG All India Rank (AIR), their category (reservation), and the order of choices filled. The system tries to allocate the highest possible preferred seat from the locked list.
• Result: The provisional and final seat allotment results are published on the official counselling website. Candidates must download their Provisional Allotment Letter if a seat is allocated.

Step 4: Decision Making (Upgradation, Free Exit, Forfeiture)

After a seat is allotted, the candidate must choose one of the following options and report for admission/document verification.

Post-Allotment Options in Round 1 & 2