Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Registration Expected July, Dates, Merit List and Cutoff

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 is conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in government and private medical and dental colleges across Punjab under the 85% state quota. With NEET UG 2026 now over, results are expected in June 2026, and Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 is expected to begin around mid-July 2026. Around 1,699 MBBS seats across 12 medical colleges and more than 1,200 BDS seats in 16 dental colleges are available through BFUHS counselling this year.

• NEET UG 2026 Result: Results are expected in June 2026. In 2025, NTA declared the NEET UG result on June 14, 2025. Once results are out, BFUHS will release the official Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 notification and schedule.
• Counselling Registration: Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 registration is expected to open in mid-July 2026. In 2025, BFUHS opened registration on July 15, 2025 — approximately one month after NEET results.
• Provisional Merit List: BFUHS publishes the state merit list within 2–3 days of the registration deadline. In 2025, the merit list came out within days of the July 24 registration deadline. Expect the 2026 merit list in late July or early August 2026.
• Round 1 Seat Allotment: Round 1 allotment is expected around mid-August 2026. In 2025, Round 1 allotment was completed by August 15, 2025. More than 1,699 MBBS seats are on offer across Round 1 for Punjab domicile candidates.

What is Punjab NEET Counselling 2026?

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 is the state-level medical admission process for MBBS and BDS courses in Punjab. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), based in Faridkot, conducts this process every year on behalf of the Punjab government. The counselling covers 85% of seats in government medical colleges and the government quota (50%) in private medical and dental colleges.

You need a valid Punjab domicile certificate and a qualifying NEET UG 2026 score to apply. The entire process — from registration to seat allotment — happens online on the BFUHS portal at bfuhs.ac.in. Document verification is done at the BFUHS campus in Faridkot.

Key Highlights: Punjab NEET Counselling 2026

The counselling fills seats across 5 government medical colleges, 7 private medical colleges, and 16+ dental colleges in Punjab. The remaining 15% of government seats go to the All India Quota (AIQ) managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services.

The Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 schedule has not been released yet. Dates given in this article are expected timelines based on the 2025 schedule.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Important Dates

BFUHS has not yet released the official Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 schedule. The dates below are expected timelines based on the 2025 counselling schedule and the NEET UG 2026 result timeline. All dates are subject to official confirmation from BFUHS.

Source: bfuhs.ac.in

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Eligibility Criteria

You must meet all the eligibility criteria set by BFUHS before you apply for Punjab NEET Counselling 2026. The main requirements cover nationality, age, educational qualifications, and Punjab domicile.

Basic Eligibility

Who Qualifies as a Punjab Domicile Candidate?

You are considered a Punjab domicile candidate if you fall into any of these categories:

• You hold a valid Punjab state domicile/residence certificate
• You studied and passed Classes 11 and 12 from a recognized school in Punjab
• You are a ward of a Central Government employee, Punjab Government employee, or All India Services officer posted in Punjab
• You are a dependent of a deceased Central or Punjab State Government employee who served in Punjab for at least 2 of the last 3 years before your Class 12 exam
• You are a ward of defense personnel stationed in Punjab

Candidates must submit a valid Punjab domicile certificate at the time of document verification. Applications without valid domicile proof will be rejected.

NEET UG 2026 Qualifying Percentile

The exact qualifying cutoff marks for NEET UG 2026 will be declared by NTA along with the result in June 2026. Scores above are approximate based on NEET UG 2025 qualifying thresholds.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Registration Process

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 registration will happen online on the BFUHS official website. You cannot apply offline. The registration window is typically open for 8–10 days, so you must complete all steps within this period.

How to Register for Punjab NEET Counselling 2026

• Go to the official BFUHS website: bfuhs.ac.in
• Click on the "NEET UG Counselling 2026" link on the homepage
• Register with your NEET UG 2026 roll number and date of birth
• Fill in your personal and educational details in the application form
• Upload scanned copies of required documents (domicile certificate, NEET scorecard, mark sheets, category certificate if applicable)
• Pay the non-refundable registration fee online via debit/credit card or net banking
• Submit the form and download the confirmation page for your records

Registration Fee

The registration fee is non-refundable. Pay only through the official BFUHS payment gateway to avoid fraud.

After seat allotment, you must also pay a security deposit: ₹10,000 for a government college seat and ₹1,00,000 for a private college seat. This deposit is refundable when you report to the allotted college.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Seat Matrix

Punjab has around 1,699 MBBS seats across 12 medical colleges available under state-level NEET counselling. The seats are split between government colleges (85% under state quota) and private colleges (50% under government quota). More than 1,200 BDS seats in dental colleges are also available.

Government Medical Colleges in Punjab: MBBS Seats

Private Medical Colleges in Punjab: MBBS Seats (Government Quota)

The seat matrix for 2026 will be confirmed in the official BFUHS notification. Total seats may vary from the 2025 matrix depending on MCI/NMC approvals.

BDS Seats in Punjab Dental Colleges

Punjab also has more than 1,200 BDS seats in government and private dental colleges. The Punjab Government Dental College in Amritsar and the Government Dental College in Patiala offer around 90–100 government BDS seats. Private dental colleges in Punjab, such as Adesh Institute of Dental Sciences, Christian Dental College (Ludhiana), Dasmesh Institute of Dental Sciences (Faridkot), and National Dental College (Dera Bassi), collectively offer more than 1,100 BDS seats. BFUHS conducts a separate merit-based counselling for BDS admissions following the same process as MBBS.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Merit List

BFUHS prepares the Punjab NEET Counselling merit list based on your NEET UG 2026 score. Only candidates who register for counselling within the given window appear in the state merit list. A higher NEET score gives you a better rank in the state merit list.

How Is the Merit List Prepared?

• Primary Basis: NEET UG 2026 total score (out of 720)
• Tie-Breaking Rule 1: Candidate with higher Biology marks gets preference
• Tie-Breaking Rule 2: If Biology marks are equal, higher Chemistry marks decide
• Tie-Breaking Rule 3: If Chemistry is also equal, fewer wrong answers in Biology decides
• Tie-Breaking Rule 4: Fewer wrong answers in Chemistry is the final tie-breaker

Types of Merit Lists in Punjab NEET Counselling

BFUHS releases category-wise merit lists. There are separate lists for General/Unreserved, SC, BC, EWS, PwD, NRI, and other special categories. Your rank in the relevant category list decides your seat preference options.

• Provisional Merit List: Released first — candidates can raise objections within 24–48 hours
• Final Merit List: Released after resolving objections — used for actual seat allotment
• Round 2 / Round 3 Merit Lists: Fresh lists prepared for each subsequent round after new registrations

The merit list for Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 is expected in late July 2026, a few days after registration closes.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Documents Required

You must carry all original documents to BFUHS, Faridkot for verification. Missing even one document can lead to rejection. Keep at least 4–5 sets of self-attested photocopies of all documents ready.

• NEET UG 2026 Admit Card (original)
• NEET UG 2026 Scorecard / Rank Letter (original)
• Class 10 Mark Sheet and Certificate (for date of birth and age proof)
• Class 12 Mark Sheet and Certificate (with Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
• Punjab Domicile / Resident Certificate — mandatory for state quota; must be valid and issued by the competent authority
• Category Certificate — SC, BC, or EWS certificate issued by a competent Punjab authority
• PwD Certificate (if applicable) — issued by a government medical board
• Character Certificate — from your last attended school or college
• Migration Certificate (if you studied outside Punjab for Class 12)
• Gap Certificate / Affidavit (if there is a gap year between Class 12 and NEET 2026)
• 8 Passport-size Photographs (recent, white background)
• Government-issued Photo ID — Aadhaar card, PAN card, Passport, or Driving Licence
• BFUHS Registration Confirmation Page (printout)
• Allotment Letter (downloaded from BFUHS portal after allotment)

For NRI candidates, you also need a sponsorship certificate, passport copy, and a notarized affidavit from your NRI sponsor.

Carry all original documents AND at least 4 sets of self-attested photocopies. Document verification is in person at BFUHS Faridkot — online submission alone is not sufficient.

Top Medical Colleges in Punjab for NEET 2026

Punjab has some of the most established medical colleges in North India. Government colleges offer subsidized fee structures with strong clinical training, while top private colleges like CMC Ludhiana and DMC Ludhiana have long academic track records.

Government Medical Colleges in Punjab

Top Private Medical Colleges in Punjab

GMC Amritsar and GMC Patiala are the most sought-after government colleges in Punjab, given their long history and large patient loads offering strong clinical exposure. CMC Ludhiana tops the private college rankings due to its history and strong postgraduate placement record.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Seat Reservation

Punjab follows a reservation policy for MBBS and BDS seats in government medical colleges. The reservation applies to the 85% state quota seats in government colleges and the 50% government quota in private colleges.

Category-wise Reservation in Punjab Government Medical Colleges

PwD reservation is horizontal — meaning PwD candidates compete within their own category (General PwD, SC PwD, etc.) for 5% of seats in each vertical category.

Private College Seat Quota Structure

• Government Quota (50%): Allotted through BFUHS counselling with the same reservation policy as government colleges
• Management Quota (35%): Open to all-India candidates; college fills these seats independently at fees set by the state fee committee
• NRI Quota (15%): For NRI, OCI, and PIO candidates; separate fee structure in USD

You need the correct category certificate from the competent Punjab authority. Certificates from other states are not valid for Punjab state quota counselling.

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026: Preparation Tips

Punjab NEET Counselling 2026 requires careful planning beyond just getting a good NEET score. The choice-filling step and document readiness are equally important. Here is what you should do now to be fully prepared.

Before Registration Opens

• Get your Punjab domicile certificate ready. This is the single most important document. Apply for it immediately if you do not have one. Processing can take 15–30 days depending on your district.
• Collect all original documents listed in the documents section above. Keep them in a single folder. Many candidates face rejection during verification due to missing documents.
• Check if your category certificate is valid. SC, BC, and EWS certificates must be from the competent Punjab authority. Check the issue date — some certificates have validity limits.
• Research the colleges thoroughly. Visit the official websites of GMC Amritsar, GMC Patiala, GGSMCH Faridkot, and other colleges you are considering. Check their hostel availability, fee structure, and hospital infrastructure.

During Choice Filling

• Fill as many choices as possible. There is no penalty for filling more choices. The more choices you fill, the better your chances of getting your preferred seat.
• Always put government colleges first if your priority is lower fees and stronger clinical exposure.
• Do not leave any good option out. Even if a college is not your first preference, add it lower in your list. You can always decline an allotment later, but you cannot get a seat if you did not fill that college in your choices.
• Base your choices on your realistic rank, not just your dream college. Use the marks vs rank table and previous year cutoffs to shortlist feasible options.

During Counselling Rounds

• Do not skip Round 1. Most government MBBS seats are filled in Round 1. If you miss Round 1 registration, your chances of a government seat drop sharply.
• Participate in Round 2 even if you got a seat in Round 1. You can upgrade to a better college if your rank allows it. Your Round 1 seat is safe until you accept a new allotment in Round 2.
• Keep your documents ready for same-day verification. BFUHS sometimes processes allotment letters and verification on very short notice.
• Track the official BFUHS website daily during counselling season. Schedule changes happen frequently and official announcements may come with very short notice.