MCC MDS Counselling 2026 Round 3 & Stray Vacancy: Dates, Registration & Choice Filling

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the official schedule for Round 3 and the Stray Vacancy Round of MDS counselling for the 2026 academic year. This schedule applies to 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, 100% Deemed University seats, Central University seats, and AFMS (Armed Forces Medical Services) seats. The notice sets out exact dates and times for registration, payment, choice filling, choice locking, seat processing, result declaration, and reporting. If you have qualified for MDS and are eligible for any of these quota categories, you must follow these dates carefully — missing even a single deadline can result in losing your seat.

What is this schedule and who needs to follow it?

This is the official counselling timetable for MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) postgraduate admission in India for the 2026 academic year. It covers two rounds: Round 3 (the main round) and the Stray Vacancy Round (for seats that remain unfilled after Round 3).

The schedule applies to candidates who have qualified in NEET-PG 2026 and are eligible for seats under: 50% All India Quota (AIQ) — seats filled by MCC on a national merit basis; 100% Deemed University seats — private deemed-to-be universities; Central University seats — government central universities; and AFMS seats — Armed Forces Medical Services institutions.

If you are an MDS aspirant and fall into any of these categories, this schedule is binding on you. You must complete registration, pay fees, fill choices, and report within the exact dates and times specified. The notice emphasizes that all times are server time — your local time may differ, so check your device clock against the official server before any deadline.

Round 3: Complete Timeline and Key Dates

Round 3 is the main counselling round. Below is the step-by-step schedule with exact dates and times. All times are server time as per the MCC portal.

The entire Round 3 process runs from 2 October to 20 October 2026. Institutes verify seat availability on 2 October. Candidates then register and pay fees from 3–7 October. Choice filling happens 3–8 October, with locking from 4 PM on 7 October to 10 AM on 8 October. Seat processing occurs 8–9 October, results are declared 10–11 October, and reporting (joining) happens 12–19 October. Finally, on 20 October, institutes verify which candidates have actually joined and share that data with MCC.

Stray Vacancy Round: Timeline and Eligibility

The Stray Vacancy Round is held after Round 3 to fill any seats that remain vacant. This round is for candidates who did not get a seat in Round 3, or who were allotted a seat but did not report (join) within the deadline. Stray Vacancy is a second chance — but it is also faster and has fewer seats.

The Stray Vacancy Round runs from 21 October to 5 November 2026. Institutes verify remaining seats on 21 October. Registration and payment open 22–26 October. Choice filling is 23–27 October. Seat processing happens 27–28 October, result is declared on 29 October, and reporting is 30 October to 5 November. There is no separate data verification stage listed for this round.

Registration and Payment: What You Must Do

To participate in either Round 3 or Stray Vacancy, you must register on the MCC counselling portal and pay the registration fee. Registration and payment are separate steps but happen in the same window.

For Round 3: Registration opens 3 October 2026 at 03:00 PM (server time) and closes 7 October 2026 at 03:00 PM (server time). Payment facility is available until 7 October 2026 at 06:00 PM (server time) — note that payment closes 3 hours after registration closes, so do not wait until the last moment.

For Stray Vacancy: Registration opens 22 October 2026 and closes 26 October 2026 at 03:00 PM (server time). Payment facility is available until 26 October 2026 at 06:00 PM (server time).

You will need your NEET-PG 2026 roll number, password, and a valid payment method (debit card, credit card, or net banking). The notice does not specify the fee amount — check the MCC portal or your admission letter for the exact fee. Keep your registration receipt and payment confirmation for your records.

• Register on the MCC portal using your NEET-PG credentials
• Complete registration before the deadline (3 PM on 7 Oct for Round 3; 3 PM on 26 Oct for Stray Vacancy)
• Pay the registration fee before the payment deadline (6 PM on 7 Oct for Round 3; 6 PM on 26 Oct for Stray Vacancy)
• Save your registration receipt and payment confirmation
• All times are server time — verify your device clock

Choice Filling and Locking: How to Rank Your Colleges

After registration and payment, you must fill your choices — the list of colleges and seats you are willing to accept, ranked in order of preference. The MCC algorithm will match you to the highest-ranked college on your list for which you are eligible, based on your merit rank and the seat availability.

For Round 3: Choice filling is available from 3 October 2026 to 8 October 2026 at 10:00 AM (server time). You can add, edit, and reorder your choices during this entire window. However, choice locking begins on 7 October 2026 at 04:00 PM (server time) and continues until 8 October 2026 at 10:00 AM (server time). Once you lock your choices, you cannot change them. If you do not lock your choices manually, they will be automatically locked at 10:00 AM on 8 October.

For Stray Vacancy: Choice filling is available from 23 October 2026 to 27 October 2026 at 10:00 AM (server time). Choice locking is from 26 October 2026 at 04:00 PM to 27 October 2026 at 10:00 AM (server time).

Strategy: Rank colleges in genuine order of preference. The algorithm will allot you the highest-ranked college for which you qualify. If you rank a college first but do not meet its cutoff, you will not be allotted that college — the algorithm will move to your second choice. Do not leave choices blank; fill as many as you are willing to accept. The more choices you fill, the higher your chances of getting a seat.

• Log in to the MCC portal after registration
• Search for colleges and specialties (MDS courses) you wish to apply for
• Add colleges to your choice list and rank them in order of preference
• You can edit and reorder choices until the locking deadline
• Lock your choices before 10:00 AM on the final day (8 Oct for Round 3; 27 Oct for Stray Vacancy)
• If you do not lock manually, choices are auto-locked at 10:00 AM
• After locking, you cannot change your choices

Seat Processing and Result Declaration

After the choice-filling window closes and all choices are locked, MCC processes the allotments. This is an automated process: the system matches each candidate to a seat based on their merit rank, the choices they have filled, and the availability of seats at each college.

For Round 3: Seat processing happens 8–9 October 2026. Results are declared 10–11 October 2026. You will receive an allotment letter on the portal showing which college and seat (if any) you have been allotted. Download and save this letter immediately.

For Stray Vacancy: Seat processing happens 27–28 October 2026. Result is declared 29 October 2026.

If you are allotted a seat, you must report to the college within the reporting window. If you are not allotted a seat, you can participate in the next round (if available) or explore other admission pathways. The notice does not specify what happens if you are allotted but do not report — typically, your seat is forfeited and offered to the next candidate in the merit list.

• Check the MCC portal on the result declaration date for your allotment letter
• If allotted, note the college name, seat type, and reporting deadline
• If not allotted, you may be eligible for the Stray Vacancy Round (if you participated in Round 3)
• Download and print your allotment letter for reporting

Reporting and Joining: Completing Your Admission

If you are allotted a seat, you must report to the college within the reporting window to confirm your admission. Reporting means physically visiting the college (or following the college's online process if permitted) and submitting required documents to complete your admission.

For Round 3: The reporting window is 12–19 October 2026 (8 days). You must report within this window. If you do not report by 19 October, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate.

For Stray Vacancy: The reporting window is 30 October – 5 November 2026 (8 days).

When you report, bring your allotment letter, NEET-PG admit card, MBBS degree certificate, category certificate (if applicable), and any other documents the college specifies. The college will verify your documents, collect fees, and issue an admission confirmation. After reporting, you are officially admitted and can begin your MDS course.

• Report to your allotted college within the reporting window
• Bring allotment letter, NEET-PG admit card, MBBS degree, and category certificate
• Complete document verification and fee payment at the college
• Obtain admission confirmation from the college
• If you do not report within the deadline, your seat is forfeited
• Do not assume you are admitted until the college issues a confirmation

Important: Server Time and Deadline Precision

The notice repeatedly emphasizes that all times are 'as per Server Time' — this means the time on the MCC portal's server, not your local time or your device's clock. If your device clock is wrong, you may miss a deadline.

Before any critical deadline (registration closing, payment closing, choice locking), log in to the MCC portal and check the server time displayed there. Sync your device clock if needed. Do not rely on your phone or computer's clock.

Deadlines are strict. If registration closes at 03:00 PM server time and you try to register at 03:01 PM, you will be locked out. Similarly, if choice locking closes at 10:00 AM and you try to lock at 10:01 AM, your choices will already be auto-locked and you cannot change them. Plan to complete each step at least 1–2 hours before the deadline.

• All deadlines are in server time, not local time
• Check the MCC portal to see the current server time
• Sync your device clock before any deadline
• Complete each step 1–2 hours before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues
• Do not wait until the last minute

Weekends and Holidays Are Working Days

The notice includes an important note: 'For ensuring faithful obedience of time schedule and also keeping in view the limited time available for conducting counseling, all participating institutes/colleges are advised to treat all Saturdays/Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days.'

This means that even if a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a national holiday, the deadline does not shift. The portal will remain open, and you are expected to complete your registration, payment, or choice filling on that day. Do not assume that a weekend or holiday will give you extra time.

• Saturdays and Sundays are working days for this counselling
• National holidays and gazetted holidays are also working days
• Deadlines do not shift if they fall on a weekend or holiday
• Plan accordingly and do not delay your actions

Quota Categories: 50% AIQ, Deemed, Central, and AFMS

This schedule covers four quota categories: 50% All India Quota (AIQ), 100% Deemed University seats, Central University seats, and AFMS seats. Each category has different colleges and different merit cutoffs.

50% AIQ: These are seats in government medical colleges across India, filled by MCC on a national merit basis. Any Indian citizen who qualifies NEET-PG is eligible. Merit rank determines allotment.

100% Deemed University seats: These are seats in private deemed-to-be universities. Eligibility and fee structure vary by college. Some deemed universities may have their own eligibility criteria beyond NEET-PG.

Central University seats: These are seats in central universities (e.g., Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University). Eligibility and selection process may vary.

AFMS seats: These are seats in Armed Forces Medical Services institutions. Eligibility is typically restricted to serving or retired armed forces personnel and their dependents. Check the specific eligibility criteria for AFMS.

The notice does not specify different deadlines for different quotas — all quotas follow the same Round 3 and Stray Vacancy schedule. However, merit cutoffs and seat availability will differ. When you fill your choices, you will see which colleges and seats are available to you based on your merit rank and quota eligibility.

• 50% AIQ: Government colleges, national merit-based, open to all Indian citizens
• Deemed University: Private deemed universities, may have additional eligibility criteria
• Central University: Central universities, eligibility varies by institution
• AFMS: Armed Forces Medical Services, restricted eligibility (check criteria)
• All quotas follow the same counselling schedule
• Merit cutoffs and seat availability differ by quota and college

What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?

The notice does not explicitly state what happens if you miss a deadline, but standard counselling practice is strict: if you miss a deadline, you lose that opportunity.

If you miss the registration deadline for Round 3, you cannot participate in Round 3. You may be eligible for the Stray Vacancy Round if you have not already participated in a round.

If you register but miss the payment deadline, your registration is incomplete and you cannot fill choices.

If you miss the choice-filling deadline, your choices are not submitted and you cannot be allotted a seat in that round.

If you are allotted a seat but miss the reporting deadline, your seat is forfeited and offered to the next candidate. You will not be able to join that college.

There is no mention of any extension or grace period. Plan ahead and complete each step well before the deadline.

• Missing registration deadline: You cannot participate in that round
• Missing payment deadline: Registration is incomplete; you cannot fill choices
• Missing choice-filling deadline: You cannot be allotted a seat
• Missing reporting deadline: Your seat is forfeited
• No extensions or grace periods are mentioned
• Plan to complete each step 1–2 hours before the deadline

Next Steps: What to Do Now

If you are an MDS aspirant eligible for 50% AIQ, Deemed, Central, or AFMS seats, start preparing now. First, gather all required documents: your NEET-PG 2026 admit card, MBBS degree certificate, category certificate (if applicable), and any other documents your college may require. Verify that your documents are in order and that all certificates are valid.

Second, familiarize yourself with the MCC counselling portal. Log in using your NEET-PG credentials and explore the interface. Understand how to search for colleges, add choices, and lock them. This will save time when the actual counselling begins.

Third, make a list of colleges you are interested in and research their MDS programs, fees, and location. Rank them in genuine order of preference. Do not rank a college first just because it is prestigious if you would prefer another college.

Fourth, mark all the key dates on your calendar: 3 October (Round 3 registration opens), 7 October (registration and payment close), 8 October (choice locking closes), 10 October (results declared), 12 October (reporting begins), and 19 October (reporting deadline). Set reminders 1–2 days before each deadline.

Finally, on 3 October 2026, log in to the MCC portal at 03:00 PM server time and begin registration. Do not delay.

• Gather and verify all required documents now
• Log in to the MCC portal and familiarize yourself with the interface
• Research colleges and make a ranked list of preferences
• Mark all key dates on your calendar and set reminders
• On 3 October, register at 03:00 PM server time
• Complete payment before 7 October 06:00 PM server time
• Fill and lock choices before 8 October 10:00 AM server time

Frequently asked questions

Mark these dates now: Round 3 registration 3–7 October, choice filling 3–8 October, results 10–11 October, reporting 12–19 October. Stray Vacancy follows 22 October onwards. Gather your documents, research colleges, and prepare your ranked choice list. On 3 October 2026 at 03:00 PM server time, log in to the MCC portal and begin registration. Remember: all times are server time, deadlines are strict, and weekends/holidays are working days. Do not delay — missing even one deadline can cost you your seat.