Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU), Mandi, runs Himachal Pradesh MBBS counselling. AMRU runs it for the state government through a Centralised Counselling Committee. The Director of Medical Education and Research chairs it. It fills the 85% state quota seats in government colleges. It also fills the state, management and NRI seats at MMMC Kumarhatti. MCC, on the other hand, fills the 15% All India Quota seats, AIIMS Bilaspur and deemed universities.
Himachal Pradesh NEET UG 2026 update (20 October): AMRU has finished three rounds. Now, the Stray Round is open. AMRU issued the stray round schedule on 19 October 2026. Submit the fresh online form by 12 noon on 21 October. Then fill and lock choices by 3 PM on 22 October.
Who runs MBBS counselling in Himachal Pradesh
| Seats | Counselling authority |
|---|---|
| 85% state quota in the six government medical colleges | AMRU, Mandi |
| State, management and NRI seats at MMMC Kumarhatti (private) | AMRU, Mandi |
| ESI quota seats at SLBS Government Medical College, Ner Chowk | AMRU, Mandi |
| 15% All India Quota in government colleges | MCC |
| AIIMS Bilaspur and deemed universities | MCC |
You register separately for each process. For example, an MCC registration does not count for AMRU. Likewise, an AMRU form does not create an MCC application. Our MCC counselling guide covers the national route. For college names and locations, see MBBS colleges in Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal stray round 2026
The stray round is the last stage of Himachal Pradesh MBBS counselling this year. Here is what the AMRU prospectus says about it:
- Only candidates without admission in any college can take part.
- You must submit a fresh form and lock fresh choices. Otherwise, AMRU will not give you a seat.
- The prospectus allows no shifting or upgradation in this round.
- If you paid a token amount in an earlier round, you do not pay it again.
- If you got a Round 3 seat and did not take admission, you cannot join the stray round. The same applies if you gave up an admitted seat after Round 3.
Also, the prospectus says there is no provision for an institutional mop-up round. As a result, no college-level round follows.
Important: Lock only seats you will join and can pay for. If you do not join an allotted seat, AMRU forfeits your token amount.
Himachal Pradesh MBBS counselling 2026 dates
These dates come from AMRU’s official notices.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 online application | 13–18 August 2026 (extended to 5 PM on 18 August) |
| Round 1 choice filling (revised) | 22–25 August 2026 |
| Round 1 joining (revised) | 1–3 September 2026, later extended to 4 September |
| Round 2 | September 2026 (completed) |
| Round 3 fresh application | 22–27 September 2026 |
| Round 3 final merit list | 30 September 2026 |
| Round 3 choice filling | 1–4 October 2026 (later extended by notice) |
| Stray round fresh application | 19 October to 21 October 2026, 12 noon |
| Stray round merit list and vacancy list | 21 October 2026 |
| Stray round choice filling and locking | 21–22 October 2026, until 3 PM |
| Stray round provisional allocation | 23 October 2026 |
| Stray round final allocation | 24 October 2026 |
| Joining the allotted college | 26 October 2026 |
However, AMRU can change any date. Check the university website daily until admissions close.
Seat types in Himachal state quota MBBS admission
Himachal splits state quota seats into two groups.
- Group-A (Reserved): Seats for listed categories and sub-categories.
- Group-B (Unreserved): Open seats filled on NEET merit.
- NRI Quota: A few seats in each government college, plus 23 NRI seats at MMMC. In the third round, AMRU fills unused NRI seats from Group-B merit.
- ESI Quota: At SLBS GMC Ner Chowk, 35% of the state quota (36 seats) goes to the ESI quota.
- MMMC Kumarhatti: This private college gives 25% of its 150 seats (38) to the state quota and 75% (112) to the management quota.
For example, IGMC Shimla has 102 state quota seats in 2026. The prospectus lists these Group-A sub-category seats there:
| Group-A sub-category | Seats |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste | 16 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 7 |
| Other Backward Classes | 4 |
| Economically Weaker Sections | 10 |
| Persons with Disability | 5 |
| Backward Area | 3 |
| Widows or wards of ex-servicemen | 1 |
| Wards or wives of defence personnel | 1 |
| Ward of freedom fighter | 1 |
| Single girl child | 1 |
| Children of Tibetan refugees | 1 |
Other colleges have their own tables. At MMMC, for instance, the state quota Group-A also has two IRDP/BPL seats. Read the seat table for each college you plan to fill. Our seat matrix guide explains how to read vacancy lists.
Who can apply
First, you must qualify NEET UG 2026. The qualifying scores are 213 for General and EWS, 194 for General PwD, and 177 for SC, ST, OBC and their PwD groups. In addition, AMRU follows the National Medical Commission’s rules on age and Class 12. That means you must be at least 17 by 31 December 2026. You must also pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English.
For state quota seats, you must also be a bonafide Himachali. Finally, you must prove any category or sub-category you claim.
Himachal bonafide rules for NEET
The AMRU prospectus uses two tests. First, you must be a bonafide Himachali. That means one of these is true:
- your parents have a permanent home in Himachal Pradesh; or
- you have lived in Himachal for 20 years or more; or
- you have a permanent home in Himachal but live outside for work.
Second, you must have passed at least two exams from recognised schools in Himachal. These can be any two of middle, matric, Class 11 or Class 12.
| Your situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Himachali family; Classes 10 and 12 in Himachal | Your bonafide certificate format and category papers |
| Himachali family; only Class 12 in Himachal | Whether your middle or Class 11 also counts as a second exam |
| Navodaya student who studied in another state on exchange | The Navodaya exchange exception |
| Himachali parent in defence, ex-servicemen or paramilitary service | You are exempt from the schooling condition |
| Non-Himachali parent posted in Himachal (central or HP government) | The service-period rule and Classes 11–12 in Himachal; you compete only for unreserved seats |
If your case depends on an exception, read the bonafide section of the prospectus closely. Some exceptions also need a set certificate format. Then ask AMRU before you lock choices. Our guide on state quota counselling explains how to read such rules.
Category and special documents
- Bonafide Himachali: Get the certificate in the prospectus format (Appendix 1). An SDM, Executive Magistrate or Tehsildar of your area issues it. Also check the issue-date rule. The prospectus gives two different dates in different places.
- SC, ST and OBC: Use certificates in the formats AMRU prescribes. OBC candidates should also check the non-creamy layer rule.
- EWS: Family income must be below ₹4 lakh. There are asset limits too.
- Sub-categories: Each sub-category claim needs its own certificate.
- Non-HP board: If your board is not CBSE, ICSE or HPBOSE, bring an equivalence certificate.
AMRU MBBS counselling: registration and choice filling
The process repeats every round:
- Fill a fresh online application on the AMRU portal.
- Pay the application fee: ₹2,500 for General, NRI, OBC and other categories; ₹1,500 for SC, ST and EWS. PwD candidates pay nothing.
- Submit the form and download the PDF. Payment alone does not complete it.
- Check the merit list and vacancy list.
- Then fill and lock fresh choices, and pay the token amount if it applies.
Worked example. Suppose College A and College B are government colleges you like. MMMC fits your budget only under the state quota. Your list could then be:
- College A, Group-B.
- College B, Group-B.
- MMMC Kumarhatti, state quota.
Do not add MMMC management quota just to lengthen the list. After all, a seat you cannot pay for is not a backup.
Rounds, token amounts and exit rules
Himachal’s rules are not MCC’s rules. MCC’s free exit and deposit rules do not carry over here.
| Token amount (Round 2 onwards) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Government medical or dental colleges | ₹10,000 |
| Private dental colleges | ₹50,000 |
| MMMC Kumarhatti (state or management quota) | ₹1,00,000 |
| NRI quota seats | ₹2,00,000 |
If you get no seat, AMRU refunds the token. However, it forfeits the token if you do not join, or if you join and later leave. Also, if you choose several quota types, you pay the highest amount.
Round rules matter too. If you are happy with your Round 1 seat, you need not join later rounds. However, to seek an upgrade in Round 2, you must first give up your seat on a provisional basis. AMRU allows upgrades up to Round 3. After Round 2, though, no student can vacate a government college seat, whether AIQ or state quota. AMRU cites a Supreme Court order for this rule.
Our counselling rounds guide explains rounds in general. Our MCC security deposit guide covers MCC’s separate deposit.
How AIQ and Himachal counselling affect each other
The two processes run side by side. In fact, AMRU set its Round 1 and Round 3 dates from MCC’s revised timetable. Also, if you move to an AIQ seat, AMRU’s notifications decide whether you get your token back. Track both portals for that reason.
HP MBBS fees
The prospectus lists these 2026-27 government MBBS fees:
| Item | First year | Years 2–5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | ₹40,000 | ₹40,000 |
| Admission fee | ₹4,000 | – |
| Student, medical and dilapidated funds | ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Security (refundable) | ₹6,000 | – |
| Total per year | ₹60,000 | ₹50,000 |
Hostel costs ₹24,200 a year, plus a one-time refundable security of ₹3,000. NRI students pay US$20,000 a year. In Year 5, you pay only half the yearly tuition. Also, BPL students pay no tuition, and students with more than 40% disability pay no fees.
AMRU’s prospectus gives the MMMC amounts below for 2026–27. Do not read the total column as a simple five-year sum. In several rows, it is about six times the first-year figure.
| Quota | First year | Published total (verify billing period) |
|---|---|---|
| IRDP/BPL | ₹53,240 | ₹3,19,440 |
| State quota | ₹8,47,000 | ₹50,82,000 |
| Management quota | ₹15,97,200 | ₹95,83,200 |
| NRI quota | US$42,159 | Check the prospectus |
These amounts point to large total costs. However, MMMC must confirm the yearly increase and the number of payments. Add hostel, mess, deposits and exam charges to your budget.
Before you add MMMC to your list: Ask AMRU or MMMC for a written year-by-year fee plan. It should show the payment at admission, the yearly amount after that, and the final academic period. The first-year fee alone does not show your full cost.
MBBS bond in Himachal Pradesh
The 2026 prospectus does not list a service bond amount for government MBBS seats. However, bonds can come from separate state orders or the college. Ask the college in writing before you join. Also, private dental colleges may ask for a bank guarantee for the remaining course fee. Our MBBS bond checklist lists the clauses to read.
After allotment
Follow these steps once you get a seat:
- Download your allotment letter from the AMRU portal and check the college, course and quota.
- Carry your AMRU application printout, NEET 2026 admit card and scorecard, Class 10 and 12 papers, birth-date proof and character certificates.
- Also carry your bonafide certificate, category certificates and four passport photos.
- Bring originals plus self-attested copies.
- Join by the deadline. Otherwise, AMRU cancels the seat without notice.
Also, you must complete Hepatitis-B vaccination within six months, at your own cost. Our reporting checklist helps with the joining stage.
Common questions
No. The prospectus says there is no provision for an institutional mop-up round. The stray round is the last round.
Mostly no for state quota seats. However, some exceptions exist, such as children of certain government employees posted in Himachal. They compete only for unreserved seats. Also, AIQ and NRI routes have their own rules.
No. The prospectus does not allow shifting or upgradation in the stray round.
No. After Round 2, you cannot vacate a government college seat. If you leave anyway, you lose your token amount.
