UP DGME NEET UG Counselling 2026: Security Money, Nodal Centers & Choice Filling Guide

Introduction to UP DGME NEET UG Counselling 2026

Uttar Pradesh, being India's most populous state, hosts a vast network of medical colleges. The Directorate General of Medical Education and Training (DGME), Uttar Pradesh, is the regulatory authority overseeing the centralized counselling for state quota medical seats. The UP DGME counselling process is known for its strict regulations, particularly concerning security deposits and document verification.

Official Authority and Portals

Candidates must navigate primarily two official websites for UP NEET counselling: dgme.up.gov.in for official notifications, mandates, and broad guidelines, and upneet.gov.in, which serves as the active portal for registration, choice filling, and seat allotment results.

Crucial Steps in UP NEET Counselling

1. Online Registration and Application Fee

The process initiates with online registration on upneet.gov.in using NEET roll numbers and application details. A mandatory, non-refundable registration fee (historically around ₹2000) must be paid online to complete this step.

2. The Significant Security Deposit Rule

A defining characteristic of UP NEET counselling is the mandatory security deposit. This rule is strictly enforced to deter frivolous participation and seat blocking.

• For Government Medical Colleges (State Quota): A security deposit of ₹30,000 is typically required.
• For Private Medical Colleges: A substantial security deposit of ₹2,00,000 is mandatory to participate in counselling for private college seats.
• For Private Dental Colleges (BDS): A security deposit of ₹100,000 is required.

This amount must be paid online via the portal. Failure to deposit the security money disqualifies the candidate from the choice filling phase. The deposit is refundable if no seat is allotted or if the candidate joins the allotted seat, subject to specific forfeiture rules in subsequent rounds.

3. Document Verification at Nodal Centers

UP heavily relies on physical document verification at designated Nodal Centers. Candidates must download the verification schedule and report in person with original documents and photocopies. Only after successful verification is a candidate cleared for choice filling.

4. Choice Filling and Locking

Following verification, candidates log in to arrange their preferences. With over 65 medical colleges in the state, utilizing our NEET AI Predictor can aid in structuring a realistic preference list. Candidates must lock their choices within the specified window. In UP, if choices are not manually locked, they may not be considered for allotment, or the system might autolock; it is imperative to manually lock to avoid any discrepancies.

Medical College Landscape in UP

UP has seen a massive expansion in medical infrastructure.

• Government Medical Colleges: Prominent institutions like KGMU (Lucknow), GSVM (Kanpur), and SNMC (Agra) lead the pack. Several new autonomous state medical colleges (ASMCs) have been established across various districts, increasing the government seat pool significantly.
• Private Medical Colleges: A large number of private institutions exist, catering to students who may not meet government cutoffs. Subharti Medical College, SRMS, and Sharda University are notable names. Private college fees in UP are regulated by the state fee fixation committee.

Domicile and Reservation Policies

Candidates must possess a valid UP domicile certificate to claim state quota government seats. The reservation policy aligns with state norms:

Category	Reservation Percentage
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	27%
Scheduled Castes (SC)	21%
Scheduled Tribes (ST)	2%
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)	10%

UP also features important sub-categories (horizontal reservation) for Freedom Fighters (FF), Physically Handicapped (PH), Ex-Servicemen (EX), and NCC candidates.

Post-Allotment and Mop-Up Rounds

Upon allotment, candidates must download the allotment letter and report to the designated Nodal Center/College for admission formalities. Upgradation is generally permitted from Round 1 to Round 2.

The Mop-Up round (and subsequent stray vacancy rounds) is crucial for filling remaining seats. Rules regarding eligibility for mop-up, especially concerning the forfeiture of security deposits if a candidate holds a seat from previous rounds, are strict and must be reviewed in the latest guidelines.

Conclusion

UP DGME counselling demands financial readiness due to the heavy security deposit requirement and logistical preparedness for physical verification. Stay updated with historical trends via our cutoff explorer to make informed decisions throughout the process.