Upon the publication of the NEET UG results, the state-level counselling process in Uttar Pradesh commences, and the most important step immediately becomes registration. MBBS and BDS seats are allocated according to your NEET rank, domicile eligibility, and your selections when filling in the choices. 

Notably, the only colleges you apply to are the ones you choose, so omitting a favourite may cost you a seat. Thus, the manner in which you arrange your strategy during registration is sometimes the determining factor in admission. 

This blog includes a step-by-step guide on how to participate in UP NEET UG counselling, such as registration, eligibility, seat distribution, relevant documents, official portals, key dates, and the stepwise process of the various rounds, to enable you to follow the admission process with ease.

Overview of UP NEET Counselling

UP NEET counselling is the state admission procedure for MBBS / BDS seats in Uttar Pradesh. The Directorate of Medical Education & Training (DGME, Lucknow) conducts it according to NEET-UG scores. Here, medical seats under the state quota are offered to qualified NEET candidates in both government and private colleges within the state of UP. All information, schedules, and registration links are available on the official UPNEET counselling portal (upneet.gov.in) and the DGME portal.

The 85% state quota positions (15% All-India Quota is filled alone by MCC) are covered by UP counselling. As an illustration, there were 5,250 MBBS seats in UP in 2025, of which 788 were allocated under the All-India Quota and 4,443 were filled through state counselling. 

Candidates have to fulfil the eligibility criteria, including age, NEET qualifications, and domicile rules in Uttar Pradesh. Candidates with NEET qualifications (only those of UP or possessing domicile qualifications) are eligible to apply.

Eligibility Criteria for NEET Counselling in UP 

To participate in NEET counselling in UP, candidates must fulfil certain criteria. First, they should have appeared in the NEET-UG examination and secured a valid qualifying score. The lower age limit is 17 years old on or before December 31 of the year of admission, according to the standard regulations of NEET. 

Additionally, they should be either permanent residents of Uttar Pradesh or meet the domicile requirements established by the state government, as stated in GO No. 1/995234/2025.

In their notification, the state authorities have explicitly stated that one should apply only after qualifying for NEET UG 2025 and meeting the eligibility criteria in the state of UP. Enrolment into the counselling system is exclusively done via the portals of upneet.gov.in or dgme.up.gov.in. Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be accepted by the system when seeking admission into MBBS/BDS under the state quota.

Other factors to consider before application include:

• Domicile Certificate: UP NEET counselling is primarily intended for candidates who are residents of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The state quota is only applicable to individuals who possess a valid UP domicile certificate. External applicants to UP are not eligible to apply for state quota seats.
• Category Certificates: There are reserved categories, such as SC, ST, OBC, or EWS, and all students from these categories are required to provide valid category certificates. For the 2025 counselling, these certificates must be newly issued between April 2025 and July 2025.
• PwD/NCC/Ex-Army Certificates: Applicants submitting their applications under special categories, such as Persons with Disabilities (PwD), the National Cadet Corps (NCC), or wards of ex-Army personnel, should bring their certificates for verification.
• Educational Qualifications: The aspirants must have successfully passed 10+2 (or similar) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) as the main subjects. Minimum mark requirements will be in accordance with the eligibility requirements established by NEET.
• NEET Qualification: Registration and participation in the UP state counselling requires a valid NEET UG rank and scorecard. Candidates without a NEET qualification are ineligible for admission to MBBS/BDS programmes.

Meeting the eligibility criteria (especially domicile and NEET qualification) is the first crucial step in NEET counselling in Uttar Pradesh. See the official brochure or government order (which can be found at upneet.gov.in).

Counselling Schedule and Important Dates for UP NEET UG 

The UP NEET counselling schedule is announced for each counselling round. The DGME publishes time schedules for each round. Candidates should monitor the registration dates, document uploading deadlines, choice filling, seat allotment, and admission processes closely. Recent rounds are outlined below:

Round	Activity	Key Dates (2025)	Details / Notes
Round 1	Online Registration & Document Upload	July 18 – July 28	Candidates registered and uploaded documents on the DGME portal.
	Fee Payment	Up to July 28	Registration fee and security deposit to be submitted online.
	Merit List Publication	After July 28	Merit list released post-registration completion.
	Choice Filling	Early August	Applicants selected preferred colleges and courses.
	Seat Allotment	August (Post choice filling)	DGME released allotment results for Round 1.
	Admission / Reporting	As per DGME schedule	Allotted candidates completed admission formalities at their respective colleges.
Round 2	Online Choice Filling	September 19 – 23 (till 11:00 AM)	Fresh choice filling for vacant MBBS/BDS seats.
	Seat Allotment Result	September 24	Allotment results announced online.
	Downloading Allotment Letters	September 25 – 27	Candidates accessed and downloaded allotment letters.
	Admission / Reporting to College	September 29 – 30 and October 3	Admission formalities and college reporting completed.
	Vacant Seats to be Filled	—	3,864 MBBS/BDS seats were available in Round 2.
Round 3	Online Registration & Fee Payment	October 6 – 9	Candidates registered, uploaded documents, and paid fees.
	Merit List Publication	October 10	DGME released a merit list for Round 3.
	Online Choice Filling	October 11 – 13	Candidates submitted their preferences online.
	Seat Allotment Result	October 15	Results published for Round 3.
	Admission / Reporting to College	October 16 – 18 and October 24	Candidates downloaded allotment letters and reported to their respective colleges.

Aspirants are advised to monitor the announcements on the official portal. The DGME/UP government sets the UP NEET counselling dates for each round. Failure to meet any of the deadlines (e.g., registration, choice filling, etc.) will result in the loss of your opportunity. Check the official timetable PDF (found on the UP NEET site) to find the exact date.

Online Registration Process for UP NEET UG Counselling

The counselling process starts by registering online on the UP NEET portal. Consider the following steps:

• Step 1: Visit upneet.gov.in (or the portal of DGME) and select New Registration of NEET UG. All undergraduate counselling is conducted through this portal.
• Step 2: Ensure your NEET Roll Number, date of birth, and other personal/academic details are available where necessary. Enter the information as on your NEET admit card and certificates.
• Step 3: Registration requires uploading of scanned copies of the required documents (see next section). The portal will ask you to enter images in particular formats.
• Step 4: Make the payment of the non-refundable registration fee (₹2,000) and security deposit through the portal. It is typically paid online (e.g., net banking, UPI). 

The registration fee is charged only once, regardless of the number of rounds you participate in. The security deposit varies by college type (see table below). Use your own bank account for payment (refunds will be made to the same account).

• Step 5: After payment, submit your registration. You will receive a registration number; note or print the confirmation for your records. This is your login credential for further steps.

Each of these steps must be completed within the specified dates for that counselling round. For example, in Round 1 (2025), all registration tasks were due by 28 July. If you delay, you will not be able to enter that round.

Registration Fees and Security Deposit for UP NEET UG Counselling

College Type	Registration Fee (₹)	Security Deposit (₹)	Remarks
All Colleges (Government & Private)	2,000 (non-refundable)	Varies	The registration fee is one-time.
Government Medical/Dental	–	30,000	State quota seat; refundable if the seat is not taken.
Private Medical (MBBS)	–	2,00,000	Management/NRI seat; adjusted in fees.
Private Dental (BDS)	–	1,00,000	See detailed rules.

Ensure that you keep payment proofs (screenshots or receipts), as they may be needed later. Once registration is successful, you will get a login ID for the counselling portal (no need to re-register in subsequent rounds; you can log back in).

Documents to Upload for UP NEET UG Counselling

During registration, you must upload scanned copies of all required documents. Prepare clear PDF/JPG scans (usually 200-500 KB) of:

• NEET 2025 Admit Card and Score Card
• 10th and 12th class mark sheets and pass certificates
• UP Domicile Certificate (for UP residents)
• Caste Certificate (OBC/SC/ST) if applicable
• EWS Certificate if applicable (issued Apr 2025–July 2025)
• PwD/NCC/Ex-Army/NRI Certificates, if applicable
• Aadhar Card or another government-issued ID
• Recent passport-size photographs (as per specifications)

You must upload all certificates that apply to you (for example, caste or EWS certificates only if you claimed that category). Missing or unclear documents can lead to rejection. The official guidelines emphasise: “Ensure all certificates are scanned properly & uploaded. Incorrect documents can lead to the cancellation of candidature.”

Here are some additional pointers to keep in mind:

• After upload, the documents will be scrutinised. UP NEET counselling verification is conducted online; candidates do not need to visit verification centres physically (as per the 2025 instructions). 
• Make sure your scans are legible. 
• Only candidates whose documents are successfully verified and who have paid the security deposit will be allowed to fill out choices.

Choice Filling and Locking for UP NEET UG Counselling

Once registration is complete and your documents are verified (and payment confirmed), you move to the choice-filling stage. This is the core of counselling:

On the portal, you will see a list of all participating colleges/courses (with codes). You must select (tick) the institutions you wish to join, in order of preference. In this regard, you can choose from both government and private colleges available in the state, as long as they are within the state quota.

• Lock Preferences: After selecting colleges, lock or finalise your choices before the deadline. (If you don’t lock, your system may auto-lock your last saved order at deadline.)
• Eligibility for Choice Filling: Only candidates who have completed registration, uploaded the required documents, and deposited the security money are eligible to fill their choices. Ensure that your status on the portal indicates that the document has been verified and payment has been made. Otherwise, you will not be able to access choice filling.

You can rearrange your priorities up to the last moment. Fill carefully, because your seat allotment depends strictly on this order, combined with your NEET rank. After locking, no changes are possible.

Seat Allotment and Admission for UP NEET UG Counselling

Once the choice filling is closed, the authorities execute the seat allotment algorithm. The procedure for allocating seats is based on the candidate’s rank in NEET (merit), their category reservation, and the options filled by them. The result is then published on the portal. 

Here’s what you should know:

• Allotment Result: The list of allotments is typically published on a particular date. For example, the Round 2 allotment was announced on September 24, 2025. Your name can be displayed alongside the college and course to which you are assigned.
• Download Allotment Letter: Click on the portal and download the allotment letter/report. This is where your college, course, and other information are displayed. It is mandatory for admission.
• Acceptance and Reporting: When you are assigned a seat, you must accept it and report to the assigned college within the given reporting dates. You need to print the allotment letter and go to the college with all the original documents. Then, present your original certificates to the college at the final stage for verification and pay the tuition fee to confirm your admission.
• Important Deadline: Failure to meet the reporting deadline will result in the loss of your seat. For example, in 2024, the deadline to report after Round 1 was between August 31 and September 5. 
• Resignation or Withdrawal: In case you are not interested in joining the allotted seat, you will have to resign to receive a refund of your security deposit. There is usually a free exit option after Round 1, allowing candidates to opt out without penalty. Detailed rules can be found in the official brochure.

Choice filling will only be provided to those candidates who have had their original documents authenticated online and have deposited the security money. Likewise, you have a time limit to lock in your choices or report them; otherwise, you will lose the opportunity to secure a seat.

UP NEET UG Counselling: Subsequent Rounds and Stray Vacancy

UP NEET counselling typically involves multiple rounds. In the event of vacancies at Round 1, then Round 2 follows, and Round 3 (if necessary), and a mop-up or stray vacancy round. The procedures during every round remain the same, i.e., registration (for new or upgraded candidates), filling in choices, allotment, and admissions.

• Round 2: The choice filling took place from September 19 to 23, 2025. (New applicants who failed Round 1 may re-register in Round 2 should they be permitted to do so.) The remaining seats on 24 Sept were filled in the seat allotment. There were 3,259 MBBS and 605 BDS seats that remained open until Round 2.
• Round 3: The counselling process was done in October 2025. Those candidates who failed to secure a preferred seat or were new to the competition (or had re-entered) competed in this round. 
• Stray Vacancy Round: If there are still any unfilled vacancies at the end of Round 3, the DGME can declare a stray vacancy round to occupy the remaining unfilled seats. This is typically a single exercise; the dates are made known on the official portal. It can permit new registration (or only newly registered candidates, as per the DGME’s regulations) to fill the remaining seats.

Every new round has the same steps: register and pay, verify documents, complete choices, allotment, and report. In subsequent rounds, when you already have a seat in one of the previous rounds, you might have an upgrade opportunity by resigning from your previous seat in case you are given a superior one. 

The counselling brochure offers detailed instructions on how to upgrade or lock in your first seat. Additionally, the announcements of any other rounds should be monitored on the official site by candidates. For example, the DGME of UP issued different notices and updated timetables for each round. Keep up with those updates.

Reservation Policy for UP NEET UG Counselling

The rules of reservation in state counselling align with those of the Uttar Pradesh Government. Among the state quota seats, there are reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD, and other categories, as per the existing policy. Notably, government colleges in UP adhered to the central reservation (SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, EWS 10%) in the state quota, local quota, and female quota. 

In U.P., 4,443 state-quota MBBS seats were filled by state counselling in 2025. These seats were distributed under categories as per the rules of the UP. (The other 788 seats were occupied via the All-India quota by MCC.) The state quota seats are also reserved on a category basis in the private colleges. 

MBBS Counselling UP: In the case of MBBS, both government and private college seats are included in the counselling. The MBBS counselling procedure in UP is the same as the BDS (dental) counselling, except for the deposit amounts. NRI or management seats in private colleges can also be allocated outside the state counselling; this is not included in the state counselling process.

UP NEET UG Counselling: Important Tips and Guidelines

To smoothly navigate NEET counselling in Uttar Pradesh, keep these practical tips in mind:

• Register Early: Don’t leave registration until the last minute. Server traffic can be high during deadlines.
• Correct Information: Include all information exactly as it appears on your certificates (names, spellings, dates). Mistakes will disqualify your application.
• Bank Account: All payments should be made in your own bank account (in the name of the candidate). The refunds will be returned to this account.
• Keep Proofs: Store, save, and download PDF files of your completed registration form, payment receipts, and uploaded documents. These may be required in the event of any discrepancies.
• Certificate Validity: Ensure category certificates are valid. For the 2025 counselling, OBC/EWS/SC/ST certificates were required to be issued by April 1, 2025, and July 28, 2025.
• Document Verification: The verification of the candidate’s documents is conducted online; however, you will need to present your originals, as some rounds or subsequent admissions may be verified offline at designated centres.
• Monitor Official Notifications: Never forget to check the official portal of UP NEET (upneet.gov.in) or the DGME itself (site). Do not depend on rumours on social media. The official brochures and schedule PDFs are the ones that carry the correct information.
• Understand the Free Exit Rule: Candidates who decide not to seat after Round 1 are allowed to withdraw without penalty (the security deposit is refunded). Choose this option when you wish to wait until a better round is available.
• Reserve Copies: Retain copies, both electronic and hardcopy, of all submissions and the end allotment letter. These copies are to be submitted to the college.

Following these guidelines will help avoid mistakes. Read the official counselling brochure thoroughly before starting.

FAQs About UP NEET UG Counselling: Complete Step-by-Step

1. How do I prepare and submit my college choice list for UP NEET UG counselling?

Research colleges, previous cutoffs, fees, and clinical exposure before filling out your choices. 

Separate your list into three: 

• Dream Colleges – Best medical colleges in which your rank is just below the cutoff.
• Realistic Choices – Colleges in which your ranking fits within past cutoffs comfortably. 
• Safe Colleges – Keep track of college cut-offs to make sure you don’t miss out on getting a seat.

Before locking (and locking is always important), always fill in as many options as possible, rank them, and never forget to review them again. Once decisions have been made, they are generally permanent and therefore saved, with a copy kept in case of any changes.

2. How are seats allotted in UP counselling?

The allotment of seats is based on the UP state merit list, which is compiled from the NEET-UG scores of registered applicants. The seats are classified (General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS) according to the state reservation norms. Tie-breaking rules (in the case of a tie between candidates with identical scores):

• Higher marks in Biology.
• Higher marks in Chemistry.
• Fewer incorrect answers.
• Older-age candidates preferred.

The round-wise distribution of seats is made, and the available seats are shifted to the subsequent round.

3. Where can I find the UP seat matrix, college-wise seat count and previous-year cutoffs for NEET UG?

The most recent seat matrix, college-by-college distribution, and official cutoffs are published on the official UP counselling portal (upneet.gov.in) and the DGME site (dgme.up.gov.in). Some brochures contain previous-year cutoffs and seat details.

4. What steps must I follow after seat allotment in UP NEET UG?

When you have been allotted: 

• Get the allotment letter online. 
• Submit the report to the assigned college or nodal centre within the assigned dates. 
• Check Documents – File the original documents, including the NEET scorecard, 10th and 12th certificates, domicile certificate, caste/EWS certificate, and PwD/NCC certificate (where applicable). 
• Pay the admission fees as required by the college. 
• Finalise the admission/joining formalities, i.e., bond filling or hostel enrollment. 

In the event of dissatisfaction, you may request an upgrade or withdrawal during later rounds, provided the rules are applicable.

5. What is the difference between the UP state quota counselling and the All-India Quota (MCC)?

In Uttar Pradesh, 85 per cent of the seats in government and privately managed colleges are filled by UP State Quota counselling, which is administered by DGME Lucknow and requires a UP domicile. Alternatively, 15 per cent of the seats in each state, in addition to central institutes such as AIIMS and JIPMER, are filled via the All-India Quota. It is free to all NEET-qualified individuals in India, with no domicile limits.

Conclusion

UP NEET UG counselling is a process that needs patience, planning, and immediate action. From registering and uploading documents to filling a choice and allotting seats, every single step must be done accurately and with due consideration of time limits. 

Applicants should plan well, prepare their documents, and adhere to the official UP NEET and DGME websites, where they are less likely to make mistakes and are more likely to secure a seat in a medical or dental college. 

Although the counselling process may be competitive and unpredictable, remaining calm and flexible can be highly beneficial. Keeping up with updates, creating preference lists based on thorough research, and being open to backup choices will increase your chances of admission. 

One should be able to balance ambition with practicality and make each round of counselling count to be successful. For students seeking a smoother and more guided studying experience, DocTutorials provides MBBS courses encompassing a vast repository of topics, concise notes, video lectures and more. Start your MBBS journey with DocTutorials today!