MCC NEET-PG 2026 Stray Round: 9 Seats Withdrawn, 1 Added – Check Your Specialty

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced changes to the seat matrix for the Stray Round of NEET-PG 2026 counselling. Nine seats have been withdrawn across eight states and one specialty, and one seat has been added in Haryana. These changes affect MD, MS, and DNB (Diploma of National Board) programmes in specialties including Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Biochemistry, Emergency Medicine, Paediatrics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, General Medicine, and Family Medicine. The withdrawals will take effect before seat processing begins in the Stray Round, so candidates who have applied for these specialties at the affected colleges must be aware of these changes before the round commences. This notice is critical for anyone waiting for a seat in the Stray Round, as the availability of seats directly affects your chances of allotment.

What Is the Stray Round and Why Does This Matter?

The Stray Round is the final counselling round in NEET-PG 2026 where remaining unfilled seats are offered to candidates. Unlike earlier rounds, the Stray Round typically has fewer seats available, and competition is intense. The seat matrix — the official list of how many seats are available at each college in each specialty and category — determines exactly where you can apply and your chances of getting a seat.

When MCC withdraws seats from the matrix, those seats disappear entirely from the Stray Round. They will not be offered to any candidate. This can happen for several reasons: a college may have filled the seat through its own internal process, a court case may have invalidated the seat, or the college may have reported that it cannot fill the seat. Conversely, when a seat is added, it becomes newly available for candidates to compete for.

This notice affects only the Stray Round. If you were allotted a seat in an earlier round (Round 1, Round 2, or Mop-up), this does not change your allotment. However, if you are still waiting for a seat or are planning to participate in the Stray Round, you must check this list carefully to see if your target college and specialty are affected.

Complete List of Seats Withdrawn and Added

MCC has withdrawn a total of 9 seats and added 1 seat across the country. The changes are spread across eight states and involve both All India Quota seats and DNB Quota seats. Below is the complete breakdown of every change, organized by state, college, specialty, and category.

Which Specialties Are Affected?

Seven medical specialties are affected by these seat changes. The most impacted specialty is Obstetrics & Gynaecology (OBGY), with 2 seats withdrawn — one from Karnataka (All India Quota, BC category) and one from Puducherry (Self-Financed Merit Seat, Open category). If you are an OBGY candidate, especially in the BC or Open category, and you were targeting these colleges, you will not find these seats in the Stray Round.

The other affected specialties are: Biochemistry (1 seat withdrawn in Uttar Pradesh, SC category), Emergency Medicine (1 seat withdrawn in Maharashtra, DNB Quota), Paediatrics (1 seat added in Haryana, DNB Quota), Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (1 seat withdrawn in Bihar, EW category), General Medicine (1 seat withdrawn in Tamil Nadu, NRI quota), and Family Medicine (1 seat withdrawn in Karnataka, DNB Quota). If you are a candidate in any of these specialties, cross-check the college and category against this list before finalizing your choices for the Stray Round.

• Obstetrics & Gynaecology: 2 seats withdrawn (Karnataka, Puducherry)
• Biochemistry: 1 seat withdrawn (Uttar Pradesh)
• Emergency Medicine: 1 seat withdrawn (Maharashtra, DNB)
• Paediatrics: 1 seat added (Haryana, DNB)
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: 1 seat withdrawn (Bihar)
• General Medicine: 1 seat withdrawn (Tamil Nadu)
• Family Medicine: 1 seat withdrawn (Karnataka, DNB)

Why Were These Seats Withdrawn or Added?

MCC has provided a reason for each seat change. Understanding the reason helps you know whether the seat might reappear in a future round or if it is permanently gone. There are three main categories of reasons:

**Reason 1: Extra Seat Filled by College.** Three seats were withdrawn because the college reported that it had already filled the seat through its own internal process or through a previous round. These seats are no longer available in the Stray Round. Examples: Vijayagara Institute (Karnataka, OBGY, BC category), Umanath Singh Medical College (Uttar Pradesh, Biochemistry, SC category). These seats are unlikely to reappear.

**Reason 2: Offline Reporting Done by Institute.** Two seats were withdrawn because the college reported offline (directly to MCC, not through the online portal) that the seat has been filled or is no longer available. Examples: A C P M Medical College (Maharashtra, Emergency Medicine, DNB), Basel Mission CSI Hospital (Karnataka, Family Medicine, DNB). These are also unlikely to reappear in the Stray Round.

**Reason 3: Court Case.** Four seats were withdrawn due to ongoing or concluded court cases that have invalidated or suspended the seat. These include: Vinayaka Missions (Puducherry, OBGY), Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College (Maharashtra, OBGY), Patna Medical College (Bihar, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation), and Chettinad Hospital (Tamil Nadu, General Medicine). Court cases can take time to resolve, and seats may or may not be restored in future rounds depending on the court's decision. Candidates should monitor MCC notices for updates on these cases.

• Extra seat filled by college: 2 seats (Karnataka OBGY, Uttar Pradesh Biochemistry)
• Offline reporting by institute: 2 seats (Maharashtra Emergency Medicine DNB, Karnataka Family Medicine DNB)
• Court case: 4 seats (Puducherry OBGY, Maharashtra OBGY, Bihar Physical Medicine, Tamil Nadu General Medicine)
• One seat added: Haryana Paediatrics DNB (removed from Round 2, now available in Stray Round)

When Do These Changes Take Effect?

MCC has stated that all seat withdrawals will be removed from the seat matrix **before seat processing begins in the Stray Round**. This means that when the Stray Round seat matrix is published and candidates are invited to fill their choices, these 9 seats will already be gone. The notice was issued on 23 February 2026, so the changes are effective immediately.

Candidates should assume that these seats are no longer available as of the date of this notice. Do not plan your Stray Round strategy around any of the withdrawn seats. If you were hoping to apply for one of these seats, you must now look for alternative colleges or specialties in the Stray Round.

• Notice date: 23 February 2026
• Effective date: Immediately (before Stray Round seat processing)
• Action required: Update your choice list before the Stray Round begins

How to Check If Your Target College Is Affected

To determine whether your target college and specialty are affected, follow these steps:

**Step 1: Identify your specialty.** Write down the exact name of the specialty you applied for (e.g., MD Obstetrics & Gynaecology, DNB Emergency Medicine, MD Biochemistry). Use the abbreviation shown in the notice (OBGY, DEMM, BIOC, etc.) to match it precisely.

**Step 2: Identify your college.** Write down the full name of the college where you were hoping to get a seat. Cross-check it against the college names in the table above.

**Step 3: Check the state and quota.** Confirm the state where the college is located and the quota type (All India, DNB Quota, Self-Financed, NRI, etc.).

**Step 4: Match against the table.** If your college name, specialty, state, and quota all match an entry in the table above with status 'REMOVED', that seat is no longer available. If the status is 'ADDED', a new seat has become available.

**Step 5: Plan alternatives.** If your target seat has been withdrawn, immediately identify alternative colleges in the same specialty or alternative specialties you are interested in. Consult the full Stray Round seat matrix (which MCC will publish separately) to see what seats remain available.

• Match your specialty name exactly (use abbreviations from the notice)
• Confirm your college name and state
• Check the quota type (All India, DNB, NRI, Self-Financed, etc.)
• Cross-reference against the table in this article
• If withdrawn, identify alternative colleges immediately

Important: Seats Withdrawn Due to Court Cases May Be Disputed

Four of the nine withdrawn seats are due to court cases. These are particularly important to monitor because court decisions can change, and seats may be restored or remain withdrawn depending on the outcome. The affected seats are:

1. **Vinayaka Missions Medical College, Puducherry** — MD/MS Obstetrics & Gynaecology (OBGY), Self-Financed Merit Seat, Open category

2. **Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Pune** — MD/MS Obstetrics & Gynaecology (OBGY), Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota

3. **Patna Medical College, Bihar** — MD Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM-R), All India quota, EW category

4. **Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu** — MD General Medicine (GMED), Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota

If you were targeting any of these seats, do not assume they are permanently gone. Court cases can take months or years to resolve. MCC will issue updated notices if the court's decision changes the status of these seats. Keep checking the MCC website (mcc.nic.in) and your email for any updates on these cases. If a court case is resolved in your favour, the seat may be restored in a future round or even in the Stray Round if the timing permits.

• Puducherry: Vinayaka Missions OBGY (Self-Financed Merit)
• Maharashtra: Dr. D. Y. Patil OBGY (NRI quota)
• Bihar: Patna Medical College Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (EW category)
• Tamil Nadu: Chettinad Hospital General Medicine (NRI quota)
• Monitor MCC website for updates on court case outcomes

One Seat Added: Haryana Paediatrics DNB

While most of this notice is about seat withdrawals, there is one positive update: **Maharaja Agrasen Medical College in Haryana has added 1 seat in DNB Paediatrics (DPED), Open category**. This seat was removed from Round 2 but is now being made available in the Stray Round.

If you are a DNB Paediatrics candidate in the Open category and you did not get a seat in earlier rounds, this is a new opportunity. This seat will appear in the Stray Round seat matrix. However, note that this is a DNB seat (Diploma of National Board), not an MD or MS seat. DNB seats are governed by NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences) and have their own eligibility and reporting requirements. Ensure you are eligible for DNB before applying for this seat.

• College: Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Hisar, Haryana
• Specialty: DNB Paediatrics (DPED)
• Quota: DNB Quota (NBEMS)
• Category: Open (OP)
• Seats: 1 added
• Reason: One seat removed in Round 2, now available in Stray Round

What Should You Do Now?

If you are a candidate waiting for the Stray Round, take the following immediate actions:

**Action 1: Check if you are affected.** Use the table and instructions above to determine whether any of your target colleges or specialties are affected by these changes. If yes, note that these seats are no longer available.

**Action 2: Update your choice list.** If any of your target seats have been withdrawn, remove them from your Stray Round choice list immediately. Do not waste a choice on a seat that no longer exists.

**Action 3: Identify alternatives.** Research alternative colleges in the same specialty or alternative specialties that interest you. Consult the full Stray Round seat matrix (which MCC will publish separately) to see all available seats.

**Action 4: Monitor for updates.** Keep checking the MCC website (mcc.nic.in) and your registered email for any further updates on seat changes, especially regarding the four court cases. Court decisions can change the availability of seats.

**Action 5: Prepare your documents.** Ensure all your documents (MBBS degree certificate, category certificate, EWS certificate if applicable, ID proof, etc.) are ready for the Stray Round. Do not delay document preparation while waiting for the round to begin.

• Check if your target college/specialty is in the withdrawn list
• Remove withdrawn seats from your Stray Round choice list
• Identify alternative colleges using the full seat matrix
• Monitor MCC website for updates on court cases
• Prepare all required documents in advance

Key Dates and Deadlines

This notice was issued on **23 February 2026**. The seat changes are effective immediately and will be reflected in the Stray Round seat matrix when it is published. MCC has not announced the exact date for the Stray Round to begin, but candidates should expect it to start within the next few weeks. Keep checking the MCC website for the official Stray Round schedule, which will include:

- Date and time when the Stray Round seat matrix is published

- Date and time when choice-filling begins

- Deadline for submitting your choices

- Date of seat allotment

- Reporting date at your allotted college

Do not miss these deadlines. Once the Stray Round begins, you will have a limited window to fill your choices. Missing the deadline means you will not be considered for any seat in the Stray Round.

• Notice issued: 23 February 2026
• Seat changes effective: Immediately
• Stray Round schedule: To be announced by MCC (check mcc.nic.in)
• Action required: Update your choice list before Stray Round begins

Contact Information

For any queries or clarifications regarding this notice, you can contact the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) at the following address:

**Office of MCC**

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)

Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110108

**Email:** adgme@nic.in

You can also visit the official MCC website at **mcc.nic.in** for the latest updates, seat matrices, and counselling schedules. Ensure you are checking the official MCC website and not any third-party website, as misinformation can lead to costly mistakes.

• Email: adgme@nic.in
• Address: Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110108
• Website: mcc.nic.in (official source only)

Frequently asked questions

This notice affects 9 withdrawn seats and 1 added seat in the Stray Round of NEET-PG 2026 counselling. If you are waiting for the Stray Round, immediately check the table above to see if your target college and specialty are affected. If any of your target seats have been withdrawn, remove them from your choice list and identify alternatives using the full Stray Round seat matrix (to be published by MCC). Keep all your documents ready and monitor the MCC website (mcc.nic.in) for the official Stray Round schedule. Do not miss the choice-filling deadline once the round begins. For any queries, contact MCC at adgme@nic.in.