HP NEET UG Round 3 Counselling 2026: Seat Matrix, Dates & Choice Filling Guide

Atal Medical and Research University (AMRUHP) has released the Himachal Pradesh NEET UG Round 3 seat matrix for 2026, opening the final major counselling window for MBBS and BDS aspirants in the state. This round is critical for candidates who did not secure a seat in earlier rounds or wish to upgrade their current allotment. Choice filling is now live and runs until October 4, 2026, with final seat allocation scheduled for October 8. Missing this round may mean losing access to state quota seats, as any unfilled vacancies typically move to a stray round with limited availability.

What is HP NEET UG Round 3 and who should apply?

Round 3 is the third and typically final phase of counselling for NEET UG candidates seeking admission to MBBS and BDS programmes in Himachal Pradesh under the 85 percent state quota. This round is designed for two groups: candidates who did not participate in or were not allotted a seat in Rounds 1 and 2, and those who wish to upgrade from their current allotment to a better college or course.

The round follows a merit-based system tied to your NEET UG rank and category (General, OBC, SC, ST). Registration for Round 3 closed on September 27, 2026, and the provisional merit list was released on September 29. If you registered and appear on the merit list, you are eligible to fill choices during the current window.

Key dates for HP Round 3 counselling you must not miss

The AMRUHP counselling process follows a strict timeline. Each stage has a fixed deadline, and missing any step can result in loss of candidature. Below are the critical dates for Round 3:

The most urgent deadline is October 4, 2026, by which you must fill and lock your choice of colleges and courses. After this, the system will not accept any changes. The provisional allotment will be displayed on October 6, allowing you to review which seat you have been offered. The final allotment list comes out on October 8, and you must report to your allotted college between October 12 and 13 with all required documents to confirm your admission.

• Registration window: September 22–27, 2026 (closed)
• Provisional merit list: September 29, 2026 (released)
• Seat vacancy display: October 1, 2026 (live now)
• Choice filling and locking: October 1–4, 2026 (active)
• Provisional seat allocation: October 6, 2026
• Final seat allocation: October 8, 2026
• Reporting and joining: October 12–13, 2026

How many MBBS seats are available in HP government medical colleges?

Himachal Pradesh has six government medical colleges participating in NEET UG counselling, each with a total intake of 120 MBBS seats. However, not all 120 seats in each college will be available in Round 3—only the vacancies left after Rounds 1 and 2 will be offered. The exact number of vacant seats in each college is listed in the official seat matrix PDF, which you must download and review before filling your choices.

The six colleges are spread across different regions of the state, offering you geographic diversity in your choice options. Your selection should be based on both your rank and your preference for location, as each college has its own merit cutoff that varies by category.

• Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla — 120 seats
• Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda — 120 seats
• Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar Government Medical College (YSGMC), Nahan — 120 seats
• Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College (SLBSGMC), Mandi — 120 seats
• Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College (PJLNGMC), Chamba — 120 seats
• Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College (RKGMC), Hamirpur — 120 seats

BDS seats available in Himachal Pradesh colleges for Round 3

Four dental colleges participate in HP NEET UG counselling, offering a combined total of 295 BDS seats. One is a government college and three are private institutions. Like MBBS, only the vacant seats from earlier rounds will be available in Round 3. If you are interested in pursuing BDS, review the seat matrix to identify which colleges have openings in your category and rank range.

The government dental college offers 75 seats, while the three private colleges offer between 60 and 100 seats each. Private college fees will be higher than government colleges, so factor this into your decision-making process.

• H.P. Government Dental College and Hospital, Shimla — 75 seats
• Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Paonta Sahib — 100 seats
• Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar — 60 seats
• Bhojia Dental College, Nalagarh — 60 seats

How to download and review the Round 3 seat matrix

The seat matrix is a detailed PDF document that shows the exact number of vacant MBBS and BDS seats in each college, broken down by category (General, OBC, SC, ST). This is your most important reference document for making informed choices. You do not need to log in to view it—it is publicly available on the AMRUHP website.

To access the matrix, visit amruhp.ac.in, navigate to the UG Counselling 2026 section, and click on the link for 'Provisional Seat Vacancy for Round 3.' The PDF will open in your browser. Download and save it to your device so you can refer to it while filling your choices. Study the matrix carefully to identify which colleges have seats available in your category and rank range.

• Visit amruhp.ac.in on your browser
• Click on 'UG Counselling 2026' on the home page
• Select 'Provisional Seat Vacancy for Round 3'
• The PDF will open with college-wise and category-wise vacancy details
• Download and save the file for reference during choice filling

Step-by-step guide to filling and locking your choices

Choice filling is the process by which you rank your preferred colleges and courses in order of priority. The system will allot you a seat based on your rank and the priority order you set. You have until October 4, 2026, to fill and lock your choices—after this deadline, no changes are allowed.

Log in to the AMRUHP counselling portal using your Round 3 registration credentials (usually your application number and password). Once logged in, open the 'Choice Filling and Locking' tab. You will see a list of available colleges and courses. Select your preferred options and arrange them in order of priority—your first choice is most important, as the system will try to allot you a seat in your highest-ranked preference if your rank qualifies. After each change, save your list to avoid losing data. Once you are satisfied with your choices, click the 'Final Lock' button before the October 4 deadline. Once locked, you cannot make any changes.

• Log in to the AMRUHP counselling portal with your Round 3 credentials
• Open the 'Choice Filling and Locking' tab
• Select preferred colleges, courses, and categories in order of priority
• Save your list after each change to prevent data loss
• Arrange choices from most preferred to least preferred
• Click 'Final Lock' before October 4, 2026, 11:59 PM
• Do not attempt to change choices after locking

What happens after you lock your choices?

After the choice-filling window closes on October 4, the AMRUHP system processes all locked choices using a merit-based algorithm. On October 6, a provisional allotment list will be released showing which seat has been tentatively assigned to you based on your rank, category, and choice priority. This is not final—it is provisional, meaning it may change if there are any corrections or if candidates report or do not report to their allotted colleges.

Review the provisional allotment carefully. If you are satisfied, you do not need to take any action at this stage. On October 8, the final allotment list will be released. This is your confirmed seat. You must then report to your allotted college on October 12 or 13, 2026, with all required documents (admit card, NEET scorecard, 10th and 12th mark sheets, caste certificate if applicable, and other documents as specified by the college) to complete your admission.

• October 6: Provisional allotment released—review your tentative seat
• October 8: Final allotment released—this is your confirmed seat
• October 12–13: Report to your allotted college with all documents
• Failure to report by October 13 may result in forfeiture of your seat

Why Round 3 is your last realistic chance for a state quota seat

After Round 3 concludes and candidates report to their allotted colleges, any remaining vacant seats typically move to a 'stray vacancy' round. Stray rounds are unpredictable—they may have very few seats, and the process is often faster and less transparent than the main rounds. Additionally, if you do not secure a seat in Round 3, you may be pushed into the 15 percent all-India quota pool or lose your claim on Himachal Pradesh seats altogether.

This makes Round 3 critically important. If you have registered and are eligible, filling and locking your choices is not optional—it is your best opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in the state. Candidates who skip choice filling or miss the deadline often regret it, as they lose access to seats that could have been allotted to them.

• Round 3 is the final main counselling round for HP state quota seats
• Unfilled seats move to stray vacancy rounds with limited transparency and availability
• Missing the October 4 deadline means automatic loss of candidature
• Stray rounds are unpredictable and may offer very few seats
• Not reporting by October 13 forfeits your allotted seat

Common mistakes to avoid during Round 3 counselling

Many candidates make preventable errors during choice filling that cost them their seats. The most common mistake is not downloading and reviewing the seat matrix before filling choices. Without knowing which colleges have vacancies in your category and rank range, you may fill choices that are unrealistic, wasting your priority slots on colleges where you cannot qualify.

Another frequent error is not locking choices before the deadline. Some candidates fill their choices but forget to click the 'Final Lock' button, thinking they will do it later. The system does not automatically lock choices—you must manually confirm the lock. If you do not lock by October 4, your choices will not be submitted, and you will lose your candidature. Additionally, do not fill too many choices with the same college or course—prioritize based on your actual preferences and realistic rank cutoffs. Finally, ensure you report to your allotted college on time with all required documents; missing the reporting deadline forfeits your seat.

• Do not skip reviewing the seat matrix before filling choices
• Do not forget to click 'Final Lock' before the October 4 deadline
• Do not fill unrealistic choices based on hope alone—use your rank and the matrix
• Do not miss the October 12–13 reporting deadline
• Do not assume the system will auto-save or auto-lock your choices
• Do not fill incomplete or incorrect information in your choice form

Frequently asked questions

Download the seat matrix immediately, review it against your rank and category, and log in to the AMRUHP portal to fill and lock your choices by October 4, 2026. This is your final major opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in Himachal Pradesh—do not miss it. Mark October 8 (final allotment) and October 12–13 (reporting dates) on your calendar and prepare all required documents now.