The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced that 946 MBBS seats remain unfilled in its special stray vacancy round for NEET UG 2026 counselling. This represents a significant increase from the 837 vacancies reported after the previous stray round, with an additional 109 seats becoming available after candidates who were allotted seats chose not to join their colleges. The majority of these vacancies are concentrated in deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, where annual fees often exceed Rs 23 lakh. If you have qualified in NEET UG 2026 but have not yet secured a seat, this round offers a fresh opportunity to apply.
You can still apply for MBBS seats in the MCC special stray round if you missed earlier counselling rounds; registration closes on 4 November 2026 at 3 pm, with allotments announced on 7 November.
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The MCC special stray vacancy round now has 946 vacant MBBS seats across India. This is a jump from the 837 seats that were unfilled after the final round of counselling in NEET UG 2026. The increase happened because 109 candidates who had been allotted seats in the previous stray round did not report to their colleges by the deadline, causing those seats to revert to the pool of available positions.
Of these 946 seats, 920 are in deemed universities—private medical colleges that charge significantly higher fees than government institutions. The remaining 26 seats are distributed across government colleges, including 22 under the All India Quota (which are open to candidates from any state), one at AIIMS Madurai, one at Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai, and seats under the Delhi University and NRI quotas.
Which States Have the Most Vacant MBBS Seats?
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry together account for 875 of the 946 vacant seats—nearly 93% of all available positions. Tamil Nadu alone has 688 vacant seats, while Puducherry has 187. This concentration reflects the large number of deemed universities in these two regions, many of which have not filled their intake despite multiple counselling rounds.
The remaining 71 seats are spread across other states: Karnataka has 25 vacancies, Maharashtra has 13, and 15 other states and union territories share the remaining 33 seats. This uneven distribution means that if you are from Tamil Nadu or Puducherry, you will have significantly more options in this round compared to candidates from other regions.
- Tamil Nadu: 688 seats
- Puducherry: 187 seats
- Karnataka: 25 seats
- Maharashtra: 13 seats
- Other states and UTs: 33 seats
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Why Are So Many Seats Still Empty? The Fee Problem
The primary reason for these persistent vacancies is the high annual tuition fees charged by deemed universities. Annual fees at many deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry range from Rs 23 lakh to Rs 35 lakh per year—a total of Rs 92 lakh to Rs 1.4 crore over a five-year MBBS course. For many families, even after securing an MBBS seat through NEET, these fees remain prohibitively expensive.
In response, several deemed universities have reportedly offered fee concessions to attract students. However, these discounts have largely been discussed privately with individual candidates and their families rather than announced publicly. This lack of transparency means you may need to contact colleges directly to inquire about any fee reductions they might offer. The high cost of deemed university education remains a significant barrier to seat filling, even when candidates have qualified for admission.
Important Dates for the Special Stray Round: Don't Miss the Deadlines
If you are eligible and wish to participate in this special stray round, you must act quickly. Registration and fee payment must be completed by 3 pm on 4 November 2026. This is a hard deadline—applications submitted after this time will not be accepted. You will need to register on the MCC portal, pay the counselling fee, and complete your registration within this window.
After registration closes, choice filling (the process of selecting colleges and courses in order of preference) will remain open until 11 pm on 5 November. Choice locking—the final step where you confirm your preferences—will take place between 4 pm on 4 November and 11 am on 5 November. MCC will announce allotments on 7 November, and if you are allotted a seat, you must report to your college by 5 pm on 16 November to confirm your admission.
- Registration and fee payment: by 3 pm on 4 November 2026
- Choice filling: until 11 pm on 5 November 2026
- Choice locking: 4 pm on 4 November to 11 am on 5 November 2026
- Allotment announcement: 7 November 2026
- Reporting deadline at college: 5 pm on 16 November 2026
What Types of Seats Are Available in This Round?
The 946 vacant MBBS seats include seats under different quota categories. Of these, 920 are in deemed universities with no quota restrictions—meaning they are open to any eligible NEET-qualified candidate regardless of state or category. Additionally, 22 seats are available under the All India Quota (AIQ), which allows candidates to apply for seats in any state across India. This is particularly valuable if you are from a state with fewer vacancies.
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The remaining seats include one at AIIMS Madurai, one at Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai, and individual seats under the Delhi University and NRI quotas. While the number of government college seats is small, they are highly competitive and typically have lower fees than deemed universities. If you are eligible for any of these categories, prioritize them in your choice filling.
BDS and Nursing Seats Are Also Available
Beyond MBBS, the MCC special stray round also has vacancies in other health professions. A total of 207 BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) seats remain vacant, including 112 in government dental colleges. Government dental colleges in Kerala have 17 vacancies, Tamil Nadu has 11, and Maharashtra has 9. Additionally, 66 BSc Nursing seats are available across Delhi, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
If you have qualified in NEET UG but are open to pursuing dentistry or nursing instead of medicine, this round offers an opportunity to secure a seat in these fields as well. Government dental college seats are particularly valuable as they typically have lower fees and strong academic reputation.
What Should You Do If You Want to Apply in This Round?
First, verify that you are eligible to participate. You must have appeared in NEET UG 2026 and obtained a valid score. Check the MCC website to confirm your eligibility and obtain your login credentials if you have not already done so. Next, prepare a list of colleges and courses you are interested in, prioritizing government colleges and AIQ seats if available in your preferred specialization.
Register on the MCC portal before 3 pm on 4 November, pay the counselling fee, and complete your registration. During choice filling, carefully select your preferences in order of priority—remember that the allotment algorithm will match you to the highest-ranked choice for which you are eligible. Lock your choices by 11 am on 5 November. After allotments are announced on 7 November, check your result immediately and prepare to report to your allotted college by 5 pm on 16 November if you receive a seat.
Why Did 109 Candidates Not Join Their Allotted Colleges?
In the previous stray round, 109 candidates who were allotted MBBS seats chose not to join their colleges. While the exact reasons are not detailed, this typically happens when candidates either secure seats in better colleges through other counselling processes, decide that the fees are unaffordable, or are dissatisfied with the location or reputation of their allotted college. This phenomenon is common in counselling rounds where candidates have multiple options or are waiting for better opportunities.
For you, this is good news: it means additional seats have become available that would not have been open otherwise. However, it also underscores the importance of being certain about your choice before locking it in. Once you are allotted a seat and report to the college, you are committed to that admission.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the MCC special stray round and who can apply?
The MCC special stray round is an additional counselling round conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee after the main NEET UG counselling rounds are complete. It is open to all candidates who have qualified in NEET UG 2026 and have not yet been allotted a seat, or who wish to upgrade their seat. Any eligible NEET-qualified candidate can apply, regardless of whether they participated in earlier rounds.
How many MBBS seats are available in this round?
A total of 946 MBBS seats are available in the special stray round. Of these, 920 are in deemed universities, 22 are under the All India Quota in government colleges, and the remaining seats are at AIIMS Madurai, Government Stanley Medical College, and under other quotas. The majority of vacancies (875 seats) are in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
What is the registration deadline and how do I apply?
Registration and fee payment must be completed by 3 pm on 4 November 2026. You need to log in to the MCC portal using your NEET credentials, register for the special stray round, pay the counselling fee, and complete your registration before the deadline. After registration, you will fill and lock your choice of colleges and courses between 4 November and 5 November.
When will allotments be announced and what happens next?
MCC will announce allotments on 7 November 2026. If you are allotted a seat, you must report to your college by 5 pm on 16 November 2026 to confirm your admission. Failure to report by this deadline may result in your seat being cancelled and offered to another candidate.
Why are so many seats still vacant after multiple counselling rounds?
The primary reason is the high annual fees at deemed universities, which range from Rs 23 lakh to Rs 35 lakh per year. Many candidates, even after qualifying in NEET, find these fees unaffordable. Additionally, some candidates may have secured seats in better colleges through other processes or decided not to pursue MBBS due to financial constraints. Some deemed universities have offered fee concessions, but these are often discussed privately rather than announced publicly.
Are there any government college MBBS seats available in this round?
Yes, but in limited numbers. There are 22 seats under the All India Quota in government colleges, one at AIIMS Madurai, and one at Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai. The vast majority of the 946 vacant seats (920) are in deemed universities. If you are eligible for AIQ seats, prioritize them in your choice filling as they typically have lower fees and strong reputation.
What if I cannot afford the fees at deemed universities?
Some deemed universities have reportedly offered fee concessions to attract students, though these are often discussed privately. Contact colleges directly to inquire about any fee reductions or payment plans they might offer. Additionally, explore government college seats under the All India Quota if available. If fees remain unaffordable, you may consider deferring your admission to the next year and reappearing in NEET to improve your score for better college options.
Can I apply for BDS or nursing seats in this round?
Yes. The MCC special stray round also has 207 vacant BDS seats (including 112 in government dental colleges) and 66 BSc Nursing seats. If you are open to these fields, you can include them in your choice filling. Government dental college seats are particularly valuable as they have lower fees and good academic reputation.
If you have qualified in NEET UG 2026 but have not yet secured an MBBS seat, the special stray round offers a final opportunity with 946 available positions. Act quickly: register by 3 pm on 4 November, fill and lock your choices by 11 am on 5 November, and be prepared to report to your allotted college by 5 pm on 16 November if you receive a seat. Contact colleges directly to inquire about any fee concessions they may offer.
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