Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Stray Round Eligible Candidates List Published

Puducherry's Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) has published the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List for MBBS, BDS, and BAMS courses for the 2026–27 academic year on 22 October 2026. This list shows which candidates are eligible to participate in the Stray Round of counselling — the final round of seat allotment after the main counselling rounds. The list covers Government Quota, Management Quota, and NRI Quota seats. If your name appears on this list, you are one step closer to a seat, but you must act quickly: you have until 23 October 11 AM to check for errors and file objections if needed.

What is the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List?

The Stray Round Eligible Candidates List is a roster of candidates who have formally registered for the Stray Round of counselling and paid the registration fee. The Stray Round is the final round of seat allotment in Puducherry's NEET UG counselling process. It happens after the main counselling rounds (Round 1, 2, and 3) are complete, and it is used to fill any seats that remain vacant after those rounds.

CENTAC has published two separate lists: one for existing candidates (those who participated in earlier rounds but did not get a seat or did not join their allotted seat) and one for fresh candidates (those entering the process for the first time in the Stray Round). Existing candidates are considered first; fresh candidates are considered only after the existing candidates list is exhausted.

The list covers three quota categories: Government Quota (seats run by the state government), Management Quota (seats managed by private colleges), and NRI Quota (seats reserved for Non-Resident Indian candidates). The courses included are MBBS, BDS, and BAMS.

Who Has Been Removed from the Eligible List?

CENTAC has removed certain candidates from the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List on the directions of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). These removals are automatic and are based on your status in earlier rounds. If you fall into any of the categories below, you will not be eligible for the Stray Round, even if you registered for it.

The following candidates have been weeded out (removed):

• All candidates who appear in the Round 3 Allotment List of CENTAC — whether they joined their allotted seat or not.
• All candidates who appear in the Round 3 Admitted List of MCC (the national-level counselling body).
• All candidates who appear in the Stray Round Allotment List of MCC.

How to Check If You Are on the Eligible List

The complete Stray Round Eligible Candidates List has been published on the CENTAC website at www.centacpuducherry.in. You can log in to your dashboard using your NEET registration credentials to view the list and check if your name appears.

An SMS has also been sent to all registered candidates informing them that the list is now live. If you have not received an SMS, do not assume you are ineligible — check the website directly. The list is searchable by your registration number or name.

Critical Requirements: You Must Do These Two Things

Simply appearing on the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List is not enough to guarantee a seat. CENTAC has highlighted two mandatory conditions that will determine whether you are actually considered for allotment in the Stray Round. If you fail either condition, your application will be rejected, and you will not receive a seat.

The first requirement is that you must have paid the Tuition Fee for the course(s) you wish to study. This is different from the registration fee you paid to enter the Stray Round. The tuition fee is the course-specific fee for MBBS, BDS, or BAMS. If you have not paid this fee, you will not be considered for allotment, even if your name is on the eligible list.

The second requirement is that you must have filled in your course preferences. This means you must have logged into your dashboard and selected which courses and colleges you are willing to accept. If your course preferences are empty — that is, if you have not selected any courses — you will automatically be excluded from allotment. You cannot be allotted a seat if the system does not know which courses you want.

• You must have paid the Tuition Fee for MBBS, BDS, or BAMS (whichever course you are applying for).
• You must have filled in your course preferences on the CENTAC dashboard.

Objections and Grievances: What to Do If Your Name Is Missing or Wrong

If you believe there is an error in the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List — for example, if your name should be on the list but is not, or if your name appears but you believe you should have been removed — you have the right to file an objection.

Objections must be submitted through your dashboard login using the Grievances Option. You have until 23 October 2026 at 11:00 AM to submit your objection. After this deadline, no objections will be accepted. Do not delay: this is a hard deadline, and missing it means you lose your right to challenge the list.

When you file an objection, explain clearly why you believe there is an error. Provide any supporting documents or evidence if possible. CENTAC will review your objection and respond through your dashboard or via SMS.

• Objection deadline: 23 October 2026, 11:00 AM.
• How to file: Log in to your CENTAC dashboard and use the Grievances Option.
• What to include: A clear explanation of the error and any supporting evidence.

What Happens Next: The Stray Round Allotment Process

Once the objection deadline passes on 23 October at 11 AM, CENTAC will finalize the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List. The list will then be used to conduct the Stray Round allotment. Candidates on the existing candidates list will be considered first, in order of their merit rank. After all existing candidates have been processed, fresh candidates will be considered.

During the Stray Round allotment, the system will match your merit rank and course preferences with available seats. If a seat matches your preferences and your rank qualifies for it, you will be allotted that seat. The allotment result will be published on the CENTAC website, and you will receive an SMS notification.

After allotment, you will have a specified time window to accept your allotted seat and report to the college for admission. If you do not report within the deadline, your seat will be cancelled, and it will be offered to the next candidate in line.

Important Traps: Common Mistakes That Get Candidates Rejected

Many candidates lose their seats in the Stray Round because they overlook simple but critical requirements. Here are the most common mistakes:

**Mistake 1: Not paying the tuition fee.** Candidates often confuse the registration fee (which they paid to enter the Stray Round) with the tuition fee (which is the course-specific fee). If you have not paid the tuition fee for MBBS, BDS, or BAMS, you will not be allotted a seat, even if your name is on the eligible list and your rank qualifies. Check your dashboard to confirm that the tuition fee payment has been recorded.

**Mistake 2: Leaving course preferences empty.** Some candidates log in to their dashboard but forget to select their course preferences. If your preferences are blank, the system will automatically exclude you from allotment. You must actively choose which courses and colleges you are willing to accept. Do this immediately after confirming you are on the eligible list.

**Mistake 3: Missing the objection deadline.** If you believe your name should be on the list but is not, you must file an objection by 23 October 11 AM. After this time, no objections are accepted. Do not wait or assume CENTAC will notice the error on its own.

**Mistake 4: Not checking the list at all.** Some candidates assume they will receive a notification if they are eligible. While SMS has been sent, it is your responsibility to log in and verify your status. Do not rely on SMS alone.

How to Contact CENTAC for Help

If you have questions or need help, CENTAC provides two ways to reach them:

You can submit queries through the Grievances option in your login dashboard. This is the preferred method because it creates a record of your query and ensures a response is tracked.

You can also call the CENTAC Helpline at 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571. These numbers are available during business hours. Have your NEET registration number ready when you call.

• Helpline: 0413-2655570 / 0413-2655571
• Online: Submit queries via the Grievances option in your dashboard
• Website: www.centacpuducherry.in

Understanding the Quota System

The Stray Round Eligible Candidates List includes candidates from three quota categories. Understanding which quota you fall under is important because it determines which seats you can compete for.

**Government Quota:** These are seats in government medical colleges run by the Puducherry government. These seats are typically more competitive and have lower fees. Candidates from Puducherry and other states can apply, but state-domicile candidates often get priority.

**Management Quota:** These are seats in private medical colleges that are managed by the college's governing body. These seats usually have higher fees but may have slightly lower cutoff ranks. Eligibility and reservation rules may differ from government seats.

**NRI Quota:** These are seats reserved for Non-Resident Indian candidates — Indian citizens living abroad or holding foreign passports. NRI candidates pay higher fees and compete only within the NRI quota. If you are an NRI candidate, you will only be allotted NRI quota seats.

Frequently asked questions

Check the CENTAC website (www.centacpuducherry.in) immediately to see if your name is on the Stray Round Eligible Candidates List. If it is, verify that you have paid the tuition fee and filled in your course preferences — these are mandatory. If you find any errors in the list or believe your name should be included, file an objection through your dashboard before 23 October 2026 at 11:00 AM. After that deadline, the list will be finalized and used for allotment. For any questions, contact the CENTAC helpline at 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571.