The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is conducting the final stray vacancy round for NEET UG 2026, offering a last opportunity for eligible candidates to secure an undergraduate medical or dental seat. Registration and fee payment close on October 14, 2026, at 3 PM and 6 PM respectively. This round allocates remaining All India Quota (AIQ) seats across Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS, and JIPMER institutions. If you have cleared NEET UG but missed earlier counselling rounds, or if you are looking to upgrade your seat, this is your final chance for the 2026–27 academic year.
Register and pay fees by October 14 (3 PM and 6 PM respectively), fill and lock your college choices by October 15 (10 AM), and report to your allotted college between October 19–26 to secure your seat.
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Unlock My College ListWhat Is the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round?
The stray vacancy round is the final counselling phase for NEET UG 2026. It exists to fill any remaining undergraduate medical and dental seats that were not allocated in earlier counselling rounds. These seats are available across Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS institutions, and JIPMER, and are offered through the All India Quota (AIQ) system.
This round is open to all NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates, regardless of whether they participated in previous counselling phases. It represents the last formal opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat for the 2026–27 academic year through the official MCC process.
Critical Dates You Must Know for Stray Vacancy Counselling
The MCC has set a strict timeline for the stray vacancy round. All candidates must complete registration and fee payment by October 14, 2026, with registration closing at 3 PM and fee payment at 6 PM on the same day. Missing these deadlines will disqualify you from this round.
After registration, you will have until October 15, 2026 (11:59 PM) to fill your choice of colleges. The choice locking window opens on October 14 at 4 PM and closes on October 15 at 10 AM. The MCC will process allotments on October 15–16, and results will be declared on October 17. Physical reporting at your allotted college must occur between October 19–26, 2026.
- Registration deadline: October 14, 3:00 PM
- Fee payment deadline: October 14, 6:00 PM
- Choice filling window: Until October 15, 11:59 PM
- Choice locking: October 14 (4:00 PM) to October 15 (10:00 AM)
- Seat allotment result: October 17, 2026
- Physical reporting: October 19–26, 2026
How to Register for Stray Vacancy Round on mcc.nic.in
Registration is entirely online through the official MCC portal at mcc.nic.in. Begin by navigating to the UG Medical section and selecting 'New Registration – Stray Vacancy Round 2026.' You will need your NEET UG Roll Number, Application Number, and Security PIN to log in.
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Once logged in, enter your personal and academic details as requested. You will then pay a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit, the amounts of which vary by candidate category. Keep your confirmation receipt safe for future reference.
- Visit mcc.nic.in and click 'UG Medical'
- Select 'New Registration – Stray Vacancy Round 2026'
- Enter NEET UG Roll Number, Application Number, and Security PIN
- Fill in personal and academic information
- Pay registration fee (non-refundable) and security deposit (refundable)
- Save your confirmation receipt
Filling and Locking Your College Choices
After registration, log into the Choice Filling section of your dashboard. The MCC will display a seat matrix showing all vacant seats available in the stray vacancy round across different colleges, courses, and categories. Review this matrix carefully and add your preferred colleges in descending order—that is, your most preferred college first, followed by your second choice, and so on.
Save and submit your choices regularly to avoid losing your work. Once you are satisfied with your list, log in to the Choice Locking facility between October 14 (4 PM) and October 15 (10 AM) to finalize your preferences. After locking, download and print your confirmation slip. This locked list cannot be changed, so ensure your choices are correct before locking.
- Log into the Choice Filling section on your dashboard
- Review the published seat matrix for vacant seats
- Add colleges in order of preference (most preferred first)
- Save your selections regularly
- Lock your choices between October 14 (4 PM) and October 15 (10 AM)
- Download and print your confirmation slip after locking
What Happens After Seat Allotment Results Are Declared?
The MCC will declare stray vacancy seat allotment results on October 17, 2026. You can check your result on mcc.nic.in using your login credentials. If you are allotted a seat, you must report physically to the allotted college between October 19 and 26, 2026, to complete admission formalities and secure your place.
Reporting is mandatory. If you do not report within this window, your security deposit will be forfeited, and you will be barred from participating in NEET UG counselling for the next academic year. This is a significant penalty, so plan your travel and documentation accordingly if you receive an allotment.
- Check results on mcc.nic.in on October 17
- Report to your allotted college between October 19–26
- Bring all required documents for admission
- Complete admission formalities at the college
- Failure to report results in forfeiture of security deposit and debarment from next year's counselling
Who Is Eligible for the Stray Vacancy Round?
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Any candidate who has qualified in NEET UG 2026 is eligible to participate in the stray vacancy round, regardless of their score or whether they participated in earlier counselling phases. This includes candidates who did not register in previous rounds, those who were not allotted a seat, and those who wish to upgrade from their current allotment.
The round is open to candidates from all categories (General, OBC, SC, ST) and to both Indian nationals and eligible foreign candidates, as per MCC guidelines. However, you must register afresh for this round; your earlier registration from previous counselling phases does not carry forward.
- All NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates are eligible
- Candidates from all categories (General, OBC, SC, ST) can apply
- Eligible foreign nationals can also participate
- Fresh registration is required; earlier registrations do not carry forward
- No minimum score cutoff is specified for stray vacancy participation
Seats Available in Stray Vacancy Round
The stray vacancy round offers remaining All India Quota (AIQ) seats across several categories of institutions. These include Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), and JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research). Seats are available for MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc. (Honours) courses in medical sciences.
The exact number and distribution of vacant seats vary each year and depend on how many seats were filled in earlier counselling rounds. The MCC publishes the complete seat matrix on mcc.nic.in during the choice filling window, so you can see exactly which seats are available before you fill your choices.
- Deemed Universities
- Central Universities
- AIIMS institutions
- JIPMER
- Courses: MBBS, BDS, B.Sc. (Honours) in medical sciences
- All seats are from the All India Quota (AIQ)
Important Warnings and Penalties
The MCC enforces strict penalties for non-compliance. If you are allotted a seat but do not report to the college between October 19 and 26, 2026, your security deposit will be forfeited entirely. More critically, you will be debarred from participating in NEET UG counselling for the following academic year, meaning you cannot apply for any medical or dental seat through the official process for 2027–28.
Additionally, the registration fee paid during this round is non-refundable, so even if you do not receive an allotment or choose not to participate, you will not recover this amount. Plan carefully before registering, and ensure you are genuinely interested in pursuing a seat through this round.
- Security deposit is forfeited if you do not report by October 26
- Non-reporting results in debarment from next year's NEET UG counselling
- Registration fee is non-refundable
- Choice locking is final; you cannot change your preferences after locking
- All deadlines are strict; no extensions are granted
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the last date to register for NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round?
Registration closes on October 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM. Fee payment must be completed by 6:00 PM on the same day. After these times, no further registrations or payments will be accepted.
Can I participate in stray vacancy if I did not register in earlier NEET UG 2026 counselling rounds?
Yes, absolutely. The stray vacancy round is open to all NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates, whether or not they participated in previous counselling phases. You must register afresh for this round; your earlier registration does not carry forward.
What happens if I am allotted a seat but do not report to the college?
If you do not report to your allotted college between October 19 and 26, 2026, your security deposit will be forfeited, and you will be barred from participating in NEET UG counselling for the next academic year (2027–28). This is a significant penalty.
When will the stray vacancy seat allotment results be declared?
The MCC will declare stray vacancy seat allotment results on October 17, 2026. You can check your result on mcc.nic.in using your login credentials.
Can I change my college choices after locking them?
No. Once you lock your choices between October 14 (4 PM) and October 15 (10 AM), they cannot be changed. Ensure your preferences are correct before locking.
What is the difference between the registration fee and security deposit?
The registration fee is non-refundable and must be paid to participate in the round. The security deposit is refundable and will be returned to you if you report to your allotted college and complete admission formalities. If you do not report, the security deposit is forfeited.
Which colleges and courses are available in the stray vacancy round?
Stray vacancy seats are available across Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS, and JIPMER for MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc. (Honours) courses. All seats are from the All India Quota (AIQ). The exact list of available seats and colleges will be published in the seat matrix on mcc.nic.in during the choice filling window.
What documents do I need to report to my allotted college?
The source does not specify the exact documents required. However, typically you will need your NEET UG admit card, result, identity proof, address proof, educational certificates, and any other documents specified by the college. Contact your allotted college directly for a complete list.
If you are eligible and interested in securing a medical or dental seat for 2026–27, register immediately on mcc.nic.in before October 14 at 3 PM. Fill your choices carefully, lock them by October 15 at 10 AM, and be prepared to report to your allotted college between October 19–26 if you receive an allotment. This is your final opportunity through the official NEET UG counselling process.
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