Maharashtra NEET UG Round 3 Seat Matrix 2026: What You Need to Know

Maharashtra's State Common Entrance Test Cell has released the seat matrix for CAP Round 3 of NEET UG 2026 counselling on October 6, 2026. This document shows exactly how many MBBS and BDS seats remain vacant across state medical and dental colleges, broken down by college and category. If you are a NEET UG candidate registered for Round 3 in Maharashtra, this matrix is critical: it tells you which colleges have openings in your category and helps you make informed choices before the preference-filling window closes on October 9. Understanding the seat availability and the rules for this round is essential to avoid missing your opportunity.

When and Where to Access the Maharashtra Seat Matrix

The Maharashtra State CET Cell released the CAP Round 3 seat matrix on October 6, 2026. You can download it from the official portal at medical2026.mahacet.org or mahacet.org. The matrix is available as a PDF and shows college-wise and category-wise breakdowns of vacant seats for both MBBS and BDS courses.

Before you begin filling preferences, take time to study this document carefully. It will show you exactly which colleges have seats available in your category (General, OBC, SC, ST, or EWS), helping you prioritize your choices strategically.

How to Download and Review the Seat Matrix

Accessing the seat matrix is straightforward. Visit medical2026.mahacet.org or mahacet.org, locate the link for 'CAP Round 3 Seat Matrix for MBBS/BDS (Group A)' on the homepage, and click it. The PDF will open immediately, showing the full breakdown of available seats.

• Visit the official website: medical2026.mahacet.org or mahacet.org
• Click on the CAP Round 3 Seat Matrix link for MBBS/BDS (Group A)
• Download and save the PDF to your device
• Review college-wise and category-wise seat availability
• Use this data to plan your preference list before October 9

Preference Filling Window: Dates and Deadlines

The online preference-filling window for CAP Round 3 opens on October 7, 2026, and closes on October 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM. This is your only chance to submit fresh choices for this round. Do not delay—mark these dates on your calendar and ensure you complete your preferences well before the deadline.

It is important to note that all choices you submitted in CAP Round 2 are now null and void. You must fill entirely new preferences for Round 3, even if you had selected the same colleges before. This is a mandatory requirement, and the system will not carry forward your earlier choices.

• Preference filling opens: October 7, 2026
• Preference filling closes: October 9, 2026, 11:59 PM
• All Round 2 choices are cancelled and must be re-entered
• Fresh preferences are mandatory for all Round 3 participants

Critical Rule: Joining in Round 3 Ends Your Counselling Journey

This is perhaps the most important rule to understand before you fill your preferences. If you are allotted a seat in CAP Round 3 and join it, you become ineligible for any further stray vacancy rounds, regardless of whether you actually report to the college or not. This means Round 3 is effectively your final opportunity in Maharashtra's counselling process.

Before you lock your preferences, be absolutely certain about the colleges and courses you are choosing. If you join a seat in Round 3, you cannot participate in any subsequent rounds, even if better options become available. This rule applies to all candidates, so think carefully about your choices and rank colleges in order of genuine preference, not just as backup options.

• Joining a Round 3 seat makes you ineligible for stray vacancy rounds
• This applies whether or not you physically join the college
• Round 3 is your final counselling round in Maharashtra
• Plan your preferences carefully—this is your last chance

AIQ Candidates: Special Weeding Rule for Round 3

If you have already joined a seat through the All India Quota (AIQ) Round 3 counselling, you will be automatically removed from Maharashtra's state counselling selection list. This weeding ensures that candidates do not hold multiple seats across AIQ and state quotas simultaneously. If you are an AIQ candidate, verify your status before filling preferences in the state round.

• Candidates who joined AIQ Round 3 seats are weeded out from state selection
• This prevents dual seat holding across AIQ and state quotas
• Check your AIQ status before submitting state preferences

Selection List and Joining Schedule

After preference filling closes on October 9, the CAP Round 3 selection list will be declared on October 11, 2026. If your name appears on this list, you will have been allotted a seat based on your merit rank and preferences. You must then physically join your allotted college between October 11 and October 14, 2026, by 5:30 PM. Failure to join within this window may result in forfeiture of your seat.

Mark these dates clearly: selection list on October 11, and joining deadline on October 14 at 5:30 PM. Plan your travel and documentation accordingly, as the joining window is only four days long.

• Selection list released: October 11, 2026
• Joining period: October 11–14, 2026, up to 5:30 PM
• Physical joining at the allotted college is mandatory
• Missing the deadline may result in seat cancellation

What the Seat Matrix Tells You: Reading the Data

The seat matrix is organized by college and category. Each row typically shows a medical or dental college, and columns display the number of vacant seats in each category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) for both MBBS and BDS. By studying this matrix, you can identify which colleges have the most seats in your category and which are nearly full.

Use this information strategically. If a college has many vacant seats in your category, your chances of getting that college are higher. Conversely, if a college shows very few or no vacant seats in your category, ranking it highly may not be practical. Balance your preferences between colleges where you have a realistic chance and those that are your genuine first choices.

• Matrix shows college-wise and category-wise vacant seat counts
• Identify colleges with higher vacancy in your category
• Use this data to rank colleges strategically
• Balance realistic choices with your preferred colleges

Why Round 3 Matters: Your Last Chance in Maharashtra Counselling

By Round 3, many candidates have already joined seats in earlier rounds, leaving a fresh pool of vacancies. If you did not get a seat in Rounds 1 or 2, Round 3 is your final opportunity to secure admission in Maharashtra through the state counselling process. After Round 3, only stray vacancy rounds may be available, and those are typically limited and unpredictable.

This is why careful planning of your preferences is crucial. Study the seat matrix thoroughly, understand your realistic chances based on your rank and category, and fill preferences that reflect both your aspirations and practical likelihood of admission. Round 3 is not a second chance—it is your last structured opportunity.

• Round 3 offers fresh vacancies from candidates who did not join earlier rounds
• This is your final structured counselling round in Maharashtra
• Stray vacancy rounds after this are limited and unpredictable
• Strategic preference planning is essential

Frequently asked questions

Download the seat matrix today, study it carefully, and plan your preferences strategically. Remember: Round 3 is your final structured counselling opportunity in Maharashtra, and joining a seat here closes the door to further rounds. Fill your preferences by October 9, 2026, and be ready to join by October 14 if your name appears on the selection list.