Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS), Vijayawada has issued a critical notification for MBBS candidates who have already reported or joined a college seat under the Competent Authority Quota (CAQ) in Phase-I of the 2026-27 counselling. The university is offering a one-time, free exit facility — candidates can withdraw from their Phase-I joined seat and get all fees and original certificates returned immediately. However, this is a high-stakes decision: any candidate who uses this exit option will be permanently barred from participating in Phase-II, Phase-III, and all future rounds of Competent Authority Quota counselling for 2026-27. The deadline to apply for free exit is 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026, and after that date, no withdrawals will be permitted until the entire admission process closes.
If you have joined a Phase-I MBBS seat under CAQ in Andhra Pradesh, you can exit by 2 PM on 12 Sept 2026 with full refund, but you will lose all eligibility for further CAQ counselling rounds — think carefully before deciding.
What is this notification about?
This is a one-time exit window for MBBS candidates in Andhra Pradesh who have already reported to or joined a college seat in Phase-I of the Competent Authority Quota (CAQ) counselling for 2026-27. The Competent Authority Quota is the set of MBBS seats that the Andhra Pradesh government fills through its own counselling process, separate from the national-level NEET counselling.
The notification allows such candidates to formally withdraw from their Phase-I joined seat, get all their original certificates back, and receive a full refund of tuition fees and any other fees paid. This is called a 'free exit' because there is no penalty or loss of fees — the college must return everything immediately.
The critical catch: once you use this free exit option, you cannot participate in Phase-II, Phase-III, or any subsequent round of Competent Authority Quota counselling in 2026-27. You will be permanently out of the CAQ process for this year. However, if a seat is allotted to you in the Merit Quota (MQ) Phase-I counselling, you can still join that.
Who is eligible to use the free exit facility?
Only candidates who have already reported to or joined a college seat in Phase-I of the Competent Authority Quota counselling are eligible. 'Reported' means you have physically gone to the college and completed the reporting process; 'joined' means you have been formally admitted and enrolled.
If you were allotted a Phase-I seat but did not report to the college, you are NOT eligible for this free exit notification. Instead, you can exercise web options (choose colleges) in Phase-II counselling for all colleges except the one you were originally allotted but did not join.
Candidates who have already resigned or withdrawn from their Phase-I seat before this notification was issued are also not eligible — they have already exited.
- You must have reported or joined a Phase-I CAQ seat
- You must not have already withdrawn before 10 September 2026
- You must submit your exit request on or before 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026
Critical deadline: 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026
The absolute deadline to submit your free exit request is 2:00 PM (14:00 hours) on 12 September 2026. This is a hard cutoff — no requests will be accepted after this time, even by one minute.
After 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026, the university will freeze all data. From that moment onwards, all Phase-I candidates who have not exited will be locked into their seats and treated as part of Phase-II counselling. They will be subject to Phase-II rules and will not be permitted to withdraw from their joined seat during Phase-III counselling or any later stage until the entire admission process closes.
Important note: all public holidays are treated as working days for this deadline. If 12 September falls on a holiday, it is still a working day, and the deadline still applies.
- Deadline: 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026 (no extensions)
- Submit request to the Principal of your joined college
- After this time, no withdrawals allowed until admission closes
- Public holidays count as working days
How to apply for free exit: step-by-step process
Step 1: Obtain the official application form. The university has provided a standard application proforma (template) in the notification. You must use this exact form — do not submit a letter or informal request.
Step 2: Fill in all required information on the form. You will need your name, registration ID (UG26CQ0101 format), NEET UG 2026 rank, NEET UG 2026 roll number, phone number, and full address. Write your name and your parent/guardian's name in capital letters.
Step 3: State your reason for free exit. The form has a field for 'Reasons for Free Exit' — you can write any reason (personal, financial, health, better opportunity elsewhere, etc.). This is for the record; the university will not reject your request based on the reason given.
Step 4: Sign the form. Both you (the candidate) and your parent or guardian must sign the form. Both signatures are mandatory.
Step 5: Submit the form to the Principal of the college where you joined. Do not mail it or submit it online — you must hand it directly to the college Principal or the designated office at your college.
Step 6: Collect your original certificates and fee refund immediately. The Principal is required to return all your original certificates and the entire tuition fee plus any other fees paid, immediately upon accepting your exit request. Do not leave the college without collecting these.
- Use the official application proforma provided by NTRUHS
- Fill in all fields: name, registration ID, NEET rank, roll number, phone, address
- Write names in CAPITAL LETTERS
- State your reason for exit
- Get both candidate and parent/guardian signatures
- Submit directly to the college Principal (not by mail or email)
- Collect original certificates and full fee refund on the spot
What you will get back: certificates and fees
When you submit your free exit request and it is accepted by the college, you are entitled to receive back all your original certificates immediately. These include your NEET admit card, mark sheet, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and any other documents you submitted during counselling.
You will also receive a full refund of the entire tuition fee you paid to the college, plus any other fees (such as development fees, library fees, or other charges). The college must process this refund immediately — do not accept a promise to refund later. Insist on receiving the refund on the same day you submit your exit request.
The college is required to complete this process and freeze your data by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026. After that time, no further exits will be processed.
- All original certificates returned immediately
- Full tuition fee refunded
- All other fees refunded
- Refund must be processed on the same day
- Do not leave college without collecting certificates and refund
The permanent consequence: no further CAQ counselling
This is the most important rule to understand before you decide to exit. If you use the free exit facility, you will NOT be eligible to participate in Phase-II, Phase-III, or any future round of Competent Authority Quota counselling in 2026-27. This means you cannot get another CAQ seat this year, no matter what happens.
The only exception is the Merit Quota (MQ) Phase-I counselling run by NTRUHS. If you are allotted a seat in MQ Phase-I, you can join that. But you will have no access to any CAQ seats for the rest of the year.
The notification explicitly warns: 'candidates are advised to take informed / calculated decision before availing Free Exit facility under this notice, as the candidate who avail Free Exit will not be eligible for further phase(s) of counselling under Competent Authority Quota, 2026-27.' This is a one-way door. Once you exit, you cannot come back into CAQ counselling.
- No Phase-II CAQ counselling eligibility
- No Phase-III CAQ counselling eligibility
- No future CAQ rounds in 2026-27
- Only option: Merit Quota Phase-I if seat is allotted
- Decision is permanent and irreversible
What happens if you don't exit by the deadline?
If you do not submit a free exit request by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026, you will be locked into your Phase-I joined seat. After the deadline, the university will freeze all data, and you will be treated as a Phase-II candidate for all purposes.
As a Phase-II candidate, you will be eligible to exercise web options (choose colleges) in Phase-II counselling according to your choice and priority. However, you cannot withdraw from your Phase-I joined seat during Phase-II — you must keep it.
From Phase-III counselling onwards, until the entire admission process closes, you will not be permitted to resign or withdraw from your joined seat under any circumstances. You will be locked in for the entire year.
- You remain in your Phase-I joined seat
- You are treated as a Phase-II candidate
- You can exercise web options in Phase-II for other colleges
- You cannot withdraw from Phase-III onwards
- You are locked in until admission closes
What if you didn't report to your Phase-I allotted college?
If you were allotted a Phase-I seat but did not report to the college (i.e., you did not join), you are not eligible for this free exit notification. You do not need to exit because you were never in the seat.
Instead, you can exercise web options in Phase-II counselling. You can choose any college you wish, except the college you were originally allotted but did not join. This restriction prevents you from joining the same college later in Phase-II.
Your Phase-I allotted seat will be treated as vacant and will be filled in Phase-II counselling from the waiting list or next-ranked candidates.
- You are not eligible for free exit (you never joined)
- You can participate in Phase-II counselling normally
- You can choose any college except your Phase-I allotted college
- Your Phase-I seat will be filled in Phase-II
Important trap: no resignation after Phase-I closes
The notification contains a critical rule: 'Reported Candidates who have not utilised the free exit facility as per the schedule cannot resign the seat during the course of admissions i.e., from Phase-III counselling to till closure of admissions.'
This means if you do not exit by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026, you will be permanently locked into your Phase-I seat. You cannot change your mind later and resign during Phase-III or any subsequent round. The only window to exit is this one — 12 September 2026.
This is a one-time, take-it-or-leave-it offer. If you miss the deadline, you are committed to your seat for the entire year.
- ⚠️ Free exit window closes at 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026
- ⚠️ After that, no resignations allowed until admission closes
- ⚠️ You cannot change your mind later
- ⚠️ This is your only chance to exit
Seats vacated by free exit: filled in Phase-II
When a candidate uses the free exit facility and withdraws from a Phase-I joined seat, that seat becomes vacant. The university will not leave it empty — it will be filled in Phase-II counselling.
Candidates on the Phase-I waiting list, or those ranked just below the Phase-I cutoff, will be called in Phase-II to fill these vacated seats. This is why the university needs to freeze data by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026 — so it can prepare the Phase-II merit list and waiting list with accurate numbers.
- Vacated seats filled in Phase-II counselling
- Waiting list candidates called first
- Data frozen by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026
- Phase-II merit list prepared with updated seat count
Who should consider using free exit?
Free exit is for candidates who have joined a Phase-I seat but have a strong reason to leave — for example, they have received a better offer from another state's counselling, they have personal or health reasons that prevent them from studying at that college, or they have realized the college is not a good fit.
However, you should only exit if you are confident you have a better option outside the Competent Authority Quota system. Once you exit, you lose all access to CAQ seats for 2026-27. If you are unsure, it is safer to stay in your Phase-I seat and participate in Phase-II web options — you can try to upgrade to a better college while keeping your current seat as a backup.
The notification emphasizes: 'candidates are advised to take informed / calculated decision before availing Free Exit facility.' This is not a casual withdrawal — it is a permanent exit from the entire CAQ process.
- Consider exit only if you have a strong reason
- Exit only if you have a better option outside CAQ
- Do not exit if you are unsure or want to keep your options open
- Staying in Phase-I seat allows Phase-II web options as backup
- Think carefully — this decision is permanent
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the deadline to apply for free exit from Phase-I?
The deadline is 2:00 PM (14:00 hours) on 12 September 2026. This is a hard cutoff — no requests will be accepted after this time. All public holidays are treated as working days, so the deadline applies even if 12 September is a holiday.
If I use free exit, can I participate in Phase-II CAQ counselling?
No. If you use the free exit facility, you will not be eligible for Phase-II, Phase-III, or any future round of Competent Authority Quota counselling in 2026-27. This is permanent and irreversible. The only exception is Merit Quota Phase-I — if a seat is allotted to you there, you can join.
Will I get my fees back if I exit?
Yes. The college must return the entire tuition fee and all other fees paid immediately upon accepting your exit request. You must collect this refund on the same day you submit your exit application — do not leave the college without it.
What documents do I need to submit for free exit?
You need to submit only the official application proforma provided by NTRUHS. Fill in your name, registration ID, NEET rank, NEET roll number, phone number, address, and reason for exit. Both you and your parent/guardian must sign the form. Submit it directly to the Principal of your joined college.
What if I didn't report to my Phase-I allotted college — do I need to exit?
No. If you were allotted a Phase-I seat but did not report or join, you are not eligible for this free exit notification. You can participate in Phase-II counselling normally and choose any college except the one you were originally allotted but did not join.
Can I resign from my Phase-I seat after 12 September 2026?
No. After 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026, no resignations or withdrawals will be permitted. You will be locked into your Phase-I joined seat from Phase-III counselling onwards until the entire admission process closes. The free exit window is only until 12 September — after that, it is closed permanently.
If I stay in my Phase-I seat, can I participate in Phase-II web options?
Yes. If you do not exit by 12 September 2026, you will be treated as a Phase-II candidate and can exercise web options (choose colleges) in Phase-II counselling according to your choice and priority. However, you cannot withdraw from your Phase-I joined seat — you must keep it as a backup.
What happens to my Phase-I seat if I exit?
Your seat will be treated as vacant and will be filled in Phase-II counselling. Candidates on the Phase-I waiting list or those ranked just below the Phase-I cutoff will be called to fill the vacated seat.
Do I need to provide a reason for free exit?
The application form has a field for 'Reasons for Free Exit,' but you can write any reason or even leave it brief. The university will not reject your exit request based on the reason — the reason is just for the record.
Can I submit my free exit request by email or mail?
No. You must submit the application form directly to the Principal of your joined college in person. Do not mail it or submit it online. The college must accept it, process your refund, and return your certificates on the same day.
What if the college refuses to accept my free exit request?
The college is required by the university to accept free exit requests from all eligible candidates by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026. If a college refuses, you should immediately contact the NTRUHS Registrar's office and file a complaint. However, this should not happen — the notification is a direct order from the university to all colleges.
Is there any fee or penalty for using free exit?
No. Free exit is completely free — there is no penalty, no fee, and no loss of money. You get all your fees back and all your original certificates. The term 'free exit' means exactly that.
If you have joined a Phase-I MBBS seat under Competent Authority Quota in Andhra Pradesh and are considering withdrawal, you must act by 2:00 PM on 12 September 2026. Download or obtain the official application proforma from NTRUHS, fill it in completely with both candidate and parent signatures, and submit it directly to your college Principal. Collect your original certificates and full fee refund immediately — do not leave without them. Remember: this is a one-time, permanent exit from all CAQ counselling for 2026-27. If you are unsure, it is safer to stay in your Phase-I seat and participate in Phase-II web options as a backup. Do not miss the 12 September deadline — after that, no exits are allowed.
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