UP NEET Counselling 2026: Registration Expected August, Seat Allotment, Eligibility and Cutoff

NEET UG 2026 Cancellation: What It Means for UP NEET Counselling

The UP NEET Counselling 2026 timeline has shifted significantly compared to 2025. Here is what happened and how it affects you as a UP candidate:

What Happened with NEET UG 2026?

NEET UG 2026 was originally conducted on May 3, 2026 in pen-and-paper mode across the country. Shortly after the exam, a "guess paper" containing over 400 questions — with more than 120 matching Biology questions from the actual paper — surfaced online. The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Central Government, after review, cancelled the exam. The CBI registered an FIR for criminal conspiracy, cheating, and destruction of evidence.

Re-NEET 2026: June 21, 2026

NTA has officially announced June 21, 2026 (Sunday) as the Re-NEET 2026 exam date, with approval from the Government of India. The exam will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM in offline mode. Key points for candidates:

• No fresh registration is needed — all existing NEET UG 2026 registered candidates will appear.
• Fresh admit cards for the Re-NEET 2026 are being issued before June 21 at neet.nta.nic.in.
• No additional fee will be charged — any fee already paid is retained for the re-exam.
• All original NEET 2026 exam centre preferences and registration data remain valid.

Impact on UP NEET Counselling 2026 Timeline

In 2025, UP NEET Counselling Round 1 registration opened on July 18 — about 5 weeks after the June 14 result. This year, with the Re-NEET on June 21, the result will come around late July 2026. As a result, UP NEET Counselling 2026 Round 1 is expected to start around early August 2026 — about 3–4 weeks later than 2025. The entire counselling cycle, including mop-up and stray vacancy rounds, will run through late 2026 and possibly into early 2027.

If you appeared for NEET UG 2026 on May 3, you must appear for the Re-NEET on June 21, 2026. The original May 3 scores are cancelled. Only the Re-NEET 2026 scores will be used for UP NEET Counselling 2026 and all other medical admissions for the 2026–27 session.

UP NEET Counselling 2026 Eligibility Criteria

You must meet all eligibility conditions before registering for UP NEET Counselling 2026. Here are the key requirements:

NEET UG Qualifying Score

• You must have qualified NEET UG 2026 (Re-exam: June 21, 2026) with the minimum required percentile.
• General category: 50th percentile qualifying cut-off.
• SC / ST / OBC categories: 40th percentile qualifying cut-off.
• General category with benchmark disability (PwBD): 45th percentile qualifying cut-off.

Academic Qualification

• You must have passed Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology as core subjects.
• English must be one of the subjects studied in Class 12.
• Minimum marks in PCB aggregate: 50% for General/EWS, 45% for General-PwBD, and 40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates.
• Candidates appearing in Class 12 for the first time in 2026 may also apply provisionally, subject to passing the exam.

Age Criteria

• You must be at least 17 years old as on December 31, 2026.
• There is no upper age limit for MBBS / BDS admissions as per the Supreme Court’s directive.

Domicile Requirement for State Quota

• For state quota seats in government medical colleges, UP domicile is mandatory. You must be a bonafide resident of Uttar Pradesh.
• Candidates who have completed both Class 10 and Class 12 from UP schools are generally exempted from submitting a separate domicile certificate — schooling in UP establishes UP domicile.
• For private medical college seats (state quota), both UP and outside-state candidates can participate in UP NEET Counselling 2026.

Important: UP state government college seats are for UP domicile candidates only. If you are from outside UP, you can participate in UP NEET Counselling only for private medical college seats. Always carry your UP domicile certificate or proof of UP schooling for government college admissions.

UP NEET Counselling 2026 Registration Process

The UP NEET Counselling 2026 registration process is fully online through upneet.gov.in. You should register on the first day of the registration window — do not wait for the last date. Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: New Registration

• Visit upneet.gov.in and click the "UP NEET UG 2026 Counselling" registration link when it opens.
• Enter your NEET UG 2026 Roll Number, date of birth, and other basic details to create an account.
• Set a login ID and password. Write it down — you will need it for every future login.

Step 2: Fill Application Form

• Log in and fill in your personal and academic details carefully.
• Select your category (General / OBC / SC / ST / EWS) and domicile status.
• Candidates from outside UP must select "Private College" in the domicile preference if applying for private seats only.

Step 3: Upload Documents

• Upload scanned copies of required documents in the format and size specified on the portal.
• Your photograph must be recent and clear. Use the same photograph you used in the NEET 2026 application.

Step 4: Pay the Registration Fee

• Pay Rs. 2,000 (non-refundable) through net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI on the portal.
• Take a screenshot or print the payment confirmation. Keep the transaction ID safe.

Step 5: Submit and Print Confirmation

• Review all details before final submission — changes may not be possible after submission.
• Print the registration confirmation slip for your records.
• Proceed to choice filling once the choice-filling window opens (usually starts together with or right after registration).

UP NEET Counselling 2026 Application and Security Deposit Fee

The UP NEET Counselling 2026 fee has two components: a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit. The security deposit amount depends on the type of college you are applying for.

The security deposit is paid during document verification / seat confirmation, not during registration. It is refundable if no seat is allotted, or if you withdraw before the prescribed withdrawal deadline set by DMER UP.

The Rs. 2,00,000 security deposit for private MBBS colleges is a significant amount. If you plan to fill private college choices, arrange these funds well in advance — the payment deadline after seat allotment is usually very tight (48–72 hours).

Government College MBBS Fee (For Reference)

Tuition fees in government medical colleges in UP are extremely low compared to private colleges:

• Government MBBS annual tuition fee: Approximately Rs. 25,000–50,000 per year (varies by college).
• Private MBBS annual tuition fee: Approximately Rs. 9 lakh–16 lakh per year, regulated by the UP Fee Regulatory Committee.
• The actual fee structure for 2026–27 will be finalized by DMER UP and confirmed at the time of admission.

UP NEET Counselling 2026 Seat Matrix

UP NEET Counselling 2026 has one of the largest seat pools of any state medical counselling in India. The official seat matrix will be published on upneet.gov.in before Round 1 opens. Here is the expected breakdown based on 2025 data:

MBBS Seat Summary (Expected 2026)

BDS and AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS) seats are additional and also covered under UP NEET Counselling 2026. The exact seat matrix will be published on upneet.gov.in.

Major Government Medical Colleges in UP and Their Intake

UP has rapidly expanded its government medical college network. There are now over 35 Autonomous State Medical Colleges (ASMCs) across UP districts, in addition to the older established colleges. The ASMC seats are part of UP NEET Counselling 2026.

Source: DMER UP — upneet.gov.in

UP NEET Counselling 2026 Rounds Explained

UP NEET Counselling 2026 happens in four rounds. Each round gives candidates a chance to get a seat or upgrade to a better college. Here is how each round works:

Round 1

• Open to all eligible NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates who have registered on upneet.gov.in.
• Seat allotment is based on NEET score, category, and choice list filled by the candidate.
• After allotment, you must report to the college for document verification and pay the admission fee within the deadline.
• If you report and confirm, your seat is locked. You may still participate in Round 2 for an upgrade.

Round 2

• Candidates who were allotted a seat in Round 1 can participate to upgrade to a better college.
• Fresh candidates who did not register in Round 1 can also apply in Round 2.
• If you get an upgraded seat, your Round 1 seat is automatically cancelled. If you do not get an upgrade, you keep your Round 1 seat.

Mop-up Round

• Conducted to fill seats left vacant after Round 1 and Round 2.
• Open to new candidates only — those who were not allotted a seat in earlier rounds or who did not join.
• Candidates who already joined a college in Round 1 or Round 2 cannot participate in the mop-up round for upgrades.

Stray Vacancy Round

• The final round, conducted for any remaining vacant seats after all other rounds.
• Usually very few seats are available at this stage.
• This round may be conducted at the college level or centrally through the DMER UP portal.

Do not miss the reporting deadline after seat allotment. If you do not report to the allotted college within the specified time, your seat is cancelled. DMER UP does not offer extensions for reporting deadlines.

Choice Filling and Seat Allotment Process

Choice filling is the most critical step in UP NEET Counselling 2026. Your entire fate in the counselling depends on the quality and order of choices you submit. Here is what you need to know:

How to Fill Choices on upneet.gov.in

• Log in to upneet.gov.in during the choice-filling window.
• Search and filter colleges by district, college type (government or private), course, and category quota.
• Add every college you are willing to study at — there is no cap on the number of choices you can fill.
• Arrange your choices in order of preference: your most preferred college at the top, least preferred at the bottom.
• Review your final list and lock your choices before the deadline. Locked choices cannot be edited.

How Seat Allotment Works

• DMER UP processes all registered candidates’ choice lists in order of NEET UG 2026 merit rank (highest rank first).
• A candidate is allotted the highest-ranked college from their choice list where a seat is available in their eligible category.
• Allotment results are published on upneet.gov.in on the scheduled date.
• If no seat from your choice list is available, you will be listed as "not allotted" and can try in the next round.

Smart Choice Filling Tips

• Put all government colleges at the top — fees are far lower and reputation is established.
• Check the 2025 closing ranks before filling choices. Do not skip colleges where your rank is close to the cutoff — sometimes small rank variations open seats.
• Include private colleges at the bottom of your list as a safety net.
• Fill as many choices as possible — more choices always mean better chances of allotment.

Lock your choices at least 24 hours before the deadline. The DMER UP portal experiences heavy traffic near closing time and may become slow or inaccessible. Do not risk last-minute submission failures.

Document Verification and Admission Reporting

After your seat is allotted, you must report to the allotted college for document verification. Admission is confirmed only after the college verifies all your original documents. Here is the complete list of documents you need to carry:

• NEET UG 2026 Admit Card (Re-exam admit card)
• NEET UG 2026 Scorecard / Result (download from neet.nta.nic.in)
• UP NEET Counselling 2026 Seat Allotment Letter (download from upneet.gov.in)
• Class 10 Certificate and Marksheet (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 Certificate and Marksheet
• UP Domicile Certificate (for state quota seats in government colleges; Class 10 + 12 from UP schools may substitute)
• Category Certificate (SC / ST / OBC / EWS — issued by a competent UP authority)
• Passport-size Photographs (recent, identical to NEET application photo)
• Aadhaar Card or Government-issued Photo ID
• Character Certificate (from last attended institution)
• Migration Certificate (if studied outside UP)
• Gap Certificate (if there is a gap in education after Class 12)

Carry original documents AND at least 4 self-attested photocopies of each document. The college will retain photocopies and return the originals after verification. Missing even one document can delay your admission or result in cancellation of the seat.

Also, you must pay the security deposit and first-year college fee at the time of reporting (or online before reporting, as instructed by DMER UP). For private colleges, the fee demand can be over Rs. 2 lakh just for security — be financially prepared before the allotment day.

UP NEET Counselling 2026 Reservation Policy

UP NEET Counselling 2026 follows the Uttar Pradesh government’s reservation policy for distribution of state quota seats. Here is the full breakdown:

Vertical (Category-wise) Reservation

Horizontal Reservation (Cross-category)

• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): 5% horizontal reservation within each vertical category.
• Freedom Fighter Dependents: A specific sub-quota within the UP state quota structure.
• Defence / Ex-servicemen Dependents: Sub-quota as per the UP government’s policy.
• Girl Candidates: Some government medical colleges may have an additional horizontal sub-quota for girl candidates. Check the official information brochure on upneet.gov.in.

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificates must be valid and issued within the last year by a competent authority in Uttar Pradesh. An expired or incorrectly-issued OBC certificate will result in your OBC claim being rejected at document verification — you will then be considered under the UR category. Renew your OBC certificate now if it was issued before June 2025.

EWS Certificate Requirements

If you are claiming EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation, your EWS certificate must be issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar / SDM) in Uttar Pradesh, valid for the current financial year (2026–27), and in the prescribed central/state government format.

DMER UP Portal: How to Use upneet.gov.in

The DMER UP portal, upneet.gov.in, is the single official platform for all UP NEET Counselling 2026 activities. Everything — from registration to the final allotment letter — happens through this portal.

What You Can Do on upneet.gov.in

• Register for UP NEET Counselling 2026 (when the window opens)
• Fill and submit the application form
• Pay the registration fee online
• Fill and lock college choices during the choice-filling window
• Check round-wise seat allotment results
• Download your seat allotment letter
• View official schedule, notices, and information brochure
• Access the helpline and grievance contact details

Technical Tips for Using the Portal

• Use a desktop or laptop for registration and choice filling. Mobile browsers may not render all portal features correctly.
• Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for best portal compatibility.
• Do not press the browser back button during payment or form submission — it can cause transaction failures or duplicate entries.
• Take a screenshot of every completed step: registration confirmation, payment receipt, and locked choice list.
• The portal gets very heavy traffic near deadlines. Log in during off-peak hours (early morning or late night) to avoid slowdowns.

If You Face Technical Issues

DMER UP provides a helpline number and email for technical support during the counselling window. The contact details will be published on upneet.gov.in when the counselling schedule is released. For urgent issues that cannot be resolved online, you can visit the DMER UP office in Lucknow directly.

Tips to Secure Admission Through UP NEET Counselling 2026

UP NEET Counselling 2026 is competitive, especially for government college seats. Here is practical advice to improve your chances:

Before Registration Opens

• Keep all documents ready and scanned well before the registration date. Scrambling for documents at the last minute causes errors and missed deadlines.
• Check the validity of your OBC, EWS, SC, or ST certificate now. The OBC certificate in particular must be issued within the last year — renew it immediately if it has expired.
• Study the 2025 college-wise closing marks (see cutoff section) to shortlist target colleges realistically for your score range.
• Arrange funds for the security deposit well in advance — Rs. 30,000 for government colleges and Rs. 2,00,000 for private MBBS. You will need to pay within 48–72 hours of allotment.

During Registration and Choice Filling

• Register on Day 1 of the registration window. Every day you wait is a day closer to a potential portal crash near the deadline.
• Fill every government college within your score range — even colleges you consider a long shot. Mop-up round closing ranks often relax by 5,000–10,000 ranks compared to Round 1.
• Add private colleges at the bottom of your choice list as a safety backup. Getting any MBBS seat is better than no seat.
• Lock your choices at least 24 hours before the deadline — do not rely on last-minute submission.

After Seat Allotment

• If you are satisfied with the allotted college, report on time. Late reporting means losing the seat permanently — DMER UP does not grant extensions.
• If you want a better college, participate in Round 2 for upgrades. But note: if you get an upgraded seat, you lose your current one — participate only if you are prepared to accept the new allotment.
• Monitor the mop-up round carefully. Government college seats sometimes open up as candidates who joined in Round 1 withdraw. The mop-up is your last realistic chance at a government college if Round 1 and 2 did not deliver one.

About the 2026 Delay

Because of the NEET UG 2026 cancellation and Re-NEET on June 21, the UP NEET Counselling 2026 cycle starts 3–4 weeks later than 2025. All state counsellings and MCC counselling face the same delay. Use this extra time to gather documents, check certificate validity, and study the 2025 seat matrix and cutoffs — so you are fully prepared when registration opens.