Summary: MCC runs the 15% all-India quota in government colleges plus deemed universities, central universities, AIIMS and JIPMER. Your state runs its state quota and private college seats. Register for both separately, understand freeze and float, and remember that a seat joined in MCC Round 3 cannot be left for another counselling.
This post follows the MCC UG Counselling 2026 information bulletin on mcc.nic.in. The scheme is revised every year, so read the bulletin for your year before registering.
Two systems, different seats
Government medical colleges in a state keep most of their MBBS and BDS seats for students of that state. A fixed share is given up to a national pool. That national pool, the 15% all-India quota (AIQ), is counselled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services. The rest is counselled by the state's own authority. In Maharashtra that is the State CET Cell, and we explain its process in a separate post on Maharashtra state quota counselling.
| Counselled by MCC (as per the 2026 bulletin) | Counselled by the state authority |
|---|---|
| 15% all-India quota MBBS and BDS seats in state government colleges | State quota seats in government, aided and corporation colleges |
| 100% seats of deemed universities | Seats in private unaided and minority colleges under the state |
| Central universities (Delhi University, BHU, AMU, including their institutional or domicile quotas) | Institutional, NRI and minority quota seats in private colleges, as the state rules provide |
| 100% seats of AIIMS institutions and JIPMER | AYUSH and allied course seats under the state (the AYUSH all-India quota is separate, see below) |
| ESIC seats as per the bulletin, AFMC (registration only), and B.Sc. Nursing at central institutes |
BAMS, BHMS and BUMS have their own all-India quota counselling run by AACCC under the Ministry of Ayush, separate from MCC.
Key points about the all-India quota
- It is domicile free. A student from Maharashtra can take an AIQ seat in any participating state, and vice versa.
- Reservation follows the central list. In the 2026 bulletin, AIQ seats had 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC (non-creamy layer, central list), 10% for EWS, and 5% horizontal reservation for PwD. A student whose caste is on the state OBC list but not the central list is treated as general in AIQ.
- Choices are unlimited. You can fill as many college and course choices as you want. Once locked they cannot be changed for that round.
- One registration only. Registering more than once can lead to debarment.
The rounds
Since the Supreme Court's 2021 order, MCC runs four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and an online stray vacancy round. Unfilled AIQ seats are no longer returned to states after Round 2. In 2026, Round 1 began in August, Round 2 ran in the first half of September, Round 3 was scheduled for late September with reporting into early October, and the stray vacancy round was scheduled for mid-October.
Each round has the same steps: registration and fee payment, choice filling, choice locking, seat processing, result, and reporting to the allotted college. Upgradation is available up to Round 3.
Freeze and float
After you are allotted a seat in Round 1 or Round 2, you choose one of two positions:
- Freeze: you are satisfied and do not want to be considered for a better seat. You report physically and complete admission.
- Float: you want to be considered for a higher choice in the next round. You submit willingness online and upload documents. If you are upgraded, the earlier seat is released. If not, you keep the seat you had.
Many families assume they must choose freeze to be safe. Float carries no risk of losing the current seat, as long as you complete the steps within the deadlines given.
Exit rules: the part that costs students seats
| Round | Can you resign or not join? | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Yes | Free exit. You can leave the seat and still take part in the next round or in state counselling. |
| Round 2 | Yes, within the resignation window | Security deposit forfeited. Not joining an allotted Round 2 seat also forfeits it. |
| Round 3 | No | You must join. You cannot resign and cannot take part in any further counselling, central or state. |
| Stray vacancy round | Rules as per the bulletin | Candidates already holding a seat in central or state lists are removed from this round. |
MCC and the states share data on allotted and joined candidates, so a student cannot hold seats in both systems at once.
A worked example
A Maharashtra student gets a BDS seat in another state through AIQ Round 1, and an MBBS seat in a Maharashtra government college looks likely in state counselling. Because Round 1 has a free exit, she can join or hold the BDS seat and still participate in the state rounds. If the state MBBS seat comes through, she resigns the AIQ seat within the allowed time without losing her security deposit.
Now suppose the same BDS seat had come in AIQ Round 3. Joining it would end her counselling for the year. She would need to decide before locking Round 3 choices whether she would accept every option she fills. The practical rule: in Round 3, fill only choices you are certain you would join.
A checklist before you register
- Read the MCC information bulletin and the latest notices on mcc.nic.in.
- Register separately with your state authority. AIQ registration does not cover state quota seats.
- Keep category, domicile and PwD certificates in the formats the bulletin asks for.
- Check each college's fee, bond conditions and recognition status before adding it as a choice. Deemed universities have separate fees and security deposits.
- Keep your own list of choices ranked on paper before logging in, so you are not deciding under deadline pressure.
Common questions
Can I take part in MCC and state counselling at the same time?
Yes. Most students do. The exit rules decide how you move between them: Round 1 AIQ seats can be left freely, Round 2 seats with forfeiture of the security deposit, and Round 3 seats cannot be left.
Do private colleges in Maharashtra come under MCC?
No, private unaided colleges under the state are counselled by the State CET Cell. Deemed universities are counselled by MCC for all their seats.
What is the difference between freeze and float?
Freeze means you accept the allotted seat and leave the process for upgrades. Float means you keep the seat and ask to be considered for a better choice in the next round.
Where do BAMS and BHMS all-India quota seats go?
They are counselled by AACCC under the Ministry of Ayush, not by MCC. State AYUSH seats are counselled by the state.