MCC All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling 2026: All 4 Rounds Explained
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and Stray Vacancy — what each AIQ round does, who it affects, and the rules that trip students up.
All India Quota counselling can feel like a black box the first time you go through it — a different portal from your state's, its own login, its own choice list, and four rounds with four different rulebooks. Here is exactly what each round does, who it's for, and the one rule that catches the most students off guard.
What Is All India Quota (AIQ)?
All India Quota is a slice of 15% of government medical and dental seats that is counselled centrally by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) at mcc.nic.in, rather than by any individual state. Because it is central, no domicile or state residence is required — a candidate from any state can apply for any AIQ seat anywhere in the country.
AIQ counselling covers:
- 15% quota seats in state government medical and dental colleges
- All seats at AIIMS and JIPMER institutes
- Central universities — AMU, BHU, DU and JMI
- ESIC and AFMC seats
- Non-management/NRI seats at deemed universities
The remaining 85% of government seats form the State Quota, counselled separately by each state — a distinction we cover in detail in our State Quota vs AIQ guide.
Reservation Inside AIQ Seats
AIQ seats follow central reservation norms. These percentages apply within the government seat pool, and candidates should ensure their certificates are valid and current for the admission year before counselling begins.
| Category | Reservation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | 27% | Certificate must be current for the admission year (non-creamy layer) |
| SC | 15% | Valid caste certificate required |
| ST | 7.5% | Valid caste certificate required |
| EWS | 10% | Certificate must be current for the admission year |
| PwD | 5% horizontal | Applies horizontally across the categories above |
Which row applies to your rank this round? Ask on WhatsApp →
The Four Rounds of AIQ Counselling
AIQ counselling is not one event — it is a sequence of rounds, each with a different purpose and a different set of rules for who can participate and what happens if you accept a seat.
| Round | What happens | Fresh registration? | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | First merit-based allotment from fresh choice-filling | Yes | Standard reporting and fee deposit required to confirm |
| Round 2 | Upgradation for existing candidates plus fresh allotment on vacated/unfilled seats | Yes, for new entrants | Candidates can be upgraded automatically depending on their retained choices |
| Mop-Up Round | Choice-filling reopens for all remaining vacant seats | Yes | Accepting a seat here is binding — skipping joining forfeits your security deposit |
| Stray Vacancy Round | Leftover seats filled directly from the existing merit list | No | Often a very short reporting window — stay reachable and ready |
Which row applies to your rank this round? Ask on WhatsApp →
Round 1 — Setting the Baseline
Round 1 is where most candidates get their first real allotment. It rewards a wide, well-ordered choice list — candidates who fill only a handful of top choices often get nothing in Round 1 and have to wait for later rounds, losing valuable time.
Round 2 — Upgradation Meets Fresh Allotment
Round 2 does two things simultaneously: it tries to upgrade candidates already holding a Round 1 seat (if they kept higher choices active) and it fills freshly vacated or previously unfilled seats for new and existing candidates. This is usually where choice-list depth pays off the most.
Mop-Up Round — The Binding One
The Mop-Up round reopens choice-filling entirely for remaining seats. The critical difference from Rounds 1 and 2 is that accepting an allotted seat in Mop-Up is generally treated as final — if you accept and then don't report to join, you forfeit your security deposit. Many students don't realise this distinction and accept casually, assuming they can still change their mind later.
Do not accept a Mop-Up seat as a "placeholder" while you wait to see if something better appears. Treat every Mop-Up acceptance as final unless you are fully prepared to join it.
Stray Vacancy Round — The Last Word
Stray Vacancy has no fresh registration and no fresh choice-filling — MCC fills whatever seats remain directly from the existing merit order. Reporting windows here are typically short, sometimes just a couple of days, so candidates still in the running should stay reachable and keep documents ready throughout this window.
Tentative 2026 AIQ Timeline
Based on the typical yearly pattern, AIQ Round 1 registration usually opens in the third or fourth week of July, with subsequent rounds spread across August to October. These dates are tentative and change every year — always confirm the live schedule on mcc.nic.in before making any plans around them.
Strategy Tips Across the Rounds
- Build a long choice list early — 80 to 100 well-sequenced choices, not 5 to 10.
- Decide your Freeze/Float/Slide-style stance before Round 1 results, not after.
- Keep every document ready from Round 1 itself — Stray Vacancy leaves no time to arrange anything.
- Track both AIQ and your State Quota together — see our domicile decision guide.
- Don't panic on a low Round 1 allotment — later rounds routinely open up better options as the merit list moves.
AIQ Counselling — FAQs
Is AIQ counselling compulsory, or can I only do State Quota?
AIQ registration is optional but recommended for most candidates — it opens access to AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities and deemed university seats with no domicile restriction, on top of whatever your state counselling offers.
Do I need to register separately for each AIQ round?
Round 1 and Round 2 use a single registration with fresh choice-filling allowed before each round. The Mop-Up round reopens choice-filling for candidates already in the system plus some fresh entrants, while the Stray Vacancy round uses the existing merit list with no fresh registration.
What happens if I don't join after accepting a seat in the Mop-Up round?
Accepting a seat in the Mop-Up round is generally binding. If you accept and then fail to report and join, you forfeit your security deposit, so this decision should be made carefully.
Can I upgrade my seat in the Stray Vacancy round?
The Stray Vacancy round exists to fill leftover seats from the merit list directly, typically with a short reporting window and no fresh choice-filling — it is less about upgrading and more about filling remaining vacancies.
How many choices should I fill in each AIQ round?
Fill as many well-ordered choices as you realistically would accept — many candidates under-list with only 5 to 10 choices and run out of options. A broader, carefully sequenced list of 80 to 100 choices gives the algorithm far more room to place you well.
Your next step
You now know the rules. What this guide cannot tell you is your answer — which seat your rank actually reaches, in which round, at which fee. That is personal, it is deadline-bound, and it is the part we do.
Get my answer on WhatsAppGuidance only. No seat is guaranteed — allotment is decided solely by the counselling authority. Not affiliated with MCC, NTA or any state counselling authority.