Maharashtra's State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has opened a special stray vacancy round for NEET UG 2026 aspirants who have not yet secured a seat. A total of 138 MBBS and BDS positions remain unfilled across government, municipal, government-aided, private, and minority medical colleges in the state. The choice-filling window runs from November 5 to 7 at noon, with seat allotment results announced on November 8. This is your final opportunity to secure a medical seat in Maharashtra if you qualified NEET UG 2026 but were not allotted a college in earlier rounds.
If you cleared NEET UG 2026, registered for Maharashtra counselling, and have no seat yet, you have until November 7 noon to apply for 138 remaining MBBS and BDS positions across the state.
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The Maharashtra CET Cell is offering a combined total of 138 vacant positions split between MBBS and BDS programmes. Of these, 84 seats are in MBBS courses and 54 are in BDS programmes. These vacancies have emerged after three rounds of centralised counselling and three earlier online stray vacancy rounds, meaning these are genuinely hard-to-fill positions that require a final push to allocate.
The MBBS seats break down as follows: 39 positions in private medical colleges and 45 in private medical colleges (note: the source lists both as private, suggesting a possible distinction between unaided and minority institutions). For BDS, the distribution is tighter: 2 seats in government medical colleges, 22 in private medical colleges, and 30 in private medical universities. This spread across institution types means your options span both government and private sectors.
- 84 MBBS seats: 39 in private medical colleges, 45 in private medical colleges
- 54 BDS seats: 2 in government colleges, 22 in private colleges, 30 in private universities
- Total: 138 positions across all college categories
When and how do I fill my choices for this round?
The choice-filling window is live from November 5 through November 7, 2026, closing at 12 noon on the 7th. You must visit the official Maharashtra CET portal at mahacet.org to submit your college and course preferences during this window. Do not delay—once the deadline passes at noon on November 7, no further entries will be accepted.
After you submit your choices, the Maharashtra CET Cell will process all applications and declare the seat allotment results on November 8. This means you will know your outcome within 24 hours of the deadline. If you are allotted a seat, you must then report physically to your assigned college with original documents and a demand draft for the prescribed admission fee.
- Choice-filling window: November 5–7, 2026, up to 12 noon
- Portal: mahacet.org
- Seat allotment results: November 8, 2026
- Next step if allotted: Physical reporting to college with original documents and admission fee DD
Who is eligible to apply for the special stray vacancy round?
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To participate in this round, you must meet four key criteria. First, you must have qualified the NEET UG 2026 examination. Second, you must have registered for the Maharashtra state admission process. Third, you must not have been allotted any seat in any of the three main centralised rounds or the three earlier online stray vacancy rounds under Group A courses (which includes MBBS and BDS). Fourth, you must not have already received an All India Quota (AIQ) seat through any online stray vacancy round, including special rounds.
In practical terms, this round is designed for candidates who cleared NEET but were left out of all previous Maharashtra counselling stages. If you were allotted a seat anywhere in the state or through AIQ and rejected it, you may not be eligible for this round. Verify your counselling history on mahacet.org before applying to avoid wasting your choice submission.
- Must have qualified NEET UG 2026
- Must have registered for Maharashtra state admission process
- Must not have been allotted a seat in any previous round (centralised or stray)
- Must not have received an All India Quota seat in any stray or special round
- Candidates who rejected previous allotments may not be eligible
Why are so many seats still vacant after multiple rounds?
The presence of 138 unfilled seats after three centralised rounds and three stray rounds suggests several underlying factors. Some seats may be in colleges or locations that aspirants ranked lower in their preference lists, or in programmes (like BDS) that attract fewer applications than MBBS. Private medical colleges, which account for a significant portion of the vacant MBBS seats, may have higher fees or less perceived prestige than government institutions, leading candidates to exhaust their choices before reaching them.
Additionally, some candidates may have secured seats in other states or through AIQ and withdrawn from Maharashtra counselling, leaving pockets of vacancies. The special stray round is Maharashtra's final attempt to fill these gaps before the admission cycle closes. For aspirants still without a seat, this represents a genuine last-chance opportunity, even if the available colleges or programmes were not their first preference.
- Seats in less-preferred locations or colleges may remain unfilled
- BDS typically attracts fewer applications than MBBS
- Private colleges may have higher fees or lower perceived prestige
- Some candidates may have withdrawn after securing seats elsewhere
- This is the final stray round before the admission cycle closes
What happens after I am allotted a seat?
Once your name appears in the seat allotment results on November 8, you are not automatically admitted. You must take immediate action to confirm your admission. You will need to report physically to your assigned college with all original documents (such as your NEET admit card, mark sheet, 10th and 12th certificates, caste certificate if applicable, and any other documents specified by the college). You must also bring a demand draft (DD) for the prescribed admission fee payable to the college.
The college will verify your documents, collect the DD, and formally enrol you. Failure to report within the stipulated time (which the college will communicate) may result in forfeiture of your seat. Therefore, once results are declared, act quickly and confirm the exact reporting date and fee amount with your assigned college immediately.
- Physical reporting to college is mandatory
- Bring all original documents (NEET admit card, mark sheets, certificates, etc.)
- Bring a demand draft for the prescribed admission fee
- Report within the college's stipulated deadline
- Failure to report may result in loss of seat
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What if I don't get a seat in this round?
If you are not allotted a seat in this special stray vacancy round, your options within Maharashtra's NEET UG 2026 admission cycle will be exhausted. The source indicates that further special stray vacancy rounds for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 may be announced later, but no schedule has been confirmed yet. You should monitor mahacet.org regularly for any announcements.
If no further rounds materialise, you may consider exploring medical education outside Maharashtra (such as other states' counselling processes if you are eligible), or investigating non-NEET medical pathways such as private deemed universities or international medical programmes. However, your primary focus should be on maximising your chances in this round by carefully ranking all 138 available seats in order of your genuine preference.
- This is the final confirmed stray round for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026
- Further special stray rounds may be announced; monitor mahacet.org
- If no seat is allotted, explore other states' counselling or alternative medical pathways
- Rank all available seats thoughtfully to maximise your chances
How should I approach choice-filling for this round?
Since this is your final opportunity in Maharashtra, treat every choice submission seriously. Rank the 138 available seats in genuine order of preference—do not leave any choice blank if you are willing to study at that college or in that programme. The allotment algorithm will match you to the highest-ranked seat for which you are eligible based on your NEET rank and category. If you rank a seat but are not selected for it, the system will move to your next choice.
Research each college's location, infrastructure, fees (for private institutions), and reputation before finalising your list. For private colleges, confirm the exact fee structure and any additional costs. For BDS seats, understand that dentistry is a distinct career path from medicine—only choose BDS if you are genuinely interested in dentistry, not as a fallback. A thoughtful, complete choice list maximises your chances of securing a seat you will be satisfied with.
- Rank all 138 seats in genuine order of preference
- Do not leave choices blank if you are willing to study there
- Research college location, infrastructure, fees, and reputation
- For private colleges, confirm exact fee structure upfront
- Only choose BDS if genuinely interested in dentistry
- A complete, thoughtful list maximises your chances
Key dates and deadlines to remember
Mark your calendar with these critical dates. Choice-filling opens on November 5 and closes at 12 noon on November 7—this is a hard deadline with no extensions. Seat allotment results will be declared on November 8. If allotted, you must report to your college within the deadline it specifies (usually within 2–3 days of results). Missing any of these deadlines will result in loss of your seat or opportunity.
The source also mentions that schedules for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 round 2 and 3 special stray vacancy rounds will be announced soon, suggesting there may be further opportunities after this round. However, do not rely on future rounds—treat this round as your final chance and apply with full commitment.
- November 5: Choice-filling window opens
- November 7, 12 noon: Choice-filling deadline (hard stop)
- November 8: Seat allotment results declared
- Within 2–3 days of results: Physical reporting to college (exact date per college)
- Future rounds may be announced; do not depend on them
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the special stray vacancy round in Maharashtra NEET UG 2026?
The special stray vacancy round is a final counselling stage conducted by Maharashtra's CET Cell to fill 138 remaining MBBS and BDS seats across government, municipal, government-aided, private, and minority medical colleges. It is open to NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates who have not been allotted a seat in any of the three main centralised rounds or three earlier stray rounds. Choice-filling runs from November 5–7, 2026, at noon, with results declared on November 8.
How many MBBS and BDS seats are available in this round?
A total of 138 seats are available: 84 MBBS seats (39 in private medical colleges, 45 in private medical colleges) and 54 BDS seats (2 in government colleges, 22 in private colleges, 30 in private universities). These are the final unfilled positions after all previous counselling rounds.
Am I eligible to apply if I was allotted a seat in an earlier round but rejected it?
No. According to the eligibility criteria, you must not have been allotted a seat in any previous round under Group A courses (MBBS/BDS). If you were allotted and rejected, you are not eligible for this special stray round. Verify your counselling history on mahacet.org before applying.
What is the deadline for filling choices, and where do I apply?
The choice-filling window is open from November 5 to November 7, 2026, closing at 12 noon on the 7th. You must apply on the official Maharashtra CET portal at mahacet.org. There are no extensions—once the deadline passes, no further entries are accepted.
When will I know if I have been allotted a seat?
Seat allotment results will be declared on November 8, 2026. You can check your result on mahacet.org using your login credentials. If allotted, you must report physically to your assigned college with original documents and a demand draft for the admission fee within the deadline specified by the college.
What documents and fees do I need to bring if I am allotted a seat?
You must report to your assigned college with all original documents (NEET admit card, mark sheets, 10th and 12th certificates, caste certificate if applicable, and any other documents the college specifies) and a demand draft for the prescribed admission fee. The exact fee amount will be communicated by your assigned college.
What happens if I don't get a seat in this special stray round?
This is the final confirmed stray round for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026. If you are not allotted a seat, your options within Maharashtra's admission cycle will be exhausted. The CET Cell may announce further special stray rounds later, so monitor mahacet.org. If no further rounds occur, you may explore counselling in other states or alternative medical pathways.
Can I apply for both MBBS and BDS seats, or must I choose one?
You can rank seats from both MBBS and BDS programmes in your choice list. The allotment algorithm will match you to the highest-ranked seat for which you are eligible. However, only choose BDS if you are genuinely interested in dentistry as a career, not as a fallback option.
If you qualified NEET UG 2026 and remain without a seat, this special stray round is your final confirmed opportunity in Maharashtra. Visit mahacet.org, carefully rank all 138 available seats in order of genuine preference, and submit your choices by November 7 at noon. Act quickly once results are declared on November 8 to secure your admission.
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