NEET Counselling 2021 Date – The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the gateway to medical and dental undergraduate programs in India.
Every year, lakhs of students appear for this highly competitive examination, aspiring to secure a seat in prestigious medical colleges across the country.
NEET Counselling is the next critical step after the declaration of results, where qualified candidates are allotted seats in various medical and dental institutions.
The 2021 counselling process was especially significant due to delays and policy changes arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and legal proceedings.
Understanding NEET Counselling
NEET counselling is the process through which seats in MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses are allocated to candidates who have qualified in the NEET-UG exam.
The counselling is conducted by different authorities depending on the type of seat:
MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) conducts counselling for:
- 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats
- Deemed and Central Universities
- AIIMS and JIPMER
- ESIC medical colleges
State Authorities conduct counselling for:
- 85% State Quota seats
- Private medical and dental colleges under their jurisdiction
NEET 2021 Result Declaration
The NEET 2021 exam was conducted on September 12, 2021, and the results were declared by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on November 1, 2021.
With over 16 lakh aspirants appearing for the exam, the demand for accurate and timely counselling dates was high.
NEET Counselling 2021 Date Announcement
NEET Counselling 2021 Date – Due to legal cases related to reservation policies and the introduction of the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota, the NEET 2021 counselling schedule faced delays.
The official announcement for the NEET 2021 counselling dates by MCC was finally made in January 2022.
Key Dates of NEET UG Counselling 2021 (MCC)
Below is the round-wise counselling schedule for NEET UG 2021 under MCC:
Round 1:
- Registration & Fee Payment: January 19 to January 24, 2022
- Choice Filling & Locking: January 20 to January 24, 2022
- Seat Allotment Processing: January 27 to January 28, 2022
- Result Announcement: January 29, 2022
- Reporting to Colleges: January 30 to February 4, 2022
Round 2:
- Registration & Fee Payment: February 16 to February 21, 2022
- Choice Filling & Locking: February 17 to February 21, 2022
- Seat Allotment Processing: February 23 to February 24, 2022
- Result Announcement: February 25, 2022
- Reporting to Colleges: February 26 to March 4, 2022
Mop-Up Round:
- Registration & Fee Payment: March 10 to March 14, 2022
- Choice Filling & Locking: March 11 to March 14, 2022
- Seat Allotment Processing: March 17 to March 18, 2022
- Result Announcement: March 19, 2022
- Reporting to Colleges: March 20 to March 27, 2022
Stray Vacancy Round:
- Process by Institutes: March 31 to April 5, 2022
NEET Counselling Procedure
NEET Counselling 2021 Date – To ensure a smooth process, candidates were required to follow these steps during the NEET UG 2021 counselling:
- Registration: Candidates had to register on the official MCC website (https://mcc.nic.in) during the specified dates.
- Fee Payment: A non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit were required depending on the candidate’s category and institution type.
- Choice Filling and Locking: Candidates could choose their preferred colleges and courses. Once satisfied, they had to lock in their choices.
- Seat Allotment: Based on merit, category, choices filled, and seat availability, seat allotment was processed.
- Result Declaration: The seat allotment results were published on the MCC website.
- Reporting to College: Selected candidates had to report to the allotted college with original documents for verification and admission.
Documents Required at Reporting
Candidates reporting to their allotted colleges were required to carry the following documents:
- NEET 2021 Admit Card
- NEET 2021 Rank Letter
- Class 10 and 12 Marksheets and Certificates
- Identity Proof (Aadhar/PAN/Passport)
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- Provisional Allotment Letter
- Passport-sized photographs
- Domicile Certificate (for state counselling)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
State-Level NEET 2021 Counselling
NEET Counselling 2021 Date – Each state conducted its counselling for the 85% state quota seats.
The schedule varied by state but typically began after the AIQ counselling had commenced.
States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh had separate portals for registration, choice filling, and seat allotment.
Students were advised to regularly visit the respective state counselling websites for updates.
Challenges Faced During NEET 2021 Counselling
NEET 2021 counselling encountered several challenges:
- Delay Due to Legal Issues: Petitions related to EWS and OBC reservations in AIQ seats delayed the counselling process.
- COVID-19 Disruptions: The pandemic affected the academic calendar, resulting in deferred sessions and logistical issues.
- Technical Glitches: Many candidates reported website lags during registration and choice filling due to high traffic.
- Confusion Over Seat Matrix: Changes in seat reservation policies and increased seats in some institutions created confusion among candidates.
MCC’s Response and Measures
To address these issues, the MCC took the following steps:
- Increased transparency by publishing detailed counselling schedules and FAQs.
- Extended deadlines were necessary to accommodate late applicants.
- Issued multiple public notices to address queries regarding eligibility, reservation, and reporting procedures.
- Introduced a “Stray Vacancy Round” to ensure maximum seat utilisation and reduce vacant seats.
Conclusion
NEET Counselling 2021 Date – The NEET 2021 counselling process, though delayed, was successfully conducted in early 2022.
It was marked by transparency, fair seat allotment, and multiple rounds that ensured deserving candidates got a chance at quality medical education.
Despite the challenges posed by policy changes and the pandemic, the efforts of the MCC and state authorities helped in managing the counselling process effectively.