Bihar's UGMAC (Under Graduate Medical Admission Counselling) board has extended the registration and choice-filling deadlines for the Stray Vacancy Round of NEET UG 2026 counselling. The extension was announced on 22 October 2026 because many candidates faced server and technical problems while trying to submit their applications and choices by the original deadline. This is your second chance to participate in the Stray Vacancy Round — a final opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in a government or private medical or dental college in Bihar. If you missed the first deadline or faced technical issues, you now have until 24–25 October to register, pay fees, and lock in your choices.
Register and submit your application by 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm, fill and lock your choices by 25 October 2026 at 11:59 pm, or you will be excluded from the Stray Vacancy Round.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the Stray Vacancy Round?
The Stray Vacancy Round is the final counselling round in Bihar's NEET UG 2026 admission process. It fills any remaining empty seats in MBBS, BDS, B.V.Sc. & A.H. (Veterinary), and B.F.Sc. (Fisheries) programmes across government and private medical, dental, veterinary, and fisheries colleges in Bihar after the main counselling rounds are complete.
This round is open to all NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates — whether or not you participated in earlier rounds. If you did not get a seat in the main rounds, or if you want to try for a different college or course, the Stray Vacancy Round is your last opportunity in this admission season.
Why Were the Deadlines Extended?
On 18 October 2026, UGMAC opened the Stray Vacancy Round with an original deadline for registration and choice-filling. However, many candidates complained that they could not complete their applications and submit their choices because the online portal experienced server crashes and technical problems.
In response, UGMAC extended all deadlines by several days to give every eligible candidate a fair chance to participate. This extension applies to registration, application submission, payment, and choice-filling — all the steps you need to complete to be considered for a seat.
Important Dates — What You Must Do and When
The extended timeline is tight. Every date and time below is final. Missing even one deadline will exclude you from the Stray Vacancy Round. Mark these dates on your calendar and set phone reminders.
Note: The notice contains a typographical error in items vii and viii (it lists dates in September, which have already passed). The correct dates for document verification and admission are 28–29 October 2026, as stated in the main counselling notice dated 18 October 2026. Do not be confused by the September dates — they are a printing mistake.
| Step | Deadline | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| Online Registration | 24 October 2026, 10:00 pm | Create your account on the UGMAC portal and register with your NEET roll number and other details. |
| Submit Application & Pay Fees | 24 October 2026, 11:59 pm | Complete your application form, upload required documents, and pay the counselling fee using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. |
| Consent for Stray Vacancy Round (if applicable) | 24 October 2026, 11:59 pm | If you already submitted your application in an earlier round, confirm your consent to participate in this Stray Vacancy Round. |
| Rank Card Publication | 25 October 2026 | UGMAC publishes your rank card based on your NEET score and category. |
| Fill & Lock Choices | 25 October 2026, 11:59 pm | Select colleges and courses in order of preference, then lock your choices. You cannot change them after this time. |
| Provisional Seat Allotment Result | 27 October 2026 | UGMAC publishes which seat (if any) has been allotted to you based on your rank, choices, and availability. |
| Download Allotment Order | 27–29 October 2026 | Download your provisional seat allotment order from the portal. |
| Document Verification & Admission | 28–29 October 2026 | Report to your allotted college with original documents for verification and final admission. |
Who Can Apply for the Stray Vacancy Round?
You are eligible if you qualified in NEET UG 2026 — that is, you scored above the NEET cutoff set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). There is no restriction based on whether you participated in earlier counselling rounds or not.
The Stray Vacancy Round is open to candidates seeking admission to MBBS, BDS, B.V.Sc. & A.H., or B.F.Sc. programmes in government medical, dental, veterinary, and fisheries colleges, as well as private medical and dental colleges in Bihar.
- You must have qualified in NEET UG 2026.
- You can apply even if you did not participate in earlier rounds.
- You can apply even if you already have a seat from an earlier round (but accepting a new seat will cancel your previous allotment).
- You must be eligible under the category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) for which you are applying.
How to Register and Apply — Step-by-Step
The entire process is online. You will use the official UGMAC portal at bceceboard.bihar.gov.in. Follow these steps carefully to avoid rejection.
Step 1: Go to the UGMAC portal and click on the Stray Vacancy Round registration link. Enter your NEET UG 2026 roll number, date of birth, and other required details. Create a login ID and password. This must be done by 24 October 2026 at 10:00 pm.
Step 2: After registration, log in and fill out your application form completely. Upload all required documents (see the Documents Required section below). Review everything carefully — errors or missing documents will lead to rejection.
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Step 3: Pay the counselling fee using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The fee amount is not specified in this notice; check the portal or the earlier counselling notice for the exact amount. Payment must be completed by 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm.
Step 4: On 25 October 2026, your rank card will be published. Log in and download it to verify your rank and category.
Step 5: On 25 October 2026, fill in your choice of colleges and courses in order of preference. You can edit your choices until 11:59 pm on 25 October. After that, your choices are locked and cannot be changed.
Step 6: On 27 October 2026, the provisional seat allotment result is published. Log in and check whether you have been allotted a seat. Download your allotment order.
Step 7: On 28–29 October 2026, report to your allotted college with all original documents for verification and final admission.
Documents Required — Do Not Miss Any
The notice does not provide a detailed list of documents required for the Stray Vacancy Round. However, based on standard UGMAC procedures, you will need to upload scanned copies of the following documents during online registration. Have these ready before you start your application, so you do not run out of time.
At the time of document verification (28–29 October 2026), you must bring original copies of all documents to your allotted college. The college will verify them against the scanned copies you uploaded. If originals do not match your uploaded documents, your admission may be cancelled.
For the exact list of documents required, check the UGMAC portal or the main counselling notice (Adv. No. BCECEB(UGMAC)-2026/14 dated 18 October 2026), which contains the full terms and conditions that apply to this Stray Vacancy Round as well.
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- Category certificate (if applicable — OBC, SC, ST, EWS)
- Domicile certificate (proof of Bihar residence, if required)
- Medical fitness certificate (if required by the college)
- Character certificate from your school or college
- Passport-size photograph (digital copy for upload)
- Signature (digital copy for upload)
- Any other document specified in the main counselling notice
Payment of Counselling Fee
You must pay the counselling fee online during the application process. The notice does not state the exact fee amount for the Stray Vacancy Round. Check the UGMAC portal or the earlier counselling notice for the fee structure.
Payment methods accepted are Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, and UPI. Payment must be completed by 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm. If you do not pay by this deadline, your application will not be submitted and you will be excluded from the round.
Keep a record of your payment receipt and transaction ID. You will need this for reference if there are any issues with your application.
- Payment deadline: 24 October 2026, 11:59 pm
- Accepted methods: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI
- Save your payment receipt and transaction ID
Choice Filling — How to Rank Your Preferences
After your rank card is published on 25 October 2026, you will be able to fill in your choices of colleges and courses. This is a critical step. The seat allotment algorithm will match your rank and category against available seats in the order of your preferences. If your first choice is full, the system will try your second choice, and so on.
You can edit your choices as many times as you want until 11:59 pm on 25 October 2026. After that, your choices are locked and cannot be changed. Think carefully about the order of your preferences before locking.
Rank your choices from most preferred to least preferred. Include as many colleges and courses as possible — the more choices you provide, the higher your chances of getting a seat. Do not leave choices blank if you are interested in a course.
- Choice-filling opens: 25 October 2026 (after rank card publication)
- Last date to fill and lock choices: 25 October 2026, 11:59 pm
- You can edit choices until the deadline; after locking, no changes are allowed
- Rank choices in order of preference (most preferred first)
- Include as many colleges and courses as possible
Seat Allotment and Provisional Result
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On 27 October 2026, UGMAC will publish the provisional seat allotment result. This result is based on your NEET rank, category, the choices you filled, and the availability of seats in each college and course.
The allotment is provisional — it becomes final only after you complete document verification at your allotted college on 28–29 October 2026. If your documents do not match your application or if you do not report for verification, your seat may be cancelled.
Log in to the portal on 27 October 2026 to check your allotment. If you have been allotted a seat, download your provisional allotment order immediately. This order will contain the name of your allotted college, course, and seat category.
- Allotment result published: 27 October 2026
- Allotment is provisional until document verification is complete
- Download your allotment order from the portal
- Report to your allotted college on 28–29 October 2026 for document verification
Document Verification and Final Admission
On 28–29 October 2026, you must report to your allotted college with all original documents. The college will verify that your original documents match the scanned copies you uploaded during registration. This is a mandatory step — if you do not report for verification, your seat will be cancelled.
Bring all original documents listed in the Documents Required section above. Do not bring photocopies — the college needs to see originals. If any document is missing or does not match your uploaded copy, the college may reject your admission.
After successful verification, the college will complete your admission formalities, collect your fees, and issue an admission letter. You will then be officially admitted to the course.
- Report to your allotted college on 28–29 October 2026
- Bring all original documents (not photocopies)
- College will verify documents against your uploaded copies
- If verification is successful, complete admission formalities and pay college fees
- Failure to report for verification will result in cancellation of your seat
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
Many candidates lose their seats because of preventable errors. Read this section carefully and avoid these traps.
Mistake 1: Missing the deadline. Registration closes at 10:00 pm on 24 October, application submission closes at 11:59 pm on 24 October, and choice-locking closes at 11:59 pm on 25 October. If you miss any of these, you are out. Do not wait until the last minute — the portal may be slow or crash.
Mistake 2: Uploading wrong or incomplete documents. If your uploaded documents do not match your original documents, or if you upload the wrong certificate (e.g., a caste certificate instead of a category certificate), your application will be rejected at verification. Check the document requirements carefully before uploading.
Mistake 3: Paying the wrong fee or not paying at all. If you do not pay the counselling fee by 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm, your application will not be submitted. Verify the correct fee amount on the portal and keep your payment receipt.
Mistake 4: Not locking your choices. If you fill in your choices but forget to lock them by 11:59 pm on 25 October, they will not be saved. Always click the 'Lock' button after finalizing your choices.
Mistake 5: Not reporting for document verification. Even if you are allotted a seat, you must report to your college on 28–29 October 2026 with original documents. If you do not show up, your seat will be cancelled.
Mistake 6: Bringing photocopies instead of originals to verification. The college needs to see original documents. Photocopies will not be accepted.
Where to Get Help
If you face technical issues while registering or filling your application, contact the UGMAC helpdesk immediately. Do not wait until the last day — if the portal crashes on 24 October, you may not get help in time.
Official contact details: Website: bceceboard.bihar.gov.in | Helpdesk email: helpdesk.bceceboard@bihar.gov.in | You can also visit the UGMAC office at I.A.S. Association Building, Near Patna Airport, Patna-14.
- Website: bceceboard.bihar.gov.in
- Helpdesk email: helpdesk.bceceboard@bihar.gov.in
- Office: I.A.S. Association Building, Near Patna Airport, Patna-14
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
I missed the original deadline for the Stray Vacancy Round. Can I still apply?
Yes. UGMAC has extended the deadline because of server issues. You can now register and submit your application until 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm, and fill your choices until 25 October 2026 at 11:59 pm. This is your last chance — do not miss this extended deadline.
What is the difference between the Stray Vacancy Round and the main counselling rounds?
The main rounds fill most of the seats in colleges based on merit and category. The Stray Vacancy Round fills any remaining empty seats after the main rounds are complete. It is the final opportunity to get a seat in this admission season.
Can I apply for the Stray Vacancy Round if I already have a seat from an earlier round?
Yes, you can apply. However, if you are allotted a new seat in the Stray Vacancy Round and you accept it, your previous seat will be cancelled. Think carefully before accepting a new seat.
What happens if I do not report for document verification on 28–29 October 2026?
If you do not report for document verification, your allotted seat will be cancelled and you will not be admitted. Document verification is mandatory. Mark these dates on your calendar and plan to be at your allotted college.
What documents do I need to upload during registration?
The notice does not provide a detailed list, but you will typically need your NEET admit card and score card, Class 10 and 12 certificates, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, character certificate, and passport-size photograph. Check the UGMAC portal or the main counselling notice (dated 18 October 2026) for the complete list.
Can I change my choices after I lock them on 25 October 2026?
No. Once you lock your choices at 11:59 pm on 25 October 2026, they cannot be changed. You can edit your choices as many times as you want before locking, but after locking, the system will not allow any edits. Think carefully before locking.
When will I know if I have been allotted a seat?
The provisional seat allotment result will be published on 27 October 2026. Log in to the UGMAC portal and check your allotment status. If you have been allotted a seat, download your allotment order.
What payment methods are accepted for the counselling fee?
You can pay using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. Payment must be completed by 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm. The exact fee amount is not stated in this notice — check the UGMAC portal for the fee structure.
The notice mentions September dates for document verification. Is that correct?
No, that is a printing error in the notice. The correct dates for document verification and admission are 28–29 October 2026, as stated in the main counselling notice dated 18 October 2026. Do not be confused by the September dates.
What should I do if I face technical issues while registering or submitting my application?
Contact the UGMAC helpdesk immediately. Email: helpdesk.bceceboard@bihar.gov.in. Do not wait until the last day — if the portal crashes, you may not get help in time. The helpdesk is available to assist with technical problems.
Can I apply for multiple courses or colleges in the Stray Vacancy Round?
Yes. You can fill multiple choices of colleges and courses in order of preference. The more choices you provide, the higher your chances of getting a seat. Include as many options as you are interested in.
What happens if my original documents do not match the scanned copies I uploaded?
Your admission will be rejected at the time of document verification. The college will compare your original documents with the scanned copies you uploaded. If they do not match, you will not be admitted. Upload the correct documents during registration.
You have until 24 October 2026 at 11:59 pm to register and submit your application with payment. Fill and lock your choices by 25 October 2026 at 11:59 pm. Check your allotment on 27 October 2026 and report to your college for document verification on 28–29 October 2026. Do not miss any deadline — this is your final chance to secure a seat in the Stray Vacancy Round. For help, contact the UGMAC helpdesk at helpdesk.bceceboard@bihar.gov.in or visit bceceboard.bihar.gov.in.
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