NEET (UG) Counselling Guide: Process, Seat Quotas & Top Colleges of India

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a centre-level examination, conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) since 2019, for admission to all undergraduate medical programs across medical institutions in India. Admissions to these institutions are granted only through the NEET (UG) Counselling process, based on the candidate’s rank and preferences. This also includes premier institutions such as AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research), which previously (before 2020) held their separate entrance exams. 

Cracking the NEET UG exam is considered a big achievement, but it’s only a stepping stone. The real journey toward securing a seat in a top medical college begins with the NEET UG counselling process. Whether you’re aiming for AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science), a Government Medical or Dental college, AYUSH institutes, or a reputed private institution, understanding how counselling works is essential. Read this blog to know everything about the NEET UG counselling process, including the system, types of quotas, required documents, and a list of India’s top medical colleges where counselling is mandatory.

Key Highlights of NEET UG 

The objective of the NEET is to evaluate medical aspirants across four core subjects of the stream, i.e., Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Each subject is divided into two sections: 

• Section A: one with 35 mandatory questions and 
• Section B: with 15 questions, out of which 10 are to be attempted. 

Check the table below for concise details of the NEET UG.

What is NEET UG Counselling?

NEET UG counselling is a 4-round, including Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round, centralised admission process through which seats in medical and dental colleges across India are allotted to qualified candidates. After the NEET written exam result is declared, candidates who have qualified NEET cut-off by obtaining the minimum qualifying percentile will take part in the NEET Counselling and claim their seats in MBBS, BDS, and other allied medical courses.

NEET counselling is conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and respective State Medical Authorities in both online and offline modes, depending on the state and central agencies. Students who participate in online counselling must fill out online forms and follow the online method. Candidates who participate in offline counselling must report straight to the designated venues.

Admission to the counselling sessions is based on:

• Candidate’s NEET All India Rank
• Category
• Seat availability
• And most importantly, their preference choices

NEET UG Counselling: Step-wise Registration Process

After the NEET UG results are announced, the counselling process begins. This is done by either the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) at the national level or by the appropriate state authorities. The complete process takes place online and usually includes registering, filling out preferences of college, getting a seat, checking documents, and getting admission. Candidates must first sign up for the official MCC counselling portal with their NEET information and personal details. Once they have successfully registered, they can choose the colleges and courses they want to attend in a specific order. These preferences must be filled out carefully, as the system will allot you the best possible seat based on your merit and choices. You can follow these steps to register yourself:

Step 1: Candidates need to visit the MCC website and click on the link to register for NEET UG counselling. 

Step 2: Submit all information carefully, like the stream (Medical/Dental), NEET UG written exam roll no., application no., your name, birth date and personal details, and click on the ‘Submit’ button after verifying. 

Step 3: Proceed to pay the non-refundable registration fee and the refundable tuition fee using a credit/debit card, UPI, or net banking.

Step 4: After the successful submission of details, the registration slip will be displayed on the screen; download and take a printout of the same for future reference. Now, click on the ‘Login’ button to proceed to the preference section.

Step 5: Use your roll number and the password you just created to log in again. Go to the Choice Filling section and start selecting your preferred colleges and courses.
Step 6: Once you’ve arranged your preferences in the desired order, lock your choices before the deadline. Not that locking your preference is mandatory, if you forget to lock, the last saved list will be auto-locked.

Step 7: After locking, download and save the choice locking confirmation slip.

The seats assigned to the candidates will be made available once the NEET counselling results are declared in the format of a seat allocation list and a letter. The NEET seat allocation list allows candidates to view their name, roll number, assigned category, candidates' category, college, quota, and course.

Note: The seat allotment result is declared in rounds, and if you’re allotted a seat, you must report to the assigned college or verification centre within the given time frame. If a candidate does not get a seat in the first round or is not satisfied with it, they can choose to participate in subsequent rounds.

NEET UG Counselling: All India Quota vs State Quota

NEET UG counselling is divided into two major types: All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota. The admitting/counselling authorities will draw a merit list of the candidates in the respective categories, declared by the candidates at the time of applying for admission/counselling.

Counselling for Seats Under 15% All India Quota

Under AIQ, 15% of the seats in all government medical and dental colleges (except in Jammu & Kashmir) are reserved for candidates across India. This quota is managed by MCC and covers some of the most prestigious institutions, including AIIMS, JIPMER, GSIPU, AFMC, ESI, Delhi University (DU), BHU & AMU and various deemed universities.

Counselling for Seats Under 85% State Quota

The remaining 85% of the seats fall under the State Quota. This is where each state conducts its counselling for candidates who meet their domicile eligibility criteria. States like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and others have dedicated portals and timelines for this process. Some states also include AYUSH courses and private medical colleges in their counselling rounds. To make sure they don't miss out on any seat opportunities, students need to stay up to date on both MCC and their own state counselling schedules.

There are other courses besides MBBS and BDS that are also part of NEET counselling. Read on to find out what options you have.

Courses That Require NEET UG Counselling for Admission

MBBS and BDS are the two most well-known options after NEET UG, but this examination also opens the door to a number of other undergraduate medical and health science programs in India. NEET UG counselling is mandatory for admission into programs like AYUSH, veterinary medicine, and nursing. Here's a quick look at the key courses, their full forms, counselling authorities, and eligibility criteria:

Note: AACCC is the AYUSH Admission Central Counselling Committee

Each course has different eligibility conditions and counselling authorities, so students must pay close attention to the specific guidelines issued for the course they are targeting. However, your NEET UG rank determines your admission, and without participating in counselling, no seat will be allotted regardless of your score.

Top Medical Colleges in India Through NEET UG Counselling

Admission to leading medical colleges in India is done solely through NEET UG counselling, whether under the All India Quota or through state counselling authorities. These medical colleges are recognised for their strong academics, experienced faculty, good facilities, and national reputation, which makes them very competitive and popular. Here is a list of some of the most well-known government and private medical colleges that students prefer based on their NEET UG ranks:

The Admissions to these government and private medical colleges depend on NEET UG rank, category, and seat availability. Some institutes, like AFMC and CMC Vellore, have their own shortlisting criteria after NEET. This may include interviews or service commitments, along with the MCC counselling process. For deemed universities such as KMC Manipal and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (Amrita Vishva Vidyapeetham), counselling is handled under a different fee and seat structure through MCC. 

When selecting your college preferences during NEET UG counselling, it’s best to include a mix of AIQ seats, state quota colleges, and deemed universities based on your score and rank. A solid strategy and timely paperwork can increase your chances of getting a seat in one of India’s top medical colleges.