To support applicants during counselling, the ministry has established a 24×7 toll-free helpline, a dedicated grievance redressal email, bilingual information material and guidance videos
| Photo Credit:
Akhila Easwaran
The Centre has announced an overhaul of the NEET UG Counselling 2026 process, introducing a one-time physical reporting framework that is expected to significantly reduce repeated visits by candidates to allotted medical colleges while making admissions more transparent and technology-driven. The reforms were reviewed on Wednesday by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda during a preparedness meeting ahead of the commencement of counselling for undergraduate medical admissions. The revised counselling system will allow candidates to indicate their preference after seat allotment by choosing either the ‘Freeze’ or ‘Float’ option online. Students opting to freeze their allotted seat will report physically to the institute once to complete admission formalities, including original document verification and fee payment. Those choosing the float option can continue participating in subsequent rounds of counselling while completing document verification online, without physically visiting the allotted institution until the final stage. Streamlining admissionAccording to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the new framework ensures one-time physical reporting, one-time verification of original documents and one-time payment of admission fees, reducing travel costs and administrative burden for candidates while streamlining the admission process. According to Dr Rohan Krishnan, National Chairman & Co-Founder FAIMA Doctors Association, one time physical reporting is a welcome step because it will help in significant reduction in travel costs. Earlier, many candidates had to travel across states multiple times for reporting and upgrading, he said. Additionally he added that students can participate in seat upgradation without worrying about rushing to different colleges or missing deadlines due to travel logistics. The upgradation facility will remain available up to the third round of counselling. After completion of the third round, candidates holding allotted seats will report physically to their respective institutions for verification of original documents, payment of admission fees and completion of institutional formalities.Reviewing the preparations, Nadda directed officials of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and other stakeholders to ensure a transparent, merit-based and student-friendly counselling process. He reviewed the counselling schedule, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity preparedness, grievance redressal mechanisms and candidate support systems, stressing that every proactive measure should be taken to address students’ concerns. Online resignationThe government has also introduced an online resignation facility, allowing eligible candidates to surrender allotted seats through the MCC counselling portal without visiting the institute physically, subject to counselling rules and timelines. Other digital reforms include pre-populated candidate data from the National Testing Agency (NTA), online document verification, validation of seat matrices by the National Medical Commission and complete digitisation of admissions under the NRI quota. Special provisions have been made for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. The number of designated assessment centres has been increased from 16 to 61 nationwide, while new National Medical Commission guidelines provide for a uniform eligibility assessment framework and an appellate mechanism for candidates seeking review of disability assessments. Toll-free helplineThe new guidelines also provide for an Appellate Disability Assessment Board, enabling eligible candidates to appeal against the assessment of the initial Disability Assessment Board in accordance with the provisions of the Information Bulletin.To support applicants during counselling, the ministry has established a 24×7 toll-free helpline, a dedicated grievance redressal email, bilingual information material and guidance videos. The NTA declared the NEET UG 2026 results on July 16, and counselling for All India Quota seats in MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. (Hons.)Published on July 29, 2026
