The VCI Counselling 2026 process will govern admission to the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH) courses at recognised veterinary colleges across India. Conducted by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the counselling is based entirely on NEET UG merit. The remaining 85% of veterinary seats are filled through separate counselling conducted by respective state authorities.
VCI Counselling 2026: Eligibility Criteria
Candidates hoping to participate must meet the following conditions for VCI Counselling 2026:
- Be an Indian citizen; OCI and PIO candidates are also eligible but considered under the General category
- Have attained a minimum age of 17 years as on 31 December of the admission year
- Have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English as core subjects
- Secure a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in PCB subjects (47.5% for SC/ST and other special categories)
- Have a valid NEET UG score and rank
How the Counselling Process Works
VCI counselling for the 15% AIQ seats is conducted entirely online through the official portal, vci.admissions.nic.in, using NEET UG credentials. The process typically follows these broad steps:
- Register on the portal and pay the applicable registration fee
- Fill in and lock choices of preferred veterinary colleges, arranged in order of priority
- Seat allotment is carried out based on NEET UG rank, category, and the choices submitted
- Candidates allotted a seat must report to the respective college within the specified reporting window
Counselling is usually conducted across multiple rounds, including a mop-up round and a stray vacancy round for any seats that remain vacant after the earlier rounds. Candidates who fail to report within the allotted window typically forfeit their seat and, in some cases, any security deposit paid for participation in later rounds.
It is worth noting that VCI counselling operates independently of most state veterinary counselling processes, so candidates hoping to maximise their chances are generally advised to register for both the central AIQ round and their respective state counselling, where eligible, rather than relying on a single option.
Documents Required at Admission
Candidates allotted a seat through VCI counselling are typically required to carry original documents at the time of reporting, including:
- NEET UG admit card and scorecard
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- Valid photo identity proof
- VCI counselling registration confirmation page
- Category, domicile or other certificates, where applicable
Since the official schedule, including exact registration and reporting dates, has not yet been released, candidates are advised to keep checking the official website, vci.admissions.nic.in, rather than relying on unofficial sources for updates. The counselling process is generally expected to open in the months following the declaration of NEET UG results, based on the pattern seen in previous years.
