NEET PG 2026: Float candidates pay no first-year fee yet, NBEMS clarifies
By TUF News Desk · Published 25 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Candidates who picked Float in NEET PG 2026 counselling will not have to pay the first-year course fee yet. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) said so in a notice issued on October 24, 2026, for DNB and DrNB seats allotted through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
What changes for Float candidates
The fee rule turns on the option a candidate chose. A Freeze candidate who joins the allotted seat pays the first-year annual course fee directly to the NBEMS-accredited hospital where the seat is allotted.
A Float candidate, staying in later rounds hoping for an upgrade, pays nothing for now. The fee falls due only at the institution where the candidate finally joins after freezing a seat.
NBEMS has told accredited hospitals not to collect the fee from Float candidates, and the fee will not be collected in NBEMS accounts during counselling.
Reporting still runs October 26 to November 2
Allotted candidates must report to their colleges between October 26 and November 2, 2026, to complete document verification and the rest of the admission formalities.
Candidates should read the allotment letter first, since individual colleges can ask for papers beyond the standard set. The standard set includes the NEET PG admit card, scorecard or rank letter, allotment letter, MBBS degree or provisional certificate, marksheets, internship completion certificate and medical registration certificate, plus date-of-birth proof, photo identity proof, photographs and category documents where relevant. Our admission documents checklist runs through the standard set so nothing is missing at the verification counter.
Hospitals carry a deadline too
Accredited hospitals must update the reporting and joining status of allotted candidates on the Intra-MCC portal within the deadlines prescribed by MCC. If a hospital fails to update a candidate’s status, the allotted seat will be treated as vacant and carried forward to the next counselling round.
Hospitals must also verify original documents and eligibility before allowing a candidate to join, and check category certificates for reserved seats against the NEET PG 2026 information bulletin. NBEMS warned that institutions approving or forwarding false, fabricated or deficient documents could face action, including a monetary penalty of Rs 1 lakh per candidate, wherever applicable.
If the seat upgrades, or does not
The notice also settles how training time is counted. A candidate who joins without opting for upgradation must begin training within that round’s reporting period.
If a candidate secures an upgraded seat in a later round, the training period will be counted from the date of reporting or joining at the upgraded institution. If the seat is not upgraded, the candidate must join the previously allotted institution within the schedule.
NBEMS has stated that extensions to the regular reporting and joining deadlines will not be permitted.
A separate rule for employed candidates
Employed candidates in government departments, Railways, public sector undertakings or other government organisations, and those bound by service obligations, must obtain the necessary No Objection Certificate and relieving documents before joining. Where extra time is needed for release, a candidate may request an extension from NBEMS after reporting and completing the formalities. Such an extension is not automatic and may run for a maximum of 90 days from the date of seat allotment, subject to NBEMS conditions.
Joining portal stays shut for now
The board’s Online Portal for Joining and Registration (OPJR) will remain inactive until MCC completes all rounds of counselling, with a separate notification to follow.
Candidates should follow the schedule on the official MCC website, since NBEMS will not intervene in MCC’s counselling process. Our guide to central, state and private universities explains the two tracks.
Frequently asked questions
Do Float candidates have to pay the first-year fee in NEET PG 2026 counselling?
No. They pay nothing while they wait for a later round, and pay only at the institution where they finally join after freezing a seat.
When do Freeze candidates pay the first-year course fee?
Freeze candidates pay it directly to the NBEMS-accredited hospital where their seat is allotted.
What happens if a hospital does not update a candidate’s joining status?
The allotted seat will be treated as vacant and carried forward to the next counselling round.
Frequently asked questions
Do Float candidates have to pay the first-year fee in NEET PG 2026 counselling?
No. NBEMS has said candidates who choose Float pay nothing while they wait for a later round. They pay the first-year fee only at the institution where they finally join after freezing a seat.
When do Freeze candidates pay the first-year course fee?
Freeze candidates pay the first-year annual course fee directly to the NBEMS-accredited hospital where their seat is allotted.
What happens if a hospital does not update a candidate's joining status?
The allotted seat will be treated as vacant and carried forward to the next counselling round, NBEMS has said.
When does NEET PG 2026 Round 1 reporting close?
Reporting runs from October 26 to November 2, 2026. Candidates who miss the window risk losing the allotted seat.
Sources: Edex Live, Careers360, Jagran Josh