The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board has opened the stray vacancy round for NEET UG 2026, marking the final opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat under state counselling. The seat matrix, released on 17 October 2026, shows 226 vacant MBBS positions and 87 BDS positions across government and private medical colleges in the state. This is your last window to claim a state-quota medical or dental seat for 2026—any vacancy left after this round will be forfeited under Odisha's admission rules. If you participated in earlier counselling rounds but did not secure a seat, or if you are reconsidering your college choice, the stray round offers a fresh chance.
The Odisha stray round is the final state-level admission window for NEET UG 2026; 226 MBBS and 87 BDS seats remain vacant, and you must act quickly as any unfilled seat will lapse after this round.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the Odisha Stray Round and why does it matter?
Odisha's state NEET UG counselling normally runs for three main rounds. After Round 3 concludes, any seat that remains unoccupied—either because no eligible candidate chose it or because an allotted candidate did not report—enters the stray vacancy round. This is the final opportunity for candidates to secure a medical or dental seat under Odisha's state quota.
The stray round is critical because it is the last admission window before the state counselling process closes entirely. Once this round ends, any remaining vacant seats cannot be filled through state counselling. For aspirants who missed earlier rounds, faced a lower rank, or wish to change their college choice, the stray round is often the only remaining path to an MBBS or BDS seat in Odisha.
How many seats are available in the Odisha stray round 2026?
After Round 3 of state counselling concluded on 10 October 2026, a total of 313 seats remained vacant across participating colleges. Of these, 226 are MBBS seats and 87 are BDS seats. These vacancies span both government and private medical and dental colleges in the state, including institutions offering NRI quota positions.
The exact seat count per college and per category (general, OBC, SC, ST) is detailed in the official seat matrix PDF available on the OJEEB portal. Candidates must download this document to identify which colleges have vacancies in their category and to plan their choices accordingly.
Which colleges are participating in the Odisha stray round?
The stray round includes all government medical colleges in Odisha offering MBBS seats, as well as private medical colleges with both general and NRI quota positions. For dental education, SCB Dental College in Cuttack (government) and Hi-Tech Dental College in Bhubaneswar (private) are participating, again with both general and NRI quota seats available.
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The full list of participating institutions and their seat-wise vacancy breakdown is published in the official seat matrix. Candidates should cross-reference this list with their NEET rank and category to shortlist colleges where they are likely to be eligible for admission.
Who is eligible to participate in the stray round?
Only candidates who registered for Odisha's NEET UG counselling in earlier rounds remain eligible for the stray round. You must hold a valid NEET UG 2026 scorecard and satisfy Odisha's domicile requirements. If you did not register in any of the three main rounds, you cannot participate in the stray round.
Importantly, if you were allotted a seat in Round 3 but failed to report or did not complete the admission process, you are barred from the stray round. Odisha's rules do not permit withdrawal after the final Round 3 allotment, so candidates who received a seat but chose not to join cannot re-enter the stray round. This rule is strictly enforced to prevent gaming of the system.
How to access and download the stray round seat matrix
The official seat matrix PDF is available on two portals: ojee.nic.in (the primary OJEEB website) and odishajee.com. To download it, visit either portal, locate the latest notification for the NEET UG Stray Round 2026, and click the seat matrix PDF link. Save a copy to your device for offline reference.
The seat matrix lists every participating college, the number of MBBS and BDS seats available, and the breakdown by category (general, OBC, SC, ST) and quota type (state, NRI). Use this document to identify colleges where you are eligible and to plan your choice-filling strategy. Do not rely on unofficial sources or social media for seat information; always verify against the official OJEEB document.
- Visit ojee.nic.in or odishajee.com
- Click the stray round 2026 notification
- Open and download the seat matrix PDF
- Check vacant seats by college, course, and category
- Save a copy for your records
What happens after the stray round closes?
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Once the stray round concludes, Odisha's state-level NEET UG counselling process ends. Any seat that remains vacant after the stray round cannot be filled through state counselling. These seats may be offered to candidates through other mechanisms (such as institutional spot admissions or national-level counselling if applicable), but they will not be part of the state quota system.
This finality makes the stray round your last chance to secure a state-quota MBBS or BDS seat in Odisha for 2026. After this round, your only other options would be to pursue admission through private colleges' direct intake, management quota seats, or to consider medical colleges in other states.
Key dates and next steps for stray round candidates
The seat matrix was released on 17 October 2026. The detailed registration schedule and choice-filling dates for the stray round will be announced shortly on the OJEEB portal. Candidates must monitor ojee.nic.in regularly for these announcements, as the registration and choice-filling windows are typically short and strictly time-bound.
To prepare, download the seat matrix immediately, shortlist colleges based on your rank and category, and gather all required documents: your NEET UG 2026 scorecard, earlier allotment letters (if any), proof of Odisha domicile, and any other documents specified by OJEEB. Arrange the counselling fee and initial tuition fee as per your chosen college's norms, as you may be required to pay these during or immediately after allotment.
- Download the seat matrix from ojee.nic.in now
- Identify colleges where you are eligible
- Gather NEET scorecard, domicile proof, and earlier allotment letters
- Arrange counselling and tuition fees
- Watch for stray round registration and choice-filling dates on OJEEB portal
- Complete registration and fill choices within the announced deadline
Understanding Odisha's counselling timeline for 2026
Odisha's NEET UG counselling for 2026 has progressed through three main rounds. Round 1 and Round 2 were completed earlier in the year. Round 3, the mop-up round, concluded with final allotments on 10 October 2026. The stray vacancy round, announced on 17 October 2026, is now the active phase.
This timeline is important because it shows that the counselling process is in its final stage. Candidates who have been waiting for a second chance or who wish to upgrade their college choice must act during the stray round, as no further state-level counselling rounds will follow.
- Round 1: Completed
- Round 2: Completed
- Round 3 (Mop-Up): Final allotment on 10 October 2026
- Stray Vacancy Round: Seat matrix released 17 October 2026; registration and choice-filling dates to follow
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the Odisha NEET UG stray round 2026?
The stray round is the final state-level counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in Odisha. It offers vacant MBBS and BDS seats that remain after the three main counselling rounds. It is the last opportunity to secure a state-quota medical or dental seat in Odisha for 2026.
How many MBBS and BDS seats are available in the stray round?
A total of 313 seats are vacant: 226 MBBS seats and 87 BDS seats. These are distributed across government and private medical and dental colleges in Odisha, including NRI quota positions. The exact breakdown by college and category is in the official seat matrix.
Am I eligible for the Odisha stray round if I did not participate in earlier rounds?
No. Only candidates who registered for Odisha's NEET UG counselling in one of the three main rounds are eligible for the stray round. If you did not register earlier, you cannot participate in the stray round.
Can I participate in the stray round if I was allotted a seat in Round 3 but did not report?
No. Odisha's rules strictly prohibit withdrawal after the final Round 3 allotment. If you received a seat in Round 3 and chose not to join, you are barred from the stray round and cannot re-enter state counselling.
Where can I download the stray round seat matrix?
The official seat matrix PDF is available on ojee.nic.in and odishajee.com. Visit either portal, find the latest NEET UG Stray Round 2026 notification, and download the seat matrix PDF. Always use the official OJEEB sources; do not rely on unofficial websites or social media.
What happens to seats that remain vacant after the stray round?
Any seat left vacant after the stray round cannot be filled through Odisha's state counselling. These seats may be offered through other mechanisms (such as institutional spot admissions or national counselling), but they will not be part of the state quota system. The stray round is your last chance for state-quota admission.
When will the stray round registration and choice-filling dates be announced?
The detailed registration schedule and choice-filling dates will be announced shortly on ojee.nic.in. Candidates must monitor the OJEEB portal regularly, as these windows are typically short and strictly time-bound. Do not miss the announcements.
What documents do I need for the stray round?
You will need your NEET UG 2026 scorecard, proof of Odisha domicile, any earlier allotment letters from previous rounds, and any other documents specified by OJEEB. Have these ready before registration begins. You will also need to arrange the counselling fee and initial tuition fee as per your chosen college's norms.
Download the official seat matrix from ojee.nic.in immediately and shortlist colleges where you are eligible. Monitor the OJEEB portal closely for the stray round registration and choice-filling schedule—this is your final window to secure an MBBS or BDS seat under Odisha's state quota for 2026.
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