MCC Round 1, 2, 3 and Stray Vacancy Rules 2026: Freeze, Float, Free Exit, Resignation and Forfeiture

Quick Answer

MCC has officially released the NEET UG Counselling Information Bulletin 2026 and the round-wise counselling schedule.

MCC counselling will be conducted through:

1. Round 1
2. Round 2
3. Round 3
4. Online Stray Vacancy Round

The biggest change introduced for 2026 is the Freeze and Float system.

🟢 Freeze: Keep the allotted seat and stop looking for an upgrade. Physical reporting is required.

🔵 Float: Keep the allotted seat provisionally and participate for an upgrade in the next round. Initial document verification is completed online.

🟠 Free Exit: Give up a Round 1 allotted seat without security-deposit forfeiture.

🔴 Forfeiture: From Round 2 onwards, receiving a seat and not joining can lead to loss of the refundable security deposit.

Both Freeze and Float candidates must upload clear scanned documents on the MCC portal.

After the Round 3 result, physical reporting becomes compulsory for fresh Round 3 allottees, upgraded candidates and earlier Float candidates whose retained seat becomes final.

MCC Round Rules: Colour Guide

Complete MCC Counselling Flow

🟦 Step 1 — Registration

Complete MCC registration and pay the applicable registration fee and security deposit.

⬇️

🟪 Step 2 — Choice Filling

Select colleges, courses and quotas in genuine preference order.

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🟨 Step 3 — Choice Locking

Review every choice carefully and lock the final list within the deadline.

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🟧 Step 4 — Seat Allotment

MCC processes the candidate’s:

• All India Rank
• Category
• Eligibility
• Choice order
• Available seats
• Reservation rules

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🎯 Step 5 — Check the Result

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🔀 Step 6 — Decide What to Do

Freeze vs Float: Simple Visual Comparison

Easy rule:

Freeze = Finalise this seat.

Float = Protect this seat and try for a better one.

What Is Freeze in MCC Counselling?

Freeze means the candidate is satisfied with the allotted college and does not want an upgrade in the next round.

🟩 Freeze Candidate Flow

Seat Allotted

⬇️

Select Freeze

⬇️

Upload clear scanned documents

⬇️

Physically report to the allotted college

⬇️

Carry original documents

⬇️

Complete physical verification

⬇️

Pay the college admission fee

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Admission confirmed if documents are valid

A Freeze candidate should collect:

• Admission acknowledgement
• College fee receipt
• Original-document submission receipt
• Reporting confirmation
• Hostel or joining instructions

If the documents do not support the candidate’s category, quota or eligibility claim, the admission can be cancelled.

What Is Float in MCC Counselling?

Float means the candidate provisionally retains the allotted seat but wants to compete for a higher-preference seat in the next round.

🔵 Float Candidate Flow

Seat Allotted

⬇️

Select willingness for upgradation

⬇️

Upload clear scanned documents

⬇️

Allotted college verifies documents online

⬇️

Resolve any document query immediately

⬇️

Download provisional admission letter

⬇️

Submit fresh choices for the next round

⬇️

Float candidates in Round 1 and Round 2 generally do not need to visit the allotted college during initial verification.

However, after the Round 3 result, physical reporting becomes mandatory for the final retained or upgraded seat.

Mandatory Document Upload for Both Freeze and Float

MCC requires both Freeze and Float candidates to upload documents within the reporting period.

The bulletin describes it as a one-time document upload for all counselling rounds.

Candidates should upload documents early instead of waiting until the final reporting day.

Documents Must Be

• Clear and readable
• Complete on all sides
• Correctly oriented
• Valid for the admission year
• Consistent with NEET and MCC details
• Supportive of category and quota claims

The College May Raise a Query For

• Blurred documents
• Cropped pages
• Missing certificates
• Incorrect certificate format
• Category mismatch
• Name or date-of-birth mismatch
• Unsupported NRI claim
• Incorrect PwBD certificate
• Expired EWS or OBC-NCL certificate
• Missing institutional eligibility proof

⚠️ Important: Corrected documents must be uploaded within the reporting period. Failure to resolve the query can lead to cancellation of the seat.

🟢 MCC Round 1 Rules 2026

Round 1 is the most flexible MCC counselling round.

Round 1 Candidate Flow

What Is Round 1 Free Exit?

Free exit means the candidate gives up the Round 1 allotted seat without losing the refundable security deposit.

🟠 Free Exit Flow

Round 1 seat allotted

⬇️

Candidate does not want the seat

⬇️

Candidate does not complete joining

⬇️

Round 1 seat is released

⬇️

Security deposit is not forfeited

⬇️

Candidate can submit fresh Round 2 choices

Free Exit vs Float

Who Can Participate in Round 2?

Round 2 can include:

• Candidates who received no Round 1 seat
• Round 1 Float candidates
• Round 1 free-exit candidates
• Candidates who completed permitted Round 1 resignation
• Candidates eligible after correction of an allotment-related document issue
• Fresh candidates who did not register in Round 1

A candidate already registered in Round 1 generally does not need to register again.

A candidate who did not register earlier must complete fresh registration and payment.

🟡 MCC Round 2 Rules 2026

Fresh choice filling is compulsory for Round 2.

Round 1 choices do not automatically continue.

Round 2 Visual Flow

Enter Round 2

⬇️

Submit a fresh choice list

⬇️

Round 2 result declared

⬇️

What Happens After an Upgrade?

When a candidate receives a higher choice:

• The previous seat is automatically cancelled.
• The upgraded seat becomes the new allotted seat.
• The candidate cannot return to the previous seat.
• The released seat becomes available to another candidate.

⚠️ Only place a college above your held seat when you genuinely prefer it.

What Happens If a Round 2 Seat Is Not Joined?

If a candidate receives a Round 2 seat but does not join:

• The refundable security deposit is forfeited.
• The candidate loses the allotted seat.
• Round 3 participation may require fresh payment.
• The candidate must satisfy the applicable Round 3 eligibility rules.

Round 2 should not contain unwanted or unaffordable choices.

Round 2 Resignation Rules

A Round 2 candidate may resign only through the permitted MCC process and within the notified window.

The security deposit is generally forfeited.

🟩 Freeze Candidate Resignation

The candidate must:

1. Visit the allotted institute physically.
2. Submit the resignation within the permitted timeline.
3. Ensure the institute records the resignation through the MCC system.
4. Collect the official resignation receipt.
5. Collect original documents and acknowledgement.

🔵 Float Candidate Resignation

A Float candidate can use the online withdrawal process:

1. Open MCC Candidate Login.
2. Select Withdrawal or Resignation.
3. Submit the required information and documents.
4. Confirm surrender of the seat.
5. Save the acknowledgement.

Once a seat is surrendered, the candidate has no further claim over it.

Who Can Participate in Round 3?

Round 3 can include:

• Registered candidates who received no seat earlier
• Round 2 Float candidates seeking an upgrade
• Eligible candidates after cancellation or category correction
• Candidates who resigned or did not join Round 2 after applicable forfeiture
• Fresh candidates who did not register earlier

Fresh registration or security payment may be required according to candidate status.

Fresh Round 3 choice filling is compulsory.

🟠 MCC Round 3 Rules 2026

Round 3 is the final regular upgrade round and carries a much stronger commitment.

Round 3 Visual Flow

Submit fresh Round 3 choices

⬇️

Round 3 result declared

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Round 3 Final Commitment

After Round 3:

• Physical reporting is mandatory.
• Original documents must be produced.
• The final college fee must be paid.
• A candidate upgraded in Round 3 cannot return to the previous seat.
• Non-joining leads to security-deposit forfeiture.
• A Round 3 allotted seat cannot be resigned through the regular process.
• The candidate cannot participate in further counselling after joining the Round 3 seat.

🔴 Remove every unwanted, unaffordable or unacceptable college before Round 3 processing.

🔴 Online Stray Vacancy Round Rules

The Online Stray Vacancy Round fills seats remaining after Round 3.

Fresh registration and fresh choice filling are provided for eligible candidates.

Stray Vacancy Eligibility Flow

Stray Vacancy Candidate Flow

Check official eligibility

⬇️

Complete fresh registration and payment

⬇️

Check the latest vacant-seat matrix

⬇️

Submit only acceptable choices

⬇️

Stray Vacancy result declared

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The Stray Vacancy Round is not a trial round. Enter only when the student is fully prepared to join every selected option.

Round 1 vs Round 2 vs Round 3 vs Stray Vacancy

Free Exit vs Resignation vs Non-Joining

MCC Counselling Fees and Security Deposit

AIQ, AIIMS, JIPMER, Central Universities, AFMC and ESIC

Deemed University Participation

College tuition, hostel fees, university charges and other admission costs are separate.

The security deposit may be forfeited when:

• A Round 2 or later-round allottee does not join.
• A candidate resigns under an exit-with-forfeiture rule.
• Admission is cancelled because of incorrect information.
• Required original documents are not produced.
• A category, PwBD, NRI or institutional claim is unsupported.
• A Round 3 or Stray Vacancy allottee does not report.

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Document Checklist

Mandatory Reporting Documents

• MCC allotment letter
• NEET UG 2026 admit card
• NEET UG 2026 result or rank letter
• Class 10 certificate
• Date-of-birth proof where required
• Class 12 passing certificate
• Class 12 marksheet
• Government photo identity proof
• Eight passport-size photographs matching the NEET application photograph

Category and Quota Documents — Where Applicable

• SC certificate
• ST certificate
• Central OBC-NCL certificate
• Proof that the community appears in the Central OBC List
• EWS certificate in the prescribed format
• PwBD Eligibility Certificate from an authorised MCC Medical Assessment Board
• NRI eligibility and sponsorship documents
• Sponsor relationship proof
• OCI or foreign-national documents
• ESIC Insured Person documents
• CW-category documents
• Institutional or internal-quota proof

Freeze Candidate Checklist

• Clear scanned documents uploaded
• All original certificates
• At least two photocopy sets
• Physical reporting plan
• College admission-fee arrangement
• Transfer certificate
• Migration certificate where required
• Character certificate where required
• Medical-fitness certificate where requested
• College fee receipt
• Original-document deposit receipt
• Admission acknowledgement

Float Candidate Checklist

• Willingness for upgradation submitted
• Documents uploaded
• Online-verification status checked
• Document queries monitored
• Corrected documents re-uploaded where required
• Provisional admission letter downloaded
• Fresh next-round choice list prepared
• Surrender acknowledgement saved where applicable

Name or Language Difference

• Certified English or Hindi translation for regional-language documents
• Original regional-language document
• Affidavit or supporting document for name/spelling mismatch

⚠️ A letter stating that original documents are deposited elsewhere is not a replacement for the required originals during final admission.

Common MCC Round Mistakes

• Confusing Round 1 free exit with Float.
• Choosing Float but not uploading documents.
• Assuming Float removes all physical-reporting requirements.
• Choosing Freeze but not reporting physically.
• Uploading blurred or incomplete certificates.
• Ignoring a query raised by the allotted college.
• Missing the corrected-document deadline.
• Assuming Round 1 choices carry forward automatically.
• Forgetting fresh choices in Round 2 or Round 3.
• Placing a less-preferred college above the currently held seat.
• Adding a Deemed University without checking its complete cost.
• Not joining a Round 2 seat and losing the security deposit.
• Resigning from Round 2 without understanding forfeiture.
• Keeping an unwanted college active in Round 3.
• Assuming a Round 3 allotted seat can be resigned.
• Entering Stray Vacancy only to see what is allotted.
• Participating in Stray Vacancy while holding another seat.
• Ignoring MCC and State candidate-data sharing.
• Leaving a seat without completing official resignation.
• Failing to save resignation or surrender proof.
• Assuming an upgraded candidate can return to the earlier seat.
• Waiting until the final day for document upload or reporting.
• Carrying only photocopies instead of original documents.
• Using a State OBC certificate instead of Central OBC-NCL.
• Using an expired or invalid EWS certificate.
• Submitting incomplete NRI or PwBD records.
• Sharing MCC login credentials or OTP with an unknown person.

Practical Example: Round 1 Float Candidate

A candidate receives a government MBBS seat in Round 1 but wants a more preferred college.

The candidate should:

1. Select Float.
2. Upload documents.
3. Complete online verification.
4. Download the provisional admission letter.
5. Submit fresh Round 2 choices.
6. Place only genuinely better colleges above the retained seat.

If no upgrade is received, the Round 1 seat remains retained.

Practical Example: Round 2 Deemed University Seat

A candidate receives a high-fee Deemed University seat in Round 2 but cannot arrange the fees.

If the candidate does not join:

• The security deposit can be forfeited.
• The allotted seat is lost.
• Further participation may require fresh payment.

This should be prevented before choice filling by checking tuition, hostel, security deposit and full-course cost.

Practical Example: MCC Seat and State Seat

A candidate holds an MCC Float seat and receives a preferred State counselling seat.

The candidate should:

1. Check the MCC resignation deadline.
2. Complete the applicable MCC surrender process.
3. Save official surrender proof.
4. Confirm that the MCC seat is released.
5. Complete State joining according to State rules.

Do not simply stop responding to MCC. Centre and State counselling authorities share candidate data during later rounds.

How to Prepare Choices for Every Round

Every choice should pass four tests:

1. Eligibility: Am I eligible for this quota and seat?
2. Affordability: Can my family pay the complete cost?
3. Preference: Do I genuinely prefer this college?
4. Readiness: Will I join if this choice is allotted?

Before adding a college, check:

• College and course
• Quota and category
• Previous closing rank
• Current seat matrix
• Tuition and complete fees
• Hostel
• Bond
• Location
• Teaching hospital
• Patient flow
• Student willingness

Use the following tools:

• NEET UG College PredictorNEET UG College Predictorhttps://hireguideeducation.org/predictor
• NEET Cutoff ExplorerNEET Cutoff Explorerhttps://hireguideeducation.org/cutoff
• Medical College DirectoryMedical College Directoryhttps://hireguideeducation.org/colleges
• Choice Filling ToolChoice Filling Toolhttps://hireguideeducation.org/choice-filling
• NEET UG Counselling HubNEET UG Counselling Hubhttps://hireguideeducation.org/counsellings/neet-ug

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Freeze in MCC counselling?

Freeze means accepting the allotted seat without seeking an upgrade. The candidate uploads documents and physically reports to the allotted institute.

What is Float in MCC counselling?

Float means provisionally retaining the allotted seat while seeking an upgrade in the next round. Initial verification is completed online.

Is document upload compulsory for Freeze candidates?

Yes. Document upload is mandatory for both Freeze and Float candidates.

Do Float candidates need physical reporting in Round 1?

Not during the initial online verification process. Final physical reporting becomes mandatory according to the later-round outcome.

What is free exit in Round 1?

Free exit allows a Round 1 allotted candidate to give up the seat without security-deposit forfeiture.

Are Round 1 choices used automatically in Round 2?

No. Fresh choice filling is required.

What happens if a Round 2 seat is not joined?

The refundable security deposit is forfeited.

Can I resign from a Round 2 seat?

Resignation is possible only through the permitted process and timeline, with applicable security-deposit forfeiture.

Can I resign from a Round 3 allotted seat?

No. MCC states that candidates cannot resign or exit Round 3 allotted seats.

Is physical reporting mandatory after Round 3?

Yes. It is mandatory for fresh Round 3 allottees, upgraded candidates and earlier Float candidates whose retained seat becomes final.

Is fresh registration available for Stray Vacancy?

Yes. Eligible candidates can complete fresh registration and fresh choice filling.

Can I enter Stray Vacancy while holding another seat?

Candidates already holding or joining a seat may be removed through MCC and State data sharing.

Will I retain my Float seat when no upgrade is received?

Yes. A valid Float candidate retains the earlier seat when no higher choice is allotted.

Can I return to the earlier seat after an upgrade?

No. Once upgraded, the previous seat is automatically released.

Official MCC Sources

• MCC UG Medical Counselling PortalMCC UG Medical Counselling Portalhttps://mcc.nic.in/ug-medical-counselling/
• MCC UG Information Bulletin 2026MCC UG Information Bulletin 2026https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3e0f7a4d0ef9b84b83b693bbf3feb8e6e/uploads/2026/08/20260801170630.pdf
• MCC UG AIQ Counselling Schedule 2026MCC UG AIQ Counselling Schedule 2026https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3e0f7a4d0ef9b84b83b693bbf3feb8e6e/uploads/2026/08/202608012074024595.pdf
• MCC AIQ and State Counselling Schedule 2026MCC AIQ and State Counselling Schedule 2026https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3e0f7a4d0ef9b84b83b693bbf3feb8e6e/uploads/2026/08/20260801732008988.pdf
• MCC UG Current EventsMCC UG Current Eventshttps://mcc.nic.in/current-events-ug/
• NTA NEET UG Official PortalNTA NEET UG Official Portalhttps://neet.nta.nic.in/

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Final Takeaway

MCC counselling becomes stricter with every round:

Before submitting any choice, ask:

If this college is allotted today, am I eligible, financially prepared and genuinely willing to join it?

The safest strategy combines:

Official AIR + correct eligibility + current seat matrix + complete fees + genuine preference order + correct Freeze/Float decision + strict deadline tracking.

*Disclaimer: This guide explains the MCC NEET UG Counselling Information Bulletin 2026 in simple language. The latest notice, schedule, portal instruction, allotment result and reporting direction issued by MCC will remain final.*