Short answer
MCC conducts counselling for 100% of Deemed University PG seats in four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the Stray Vacancy Round. Any candidate who qualified NEET-PG for All India Quota seats can take part, with no domicile condition.
These are the rules for MCC's NEET-PG 2026 counselling, which is running now (from MCC's 2026 Information Bulletin). MCC sets the rules again each year.
Who this applies to
NEET-PG qualified candidates applying for Deemed University MD/MS seats through MCC counselling
The rule, explained
Since 2017, on the directions of the Supreme Court, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) counsels 100% of Deemed University seats. All four rounds, including the Stray Vacancy Round, are run by MCC.
Eligibility is simple: you must have qualified NEET-PG, and the seats are domicile free. Candidates from the Union Territory of J&K are also eligible.
Some Deemed University seats are reserved for NRI candidates, and certain universities may have Jain Minority or Muslim Minority seats. Check your eligibility before applying under these categories. If you claim the NRI quota, you cannot also claim any other quota, such as Jain Minority or Muslim Minority. OCI cardholders are eligible for UR (General) seats as well as NRI seats.
In the third round, NRI, Jain Minority and Muslim Minority seats that stay unfilled are converted into Deemed University merit seats for the UR category, once all eligible candidates for those seats have been used up.
To register for Deemed Universities, every category pays a non-refundable fee of Rs 5,000 plus a refundable security deposit of Rs 2,00,000. If you apply for both AIQ and Deemed University seats, you pay only the higher Deemed University amount.
What the official document says
There will be four rounds of Counseling i.e., Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Vacancy Round and all the rounds will be conducted by MCC.
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), DGHS · NEET-PG (MD/MS/DNB) Counselling 2026 Information Bulletin & Counselling Scheme (cover: “PG Bulletin DRAFT – V10 05102026”), PDF page 26 (opens the official site)
Candidates claiming reservation under NRI Quota will not be able to claim reservation status under any other quota i.e. Jain Minority/Muslim Minority/any other quota.
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), DGHS · NEET-PG (MD/MS/DNB) Counselling 2026 Information Bulletin & Counselling Scheme (cover: “PG Bulletin DRAFT – V10 05102026”), PDF page 27 (opens the official site)
Example 3: Any candidate opting for Deemed Universities will have to pay registration fee of Rs 5000/- + Rs 2,00,000/- (Refundable Security Deposit)
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), DGHS · NEET-PG (MD/MS/DNB) Counselling 2026 Information Bulletin & Counselling Scheme (cover: “PG Bulletin DRAFT – V10 05102026”), PDF page 52 (opens the official site)
No, in such case the candidate has to pay only the higher fee i.e. of Deemed University Rs. 5000/- and 2 Lakh Refundable Security Deposit.
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), DGHS · NEET-PG (MD/MS/DNB) Counselling 2026 Information Bulletin & Counselling Scheme (cover: “PG Bulletin DRAFT – V10 05102026”), PDF page 53 (opens the official site)