The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the official schedule for the final rounds of NEET-PG 2026 counselling. This notice sets out the exact dates for Round 3 (the main final round) and the Stray Round (for unfilled seats), along with the last dates by which you must join your allotted college. The schedule differs between All India Quota seats (counselled by MCC) and State Quota seats (counselled by state authorities), so you must identify which applies to you. This is a critical document—missing a deadline by even one day will cost you your seat, and there are no extensions.
Round 3 counselling runs 15 January to 5 February 2026 (All India Quota) or 27 January to 16 February 2026 (State Quota); you must join by 13 February (AIQ) or 19 February (State); Stray Round follows 16–20 February (AIQ) or 20–23 February (State), with final joining by 28 February at 11:55 PM.
What This Schedule Covers
This notice publishes the timetable for the last two rounds of NEET-PG 2026 counselling: Round 3 (the main final round where most remaining seats are filled) and the Stray Round (a final opportunity to fill any seats that remain unfilled after Round 3). It also sets the deadlines by which you must physically join your allotted college to confirm your seat.
The schedule is split into two parallel tracks: All India Quota (AIQ) seats, which are counselled by MCC nationally, and State Quota seats, which are counselled by each state's own Competent Authority or DME (Directorate of Medical Education). The dates for each track are different, so you must know which one applies to you before you mark any calendar.
Understanding All India Quota vs. State Quota
All India Quota (AIQ) seats are a fixed percentage of seats in government medical colleges across India, reserved for candidates from any state to compete nationally. These are counselled by MCC, and the schedule for AIQ is the same nationwide. Deemed Universities and Central Universities also follow the AIQ schedule.
State Quota seats are reserved for candidates from that state and are counselled by the state's own authority (called the DME or State Counselling Authority). Each state may have slightly different dates. If you are applying under State Quota, you must follow your state's specific dates, not the All India Quota dates. Check your state's counselling portal or contact your state DME to confirm your state's exact schedule.
Round 3 Counselling: Dates & What Happens
Round 3 is the main final round of counselling. For All India Quota, choice filling (the period during which you log in and select your preferred colleges and courses) runs from 15 January 2026 to 5 February 2026. For State Quota, choice filling runs from 27 January 2026 to 16 February 2026. During this period, you will log into the counselling portal, enter your choices in order of preference, and submit. The exact time the portal opens and closes each day will be announced separately by MCC or your state authority.
After choice filling closes, MCC or your state authority will process all choices using a computerized merit-based algorithm and publish the Round 3 allotment result. The date of this result publication is not stated in this notice, but it will be announced separately. Once you see your allotment, you must join the college within the deadline (see next section).
- All India Quota Round 3 choice filling: 15 January to 5 February 2026
- State Quota Round 3 choice filling: 27 January to 16 February 2026
- Deemed & Central Universities: 15 January to 5 February 2026
Last Date to Join After Round 3
After Round 3 allotment is published, you have a limited window to physically join your allotted college. For All India Quota, the last date to join is 13 February 2026. For State Quota, the last date to join is 19 February 2026. 'Joining' means reporting to your college with all required documents (degree certificate, identity proof, medical fitness certificate, etc.) and completing the admission formalities. If you do not join by this date, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate on the merit list.
This is a hard deadline. Weekends and public holidays do not extend it—the notice explicitly states that all Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted Holidays are to be treated as working days for the purpose of this counselling. If 13 February or 19 February falls on a weekend or holiday, you must still join by that date.
- All India Quota: join by 13 February 2026
- State Quota: join by 19 February 2026
- Weekends and holidays are working days—no extension
Stray Round: For Unfilled Seats
After Round 3 and the joining deadline, some seats may remain unfilled (either because no candidate chose them, or because allotted candidates did not join). These unfilled seats are offered in the Stray Round. For All India Quota, Stray Round choice filling runs from 16 February 2026 to 20 February 2026. For State Quota, it runs from 20 February 2026 to 23 February 2026.
The Stray Round works the same way as Round 3: you fill choices, the algorithm processes them, and an allotment is published. However, the Stray Round is typically smaller (fewer seats available) and is the last chance to secure a seat in this counselling cycle. If you were not allotted in Round 3, or if you did not join your Round 3 allotment, you may be eligible for Stray Round—check the eligibility criteria on the counselling portal.
- All India Quota Stray Round: 16 to 20 February 2026
- State Quota Stray Round: 20 to 23 February 2026
- Stray Round allotment data will be shared by MCC on 21 February 2026
Final Joining Deadline After Stray Round
After Stray Round allotment is published, you must join your allotted college by 28 February 2026 at 11:55 PM. This is the final joining deadline for the entire 2026 counselling cycle. After this date, any unfilled seats will be cancelled and the counselling process will close. This deadline applies to both All India Quota and State Quota candidates.
Note the specific time: 11:55 PM on 28 February. If you are joining in person at the college, you must complete all formalities before the college's office closes on that day. If the college has an online joining portal, you must submit your joining confirmation before 11:55 PM. Do not assume you have until midnight—confirm the exact closing time with your college.
- Final joining deadline: 28 February 2026 at 11:55 PM
- Applies to both All India Quota and State Quota
- No extension after this date
Academic Session Start Date
The academic session for all PG courses (MD, MS, PG Diploma, DNB) will commence on 22 December 2025. This date has already passed relative to the counselling schedule, which means some colleges may have already started classes or may start before you join. Check with your allotted college whether classes have begun and whether you will be admitted mid-session or whether there is a separate intake for late joiners. Do not assume you can join late and catch up—some colleges may not permit this.
- PG academic session start: 22 December 2025
- Confirm with your college whether mid-session joining is permitted
Important: Weeding Out of Joined Candidates
The notice mentions that 'the data of joined candidates will be shared by DMEs/State Counselling Authorities to MCC for weeding out during seat processing of Round 3.' This means that if you joined a seat in an earlier round (Round 1 or Round 2, which have already concluded), your name will be flagged in the system, and you will not be offered another seat in Round 3 or Stray Round. This is to prevent one candidate from holding multiple seats.
If you have already joined a seat in Round 1 or Round 2, you cannot participate in Round 3 or Stray Round. If you wish to change your seat, you must first resign from your current seat (following your college's and state authority's procedures) and then you may be eligible for Round 3 or Stray Round. Confirm the resignation process with your current college and state authority before the Round 3 choice-filling deadline.
- If you joined in Round 1 or Round 2, you are ineligible for Round 3 and Stray Round
- To change seats, you must resign from your current seat first
- Resignation must be completed before Round 3 choice filling begins
Weekends and Holidays Are Working Days
The notice explicitly states: 'all participating institutes/colleges are directed to treat all Saturdays/Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days.' This means that if a choice-filling deadline or joining deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, the deadline does not shift to the next working day. You must complete your action on that date, even if it is a weekend or holiday.
For example, if 13 February 2026 (the All India Quota joining deadline) is a Friday, you must join by Friday. If it were a Saturday, you would still have to join on Saturday. Plan accordingly and do not assume that weekends will give you extra time.
- Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted Holidays are treated as working days
- Deadlines do not shift if they fall on a weekend or holiday
- Plan your joining well in advance
Complete Schedule at a Glance
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the All India Quota and State Quota schedules so you can quickly identify your key dates.
| Event | All India Quota / Deemed / Central Universities | State Quota |
|---|---|---|
| Round 3 Choice Filling | 15 Jan – 5 Feb 2026 | 27 Jan – 16 Feb 2026 |
| Last Date to Join (Round 3) | 13 Feb 2026 | 19 Feb 2026 |
| Stray Round Choice Filling | 16 Feb – 20 Feb 2026 | 20 Feb – 23 Feb 2026 |
| MCC Shares Stray Allotment Data | 21 Feb 2026 | — |
| Final Joining Deadline (Stray Round) | 28 Feb 2026 (11:55 PM) | 28 Feb 2026 (11:55 PM) |
| PG Academic Session Start | 22 Dec 2025 | 22 Dec 2025 |
How to Know Which Quota You Are Under
When you registered for NEET-PG counselling, you would have chosen whether to apply for All India Quota seats or State Quota seats (or both). Check your counselling registration confirmation email or log into the MCC/state counselling portal and view your profile. It will clearly state which quota(s) you are eligible for.
If you applied for both AIQ and State Quota, you will participate in both counselling processes on their respective schedules. You may be allotted a seat in AIQ Round 3 and also in State Quota Round 3—if so, you must choose one and join it, and resign from the other before the joining deadline. Do not hold two seats.
- Check your counselling registration confirmation
- Log into the MCC or state portal and view your profile
- If you applied for both, you will participate in both schedules
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Round 3 and Stray Round?
Round 3 is the main final round where most remaining seats are filled. Stray Round is a final opportunity to fill any seats that remain unfilled after Round 3 and the joining deadline. Stray Round typically has fewer seats available and is the last chance to secure a seat in this counselling cycle.
I am applying under State Quota. Which dates do I follow?
You follow the State Quota dates shown in the schedule. For example, State Quota Round 3 choice filling is 27 January to 16 February 2026, and the joining deadline is 19 February 2026. These dates differ from All India Quota dates, so check your state's counselling portal to confirm your state's exact schedule and any additional instructions.
What happens if I miss the joining deadline?
If you do not join by the deadline, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate on the merit list. There are no extensions. Weekends and public holidays do not extend the deadline—they are treated as working days for counselling purposes.
I joined a seat in Round 2. Can I participate in Round 3?
No. If you have already joined a seat in an earlier round, your name will be flagged in the system and you will not be offered another seat in Round 3 or Stray Round. To change seats, you must first resign from your current seat following your college's and state authority's procedures, and then you may be eligible for Round 3 or Stray Round.
What is the final joining deadline for Stray Round?
The final joining deadline is 28 February 2026 at 11:55 PM. This applies to both All India Quota and State Quota candidates. After this date, any unfilled seats will be cancelled and the counselling process will close. There are no further rounds.
When does the PG academic session start?
The academic session for all PG courses (MD, MS, PG Diploma, DNB) starts on 22 December 2025. This date has already passed. Check with your allotted college whether classes have begun and whether you will be admitted mid-session or whether there is a separate intake for late joiners.
I applied for both All India Quota and State Quota. What happens if I am allotted seats in both?
You will participate in both counselling processes on their respective schedules. If you are allotted in both, you must choose one seat and join it, and resign from the other before the joining deadline. You cannot hold two seats simultaneously.
Are Saturdays and Sundays treated as holidays for counselling deadlines?
No. The notice explicitly states that all Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted Holidays are treated as working days for counselling. Deadlines do not shift if they fall on a weekend or holiday. You must complete your action on the stated date, even if it is a weekend.
Where do I find the exact time the choice-filling portal opens and closes each day?
The notice does not specify the daily opening and closing times. These will be announced separately by MCC (for All India Quota) or your state authority (for State Quota) on their respective counselling portals. Check the portal regularly for updates.
What documents do I need to bring when I join my allotted college?
The notice does not list the specific documents required for joining. This information will be provided by your allotted college or your state authority. Typically, you will need your degree certificate, identity proof, medical fitness certificate, and other documents as specified by the college. Contact your college immediately after allotment to confirm the exact list.
Identify whether you are applying under All India Quota or State Quota, and mark the relevant dates in your calendar now. The Round 3 choice-filling period begins 15 January 2026 (AIQ) or 27 January 2026 (State). Do not miss any deadline—there are no extensions, and weekends and holidays are working days. If you have already joined a seat in an earlier round, you are ineligible for Round 3 and Stray Round unless you resign first. Contact your state authority or college immediately if you have any questions about your specific schedule or eligibility.
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