VCI Counselling 2026 – Complete Guide: Registration, Dates, Process, Fees & Seat Allotment
VCI Counselling 2026 – Complete Step-by-Step Guide (vci.admissions.nic.in)
If you have qualified NEET UG 2026 and are interested in BVSc & AH (Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry), then VCI Counselling 2026 is the most important process you need to understand. This guide covers everything — from what VCI is, to registration, eligibility, fees, seat allotment, and expert tips to secure your seat.
Written by Dr. SR Prajapati — BAMS Graduate (MMM Udaipur), NEET Counselling Expert with 3+ years of guidance experience and 1000+ students counselled across 8 states.
What is VCI? – Full Form & Overview
VCI Full Form: Veterinary Council of India
The Veterinary Council of India (VCI) is a statutory body established under the Indian Veterinary Council (IVC) Act, 1984 under the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India.
VCI is responsible for:
- Regulation of veterinary practice in India
- Maintenance of standards in veterinary education
- Preparation and maintenance of Indian Veterinary Practitioner’s Register
Official Counselling Website: vci.admissions.nic.in
As per Regulation 7(8) of VCI – MSVE Degree Course (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) Regulations, 2016, 15% of total seats in all recognized veterinary colleges shall be filled by VCI on an All India basis through NEET (UG).
VCI Counselling 2026 – Which Seats Are Covered?
VCI Counselling covers a specific quota of seats — not all veterinary seats across India. Here is a clear breakdown:
| Seat Type | Quota | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Recognized Veterinary Colleges (Govt & Private) | 15% All India Quota | All India Basis |
Important: VCI covers only 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. The remaining 85% seats are filled by the respective State Governments through state-level counselling processes.
So if you are targeting a government veterinary college, you need to participate in:
- VCI Counselling (for 15% AIQ seats)
- State Veterinary/NEET Counselling (for 85% state quota seats)
VCI Counselling 2026 – Course Details
VCI Counselling 2026 is conducted for admission to:
B.V.Sc. & A.H. (Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry)
- Duration: 5½ years (including 1 year compulsory Internship)
- Total Seats (15% AIQ): 779 seats across all recognized veterinary colleges in India
- Admission Basis: NEET UG 2025 Merit List
VCI Counselling 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
- Candidate must be an Indian National.
- OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) / PIO (Person of Indian Origin) candidates are also eligible. However, they will be considered under the General category for all purposes.
Age Requirement
- Candidate must have attained a minimum age of 17 years as on 31st December, 2025.
Essential Qualification
To be eligible for VCI Counselling 2026, a candidate must:
- Have qualified NEET (UG) 2025
- Have passed 10+2 / Intermediate Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects
- Have obtained minimum aggregate marks in qualifying examination:
- General Category: Minimum 50% aggregate in PCB subjects
- SC / ST / Other Special Category: Minimum 47.5% aggregate in PCB subjects (as per VCI – MSVE Regulations, 2016)
- Admission shall be based solely on NEET (UG) 2025 rank — no other merit or weightage shall be considered
Physical Disability (PwD)
- Criteria for physical disability is as per the Right of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
- PwD candidates must submit a valid UDID card issued by a designated medical authority under MoSJE (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)
- A single uniform cut-off shall apply for all PwD candidates — it shall not be lower than the SC/ST cut-off
VCI Counselling 2026 – Reservation of Seats
Seats under 15% All India Quota are reserved as follows:
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 15% |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 7.5% |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 10% |
| OBC (Other Backward Class – Non Creamy Layer, Central List) | 27% |
| PwD (Persons with Disability) | 5% (Horizontal Reservation) |
Note: OBC candidates from the Creamy Layer or those not in the Central List of OBC must register as General category candidates.
VCI Counselling 2026 – Fee Structure
Registration Fee (Round 1 & Round 2)
| Category | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹1,000/- |
| EWS / OBC | ₹900/- |
| SC / ST / PwD / Transgender | ₹500/- |
Note: Registration fee once paid is non-refundable, regardless of seat allotment.
Stray Round Participation Fee
| Category | Stray Round Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS / PIO | ₹50,000/- |
| SC / ST / PH / Transgender | ₹25,000/- |
Transaction charges shall be additional as applicable.
Payment Mode: Only through Net Banking / Debit Card / Credit Card. Cash, Cheque, DD, Wallet Payments, NEFT/RTGS are NOT allowed.
Expert Tip by Dr. SR Prajapati: The Stray Round fee of ₹50,000 is refunded to all candidates who are NOT allotted any seat, and also to those who successfully report and take admission against their allotted seat within the specified time. However, if you are allotted a seat and fail to report within the stipulated time — the fee is forfeited.
VCI Counselling 2026 – Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Registration on vci.admissions.nic.in
- Visit the official VCI counselling website: vci.admissions.nic.in
- Complete online registration using the same email address and mobile number provided in the NEET (UG) 2025 NTA application
- Fill in all required personal and academic details
- Create your login credentials
Step 2: Pay Registration Fee
- Pay the applicable non-refundable registration fee online
- Payment must be via Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card
- Download and save your payment receipt
Step 3: Choice Filling & Locking
- Login to the portal → Select “Choice Filling”
- Browse available veterinary colleges by state and category
- Arrange colleges in your order of preference (most preferred first)
- Lock your choices before the deadline — choices that are not locked will not be considered for allotment
Dr. SR Prajapati Tip: Add as many college choices as possible. Before locking, you can change the order of preferences any number of times. Once locked, choices cannot be changed or unlocked.
Step 4: Download Provisional Allotment Letter
- After each round, check the result on the VCI counselling portal
- If a seat is allotted, download your Provisional Allotment Letter
- The letter will contain your allotted college details
Step 5: Report to Allotted College
- Visit the allotted college physically within the schedule dates
- Carry all original documents for verification by the Nodal Officer
- Confirm your admission within the joining deadline
Critical Warning: If you fail to report to your allotted college within the scheduled time, your seat will be cancelled and you will not be allowed to participate in any further round of counselling.
VCI Counselling 2026 – Rounds Explained
VCI conducts online counselling in 3 stages:
Round 1 – First Allotment
- Register on the portal and pay registration fee
- Fill choices and lock preferences
- Seat allotted based on NEET rank + choices + seat availability
- Report to allotted college within scheduled dates
- Candidates who report in Round 1 are eligible for re-choice filling in Round 2 for upgradation
- Inform the Nodal Officer of the college about your willingness to participate in Round 2
Round 2 – Upgradation Round
- Fresh candidates who did not register in Round 1 can register here by paying the registration fee
- Candidates already registered in Round 1 do not need to pay fee again
- Re-choice filling allowed for those who reported in Round 1 colleges
- If a better seat is allotted in Round 2, the Round 1 seat stands cancelled automatically
- Report to new allotted college within schedule
Important: Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 but who did NOT report to the college are not allowed to participate in Round 2 or further rounds.
Stray Round – Last Chance
- Conducted for vacant seats remaining after Round 2
- Available vacant seats (category-wise) are notified on the VCI portal
- No fresh registration — only previously registered candidates can participate
- Stray Round participation fee must be paid (₹50,000 for General/OBC/EWS; ₹25,000 for SC/ST/PH)
- Candidates already allotted seats (reported or not) are NOT eligible for Stray Round
- Seat allotment based on merit and choice of candidate under respective category
- Auto-generated Allotment Letter issued; candidate must report as per schedule
VCI Counselling 2026 – Seat Conversion Policy
In case seats remain vacant under certain categories, VCI converts seats as per the following algorithm during the Stray Round:
| From Category | Converted To |
|---|---|
| ST (PwD) | ST |
| SC (PwD) | SC |
| OBC (PwD) | OBC |
| UR (PwD) | UR |
| EWS (PwD) | EWS |
| EWS | UR |
Documents Required for VCI Counselling 2026
Carry original documents along with self-attested photocopies at the time of reporting/admission to the allotted college:
- Admit Card of NEET UG – 2025
- Rank Card of NEET UG – 2025 issued by NTA
- Aadhaar Card / Voter ID Card / Ration Card / Passport / PAN (as provided in NEET UG Application Form)
- Date of Birth Proof (Secondary School Examination or equivalent Certificate)
- 10+2 Marksheet (Qualifying Examination Marksheet)
- 10+2 Certificate or Provisional Certificate (Provisional only accepted for candidates who passed in 2025)
- Character Certificate from School or College last attended
- Six passport size + one postcard size coloured photographs
- OCI / PIO card (if applicable)
- Equivalency Certificate from AIU (for candidates educated abroad)
Category-specific documents (if applicable):
- SC/ST: Certificate as per Annexure-3 format, issued by competent authority in English or Hindi
- OBC: Certificate as per Annexure-4, issued by competent authority, confirming Non-Creamy Layer status (Central List)
- EWS: Certificate as per Annexure-5 format
- PwD: Valid UDID card issued by designated Medical Authority under MoSJE, Govt. of India
VCI Counselling 2026 – Reporting Instructions
For Candidates:
- Report to the allotted college/university as per the date mentioned in the Schedule
- Contact the Nodal Officer of the respective college for the reporting/admission process
- If participating in Round 2 after reporting in Round 1 — inform the Nodal Officer and ensure they make the necessary entry/mark on the Counselling Portal
- Retain authenticated proof of reporting for your records
For Colleges (Nodal Officers):
- VCI will provide User ID/Password to the Nodal Officer on their registered mobile/email
- Nodal Officer must verify the Admit Card, Original Certificates, Supporting Documents, and Fee Details before confirming admission
- In case of candidates opting for re-choice in Round 2, the Nodal Officer must make necessary entries on the portal
Common Mistakes to Avoid in VCI Counselling 2026
Based on Dr. SR Prajapati’s experience of guiding students through NEET counselling, here are the most critical mistakes students make:
❌ Mistake 1: Not Reporting After Seat Allotment
If you receive a seat and do not report within the scheduled time — your seat is cancelled and you are barred from all further rounds. This is the most costly mistake.
❌ Mistake 2: Filling Too Few Choices
Many students fill only a few colleges. Fill the maximum number of choices possible — more choices means more chance of getting a seat that matches your preference.
❌ Mistake 3: Unlocked Choices
Filling choices but forgetting to lock them before the deadline means your choices are not considered. Always lock before the deadline.
❌ Mistake 4: Wrong Category Mentioned
OBC Creamy Layer candidates registering as OBC (NCL) leads to disqualification. If you do not belong to the Central List OBC, register as General.
❌ Mistake 5: Not Participating in State Counselling Simultaneously
VCI covers only 15% seats. The remaining 85% seats are filled by state counselling. Always participate in both simultaneously to maximize your chances.
❌ Mistake 6: Missing Document Preparation
After allotment, the reporting window is short. Prepare all original documents well in advance.
Quick Reference Summary – VCI Counselling 2026
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Veterinary Council of India (VCI) |
| Under Ministry | Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India |
| Official Website | vci.admissions.nic.in |
| Course | B.V.Sc. & A.H. (5½ years incl. 1 year Internship) |
| Total Seats (AIQ) | 779 seats |
| Quota | 15% All India Quota |
| Admission Basis | NEET (UG) 2025 Merit |
| Min Age | 17 years as on 31st December, 2025 |
| Min Marks (General) | 50% aggregate in PCB in Class 12 |
| Min Marks (SC/ST) | 47.5% aggregate in PCB in Class 12 |
| Rounds | Round 1, Round 2, Stray Round |
| Registration Fee (General) | ₹1,000/- |
| Registration Fee (SC/ST/PwD) | ₹500/- |
| Stray Round Fee (General/OBC/EWS) | ₹50,000/- |
| Stray Round Fee (SC/ST/PH) | ₹25,000/- |
| Legal Jurisdiction | Delhi |
Need Expert Guidance for AACCC Counselling 2026?
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Last Updated: June 2026 | Author: Dr. SR Prajapati, BAMS (MMM Udaipur) | NEET Counselling Expert | Data Source: VCI Information Bulletin 2025-26 (Official)
Frequently Asked Questions – VCI Counselling 2026
VCI Counselling 2026 से जुड़े सबसे महत्वपूर्ण सवाल और उनके जवाब
