Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 Round 2: MBBS & BDS Counselling Schedule Released

Tamil Nadu's medical counselling authority has released the Round 2 schedule for MBBS and BDS admissions under NEET UG 2026. Here's the complete timeline candidates need to track.

The Round 2 Schedule

Registration & Payment is open from 7th September, 2026, 10:00 AM, to 8th September, 2026, 5:00 PM — a roughly 31-hour window for candidates to register and complete payment for Round 2.

Choice Filling & Locking runs from 9th September, 2026, 2:00 PM, to 13th September, 2026, 2:00 PM - a full four-day window, giving candidates considerably more time here than at the registration stage to research and finalize their preferences.

Virtual Vacancy Processing takes place on 9th September, 2026 — notably, this falls on the same day Choice Filling opens, meaning vacancy data is being processed right as candidates begin submitting their preferences.

The Result will be published on 15th September, 2026.

The Last Date to Join is 18th September, 2026, 5:00 PM.

The Gap Between Registration and Choice Filling

One detail worth noting: there's roughly a 21-hour gap between Registration & Payment closing (8th September, 5 PM) and Choice Filling opening (9th September, 2 PM). This isn't a delay candidates need to worry about — it's typical processing time counselling authorities use to finalize the registered candidate pool and prepare the choice-filling system — but it does mean candidates shouldn't expect to move seamlessly from registration straight into choice filling on the same day.

Why Virtual Vacancy Processing Matters

Virtual Vacancy Processing, happening on 9th September, is the step where the counselling system calculates and updates which seats are actually available for Round 2 — accounting for Round 1 allotments, joins, and any seats that came back into the pool. Since this happens on the very day Choice Filling opens, the choices candidates see and select from should reflect this updated vacancy picture from the outset, rather than stale data from before Round 1 concluded.

Why the Four-Day Choice Filling Window Matters

Compared to the tighter registration window, Tamil Nadu has given candidates a notably longer stretch — four full days — to fill and lock their choices. This is valuable time that candidates should use deliberately: researching colleges, comparing recent cutoff trends by category, and ordering preferences thoughtfully, rather than rushing through it simply because the window happens to be longer than usual.

What to Do Now

Complete registration and payment well within the 7th-8th September window, since this step gates your ability to participate in Choice Filling at all.

Use the full four-day Choice Filling window (9th-13th September) productively — don't wait until the final day, but also don't feel pressured to finalize your list within the first few hours, since there's genuine time here to make a well-considered decision.

Keep an eye on updated seat vacancy information once Virtual Vacancy Processing completes on 9th September, since this shapes what's realistically available to you in Round 2.

Once the result is published on 15th September, plan to join well before the 18th September, 5 PM deadline, rather than waiting until the final day, to leave room for resolving any document issues at your allotted institute.

Key Things to Remember

Registration & Payment for Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 Round 2 runs from 7th to 8th September, 2026.

Choice Filling & Locking is open for four days, from 9th to 13th September, 2026.

Virtual Vacancy Processing happens on 9th September, the same day Choice Filling opens.

The Round 2 result is due 15th September, with the last date to join set for 18th September, 2026, 5:00 PM.

This article is based on the officially released Round 2 counselling schedule for Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 (MBBS & BDS). Candidates should verify all dates and further details on the official Tamil Nadu medical counselling portal.