HP NEET UG Counselling 2026: Dates Out for MBBS, BDS Admissions Round 1 Applications Open Till August 17

If you’ve qualified NEET UG 2026 and you’re hoping to bag an MBBS or BDS seat in Himachal Pradesh, the wait is finally over. The Atal Medical & Research University, Himachal Pradesh (AMRU HP) has released the official HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 schedule, and Round 1 registration is now open — but only until August 17, 2026.

This isn’t a process you want to wing. Missing a single deadline in state counselling can mean losing your shot at a seat for an entire year. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need: the complete round-wise schedule, eligibility criteria, application fees, required documents, choice-filling strategy, and the common mistakes that trip up first-time applicants.

Table of Contents

1. What Is HP NEET UG Counselling 2026?
2. HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Schedule
3. Eligibility Criteria
4. Step-by-Step Registration Guide
5. Application Fee Structure
6. Documents Required
7. Choice Filling: Tips and Best Practices
8. Seat Allotment and Reporting
9. Round 2 and Round 3 Schedule
10. Common Mistakes to Avoid
11. Latest Updates and Trends
12. Key Takeaways
13. Conclusion
14. FAQs

What Is HP NEET UG Counselling 2026?

HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 is the state-level admission process that allocates 85% state-quota MBBS and BDS seats in Himachal Pradesh’s government and private medical colleges. It’s conducted by AMRU HP for candidates who’ve qualified NEET UG 2026 and meet the state’s domicile and eligibility norms.

Unlike the All India Quota counselling run by the MCC, this process is specific to Himachal Pradesh candidates (plus certain reserved categories like children of J&K migrants, Tibetan refugees, NRI, and EWS candidates). It typically runs across multiple rounds — Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and a stray vacancy round if seats remain vacant.

HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Schedule

Here’s the complete timeline, as released by AMRU HP:

Important: These dates are subject to revision. AMRU HP has a track record of extending deadlines by a day or two when application volumes are high, so keep checking the official website even after you’ve submitted your form.

Eligibility Criteria

Before you register, make sure you tick every box:

• Qualified NEET UG 2026 with a valid score above the cut-off percentile for your category
• Completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects
• Minimum age of 17 years by December 31, 2026
• Meet Himachal Pradesh’s domicile/bonafide requirement for state quota seats (reserved categories like J&K migrants, Tibetan refugees, NRI, and EWS have separate eligibility rules)
• Not currently debarred by NMC or any state counselling authority

If you’re unsure about your domicile status, check the specific bonafide certificate requirements listed in the official HP NEET UG prospectus before you start filling the form — this is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected at the verification stage.

Step-by-Step Registration Guide

1. Visit the official portal at erpamruhp.in and locate the applicant login section.
2. Create your account using your NEET UG 2026 roll number, name, and date of birth.
3. Fill in personal, academic, and NEET-related details carefully — double-check spellings against your NEET admit card.
4. Upload scanned documents (photo, signature, category certificates) in the specified format and size.
5. Pay the application fee through the online payment gateway.
6. Download and save the confirmation page along with your payment receipt — you’ll need this later.
7. Wait for the provisional merit list to verify your position and raise objections if needed before the final list is out.

A practical tip: complete your registration in the first two or three days of the window rather than waiting until August 17. Server load spikes near deadlines, and a failed payment on the last day can cost you the entire round.

Application Fee Structure

Fees are non-refundable once paid, so confirm your category certificate is valid and current before submitting.

Documents Required for HP NEET Counselling

Keep both original and photocopies ready:

• NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard/result
• HP NEET counselling application form printout
• Seat allotment letter (once issued)
• Class 10 and Class 12 certificates and mark sheets
• Date of birth proof
• Valid photo ID (Aadhaar card, passport, etc.)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC), if applicable
• EWS certificate, if applicable
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Domicile/residential certificate
• Passport-size photographs
• Migration certificate, if required by the allotted college

Choice Filling: Tips and Best Practices

This is where most candidates either secure a good seat or lose out unnecessarily. A few practical pointers:

• Fill more choices than you think you need. Even if a college seems out of reach based on last year’s cutoff, include it — cutoffs shift year to year.
• Order matters. The system allots the highest college/course on your list that your rank qualifies for, so list your genuine first preference at the top, not a “safe” option.
• Research previous-year closing ranks for each college and course combination before finalizing your list.
• Don’t leave out colleges you’re willing to join, even if they’re not your top choice — an incomplete list limits your options in later rounds.
• Factor in total cost. Government college fees are drastically lower than private college fees; if budget is a concern, prioritize accordingly.
• Submit early, then revisit and reorder before the window closes rather than rushing on the last day.

Seat Allotment and Reporting

Once choice filling ends, AMRU HP releases a provisional seat allocation (August 25) followed by the final seat allocation (August 26). Candidates allotted a seat must report to the college on August 28–29, 2026, carrying original documents for verification.

At reporting, you’ll typically need to pay a token/admission fee — historically around ₹10,000 for government colleges and ₹50,000 for private colleges (confirm current figures on the official notice, as these can change year to year). Missing the reporting deadline usually results in forfeiture of the allotted seat, so treat this date as non-negotiable.

Round 2 and Round 3 Schedule

If you don’t get a seat in Round 1, or want to try for a better one, here’s what follows:

Round 2

• Fresh application: 31 August – 2 September 2026
• Final merit list: 5 September 2026
• Choice filling: 6–8 September 2026
• Final seat allocation: 11 September 2026
• Joining: 13–14 September 2026

Round 3

• Fresh application: 16–18 September 2026
• Final merit list: 21 September 2026
• Choice filling: 22–24 September 2026
• Final seat allocation: 28 September 2026
• Joining: 30 September – 1 October 2026

A stray vacancy round may follow if seats remain unfilled after Round 3, with dates to be notified separately.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting until the last day to register — server crashes and payment failures are common near deadlines.
• Uploading blurry or incorrectly sized documents, which delays verification.
• Filling too few choices, drastically narrowing your allotment chances.
• Ignoring the provisional merit list, missing your window to raise objections before it’s finalized.
• Not reading round-specific rules carefully — fresh registration requirements can differ between rounds.
• Missing the reporting deadline after seat allotment, resulting in seat forfeiture.
• Relying on unofficial WhatsApp or Telegram forwards for dates instead of checking the AMRU HP website directly.

Latest Updates and Trends

NEET UG counselling nationwide has been moving faster this year, with several states — Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand — releasing their schedules within days of each other in early-to-mid August 2026. This compressed timeline means candidates eligible for multiple state quotas need to track overlapping deadlines closely and prioritize the states where their chances are strongest. The MCC has also released its Round 1 seat matrix for All India Quota seats, giving candidates a clearer national picture to compare against state-level options like Himachal Pradesh.

Key Takeaways

• HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration runs August 13–17, 2026.
• Final merit list comes out on August 19; choice filling follows August 21–23.
• Final seat allotment is on August 26, with reporting on August 28–29.
• Application fee ranges from ₹0 (PwD) to ₹2,500 (General).
• Three counselling rounds plus a possible stray round are planned through October 2026.
• Register early, fill maximum genuine choices, and never miss a reporting deadline.

Conclusion

The HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 process rewards candidates who stay organized and act early. With Round 1 registration open only until August 17, there’s no time to second-guess — get your documents ready, verify your eligibility, and submit your application well before the deadline. Keep this schedule bookmarked, revisit it before each stage, and always cross-check any date changes on the official AMRU HP website before making decisions.

FAQs

1. When does HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 registration start? Registration began on August 13, 2026, and the Round 1 window closes on August 17, 2026.

2. What is the last date for HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 choice filling? Choice filling for Round 1 runs from August 21 to August 23, 2026.

3. What is the application fee for HP NEET counselling 2026? ₹2,500 for General/NRI/OBC categories, ₹1,500 for SC/ST/EWS, and free for PwD candidates.

4. When will the HP NEET UG Round 1 seat allotment result be released? The final seat allocation is scheduled for August 26, 2026, with college reporting on August 28–29.

5. Is HP NEET counselling only for Himachal Pradesh domicile students? Primarily yes, for the 85% state quota, though certain reserved categories like J&K migrants, Tibetan refugees, NRI candidates, and EWS also participate under specific rules.

6. What happens if I miss the Round 1 reporting deadline? You risk forfeiting your allotted seat, so reporting with all original documents by the deadline is essential.

7. How many rounds does HP NEET UG Counselling 2026 have? Three regular rounds (Round 1, 2, 3) plus a stray vacancy round if seats remain vacant after Round 3.