NEET UG 2026 Counselling Round 2 Seat Allotment Result – State-wise Merit List & Cutoff

NEET UG 2026 counselling has entered one of its most crucial phases with the Round 2 seat allotment result. Conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota (AIQ) seats and by respective state authorities for state quota seats, this round decides admission for lakhs of aspirants to MBBS, BDS, and allied medical courses. Here's a complete, easy-to-follow guide covering the Round 2 result, state-wise merit lists, cutoffs, and what to do next.

Background: NEET UG 2026 at a Glance

NEET UG 2026 had an unusual cycle this year. The exam was originally conducted on May 3, 2026, but had to be cancelled following a paper leak. NTA subsequently conducted a re-exam, "Re-NEET 2026," on June 21, 2026, in which around 20 lakh candidates appeared. Based on this re-exam, results and category-wise cutoffs were declared, paving the way for the counselling process to begin.

As per the National Medical Commission (NMC) seat matrix 2026, a total of 1,36,939 MBBS seats are being filled for the 2026-27 academic session across the country, along with BDS, BSc Nursing, and AYUSH seats. Counselling is being conducted in four to five rounds — Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and a final Stray Vacancy/Mop-Up round — with 15% seats under AIQ (managed by MCC) and 85% under state quota (managed by respective state DMEs/counselling authorities).

NEET UG 2026 Round 2: Key Dates

Since state counselling boards run largely parallel but independent schedules, candidates should also check their respective state portals (such as UP's dgme.up.gov.in, Maharashtra's CET Cell, Rajasthan's DME, and others) for state-specific Round 2 dates.

How to Check the NEET UG 2026 Round 2 Seat Allotment Result

For State Quota seats, candidates need to visit their respective state counselling authority's website and follow a similar login process using their state counselling registration details, since each state publishes its own separate result and merit list.

Important: Candidates are advised not to approach any college for admission before the final confirmed seat allotment result is officially declared and downloaded from the correct portal. For general NEET examination information, candidates can also refer to the {L("neet_examination","NEET examination resource")} available on eFastForward.

State-wise NEET UG 2026 Merit List

Since 85% of MBBS/BDS seats fall under the state quota, each state prepares its own NEET UG merit list based on the NEET all-India rank, category, domicile status, and reservation policy applicable in that state. Some key points to note:

• States release separate merit lists for general category, state-specific reservations (such as EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and local/domicile-based categories), and special categories like PwBD, Defence/CAPF wards, and management/NRI quota (for private and deemed universities).
• The state merit list rank is different from your All-India NEET rank, since it is recalculated based on the reservation rules of that particular state.
• Candidates need to register separately with the state counselling body (in addition to MCC registration for AIQ) to be considered for state quota seats.
• Round-wise state merit lists and seat allotment PDFs are typically published on the respective DME/DMER/state CET cell websites.

Examples of state-specific processes seen in the current cycle include Rajasthan (Round 1 seat allotment declared August 28, with document reporting till September 5), Chhattisgarh (Round 1 merit list released August 18), and Uttar Pradesh (Round 2 seat allotment declared around September 7). Each state's Round 2 timeline and merit list, however, needs to be checked individually on its official portal.

NEET UG 2026 Category-wise Qualifying Cutoff

The qualifying cutoff decides basic eligibility to participate in NEET counselling; it is separate from the college-wise or state-wise closing ranks seen during actual seat allotment. Based on the Re-NEET 2026 result, the qualifying percentiles and marks are as follows (out of 720):

Compared to 2025, qualifying marks have risen noticeably across all categories this year, even though the qualifying percentiles have remained the same. In terms of numbers, roughly 9,96,935 candidates qualified under UR/EWS, followed by about 81,111 under OBC, 29,947 under SC, and 12,452 under ST.

It's important to remember that this qualifying cutoff is not the same as the "closing rank" or "cutoff rank" for a specific college or course — those vary widely by state, institute, category, and quota, and typically get tighter with each counselling round as seats fill up.

Seat Matrix and Vacancy Trends in Round 2

Candidates should note that a larger number of newly added or vacant seats does not automatically mean lower cutoffs — it depends heavily on the specific institute, category, quota, and fee structure of each seat.

After Round 2: Choices Before Candidates

Candidates who do not report to their allotted seat within the specified window generally lose claim to that seat, along with forfeiture of the security fee, and may not be permitted to participate in subsequent rounds — so it's essential to track your specific counselling authority's deadlines closely.

Documents Required at the Time of Reporting

Candidates provisionally converted from Indian to NRI status (as notified separately by MCC for certain seats) must also carry all original documents supporting this status; failure to do so can lead to cancellation of the allotted seat.

What Happens Next: Round 3 and Beyond

If seats remain vacant after Round 2, MCC and state authorities proceed to Round 3, followed by a Stray Vacancy or mop-up round to fill any leftover seats. Candidates who did not participate in Round 1 or Round 2 can still register fresh for Round 3, while those already allotted a seat in Round 2 may be eligible to upgrade further, depending on the specific rules notified for that round.

Tips for Candidates Awaiting Result or Preparing for Next Rounds

• Keep checking mcc.nic.in and your state counselling portal regularly, as schedules can shift with short notice.
• Use a reliable NEET college predictor tool to estimate realistic options for the next round based on your rank and category.
• Don't rely only on the previous year's cutoffs — this year's cutoff marks have increased significantly, so recalibrate your expectations accordingly.
• Keep all documents scanned and physically organised in advance to avoid last-minute issues during reporting.
• If uncertain about upgrading vs. freezing your seat, weigh the risk of losing the current allotment against your realistic chances of an upgrade in the next round.

For broader preparation support, candidates can also explore the {L("neet_preparation","NEET preparation")} section and {L("neet_pyq","NEET past-year question papers")} on eFastForward.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Useful NEET Resources on eFastForward

Conclusion

Round 2 is an important stage in the NEET UG 2026 counselling journey, but it is not necessarily the final opportunity for candidates who are still waiting for a preferred college or course. Keep your documents ready, track the official counselling schedules, and make upgrade or freeze decisions carefully according to the rules applicable to your counselling route.

Disclaimer: Counselling schedules, seat matrices, and cutoffs are subject to change and can vary by state and category. This blog is based on the latest available reports as of mid-September 2026. Candidates should always verify official details and deadlines on mcc.nic.in and their respective state counselling authority's website before making any admission-related decision.