Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Important Dates, Required Documents & Admission Process

Latest Updates:

• Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration has started on 6 August 2026 by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell. Check here.
• The Maharashtra NEET UG Round 1 Seat Allotment Result for 2026 will be released on 23 August 2026. 
• Candidates must join the allotted college from 24 August to 28 August 2026.
• MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Registration has begun from 6 August 2026. Check here.

The Maharashtra NEET counselling 2026 schedule has been declared on the official website by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell on 6 August 2026. Applicants who have qualified for the NEET Exam and who want to take part in the state counselling must download and then check the schedule and dates now.

For being registered for Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026, applicants have to fill out the details, upload the documents, and then pay the needed fee. Choosing the courses has to be done based on preference order. Maharashtra has increased its MBBS seat intake by 400 seats, bringing the total to 13099 MBBS seats in Maharashtra for 2026.

For 15% AIQ seats, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) commenced the NEET UG Counselling 2026 registration process today, August 5, for eligible students who want to take admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses.

The Maharashtra NEET counselling 2026 is an important step for medical aspirants who want to pursue MBBS, BDS, and other allied health science courses in medical colleges across the state of Maharashtra. Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell) for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in government and private universities for 85% of the state quota seats in government and 100% of the private universities.

In this blog, we are going to cover everything about the Maharashtra counselling round 1, important dates, eligibility, documents required, registration process, and more.

Check: 

• Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026 Dates: Check Full Schedule
• Top Medical Colleges in Maharashtra 2026
• How to Apply for MBBS Admission in Maharashtra 2026
• Maharashtra Counselling Round 2: What’s New & How to Prepare
• Maharashtra Mop-Up Round: Eligibility and Seat Allotment Explained

Maharashtra NEET Counselling Schedule 2026: Registration Dates

The table below shows the Maharashtra NEET Counselling dates for registration and uploading the documents for 2026.

Maharashtra NEET Counselling Schedule 2026: Merit List Dates

The Maharashtra NEET merit list will be published after document verification uploaded by the applicants on the registration form. Refer to the table below to know the Maha NEET Counselling merit list dates for 2026.

Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026 Schedule: Choice Filling and Result Dates

The Maharashtra NEET seat allotment result 2026 will be published depending on the choices filled by applicants. Take a look at the Maha CET Cell NEET Counselling dates 2026 for the events given below.

MCC NEET UG 2026 Counselling Schedule (15% All India Quota for Maharashtra Government Colleges)

Look at the table below to know the round-wise schedule for MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 for 15% AIQ for Maharashtra Government Colleges.

Maharashtra NEET UG counselling 2026 Key Highlights

The Maharashtra NEET counselling 2026 is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra. If you fulfill the eligibility criteria of NEET Counselling, you can apply for the counselling process. Here is the table below about the counselling process and other details about the Maharashtra NEET 2026 counselling:

What is Maharashtra NEET UG counselling round 1?

Maharashtra NEET UG counselling round 1 is the first and most important step for admission in the state-level admission process. Students who have qualified for the NEET Exam for taking admission in MBBS, BDS, and other health science courses in colleges across Maharashtra go for the round 1 counselling. Here are the key features of round 1.

• It is open for NEET UG-qualified students who fulfill Maharashtra's eligibility criteria.
• Candidates are allowed to register online, upload documents, and fill out college preferences based on their NEET rank.
• In round 1 counselling, seats are allotted on the basis of the candidate’s merit, reservation category, and choice preferences.
• The candidates who have been allotted a seat must report to the college with all the required documents and complete the admission process.

Importance of  round 1 of counselling and its objectives

Round 1 of the counselling is most important, as most of the seats get filled in this round. Here are the points of the importance of Round 1 of counselling and its objectives:

• In this round, most of the seats get filled by the students, especially in the government colleges.
• The candidates with the higher rank have a high chance of getting into premier institutions.
• There are numerous rounds (round 1, round 2, mop-up, stray vacancy round) in counselling, still round 1 plays an important role in the allocation of the seats.

Objectives:

• The objective of round 1 counselling is to allocate seats fairly and transparently based on NEET UG score and category reservations.
• It allows the students to secure a seat in the college and the course of their choice.
• It initiates the admission process across medical and dental institutions in Maharashtra.

Who is eligible for Maharashtra NEET counselling 2026?

The eligibility criteria for the Maharashtra state quota NEET counselling round 1 need to be fulfilled by the candidates to secure a seat in the counselling process. Here are the eligibility criteria required for participation in the counselling process:

1. Academic qualifications

• A candidate must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from a recognized board.
• A candidate must have qualified for NEET UG 2026 with the minimum required marks.

2. NEET qualifying criteria

• A candidate must have qualified for the NEET UG 2026 exam with a valid score.

3. Age criteria

• A candidate's minimum age should be 17 years as on 31st December 2026.
• There should be no upper age limit (as per NMC guidelines).
• A candidate’s maximum age should be 25 years and 30 years for the reserved category.

4. Domicile requirement

• A candidate or parent must hold a domicile of Maharashtra for state quota seats.
• Domicile is not required for the Management or NRI quota.

5. Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Quota

• The NRI candidate can also apply under NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign quota if it is applicable.

Documents required for Maharashtra NEET UG counselling round 1

Here are the details of the documents required for admission in round 1 of the counselling. Keep the documents ready to avoid last-minute panic.

• 10th standard mark sheet
• 12th standard pass certificate
• Aadhaar card
• NEET Admit Card 2026
• NEET application form 2026 copy or the confirmation page
• Medical fitness certificate
• NEET 2026 result or scorecard
• Nationality certificate issued by the District Magistrate or relevant Indian passport or school leaving certificate of Class 10 or Class 12
• Domicile certificate
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Caste validity certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile of Maharashtra certificate of Defence person (if applicable), etc.

Read More: Document Verification for Maharashtra Counselling 2026: Checklist & Tips

Step-by-step process of round 1 counselling 

The process of counselling in round 1 is very important for the students for the allocation of the seat, because in this phase, students get their preferred college based on their rank. Here is the detailed breakdown of the step-by-step process of round 1 counseling of Maharashtra NEET UG:

1. Registration on the CET cell portal

• A candidate needs to visit the official website
• Click on “New Registration.”
• Fill in details such as NEET roll number, personal info, and academic history.
• Pay the registration fee online.

Once registered, the candidate will receive login credentials and a unique registration number.

2. Document upload

• A candidate needs to upload the scanned copies of the required documents in PDF format.
• He/She must make sure each document is clear and as per the given size limits.
• Cross-verify with the checklist before submission.

3. Publication of provisional merit list

• After scrutiny, the CET cell releases a provisional state merit list.
• Candidates can check their State rank, category, and eligibility.
• If there are discrepancies, raise objections during the grievance period.

4. Final merit list

• After resolving all objections, the Final Merit List is published.
• Only candidates listed in this are allowed to participate in the choice filling.

5. Choice filling & college preferences

• Log in to your account to fill out the option Form.
• Select your preferred colleges and courses in order of priority.
• You can choose MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BPTh, BSc nursing, etc.
• Submit the final choices before the deadline.

 Tips for choosing filling:

• List the top government colleges first.
• Include a mix of aspirational, realistic, and safe choices.
• Don’t leave the form blank.

6. Seat allotment result (Round 1)

• Based on your NEET rank, category, and preferences, the CET Cell releases the round 1 seat allotment result.
• Check your allotment status and download the provisional allotment letter.

7. Reporting to the allotted college

• Candidates must physically report to the allotted college with all original documents and fees.
• Verify documents and complete biometric verification.
• If he/she accepts the seat:
• • Submit admission confirmation.
  • Candidates accepting a Round 1 seat might take part in subsequent rounds for upgradation, and it is subject to Maharashtra State CET Cell rules as well as options exercised during counselling.
• If upgradation is permitted by Maharashtra State CET Cell, applicants might opt to take part in the next counselling round and follow the prescribed retention along with reporting rules.

What happens after round 1 of counselling?

After round 1 of counselling, there are various scenarios faced by the students. Here is the scenario and details of the  outcome of round 1 counselling: 

1. Candidates who accepted the seat and do not wish to upgrade → Final admission
Some candidates receive a seat allotment letter in round 1 according to their preferences, whether it’s the college of their choice, the desired course (MBBS, BDS, etc.), or a favorable location.

What happens next:
The students have the option to accept the seat or opt for higher preferences. They need to confirm their admission through:

• The candidate must report to the allotted college within the stipulated time.
• He/she needs to submit the required documents.
• The candidate needs to pay the fee of the respective college.
• The candidate needs to complete the document verification as well as admission formalities as prescribed by the institute.

After accepting the seat without choosing for upgradation (according to CET Cell rules), the admission becomes final and the applicant normally does not take part in subsequent rounds.

 2. Candidates who accepted the seat but want an upgrade → Can take part in round 2

Candidates might take part in Round 2 for upgradation, subject to Maharashtra State CET Cell rules along with the option exercised during counselling.

What happens next:

• The candidate can accept an upgrade, they are eligible to retain their current seat, and still be considered for a better option in the next round.
• In round 2 counselling, if the higher preference is available, then the seat will be allocated accordingly.
• If the candidate has upgraded, the previous seat will be cancelled automatically and it will be reassigned to another candidate in Round 2.

This is a better strategy for the students who wish to secure a seat and still want to upgrade for higher preferences without any risk involvement.

3. Candidates who did not get a seat → Can take part in next rounds

The candidates who did not get a seat due to their NEET UG score or the availability of the seat can take part in subsequent counselling rounds.

What happens next:
The CET Cell might open a fresh registration window or prescribe particular rules for later rounds.

Candidates who did not get a seat in Round 1 can take part in Round 2 as per the schedule and eligibility notified by Maharashtra State CET Cell. They must follow the official notification about registration, option entry along with choice modification. Applicants are normally allowed to modify or refill their preferences if the CET Cell opens the option entry window for Round 2.

Important tips for round 1 counselling success

Here are the important tips for the candidate for their success in round 1 counselling:

• A candidate must check the eligibility criteria carefully (Domicile, Caste validity, NCL, EWS, etc.)
• A candidate must register early to avoid last-minute errors.
• A candidate must arrange their documents in advance to avoid last-minute panic.
• A candidate must research colleges according to the cutoffs, infrastructure, faculty, etc.
• A candidate must analyse previous year cutoffs for realistic choices.
• A candidate must seek expert guidance or consult counselors or professionals.

Maharashtra Counselling Round 1: FAQs

Ques: Who is eligible for Round 1?

Ans: Applicants who have registered successfully, hold needed state or national test scores such as NEET and fulfill the domicile criteria are eligible for Round 1 NEET Counselling for Maharashtra in 2026.

Ques: Can any student apply for second round counselling without applying for first round?

Ans: Yes, students can apply for a second round of counselling without applying for the first round, based on the particular exam or authority. For central processes such as All India Quota (MCC), fresh registrations are mainly allowed at the beginning of Round 2; however, most state-level or local counselling boards need initial registration in Round 1.

Ques: Who conducts the Maharashtra NEET UG counselling?

Ans: Maharashtra NEET counselling is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra. It manages registration, publication of merit list, choice filling, allotment of seats and admission for 85% State Quota seats.

Ques: Can outsider candidates apply for round 1?

Ans: Yes, they can apply, but only for Institutional Quota Seats (15%) in private colleges for 85% State Quota seats, they must fulfill the Maharashtra domicile and eligibility criteria as mentioned by the CET Cell.

Ques: Is round 1 mandatory for all NEET-qualified students in Maharashtra?

Ans: No, Round 1 is not mandatory, but it is important as participating in Round 1 enhances the chances to secure preferred colleges due to the maximum seat availability and competition is comparatively more favourable than the later rounds.