CENTAC Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Round 3: Deadline Extended to October 6

The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) in Puducherry has extended the registration window for NEET UG 2026 Round 3 counselling to October 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM. This extension applies both to fresh candidates registering for the first time in Round 3 and to those wishing to withdraw from seats secured in earlier rounds. The move comes after the Medical Counselling Committee released its all-India Round 3 allotment, which freed up additional MBBS and BDS seats in Puducherry colleges when some state-quota candidates moved to institutions in other states. If you are a NEET UG aspirant eligible under Puducherry's state quota and missed earlier counselling rounds, this extension offers a final opportunity to secure a medical or dental seat this cycle.

What Has Changed: The Extension and Its Scope

CENTAC announced on October 5, 2026, that the Round 3 registration deadline would be pushed back to October 6 at 5:00 PM. This extension covers two separate but equally important windows. The first allows eligible NEET UG 2026 candidates who have not yet registered in any round to apply for Round 3 seats. The second permits candidates who were allotted seats in Round 1 or Round 2 to formally withdraw from those seats without incurring any forfeiture fee, provided they submit their withdrawal request by the same 5:00 PM cutoff.

The committee has explicitly stated that no further extension will be granted beyond October 6. This means the deadline is final, and candidates must complete all registration and withdrawal activities within this window. The official notice was published on the CENTAC portal at centacpuducherry.in.

Why Fresh Seats Are Available: Understanding the MCC Round 3 Allotment

After the Medical Counselling Committee released its all-India Round 3 allotment results, several candidates from Puducherry who had qualified for state-quota seats chose to accept seats in medical and dental colleges in other states instead. When these candidates exited the Puducherry pool, their seats became vacant and were made available for fresh allocation in Round 3.

This is a common occurrence in multi-state counselling systems. High-ranking NEET candidates often have the option to choose between a seat in their home state and a potentially better-ranked college in another state. When they opt for the latter, it creates a cascade of fresh vacancies in their original state pool. CENTAC extended the Round 3 window specifically to allow waiting candidates to benefit from these newly freed seats across government and self-financing MBBS and BDS colleges in Puducherry.

Who Is Eligible to Register in Round 3

To register in CENTAC Round 3, you must meet the following criteria: you must be eligible under Puducherry's state quota, you must hold a valid NEET UG 2026 scorecard, and you must satisfy all other eligibility norms set by CENTAC. Candidates who participated in earlier CENTAC rounds can use their existing login credentials to access the portal. Those registering for the first time must complete the full CENTAC enrolment process before the October 6 deadline.

It is important to note that deemed universities and All India Quota (AIQ) seats fall outside the CENTAC pool and are not available through this counselling process. The Round 3 seat matrix published by CENTAC lists only government and self-financing medical and dental institutions in Puducherry, broken down by college, category, and quota.

How to Register for Round 3: Step-by-Step Process

The registration process is entirely online and must be completed through the official CENTAC portal. Here is what you need to do:

• Visit centacpuducherry.in and log in using your existing CENTAC credentials, or create a new account if you are registering for the first time.
• Open the Round 3 registration form and fill in all required fields accurately.
• Pay the registration fee as specified in the fee schedule displayed on the portal.
• Submit the completed form and download the confirmation receipt for your records.
• Save your receipt and login details for future reference and to track your allotment status.

How to Withdraw from a Round 1 or Round 2 Seat

If you were allotted a seat in Round 1 or Round 2 and wish to withdraw to participate in Round 3, you must follow a formal process. CENTAC requires you to submit a Resignation Request Letter in the prescribed Annexure 17 format. This letter must be uploaded through your Candidate Login Dashboard on the CENTAC portal.

The critical point is timing: your withdrawal request must reach CENTAC before 5:00 PM on October 6, 2026. If you submit your withdrawal before this deadline, no forfeiture fee will be charged. However, any withdrawal request received after 5:00 PM on October 6 will attract the standard forfeiture charge as per CENTAC rules. Always save the acknowledgement receipt provided by the system for all future admission-related queries and correspondence.

Understanding the Seat Matrix and Choice Filling Strategy

Before you register, CENTAC publishes a revised seat matrix that lists all available vacancies in Round 3. This matrix is organized by college, category (General, OBC, SC, ST, etc.), and quota type. Studying this matrix carefully is essential because your final allotment will depend on your merit rank and the preference order you submit during choice filling.

Once you register, you will be asked to rank the colleges and courses (MBBS or BDS) in order of your preference. The allotment algorithm will match your rank against available seats, starting from your first preference and moving down your list. Therefore, it is wise to download the seat matrix, shortlist colleges based on your rank and preferences, and plan your choice order before the registration deadline.

Important Dates and Deadlines to Remember

All critical dates for Round 3 are now compressed into a single day. The extension notice was issued on October 5, 2026. The final deadline for both Round 3 registration and withdrawal of earlier seats is October 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM. After this time, the portal will close and no further registrations or withdrawals will be accepted.

After the registration window closes, CENTAC will process all applications and prepare the provisional allotment list. This list will be published on the CENTAC website, and candidates whose names appear will be required to report to their allotted colleges on specified dates with original documents. Reporting dates and joining instructions will be announced shortly after the allotment results are released.

What Happens After You Register: Next Steps

Once the October 6 deadline passes, CENTAC will compile all registrations and generate the Round 3 provisional allotment list. This list will be published on centacpuducherry.in, and you should check it regularly. Your allotment will be based on your NEET rank, the category you belong to, and your choice preferences.

If your name appears in the allotment list, you will be assigned a specific college and course (MBBS or BDS). You will then be required to report to that college on the date specified in the joining instructions, bringing original documents for verification. Failure to report by the deadline may result in forfeiture of your seat. If you do not appear in the Round 3 allotment, you may be eligible for subsequent mop-up rounds if CENTAC conducts them.

Practical Action Plan for NEET Aspirants

To make the most of this extension, follow this checklist before October 6 at 5:00 PM:

• Test your CENTAC login credentials now to ensure they work. If you are a new candidate, complete your registration on the portal immediately.
• Download the Round 3 revised seat matrix from centacpuducherry.in and identify colleges and courses that match your rank and preferences.
• Prepare a ranked list of your preferred colleges and courses in order of priority.
• Complete your Round 3 registration and pay the fee well before 5:00 PM on October 6 to avoid last-minute technical issues.
• If you hold a seat from Round 1 or Round 2 and wish to withdraw, prepare your Resignation Request Letter in Annexure 17 format and upload it before the deadline.
• Save all confirmation receipts and acknowledgements for future reference.
• If you have any doubts, contact the CENTAC helpline at 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571 during office hours.

Frequently asked questions

October 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM is your final opportunity to register for CENTAC Round 3 or withdraw from an earlier seat without penalty. Act now: verify your portal login, download the seat matrix, plan your preferences, and complete registration well before the deadline. Monitor centacpuducherry.in for the provisional allotment list and joining instructions after the registration window closes.