NEET PG 2026 State Counselling Starts October 21: Round 1 to November 2, Join by November 10
By TUF News Desk · Published 12 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The second half of NEET PG 2026 admissions opens on October 21. That is when state counselling authorities begin Round 1 for their share of postgraduate medical seats, just as the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) closes registration for the central track. NEET PG qualifiers now have two calendars to follow, and the state one runs on its own dates.
The state counselling schedule
The tentative national timetable gives states four rounds, staggered behind the MCC rounds:
- Round 1: October 21 – November 2, 2026; last date to join: November 10
- Round 2: November 14 – November 23, 2026; last date to join: November 30
- Round 3: December 4 – December 12, 2026; last date to join: December 18
- Stray Vacancy Round: December 22 – December 25, 2026; last date to join: December 31
The academic session for postgraduate medical courses begins on November 20, 2026, so Round 1 allottees have just ten days between the joining deadline and the first day of classes.
Which seats run through the states
Roughly half of all MD and MS seats move through state authorities. MCC handles 50 per cent of the seats in government medical colleges (the All India Quota), plus all seats in deemed universities, central universities, ESIC institutes and Armed Forces Medical Services institutions. The remaining government-college seats, together with every seat in private medical colleges, are allotted by the state directorates of medical education and their counselling committees. Both tracks use the NEET PG rank, but registration, choice filling and allotment run separately on each side. Our central vs state vs private university guide explains how the split works.
Why the state round starts nine days late
The gap is deliberate. MCC’s Round 1 registration opened on October 12 and closes on October 21, with the allotment result due on October 24. State counselling begins on October 21, so candidates can see their central allotment position before deciding how hard to play the state round. The rules on holding an AIQ seat while participating in a state round are strict, so read both notifications before opting in.
What to watch before October 21
The national dates above are tentative, and every state publishes its own detailed schedule. Registration windows, document verification centres, domicile requirements and fee structures vary from state to state and differ from MCC’s. Follow your state’s directorate of medical education or counselling authority website now rather than after the round opens. MCC has said it will share the joined-candidate data with the states (November 3 for Round 1), which stops the two tracks from allotting to the same candidate twice.
Keep documents ready the same way as for the central counselling: the NEET PG scorecard and rank, the MBBS degree certificate, marksheets, the internship completion certificate, the medical registration certificate, a photo ID and date of birth proof. The admission documents checklist covers the full set, and registration for both tracks runs through the official MCC portal and the respective state portals.
Frequently asked questions
When does NEET PG 2026 state counselling Round 1 start?
On October 21, 2026. The round runs till November 2, and allotted candidates must join their colleges by November 10, 2026.
Which seats are covered by state counselling?
The state quota, which is 50 per cent of seats in government medical colleges plus all seats in private medical colleges of the state. The counselling is run by the state directorate of medical education or the state counselling authority.
Is the state counselling schedule final?
No, the published schedule is tentative. MCC and the state authorities can revise dates, so check your state’s counselling website and mcc.nic.in before every deadline.
When do the 2026 PG medical classes begin?
The academic session for 2026 postgraduate medical courses begins on November 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When does NEET PG 2026 state counselling Round 1 start?
On October 21, 2026. The round runs till November 2, and allotted candidates must join their colleges by November 10, 2026.
Which seats are covered by state counselling?
The state quota, which is 50 per cent of seats in government medical colleges plus all seats in private medical colleges of the state, allotted by the state directorate of medical education or the state counselling authority.
Is the state counselling schedule final?
No, the published schedule is tentative. Check your state's counselling website and mcc.nic.in before every deadline for revisions.
When do the 2026 PG medical classes begin?
The academic session for postgraduate medical courses begins on November 20, 2026.
Sources: JagranJosh, Shiksha, Medical Dialogues