NEET counselling runs on two parallel tracks: the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), conducted by MCC, and the 85% State Quota, conducted separately by each state. You register for both independently, with separate fees and separate deadlines. Each runs several rounds — Round 1, Round 2, a mop-up round and a stray-vacancy round — and the single most costly mistake is not registering for your state counselling because you expect an AIQ seat.
The two tracks #
| All India Quota | State Quota | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of government seats | 15% | 85% |
| Conducted by | MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) | Each state authority |
| Also covers | Deemed universities, central universities, AFMS, ESIC | State government and private colleges |
| Domicile needed | No | Yes |
| Registration | Separate | Separate, per state |
Because 85% of seats sit in the state track, your home-state counselling usually matters far more than AIQ — yet it is the one candidates forget.
The rounds #
| Round | What happens |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | First allotment; accept, or wait for Round 2 |
| Round 2 | Fresh and upgraded allotments |
| Mop-up | Unfilled seats; fresh registration usually required |
| Stray vacancy | Final leftovers; typically no fresh registration |
Choices at allotment #
| Option | Means |
|---|---|
| Freeze | Keep this seat; exit counselling |
| Float / Upgrade | Keep it but stay in the running for a better choice |
| Surrender | Give up the seat within the allowed window |
| Skip | Do not accept; forfeits your Round 1 seat |
- Register for both AIQ and your state. The fees are modest and the state track holds 85% of government seats.
- Seat-acceptance fees and security deposits are substantial — ₹10,000 to well over ₹1,00,000 for deemed universities. Budget before results.
- Resigning a seat after a stated round can forfeit your security deposit and sometimes bar you from later rounds.
- Keep certificates — domicile, category, PwD, income — in the exact prescribed format, current year. Document problems cost more seats than marks do.
- Cut-offs loosen materially in mop-up rounds. A score that misses in Round 1 often succeeds later.
NEET counselling — frequently asked questions
What is the NEET counselling process?
Do I need to register separately for state NEET counselling?
What is the difference between freeze, float and surrender in NEET counselling?
How many rounds are there in NEET counselling?
What fees are involved in NEET counselling?
Qualifying vs admission cut-offs explained.
Disclaimer: Counselling structures, fees and deadlines vary by state and change each cycle. Verify on the MCC and your state counselling portal.
